The Divided Mind: The Epidemic of Mindbody Disorders Paperback – March 27, 2007

"The sorrow which has no vent in tears may make other organs weep."--1918 psychiatrist Henry MaudsleyI just got done reading The Divided Mind in an effort to help resolve some constant back pain that I have had over the past few years. Though the power of the mind is regaining some much needed purchase in the realm of health, the seeds of this field were sown back in the time of Freud. The author, John Sarno, a physical medicine doctor practicing since 1950, has illuminated his treatment of chronic pain syndromes and other ailments that he has found in practice to be largely psychosomatic in origin (like acid reflux, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, allergy and skin conditions).I initially wanted to roll my eyes and discount any further information when Freud was referenced as being a pioneer to these ideas, suggesting that the brain itself can produce physical symptoms to distract us and protect us from troubling emotions in our unconscious. The very notion of the unconscious is untestable because we cannot be aware of its existence. Though slow to warm up, Sarno's ideas are growing on me. Of course a broken bone is not psychosomatic in origin or plenty of other conditions for that matter. But for many, he contends that emotional conflict (between our conscious and unconscious mind) and repression fuel or even generate chronic disorders of the body.The relief is that we don't necessarily have to resolve that conflict to be able to decrease our physical symptoms. We just have to probe our own emotional terrain and acknowledge (not discount or dismiss) unpleasant emotions that we are experiencing (eg. the pressures of being an adult, a good parent, a good son or daughter or spouse, etc.). We have to accept that having icky emotions that we feel are beneath us, those like fear, sadness, anger, even rage at our circumstances, is human. That doesn't mean we act on them or lash out, just that we accept having these less than desirable emotions doesn't make us bad or weak at all.Perhaps many already know this and check in with themselves regularly. To think that the brain, in an effort to protect us from uncomfortable emotions, can create a physical distraction like pain is provocative and worth giving attention to. The current medical model of illness is purely mechanical in nature and really outmoded if you think about it. No part of the body exists as an island unto itself but that is how symptoms (not causes, because of this erroneous model) currently are treated, by going to this specialist or that specialist that treats this or that part. And emotions are never brought up as having any impact on health, unless you are going to psychotherapy for mental, not physical, health. But the two--mind and body--together, influencing each other bidirectionally? That just seems radical in the sense of "Well yeah, why is that not how it is? That makes complete sense." Why have we allowed the disconnect when it comes to addressing health and illness?In this busy, modern world, we can often become strangers to ourselves without the quiet, introspective time to really become integrated beings, to close the constructed gap of the mind and body. All I know is that going forward, when I experience physical sensations straying from normal, I will be more likely to explore my emotional landscape to see if I might invite all those weary, human travelers in for recognition and rest.

Chronic pain has been something I have been working to relieve most of my adult life……over half of my life now. Most of my life work has been working with business owners that are in the health and wellness field because this has been something that has plagued me so much personally. I’ve been to dozens (if not hundreds – who’s counting at this point) of allopathic, complementary and alternative practitioners to deal with this pain.I’ve tried things as aggressive and invasive as radio frequency ablation, cortisone shots, many rounds of Physical Therapy, consults with top surgeons, acupuncture, massage, somatic body therapist, people waving crystals over my head and lots of yoga, stretching and myofascial release.Sometimes I feel like a part-time patient with all the doctor visits I have. I know my health card ID by heart. I have Aetna on speed dial. I have lots of blank insurance forms. I can’t stand filling out forms and having to tell my story to yet another person who probably won’t be able to help me.I started to research more and more different methods to deal with pain. What causes pain? So many theories and mysterious reasons. lack of vitamins, water, ergonomics, structural anatomical differences, faulty movement patterns, negative beliefs, bad posture when sitting and standing, old injuries that never healed properly.I watched lots of videos on youtube about ways to deal with pain with non-surgical methods. I started to learn the language of anatomy and dysfunction. When I go to my doctor I can describe anatomically the exact areas of my pain just like a doctor.Where is my pain? Depending on what year you ask me it has been in different body parts -my tailbone, me knees, my low back, my shoulders, my hands and wrists and the last decade mostly in my forehead and neck.My biggest friend in my right against debilitating and excruciating pain – Google. I realized that if I wanted to get rid of my pain I was going to have to become my own doctor and not rely on a health professional to heal me. I started to wonder what all this pain and constriction in my head and neck was. What was causing it and how could I deal with it more powerfully.I don't even know how I found Dr Sarno.... I think it was just suggested to me by Amazon... so not having any faith that this would help me I bought his book.After I read the book, I wondered if retraining my brain via's Sarno's suggestions would work for me. So I committed myself to retraining my brain.... I bought two of his books and the The MindBody Workbook: A Thirty Day Program of Insight and Awareness by David Schechter M.D.. I bought these over a month ago. I also started to meditate almost daily.Relief From Chronic Pain... finallyToday I am pain-free!Having chronic pain for 2 decades is like being in a prison. You want to run away from your body but you can't. Life is miserable.Today I feel like I finally have the keys to unlock myself and stay free.I am forever grateful to Dr Sarno.