Patient Resources
The following resources build a new, holistic understanding of the many physiological, neurological, and psychological factors that construct our experience and perception of pain and other symptoms. And that knowledge is power.
“These pains you feel are messengers. Listen to them.” ~Rumi
Featured
The Reign of Pain
Dr. Howard Schubiner
(20:40 min)
TEDx Talk - Why Things Hurt
TEDx Adelaide - Lorimer Moseley
(14:33 min)
Living Proof - Stories of Hope
Recovery from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / ME
(12:38 min)
Living Proof - Stories of Hope
Recovery from Chronic Pain
Learn more at mindbodymedicineinfo.org
(12:44 min)

Neural Pathway Pain — A Call for More Accurate Diagnoses
Practical Pain Management
by Howard Schubiner, MD, Mark Lumley, PhD, Alan Gordon, LCSW, December 2017

Researchers Doubt That Certain Mental Disorders Are Disorders At All
Forbes
by Alison Escalante, August 2020

What IS the Connection Between Stress and Symptoms?
Being Well
by Anna Holtzman
Pain is a Danger Signal
(2:44 min)
Neural Pathways
(3:30 min)

Chronic pain is surprisingly treatable — when patients focus on the brain
Washington Post
by Nathaniel Frank, October 2021

It’s Time To Rethink the Origins of Pain
Scientific American
by Haider Warraich, September 2022
Stumped: A Double-Boarded Physician's Quest to Cure Her Chronic Pain
Dr. Alicia Batson
Like Mind, Like Body Podcast
by Curable
What's the Key to Breaking the Pain Cycle?
Tell Me About Your Pain Podcast
by Curable
Discovering the Linkages Between Emotions and Health
Back in Control
by Dr. David Hanscom
(24:00 min)
Can Journaling Help to Release Physical Pain?
Nichole Sachs
Like Mind, Like Body Podcast
by Curable
Why You Are In So Much PAIN
Gabor Maté
(10:34 min)
The Neuroscience of Trauma
The Well
What sets trauma apart from regular bad experiences? A leading neuroscientist explains.
(10:34 min)
Authenticity vs. Attachment
Gabor Maté
(4:18 min)
Pain Brain
A documentary about a massive neuroscience study that challenges the medical industry’s approach to chronic pain.
The Path to Recovery - Curable Stories of Healing
Curable Health
(45:42 min)
Pain Neuroscience 101
Neuroscience is changing the paradigm for diagnosing and treating chronic pain.
Neuroplastic Sensitization & the MindBody Connection
Dr. Schubiner's "What is Pain" Video Series
Intro to What is Pain?
Intro to Dr. Schubiner's "What is Pain" Series
(1:01 min)
What is Pain?
Video #1 in Series
(6:12 min)
The Brain Creates Pain
Video #2 in Series
(6:12 min)
Predictive Coding
Video #3 in Series
(5:28 min)
How to Determine the Cause of Chronic Pain
Video #4 in Series
(7:00 min)
How to Reverse Chronic Pain
Video #5 in Series
(9:49 min)
All MRI's are Abnormal
Video #6 in Series
(5:28 min)
Dr. John E. Sarno
20/20 Segment
(13:36 min)
Working Toward Accepting the PPD Diagnosis
(17:25 min)
Breakthrough with Healing Chronic Pain
Dr. Howard Schubiner | Talks at Google
(53:23 min)
How To Heal Chronic Pain with Dr Howard Schubiner
Feel Better, Live More Podcast
by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee
2 hrs 11 mins
Know Pain, Know Gain
In Search of a Unified Theory for Pain Relief
Howard Schubiner, MD
(31:04 min)
The Pain Revolution
Professor Lorimer Mosely
(21:10 min)
The Fifth Vital Sign
Can you cure pain with more pain?
The Invisibilia podcast
Recovery Strategies Pain Guidebook
by Dr. Greg Lehman
Psychophysiologic Disorders, Central Sensitization Syndromes, Neuroplastic Pain, Somatic Symptom Disorder, Mindbody Syndrome, Functional Neurological Disorders, Medically Unexplained Symptoms, & Tension Myoneural Syndrome
(hint: they are ALL synonymous 😇🤓)
Acute pain is commonly produced by the brain in response to damage in the body, but chronic symptoms are often due to persistent, overly protective neural circuits in the brain that can amplify, perpetuate, or even cause pain, and they are not closely linked to damage in the body. Over time, these circuits get repeated, sensitized, and, through a process called “classical conditioning” (thank you, Ivan Pavlov), can be associated with triggers. These neuroplastic pathways can be DE-sensitized and RE-processed in the brain and frequently even cured (not just “managed” or coped with).
The following groups have done amazing work compiling evidence and resources for both patients and practitioners, and provide further direction on how to understand and recover from these conditions.
PPD Association
The Psychophysiologic Disorders Association is the most well-organized and clinician- and research-driven group doing this work. This video explains who they are and what they do. They also have a self-directed, online course to lead yourself to recover. Please explore this website, on which CIM’s website is modeled, for further information and help.
Dr. Howard Schubiner’s UnlearnYourPain.com
- This video that explains neurophysiological causes of what Dr. Schubiner calls “MindBody Syndrome”
- Patient success stories
- This thorough, research-based video lecture (approx. 1 hour) that is broken into four parts
The TMS Wiki
The Curable App
(and Community)
Like Mind, Like Body
Curable
Tell Me About Your Pain
Alan Gordon & Curable
The Path to Recovery - Curable Stories of Healing
Curable Health
(45:42 min)
Also, for the practitioners in their network who refer patients they’ve provided a perk of 6 free weeks of access to the app for patients who are referred (there are no kickbacks for the referring provider). If that interests you, please scroll to the bottom of this page, message Dr. Matt, and he’ll get you set – no strings attached!
Documentaries
All the Rage:
Saved by Sarno
Through interviews with Dr. John Sarno, esteemed patients, and experts, this film invites viewers to profoundly rethink our approach to healthcare.
This Might Hurt
This Might Hurt is a documentary that offers solutions to cure chronic pain. The film follows three chronic pain patients who have spent years searching for answers.
The Wisdom of Trauma
Dr. Gabor Maté gives us a new vision: a trauma-informed society who are not concerned with fixing behaviors, but seeking to understand the sources from which troubling behaviors and diseases spring in the wounded human soul.
Pain Brain
A documentary about a massive neuroscience study that challenges the medical industry’s approach to chronic pain.
Expressive Writing Exercises
7 Tips for Successful Therapeutic Journaling [PDF]
by Georgie Oldfield MCSP

Expressive Writing [PDF]
by David Hanscom, MD
Proprioceptive-Writing
[Doc Download]
"A practice of writing what you hear and listening to what you write."
Unsent Letter Writing Examples
[Doc Download]
Other Helpful Resources

Hidden Stress Screening Test [PDF]
The Psychophysiologic Disorders Association
by PPDAssociation.org
Don't Hate Your Guts
The website of Jennifer Franklin, PhD, a skillful & experienced clinician who has specialized in working with chronic gastrointestinal & digestive symptoms
Defeat CRPS
Patient-driven recovery resource for CRPS/RSD
Partner With Your Family to Heal [PDF]
by David Hanscom, MD
Questions for Your Spine Surgeon [PDF]
by David Hanscom, MD
Podcasts
The Cure for Chronic Pain
Nicole Sachs, LCS
Crushing Doubt
Dan Ratner
Empowered Beyond Pain
Kevin Wernli, Professor Peter O'Sullivan, Dr JP Caneiro
The Art of NVC
Micah Salaberrios
Back in Control Radio
Dr. David Hanscom
From Chronic Pain to Passion
Anna Holtzman
The Physio Matters Podcast
Jack Chew
The Mind & Fitness Podcast
Eddy Lindenstein
News You can Use
Relevant Articles proving Pain Science is Brain Science
Most antidepressants prescribed for chronic pain lack reliable evidence of efficacy or safety, scientists warn
News Wise
by University of Southampton
May 2023
Spinal cord stimulation doesn't help with back pain, says new review
The University of Sydney
March 2023
Jimmy Kimmel reveals celebrity secret to healing back pain
New York Post
by Jeanette Settembre
March 2023
Solve Mental Pain to Resolve Physical Pain
Psychology Today
by David Hanscom MD
November 2022
It’s Time To Rethink the Origins of Pain
Scientific American
by Haider Warraich
September 2022
‘Good’ posture doesn’t prevent back pain, and ‘bad’ posture doesn’t cause it
The Guardian
by Peter O'Sullivan, Leon Straker and Nic Saraceni
August 2022
What IS the Connection Between Stress and Symptoms?
Being Well
by Anna Holtzman, April 2022
Spine Care in the United States
by Mustafa Farooque, MD, MSEd, 2022
I Have to Believe John Sarno's Book Cured My Chronic Pain
New York Times
November 2021
TikTok Tourette's
by David Epstein
November 2021
Chronic pain is surprisingly treatable — when patients focus on the brain
Washington Post
by Nathaniel Frank, October 2021
Internal Family Systems and Chronic Pain - Listening to Inner Parts that Hold the Hurt
Psychotherapy Networker
by Howard Schubiner, Richard Schwartz, Ron Seigel
January/February 2021
Researchers Doubt That Certain Mental Disorders Are Disorders At All
Forbes
by Alison Escalante, August 2020
Their pain is real – and for patients with mystery illnesses, help is coming from an unexpected source
The Globe and Mail
by Erin Anderssen
December 2018
Neural Pathway Pain — A Call for More Accurate Diagnoses
Practical Pain Management
by Howard Schubiner, MD, Mark Lumley, PhD, Alan Gordon, LCSW, December 2017
Dr. John Sarno, 93, Dies; Best-Selling Author Tied Pain to Anxieties
The New York Times
June 2017
Miracles of Mindbody Medicine [PDF]
Healthcare Counseling &
Psychotherapy Journal
by Alan Gordon
January 2010
Anxiety is the Pain
by David Hanscom, MD
Optimizing (Avoiding) Spine Surgery
Back In Control
by David Hanscom, MD
From Chronic Pain to Passion
by Anna Holtzman