Alan Gordon, LCSW demonstrates somatic tracking & pain reprocessing therapy

This is a live demonstration of a new treatment to reverse chronic pain called Pain Reprocessing Therapy, which uses a form of guided mindfulness called "somatic tracking" to re-process danger signals.
It was recently proven to cure chronic back pain for 66% percent of people who were randomly assigned to it in an NIH-funded brain-imaging study. Published Sept 2021 in JAMA Psychiatry.
More info about the film, the study, and the treatment at:
www.thismighth...
We were fortunate to film a live demonstration with one of the innovators of PRT, Alan Gordon, LCSW, founder of the Pain Psychology Center. He was presenting at a conference with Howard Schubiner, MD called “Breaking The Pain Cycle” - Beyond Pain Management, at Providence Hospital in Southfield, MI

[@nargisbbyounis]

I can’t believe this actually works! I’ve had a problem for over four years and just two weeks ago I started reading up about all this fear related pain and I started challenging myself knowing that I have been to drs who couldn’t find any structural damage. I actually can’t believe my pain symptoms have gone down… seriously thought I was in a black hole and wouldn’t be able to get out. In just two short weeks I’ve changed dramatically… I’m so thankful for this research.

[@ThisMightHurt]

Hi Khadija, We're so happy for you! Thanks for your comment. Wishing you the best with your recovery. - Kent

[@stevietalk1]

Have you read Alan’s book ‘The Way Out’? A resource you GOTTA have - amazing

[@nargisbbyounis]

@@stevietalk1 thanks! I’ll have to take a look

[@Dandelionsandbutterflies]

How wow?

[@tracer97]

I come back to this video so much. Changed my life, cured my literally physical disability. I am beyond grateful.

[@Kenny4AG]

Alan Gordon, this guy's a legend

[@juliespoering3197]

This is so beautiful! My brain thinks normal sensations in my body are not safe and it clicked inside me just now that this is it! The fear of something being wrong is keeping me stuck in pain.

[@ThisMightHurt]

Wonderful to have this realization. Wishing you luck with your recovery.

[@jackiejovanoska7362]

How long does it take for the brain to Unlearn the patterns?

[@DVOID1]

Alan Gordon is a fantastic teacher and practitioner, this is fascinating.

[@ThisMightHurt]

Thanks for your comment!

[@miamindbody]

This video and the somatic tracking audio on the Curable App are so helpful! I had pain even after I fully recovered from an illness. Somatic tracking helped me get out of the pain cycle. I have been feeling so much better. Thank you so much and keep the videos coming!

[@ThisMightHurt]

Hi Mia Thanks! We're so glad you find this helpful

[@jonas-j3h]

Healed from years of severe “Pudendal Neuralgia”, diagnosed by doctors, thanks to Alan, Howards and Sarno. It took me about 2 months for full recovery.

[@ThisMightHurt]

So wonderful to hear this, thanks for sharing!

[@katherinedoherty8823]

@@ThisMightHurt So great to hear this! Congratulations to you! I have suffered for over ten years from pain with sitting ( maybe Pudendal Neuralgia, but PN blocks never helped), so maybe it's not PN. I also have Irritable Bladder Issues that are flared right now and IBS issues. I 've read Sarno's books, and other books by TMS/PRT Experts . Please tell me how to start my healing journey! Thank you!

[@ThisMightHurt]

@@katherinedoherty8823 You might be experiencing what's called "the symptom imperative" or "symptom substitution" -where someone is able to use mind-body tools to reduce symptoms in one part of the body, only to see them frustratingly pop up in (or migrate to) a different part of the body. It's very common and is a step in many people's recovery. We've written a guide for overcoming neuroplastic chronic symptoms at thismighthurtfilm.com/unlearningpain Wishing you luck! Kent

[@lindapelle8738]

Good for you nothing more painful I still have pelvic floor tension but I got rid of the majority of my pain I burned 24 seven and when I sat it was even worse I also had interstitial cystitis and felt like there was a golf ball inside me because my muscles were touching each other did a lot of therapy. Finally I just quit everything and got off the Internet this was when there was no KZbin. Within a short period of time my symptoms went away but I also moved away from my relationship I was in so who knows but I’m not 100% there yet. I’m also dealing with trigeminal neuralgia from a dental surgeryAnd I stay off the computer as far as re-search now I found all those good stuff recently read Sarno’s book back in the 90s when no one would even listen to me. Forgot about it darn it I wish I had been searching. So good to hear you’re better congratulations

[@Dandelionsandbutterflies]

Wow how’d you do it?

[@RickTashma]

Thank you, Felicia, for your willingness and courage to share this! It's a beautiful demo of PRT. I hope you're continuing to experience less (or no) similar neck pain.

[@sensationlive3528]

This book actually changed my life. I feel indebted to Alan Gordon, forever. Thank you so much for the amazing work you do, your ability to think, explore, and conduct solid expertise outside the box and norms. I am sure there was lots of disapproval and criticism when he first set out.

[@ThisMightHurt]

Thanks for sharing!

[@elizabethmoffett2836]

What's the name of the book?

[@IrishMexican]

This also applies to anxiety, insomnia, and other non-pain related symptoms

[@ThisMightHurt]

Thanks Daniel, yes, you're quite right. The brain can produce virtually any symptom because neuroscience shows that predictive coding (top-down processing) creates our experience. And these symptoms, when not caused by structural injuries, can be unlearned through neuroplastic retraining.

[@jeimyciccotelli6435]

How about constant dizziness for years?

[@ThisMightHurt]

​@@jeimyciccotelli6435 Sometimes dizziness is caused by medical conditions associated with structural damage, and sometimes it is caused by mind-body / neuroplastic processes. If you have tried medical treatments and they didn't help, it cannot hurt to find a mind-body informed clinician and have the symptoms assessed from that perspective. There are people who have unlearned dizziness through mind-body therapies, so it's worth considering. You can find a mind-body clinician through the ppdassociation.org. If you're US based, you can sign up for a medical evaluation via the Lin App ( lin.health ); you can also reach out to Dr. John Stracks, who sees patients remotely from most places in the US. Good luck!

[@egmartinez]

It’s basically Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for physical discomfort

[@emilyduvall9954]

Alan's book is amazing! Total game changer for me!

[@ThisMightHurt]

Yes, The Way Out is a great book! Glad it helped you.

[@Truehoon]

@@ThisMightHurt can thhis work for chronic fatigue syndrom? along with sound sensitivity, light sensitivity, headache?

[@ThisMightHurt]

@@Truehoon Hi Jay, the paradigm you see in our film This Might Hurt, called EAET, which has a lot of similarities to what Alan Gordon is doing (PRT), has been used for brain retraining to unlearn chronic fatigue, sound sensitivity, light sensitivity (and other sensory hypersensitivities like to touch), and headache. It's usually a good idea to verify with a medical professional that there's nothing structural going on (like an infection or tumor) to explain those symptoms. You can see a comprehensive list of symptoms that can be unlearned using brain retraining, fear reduction, meditation, and emotional processing on our site here: thismighthurtfilm.com/other-symptoms, For chronic fatigue and post-exertional malaise specific resources: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/other-symptoms/#chronic-fatigue Wishing you the best of luck!

[@khajababu1403]

Hy duvall please help me! Hy sir! I have seen ur video so much amazing, I hope This applies for depression, anxiety and pain(psychological) ? i think iam phsycosomatic from long run emotions. I heard somewhere anxiety converts in to pain and somatic symptoms pathways. Even when depression and anxiety get remissioned. Im getting suicidal thoughts. Iam just 28 years old. iam suffering from severe depression And physical bodily pain symptoms for last 3 months, iam taking two psych meds present.. can i tapper of both clonazepam (0.5 mg) & vortioxetin (10mg) have been using for 3 weeks only.. I don't want to stay on these pills which cannot give me relef rather more I'll feeling.. Please advice me n ur support needed 🙏 iam eagerly waiting for ur reply, I don't want to regret in future help me.. Does ur idea helps me to overcome depression and physical pain also.. Please help me out🙏

[@BarbaraC02]

OMG so excited I found your video. Hip pain woke me up again and I found this and followed your instructions. The pain has softened alot! I will continue to work my thoughts and hopefully extinguish the pain completely. PS I had an MRI 6 months ago and they found mild arthritis

[@ThisMightHurt]

@BarbaraC02 - Thank you, so glad to hear you are finding some relief. As you may know, virtually everyone has mild or moderate osteoarthritis (OA) as they age, and it does not cause pain. Sometimes severe OA can cause pain. The source I can cite for this fact is Howard Schubiner, MD, who teaches this in his courses about unlearning chronic pain. Wishing you luck on your recovery. - Kent

[@willreidy5851]

Brilliant guys, this is so true and has got me back to running after feeling paralysed with lower back pain. Thank you

[@ThisMightHurt]

Great to hear!

[@EM-os9ze]

Thank you for this video. I did the exercise along with her as I suffer from chronic neck pain. It made me cry also. I'm exploring more ways to get out of this vicious pain cycle. I believe I can heal. Thank you. ❤️

[@ThisMightHurt]

Hi @E M thanks for sharing, it means so much to us! ( There's a lot more free resources on our site at thismighthurtfilm.com/unlearningpain )

[@matthewbell1968]

I've just read Alan Gordon's book and it's almost as if i wrote it myself and i mean that from the pain i have now (and have had for 30 years) and that he had. Pain on sitting is as excruciating as it is embarrassing but I'll give it everything i have got. Thank you Alan. 🇬🇧🙂

[@ThisMightHurt]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Hottietatsy]

How much I love this guy! I remember listening to his podcasts while driving 4 hours from Dallas to Austin on curable app and I had no back pain during or after. Usually I can barely drive an hour. His voice is so soothing and he just finds the right words. I got better just listening to podcasts and changing my thought and emotions towards pain. Then k read his book which describes me to a T. It was absolutely life changing. Would love to meet him in person.

[@ThisMightHurt]

Thanks so much for sharing this! What a wonderful story.

[@MistaTwitch]

amazing this worked for me, life changing

[@ThisMightHurt]

So glad it helped!

[@khajababu1403]

Hy sir! I have seen ur video so much amazing, I hope This applies for depression, anxiety and pain(psychological) ? i think iam phsycosomatic from long run emotions. I heard somewhere anxiety converts in to pain and somatic symptoms pathways. Even when depression and anxiety get remissioned. Im getting suicidal thoughts. Iam just 28 years old. iam suffering from severe depression And physical bodily pain symptoms for last 3 months, iam taking two psych meds present.. can i tapper of both clonazepam (0.5 mg) & vortioxetin (10mg) have been using for 3 weeks only.. I don't want to stay on these pills which cannot give me relef rather more I'll feeling.. Please advice me n ur support needed 🙏 iam eagerly waiting for ur reply, I don't want to regret in future help me.. Does ur idea helps me to overcome depression and physical pain also.. Please help me out🙏

[@psicologiajoseh]

Fantastic content! Thanks a lot for sharing! Looking forward to do the training. It's a bit expensive for me, living in a developing country. I hope I can find a way, bc there are so many people in need of this treatment where I live.

[@ThisMightHurt]

Thanks for your interest! There's lots of trainings for applying these principles, and at different price levels. We've collected many of them on our site here: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/doctors

[@elizabethszamrajhollick8636]

Beautiful. Thank you so much.

[@michelarondella153]

I have fibromialgya and I am crying like a baby watching this video. I know my brani is overreacting to normal stimuli, but still I am so scared to move and do activities that used ro bring joy in my life ( I am a Pilates Trainer). I cannot accept this is the life I am gonna have and the person I am gonna be forever 😢.

[@hew195050]

Wow. I’ve known the sensation of pain in my body, as well as exhaustion, has been from trauma but this was quite an experiential demonstration!

[@ThisMightHurt]

Thanks for sharing!

[@dr.amitabhamukherjee3601]

Terrific. Is that Dr. Schubiner in the background? Btw, here's a hard problem for Gordon: how do you test for the penile, rectal, perineal pain of CPPS/chronic prostatitis (all structural issues ruled out) that worsens every time you've voided your bladder and often goes on for hours? And what do you tell yourself/your brain when it ruins your sleep? 😊

[@lizetlizet845]

Yes, please, i have an overactibe bladder

[@johnnypolex]

My debilitating back pain completely went away within a day or two after understanding pain better. It was after i read “healing back pain” by dr john sarnos

[@ThisMightHurt]

Thanks for sharing! That's so great to hear.

[@johnnypolex]

@@ThisMightHurt Yw! So few people people are lucky enough to learn about chronic pain and how to essentially eliminate it. I had the pain for almost 20 years until then. It makes sense why pain management facilities never cure chronic pain. I’m still completely pain-free over a year now.

[@cassandrakapasi]

@@johnnypolex would that book work for other types of pain?

[@johnnypolex]

@@cassandrakapasi Yes! The book and understanding chronic pain in general applies to many locations of pain in the legs, shoulders, arms, etc. Especially ones that tend to move. Dr Sarnos explains that if the patient is tender in 6 specific areas then this book will apply to you. Those spots are tenderness at the tops of shoulders, sides of small of back, and upper buttocks. It is recommended to double check with your Dr to be sure the pain is not due to organ issues, infection, fractures, etc. Especially if your pain is near your stomach or chest. Once diagnostic imaging confirms this, and your doctors cannot find a source of pain. Then I would recommend to either read this book or apply similar methods that take into account the psychological understanding of pain

[@johnnypolex]

@@cassandrakapasi In addition, personality traits like overachievers and people pleasers have a strong association with chronic pain. Chronic pain, is often characterized as persisting for more than 6 months

[@woodfloorsjohnny]

I've had pain everywhere...today it's my left testicle..ugh..im Like NOW WHAT IS THIS?? Ugh..

[@altaerker5089]

Yes, the pain keeps coming back ... that's the problem. I've done the useless regular medical protocols and spent a mountain of money on holistic modalities and nothing worked for my fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. I'm 74 and have had this condition for 24 years and doubt that the trauma of a life with a narcisistic mother AND husband can ever be healed.

[@danaleegascon323]

The body only heals. It is possible to heal from Narc abuse.. anything we resist... persists..opposite of resistance is acceptance.. takes practice but is a way to heal.

[@privateperson5769]

Is TMS overwhelmingly a women's issue ? Look at all the women in that room. Like AI disease are like 80% more prevalent in women over men - what does that tell you ? Interesting I reckon.. Thanks for all the work in this area. we need it !

[@magnuserikkeenrobot1117]

hello, thank you for this amazing video. i am currently trying to unlearn and heal from a chronic painful shoulder. been rehabbing it mostly with all kinds of physical training since 2019 where a MRI showed minimal tendinosis of the supraspinatus tendon. i am pretty sure the tendon should be healed by now, and im having the classical symptoms of chronic pain. everything from pain while resting, using phone, using computer, and even when doing househeld tasks. some days it can be much better, and some days the pain will be harder to accept. i do however have no restrictions and a fully functional shoulder, despite its somewhat painful, and the fact that im having some fear of getting a "flare-up". for me the pain usually feels worse when im sitting still, or using a computer/phone for a long time. because i think that will be "bad" for my shoulder. im trying to retrain my brain to think im safe. do you have any tips on how to train it to accept that sitting at a computer and being still for longer periods will be safe? i always take regular breaks from screen time and workout nearly every day. i have to say thanks for this amazing video. its giving me hope to accept that im not doomed in some way. recently bought your book, looking forward to receiving it! big hug Magnus

[@michelefinizio6520]

😊 this is amazing i read alan Gordons books it gave me understanding what is going on with my back and tight muscles. How can i put this to practice with tinnitus? Any thoughts

[@jerroldfrank5869]

Can it help with neuropathy?

[@sonnenkind9130]

Hey there I still don t really understand what is happening when a symptom goes away just to be replaced ny another one? As if one disappears,apparently there is more sense of safety, but then , no other symptoms should show up. And i wonder how it is that somempeople had success with these methods, but years after or regularly, the pain comes back i the same places If the brqin learned in the past, that actually the sensations are safe and the pain hopes away, what explains that pain will come back? For me it feels a bit like you trained not to be afraid by a certain thing like spiders anymore and it worked and then the fear comes back , normally that doesn.t happen. Once your system learned it is okay, it stays ok Thank you for all these interesting informations around pain and neuroplasticity ❤

[@ThisMightHurt]

Thanks for your question. Symptoms returning in new places (or the same place) is such a common phenomenon that we have a term for it: the symptom imperative, or symptom substitution. A person dealing with this may need more support in pain reprocessing therapy or emotional awareness and expression therapy. Good luck!

[@JenKumar]

This is incredible-are there more demos to see?

[@ThisMightHurt]

Thanks! Wellll.... you could always check out our feature length documentary This Might Hurt at www.thismighthurtfilm.com/

[@avagantomos75]

How does this apply if you are aware that the pain is coming from the brain, but you are afraid of the discomfort rather than afraid that there’s something wrong structurally.. and hence the pain persists

[@ThisMightHurt]

One way to go is that instead of directing attention at the felt sense of the pain, you direct gentle, curious attention at the felt sense of discomfort, reminding yourself that it is safe and not dangerous. (note: do this practice when the feeling of discomfort is tolerable and not overwhelming.) You can track how the discomfort is felt as a direct, physical sensation, and notice how it changes, increases, and decreases. And also notice the felt sense of fear, how it is felt in the body with direct physical sensations, and remind yourself that fear is not fundamentally dangerous. Just allow it to be there as you "reappraise" it. You can take any emotion or physical sensation as an object of somatic tracking (a.k.a. mindfulness meditation). Wishing you luck. If it is still a struggle, we recommend seeking a good meditation instructor, or mind-body healing guide. They can help you troubleshoot. - Kent

[@avagantomos75]

@@ThisMightHurt thanks a lot for this! Do you recommend any reading materials that may help me?

[@pedrom8831]

Have tried somatic tracking for years but it just made my symptoms much worse. My nervous system is in total overdrive. Painful buzzing all through my body, and an involuntary muscle spasm in my left psoas. I know it’s not just my body overreacting to normal sensations because my right hip doesn’t writhe and spasm on its own. It’s destroyed my life because I just can’t sleep, and my body never calms down. Tracking just seems to compound the problem :(

[@ThisMightHurt]

I'm sorry to hear this. Somatic tracking sometimes doesn't work for people, while other mind-body healing strategies CAN still work, potentially. Things like fear reduction, emotional processing, behavioral changes... I'm saying this because I have a sense that you may get benefit from other ways of healing pain. Working with a practitioner can often unlock healing when meditating / somatic tracking in solitude is ineffective. You can find more info about finding a practitioner (coach or therapist) here: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/treatment-options I can specifically recommend Mind-Body Therapy Center - www.mindbodytherapycenter.org/ Cormendi Health: cormendihealth.com/ Additionally my coaching practice is Mind-Body Insight: www.mindbodyinsight.net/ Good luck! Kent

[@tlee62]

Hi, have been following you for a wee while now and love your work 😅 will this help with depersonalisation, had it for a few years now and am over it Thanks

[@mattswilling7323]

Can this help for non pain symptoms like a dizzy like feeling in the head. My eyes also hurt when trying to drive as they feel like they have to strain. Can this help with eye pain or pain behind the eyes? Structurally they say my eyes are fine.

[@ThisMightHurt]

@mattswilling7323 yes, this can help for pain in any part of the body when doctors rule out structural causes, including pain behind the eyes. As for dizziness, yes, it also works for that, but you might want more dizziness-specific resources. You can find them here: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/other-symptoms#dizziness-and-vertigo Dizziness-specific somatic tracking is available here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jquUZnuoiNV8idE On KZbin, search out the Steady Coach. She is doing amazing work for addressing dizziness and vertigo with mind-body healing principles.

[@akeigwin4]

How does this explain my pain while sitting? Do normal people (without TMS ) have sensations of using their back muscles while seated? It’s been so long since I’ve had a pain free sitting experience that I can’t remember, but I feel like… no?

[@ThisMightHurt]

Hi Annie, thanks for your question. It may be that you have a structural issue with your back that needs medical treatment, though it's worth mentioning that only about 15% of people with back pain in randomized studies are in that category. So this world of brain-first treatment might be worth exploring for you to see if it fits. Here's a tool you can use to explore the question. Does vividly imagining sitting down cause any pain, even while standing? If so that points to brain-generated cause. Is there any especially joyful activity while sitting that is associated with much less pain, or on very happy days is the pain of sitting dramatically better? If so that points to brain-generated cause. You can explore more of these ideas and tools on our website at www.thismighthurtfilm.com/unlearningpain (I would say yes many people can notice the sensations of back muscles working while being seated, though it doesn't cause pain or discomfort.)

[@JG-jn2nn]

how to do this for migraines and tension headaches?

[@ThisMightHurt]

Hi, we offer resources for migraine and tension headaches here: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/migraines-head-pain-resources The concept is the same, observing sensations with as much neutrality, curiosity, and gentleness as possible while reframing the sensations as fundamentally safe, and not a sign of damage. Migraine is harder to work with on average, but many people have unlearned their migraines, it is worth trying. Usually somatic tracking needs to be combined with emotional processing as an additional support for recovery. Thanks! Kent pain recovery coach, mindbodyinsight.net

[@BijalPatel-sh1kl]

Can this help with severe tinnitus. ?

[@ThisMightHurt]

Each person is unique and needs to be assessed individually, but yes, tinnitus has been successfully treated from this mind-body perspective *in some cases*, but not all. Sometimes there is physical damage which has caused the tinnitus, and sometimes it is caused by stress. It is hard to tell the difference except by being assessed medically and/or experimenting. Wishing you luck.

[@war113]

@@ThisMightHurt I am sure mine is from anxiety

[@jeah1827]

Hello Honorable Mr. Gordon, I'm wondering if this therapy would also work for FND ( functional neurological disorder ), people who experience unexplained functional weakness in the body?

[@ThisMightHurt]

Thanks for the question, yes, there is good evidence that relating FND as a neuroplastic condition can be a very effective treatment. The basic principles are the same as for chronic pain: accepting the diagnosis that the body is not damaged and is healthy, reducing fear, doing emotional processing for hidden stress and trauma, and using the affected body parts with confidence including gently returning to avoided activities when possible. Some differences are that sometimes Physical Therapist (PT) is more important for recovering from FND than from chronic pain, specifically finding a PT who can offer FND-specific treatment. This is because sometimes a PT who does not know how to work with FND can be counter-productive, or could even worsen the situation. Psychotherapists who have training in a type of experiential dynamic therapy called ISTDP are especially good at helping with FND. There a few people who specialize in FND. Dario M Zagar, MD at Yale University is good for getting a clear diagnosis, he offers the diagnosis with compassion and understanding, and he knows that FND is not a "choice" or "faking it" and that it is unfairly stigmatized.

[@ThisMightHurt]

And one person who has worked a lot with this is Dr. William Watson PHD. You can hear him talk about this issue here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHiTe6meq9yChpo

[@jeah1827]

@ThisMightHurt thanks so much for your response. I'm in the Portland, Oregon area. It's been hard finding someone willing to help with Fnd therapy. Went to several physical therapists who say they treat FND patients but unfortunately I fear I'm a severe case. Have been going since last winter and unfortunately not made progress but I'm still trying. I did locate a therapist in Washington who does pain reprocessing therapy. I will look into ISTDP. Thanks so much

[@ThisMightHurt]

​@@jeah1827 Yes, FND is widely misunderstood and can be so difficult. PT alone is frequently not enough for FND, people often need a really good therapist-I hope you're not feeling blamed or hopeless because the PT didn't work yet. Since you're in the Portland, Oregon area I can highly recommend two practitioners I know personally to do great work. One is Becca Kennedy, MD, a physician, and the other is Daniel Lyman, LCSW, a therapist and coach. Also, if you get ever get stuck and want to talk to someone, please feel to reach out to me as well. www.mindbodyinsight.net You can find an encouraging article about using ISTDP to overcome FND here: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/s/FND-ISTDP-Russell-1-s20-S1525505022001068-main.pdf All the best, Kent

[@jeah1827]

@ThisMightHurt it's been very difficult for me to find someone who is super skilled and takes health insurance but I guess that's how it goes. Thanks so much I will look into them

[@lauriefriedman2047]

so... before this video begins, there is an ad for qulipta migraine medicine! ugh

[@ThisMightHurt]

oh jeez, how ironic. Thanks, KZbin!

[@skinnythai]

I'm currently reading "The Way Out," which a friend gave me. I've suffered from chronic back pain (among other ailments!) for probably 10 years now, give or take. The thing is, I have an actual diagnosis: in addition to having scoliosis, I've got a few herniated discs. One if them is pressing on a sciatic nerve -- I think it's at L5/S1. So while the pain isn't always excruciating, it is always there to some degree (unlike with Felicia's neck pain). I'm determined not to have surgery but feel like I'm running out of options. And to be honest, since nothing has gotten rid of the pain yet, it's hard for me to believe that anything will. (Not the best attitude, but just keeping it real!) Do you think my pain could still be neuroplastic and/or that this approach can help me? Thanks in advance.

[@ThisMightHurt]

@skinnythai Thanks for the question. We can't speak to your specific condition, but there are many, many people who have been diagnosed with herniated discs, scoliosis, nerve compression (as well as pinched nerves, bulging discs, and so on) who have made 100% recoveries through neuroplastic rewiring of their brains and live with no chronic pain. Doctors routinely give inaccurate assessments of back pain, and people frequently get back surgeries on healthy backs, only to have pain return, which is named "failed back surgery." My suggestion would be to reach out to physicians who specialize in differentiating structural damage in the back (usually this is an infection, tumor, or fracture) from changes due to aging which are not causal of pain, but which are incorrectly attributed as the cause by most doctors. John Stracks MD and Howard Schubiner MD at cormendihealth.com will be able to help. Also Becca Kennedy, MD at resilience-healthcare.com are "mind-body informed" who can be of help. I also suggest reading and delving into the back pain resources I've collected here: BACK PAIN: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/back-neck-pain HELP WITH DIAGNOSIS PROCESS: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/how-to-assess-pain Wishing you luck! Kent from mindbodyinsight.net

[@skinnythai]

@@ThisMightHurt Much appreciated, Kent!

[@jennifercloosters6951]

In April '22 I got covid and I still have symptoms like Fatigue and chest pain. Can this help me? Currently reading your book...

[@ThisMightHurt]

@Jennifer Yes, many people have used these protocols to unlearn and heal from Long Covid. If you have seen doctors who have ruled out structural/medical cause for chest pain (like heart or lung damage), then you can be confident that these methods are relevant and worth giving a shot. I have two friends who have recovered from Long Covid by retraining their brains; and they both had debilitating fatigue. Fatigue is a signal the brain creates to protect us and make sure we get rest, but it can become a false alarm, and can become over-protective at the slightest energy expenditure. And it can be reprogrammed. Pain can also be overprotective. Many more free healing resources, recovery stories, and info are available on our site (as well as our full-length film!) www.thismighthurtfilm.com/long-covid Wishing you the best of luck with your healing journey.

[@jennifercloosters6951]

@@ThisMightHurt yes, they have ruled out structural damage at my lungs/heart 🙏 Thank you! I will continue what I am doing!

[@GMc-iw2fy]

I have excruciating sciatic can you give me a link to treatment for back and sciatica pain. Thank you

[@ThisMightHurt]

@@GMc-iw2fy If you have ruled out structural problems like cancer, infections, fractures, and you don't have muscle control issues in your legs, then it's a good possibility the sciatica-related back pain can be unlearned using the information and links to providers you can find on our site here: thismighthurtfilm.com/unlearningpain Specific info about back pain are available here: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/back-neck-pain One inspiring finding is that most nerve compressions will heal on their own without medical treatment. Wishing you luck finding the help you need. Good luck!

[@zoria]

How are you feeling now???

[@hgallegos915]

I understand my pain and it doesnt go away…. C6 nerve avulzion at the spinal cord…

[@lizaheidelberger4332]

Was there any follow up with this gal looking at long term results? I wonder if her neck muscles also stopped jumping the way they were during this video.

[@ThisMightHurt]

Hello, I spoke to her about a year after this video was filmed and she did have a lasting improvement. Thanks, Kent

[@AndyBrowning-zm1dc]

Can this help for post concussion symptoms?

[@ThisMightHurt]

Thanks for the question! In short, yes, more info is available here: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/migraines-head-pain-resources If you scroll down, there's a section on post- concussion that references Sarah Polley's book about recovering from the syndrome, called "Run Toward the Danger: Confrontations with a Body of Memory"

[@rubydad8127]

I get the idea. But this method takes someone actually knowing that there is nothing structurally wrong.

[@ThisMightHurt]

Yes, that's correct. To find out if something is structural or neuroplastic, we collected lots of helpful information here: thismighthurthurtfilm.com/unlearningpain

[@nargisbbyounis]

You know I was told there’s nothing structurally wrong but I wouldn’t believe it for ages until I started watching KZbin videos on psychosomatic pain and something just clicked… the thing that helped me the most is not trying to stop the pain but do the opposite… I told myself it’s fine I’m going to have pain… it doesn’t matter… I can take a painkiller if it gets really bad’… I actually couldn’t believe it, just thinking like this reduced the pain so much, I didn’t need the pain medication at all

[@katherinedoherty8823]

Yes the only way to be sure that I don' t have something ie…. possible scar tissue from episiotomy during childbirth pressing on my Peri- anal nerves, would be to cut me open. I don't want that! So how can I be sure? Thank you.

[@tonycole9620]

I have chronic neck, back, hip, and shoulder pain. I followed along with this video and my neck still hurts. no relief in the slightest.

[@ThisMightHurt]

@tonycole9620 Hi, thanks for you comment and sorry that you're in so much pain, and in so many parts of your body. The pain reprocessing treatment that this video gives a small glimpse of- it's a robust treatment paradigm that takes patients many months to complete, and it requires directly working with a practitioner who will go over the patient's history, answer questions, clarify the technique, help reduce fear, do emotional processing, teach mindfulness, and many other methods in addition to the somatic tracking of this video. This video is a small sample and is not intended in itself to bring relief. If you're curious to find out more, you can visit our site here: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/unlearningpain Wishing you luck, Kent www.mindbodyinsight.net

[@antigone5520]

@@ThisMightHurt So what about bad posture and stiff muscles? Even though people can be oversensitive and overreacting, there are still actual causes like bad posture, bad gait, TMJ etc. Sitting in front of a computer or staring at a smartphone screen the whole day is most certainly not a brain thing only. I don't like simplistic approaches. There's always many reasons for chronic pain.

[@ThisMightHurt]

@@antigone5520 Thanks for you comment. Chronic pain is most definitely complex. The pain reprocessing treatment recognizes chronic pain's complexity and brings an array of different tools for assessment and treatment. There's an interplay of brain-to-body factors, and injuries in the body that turn on fear and hypersensitivity. One thing to note, is that many people have bad posture and spend all day starting at screens, but have no chronic pain. For other people, their bad posture may be contributing to their symptoms, especially if they have fear about their bad posture causing their pain. Each person deserves an individualized assessment to see what is contributing to their pain. Thanks, Kent

[@ThisMightHurt]

@@antigone5520 Thank you for your thoughts and comments. We've found there's a lot of success in people recovering from pain that was attributed to bad posture, bad gait, smartphones, and screens. People can become pain free-in many but not all cases-without changing those habits. This paradigm acknowledges complex causes of pain that can including genetics as well as myriad psychosocial factors like fear, trauma, stress, expectations, and prior beliefs. Thanks, Kent

[@jessiewilson2808]

I have an extremely painful but very small and 'routine' umbilical hernia that I've had for about 12 years (only discovered a few weeks ago). It causes me such pain that the doctors are actually reluctant to fix it, because they don't understand yet why it hurts so much and they feel there must be something else going on. I wonder whether the hernia is an 'original sin', but the pain has been blown out of all proportion by my brain because of the years and years of confusion, anxiety, sadness and experiences lost due to the hernia. Does this sound plausible? I believe in the power of the brain to create pain without structural issue, but in my case there is a structural issue, but it's only small. How might the theory apply?

[@ThisMightHurt]

Hi Jessie, Thanks for the question. Hernia is a structural issue and not a mind-body issue, but sometimes mind-body factors overlay or amplify structural symptoms. You may want to take a look at how to assess pain for mind-body factors (i.e. the sensations tend to move around, change, or go up or down by a lot because of stress or time of day, etc.). You can find that information on our site here: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/how-to-assess-pain Another option is to try the mind-body practices, and if they help and bring relief, then that is useful information, and may help reduce your fear. If you're still confused by how to sort this out, we suggest reaching out to mind-body informed physicians like John Stracks and Howard Schubiner, who you can find at cormendihealth.com (Unfortunately so many doctors are only trained to search for tissue damage (like a hernia) and blame all symptoms on that damage, when sometimes the clinical picture is more complex.) Wishing you luck sorting this out.

[@Jwcounseling]

But what if I have two budging discs in my neck? I pretend there is nothing wrong ?

[@ThisMightHurt]

Hi, thanks for the question. Researchers have looked at this question and determined that bulging disks, disk degeneration, herniated disks-all of these are common in people who have are asymptomatic (have no pain), and these spinal changes increase steadily with age. In other words, they are a normal sign of healthy aging like wrinkly skin or grey hair. Aggregate data shows that back pain peaks in middle age and is less common in order people, even though bulging disks become more increasingly as age increases. There's very good evidence that bulging disks do not cause chronic pain, even though many well-intentioned doctors get this wrong. More info available here: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/back-neck-pain

[@MrChronos1971]

Would this work for nausea too? Post Covid after cold symptoms abated I get a daily hangover woozy and stomachache without drinking alcohol.

[@ThisMightHurt]

@paul C This work *can* work for nausea, but with abdominal symptoms it's very important to rule out potential medical conditions that could be driving your symptoms. Since you mentioned feel woozy as if you had drunken alcohol -- just learned of a rare medical disease called "Auto Brewery Syndrome" which makes people literally drunk because bacteria and fungus in their abdomens ferments bread into alcohol and causes very disruptive symptoms. But if you get checked out medically and they "can't find anything wrong" it's a good idea to take a look at this mind-body work (neuroplastic retraining) and see if it resonates. Many many people have unlearned nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea (many forms of irritable bowel syndrome) through doing the work and become symptom-free. It is very powerful work for when you don't have clearly identifiable structural damage to contend with. Good luck to you!

[@ThisMightHurt]

check out our Long Covid page for more info: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/long-covid

[@cassandrakapasi]

Would this work for bladder/pelvic pain? Im worried because we can't seem to find whats wrong. So I do believe something is wrong.. so would this technique help me?

[@ThisMightHurt]

Hi Cassandra, thanks for your question, and sorry for the pain that you're dealing with. If you've seen doctors and they can't find structural damage for pelvic pain and bladder pain, or they give a diagnosis for bladder pain called "interstitial cystitis," there is very good reason to try out these mind-body practices and see if they can bring pain relief. We have specific resources that may help you here: PELVIC PAIN RESOURCES: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/other-symptoms/#pelvic-pain PAINFUL BLADDER RECOVERY STORY: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJPKkHuEmbyWgbM LEARN HOW TO USE THE FIT CRITERIA TO ASSESS YOUR OWN PAIN: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/how-to-assess-pain Wishing you luck, Kent

[@cassandrakapasi]

@@ThisMightHurt thank you very much 😇

[@tosexe2535]

does this take some time before it starts to feel better? ive been doing 1 week but no major improvement yet

[@ThisMightHurt]

Thanks for the question, yes, it's a lot like doing physical therapy, it can take weeks or months to show results, but if you're diligent, it often gets positive results. But it is also only one of many mind-body practices to consider, and somatic tracking does not work for everyone. It's usually recommended to do somatic tracking in conjunction with journaling about emotions, returning to avoided activities, talking with a mind-body informed therapist (if you can access one), shifting beliefs about the body-being-injured (if that is called for), and many others. There's a lot more details on our site: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/unlearningpain Wishing you luck, Kent

[@tosexe2535]

@@ThisMightHurt thanks!

[@katherinedoherty8823]

What I don't get is this…I don' t care that sitting is not "dangerous" . It hurts - a lot. It could be the safest thing in the world , but it hurts badly, during and after! So the danger to me = the pain I will feel! Please help!

[@ThisMightHurt]

The word dangerous is being used to describe tissue damage or further injury. But of course you're right, even if a person is not injuring themselves, the pain can be very scary. That is why Pain Reprocessing Therapy helps people to unlearn and reverse pain, so that they can sit without pain, or with much less pain. Good luck to you!

[@darrend2035]

Watch her neck muscles during the video , once you you see it you can’t unsee it .. they are in spasm , classic TMS

[@daveschnier6021]

Alan doesn’t mention medications in his book. Is it possible to get better using his methods while taking medication for abortive use as an Avoidance Behavior?

[@ThisMightHurt]

Hello, we don't speak for Alan, nor can we offer any specific medical advice since we are not doctors. It's worth mentioning that many different kinds of people-who take a variety of medications-add these brain retraining practices to their lives along with the medications they are they taking. The mind-body practices tend to reduce many different kinds of physical and mental symptoms over time, and for some it becomes possible to reduce or eliminate medications that were once used to suppress or manage symptoms. In other words, once mind-body healing has taken place, some medications (but not all) may no longer necessary. It depends on the person and the medication. I hope this information is helpful. Thanks! Kent

[@daveschnier6021]

@@ThisMightHurt Thanks, this helps. I recently got off both opiates and an antidepressant I was taking (under medical supervision). Now I’m 10 days off Kratom. Working my way to hopefully getting off everything mind altering. I hope to do so using Alan’s methods.

[@SM-vb8fj]

Sadly this hasnt been working for me. Im so depressed.

[@ThisMightHurt]

Thanks for your comment, and sorry to hear this. Many people who try somatic tracking but see no benefit can still find relief from other mind-body modalities, so there is reason for hope. Frequently people need emotional and trauma-informed care that reaches deeper into life histories than somatic tracking. You might want to take a look at the work of mind-body coaches like Michelle Wiegers (michellewiegers.com/) or Rebecca Tolin, (www.rebeccatolin.com/ ) who emphasize emotional work, or psychotherapists like Daniel Lyman www.mindbodytherapycenter.org Wishing you luck

[@IndieMusique-dg7df]

Please cite workbook or book so i can make this go away…

[@lolobrower]

can this work for chronic ibs-d symptoms?

[@ThisMightHurt]

Hi Laura, in short, yes. In our film, Howard Schubiner MD talks about having those symptoms for the first 6 months after he became a doctor, out of severe stress. Then he was able to get better. More info about someone using these neuroplastic retraining methods for IBS here: markjphl.medium.com/how-i-eliminated-my-chronic-pain-through-a-mind-body-approach-ca1697dbae60 and you can check out our full-length film at www.thismighthurtfilm.com

[@lolobrower]

@@ThisMightHurt I read the first link and didn’t see anything about how he helped himself with IBS?

[@ThisMightHurt]

@@lolobrower It's mentioned but you're right, there's not a lot of detail. You can see more success stories for IBS here: www.thismighthurtfilm.com/other-symptoms/#irritable-bowel-syndrome

[@hew195050]

YES! It’s all the same AND IBS is totally created by stress. It’s science.

[@NovauraMusic]

I’ve had back surgery a few weeks ago (discectomy). However, I’m still feeling some nerve pain flaring up when I do too much. Is this method also appropriate to deal with such a situation? Because the surgeon also told me to get rest and lie down when I start feeling pain since the nerve might be irritated/inflammated.

[@ThisMightHurt]

Hello, if I'm understanding your question, it's worth emphasizing that don't need to choose between the surgeon's advice for lying down and resting, versus doing somatic tracking. You can do both at the same time. You can attend to your sensations through a lens of safety and curiosity while you're lying down and resting. If the sensations move or migrate, change and shift, disappear, lessen, or dramatically increase while you're doing somatic tracking, those are indications of neuroplasticity rather than structural nerve damage. It takes careful investigation to suss out what's going on, and a thoughtful doctor and/or therapist can help with that. Wishing you luck.

[@NicolinaDanielle]

1:28

[@khajababu1403]

Hy sir! I have seen ur video so much amazing, I hope This applies for depression, anxiety and pain(psychological) ? i think iam phsycosomatic from long run emotions. I heard somewhere anxiety converts in to pain and somatic symptoms pathways. Even when depression and anxiety get remissioned. Im getting suicidal thoughts. Iam just 28 years old. iam suffering from severe depression And physical bodily pain symptoms for last 3 months, iam taking two psych meds present.. can i tapper of both clonazepam (0.5 mg) & vortioxetin (10mg) have been using for 3 weeks only.. I don't want to stay on these pills which cannot give me relef rather more I'll feeling.. Please advice me n ur support needed 🙏 iam eagerly waiting for ur reply, I don't want to regret in future help me.. Does ur idea helps me to overcome depression and physical pain also.. Please help me out🙏

[@ThisMightHurt]

Hello, Glad you found this work interesting! We are not doctors and cannot answer medical questions. We can say that many people who have done the mind-body work have been able to taper off medications once their symptoms have reduced or resolved. It's easier once people begin to find lasting pain relief, and depression and anxiety relief. Sometimes the tapering is easier when you combine it with using placebo pills in combination to soften the conditioned response of reducing psychoactive substances. Wishing you luck. You can find support groups online at TMS Wiki.

[@XCarfaxAbbeyX]

This is not CHRONIC PAIN. This is not INTRACTABLE PAIN. The very first person has pain when she turns her head in the car...come on. Is he going to "treat" or work with intractable pain sufferers. This is a JOKE for people have pain that makes living impossible without relief

[@ThisMightHurt]

Hello, I'm sorry this video triggered you. In our film This Might Hurt you can see someone who has been been bed-bound for 8 years with severe debilitating chronic pain go through the treatment. Chronic pain has a huge range from mild to severe. This treatment and the practitioners who practice Pain Reprocessing Therapy and other related therapies work with all levels of chronic pain. Alan Gordon from this video has helped many many people with debilitating, severe pain recover, and he himself has dealt with severe pain. Wishing you the best. -Kent

[@timgallivan3749]

Tried it with my transverse myelits pain. Sorry to say, nothing changes, life is piss

[@randyburk142]

Always adding the caveat there is no structural damage. How about the rest of us with damage?

[@ThisMightHurt]

@randyburk142, it depends on the damage, and how long it's been since the injuries have happened. And there are a few practitioners who work from this perspective who don't make such a sharp distinction between damage-caused and mind-body-caused symptoms. Lara Birk, Phd ( www.thesagepractice.com ) and Lilia Graue MD's work might be worth looking into. (liliagraue.com ) Good luck! -Kent