Chronic pain and illness come with their own inherent stressors, and with 2020 shaping up to be one of the most challenging year in most of our lifetimes, we could all use more moments of calm and ease. This is why Shelly recorded a short, guided body scan meditation to help you soothe and relax during these trying times.
I love poetry. It reminds me of music, in away that it has its own deep language and it has the power to move you like music does. When I came across poet Camisha L. Jones’ work, I was immediately moved and struck by its power and heart. I knew that I had to invite her on Painiac to share more of her art and her story. I hope you enjoy this conversation, and I know you’ll enjoy her poetry. Accessibility: to read a transcript of this episode, please go to: https://bit.ly/3kiPeTd ----- Camisha L. ...
As I always say, pain is universal, it’s a part of our human experience; and Martha Beck reminds us that “Hey, if you wanted a life without pain, you came to the wrong planet.” So, remember that we’re all in this together, OK? Tank you for listening, and be well.
In this episode, we explore what it means to get better. I’ve been thinking a lot about healing and recovery, and what it means to get better. Last month marked my 12 years anniversary of living with debilitating chronic pain, and this past May marked the 3 year anniversary of my most recent and most invasive surgery. When I look back at how I had imagined myself to feel at this stage, I hadn’t been able to see clearly; it was all a blur of grey. I could barely see beyond the initial hospital st...
Do you know your rights to request accommodations in the workplace? Did you know that you even have rights to request accommodations to make your job more comfortable? I’ll be honest, I had no idea that I had these kinds of rights back when I wasn’t self-employed, and chances are you don’t aren’t in the know either. That’s why I can’t wait for you to listen to this episode where I talk all about this topic with Dr. Beth Loy, a Principal Consultant with the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a free...
Virtual reality therapy is revolutionizing pain management by offering painiacs non-invasive and non-addictive ways to effectively manage pain. Today, I’m talking with Josh Sackman, President and Co-Founder of Applied VR, about the new app Ease VR. Josh has been featured in Wired, Forbes and MIT Technology Review and has spoken at international conferences such as South by Southwest and Health 2.0, as well as The White House about the use of virtual reality technology in healthcare. AppliedVR is...
Painsomnia the difficulty of falling and staying asleep when dealing with chronic pain is a real challenge for painiacs. Research shows that one of the most important predictors for pain intensity is the number of hours slept the night before. If you sleep poorly, your pain will likely be worse the next day. Years ago, when the pain I live with was at its worst, I was unable to lie down flat in a bed. My back was so rigid and contorted in spasms that In fact, it was so impossible for me to lit f...
What does fear do to us? Fear shows us what we do not know. When we’re scared, if we peel back those layers of fear, we usually find that we are afraid of the unknown, of outcomes that we can’t predict and unforeseen obstacles that we can’t anticipate. Pain reminds us that we aren’t unbreakable. I took a walk in the forest the other day, the moss was deep green and the trees were dripping onto the soggy leaf-strewn trail because it had just rained the night before. The question of fear crept int...
"When you go through pain, we all will, some way and someday, hit rock bottom, and we will find that strength to keep going and to keep moving on." In 2014, Danielle experienced an accident that left her with debilitating neck pain that became chronic. I loved this conversation with Danielle, and I know you’ll love it too. I find her so bright and full of life and strength. We talk about working and being self-employed (and being a wife and mom) while living with challenges like chronic pain, an...
Welcome back to Painiac! In this short episode, Shelly kicks off Season Two of Painiac the Podcast. Learn more about what you can expect from this upcoming season!
Hi, this is Shelly. I hear you loud and clear, painiacs. You're ready for season two to start, and I'm ready to get it off the ground. Join me for an update on season two of Painiac, and hear how you can help support the continuation of the show. Painiac the podcast is free and widely available to anyone in the world who has access to a wifi connection. My mission is that Painiac is, and always will be, a free resource for people who need it because more people need free, accessible resources fo...
In this season one finale episode of Painiac the Podcast, Shelly reflects back on what we've learned, discussed, and shared in the inaugural season of the show. She also shares wisdom about what it means to continue on the path of mindful pain management and encourages listeners to commit to changing their relationship to pain. Be sure to download the supplemental mp3 Body Scan Meditation for Pain Management on our website at www.peacefulbodycoaching.com...
Now more than ever, chronic pain patients are considering using medical marijuana for pain relief from a myriad of conditions such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, seizure disorders, back pain, arthritis, anxiety, and migraines, just to name a few. If it works, and it’s legal in many places around the world, including in the US, then why is it such a challenge to find reliable, research-based, accurate information about what to take, how to take it, and where to get i...
Today we’re talking with licensed acupuncturist and herbalist Kirsten Cowan. Kirsten is trained as a physician of traditional Chinese medicine and she’s also the founder of Angelica and Peony, a natural health and wellness beauty product line inspired by herbal medicine. I asked Kirsten to join us to talk about holistic medicine and to discuss natural remedies for pain relief that are easy to integrate into your daily life and routine.
Kira is a coach and counsellor, and the author of Aches, Pains, and Love: A Guide to Dating and Relationships for Those With Chronic Pain and Illness. In her book, Kira provides down-to-earth, practical advice drawn from 20 years of experience living with a chronic pain condition. Shelly and Kira talk about the many challenges and obstacles of learning to date, love, and be intimate while living with pain, as well as some of the ins and outs of Kira’s multi-decade journey of living with chronic ...
One of the fundamental foundations of mindful pain management is all about the practice of prioritizing the ultimate health and wellness of YOU. It’s about taking active steps to better manage the pain so that you can continue to thrive and live, rather than stay feeling helpless or stuck. Today, we’re talking all about self-care treatments you can do yourself with that are free or really affordable. More instructions, recipes, and resources are included on our website at www.peacefulbodycoachin...
Today we are featuring a conversation with a powerful painiac, Jen Lake. Jen is an East Coast transplant living life in the high deserts of New Mexico with her better half, Trevor, and her pack of three very large rescue pups, Miesha, T-Bone and Bumper. By day, Jen is a web designer and photographer, but by night, she is a graduate student working on a dual masters is Business Administration and Information Systems and Assurance. Jen is also a 2016 Schwinn Bicycle Ambassador. In 2014, Jen underw...
In this week’s episode Shelly talks about an important piece of mindful pain management: pacing and how to manage our expectations about our goals and productivity. Pacing is all about managing our activity level and energy output in order to maintain a healthy baseline of pain. Just like with all aspects of mindful pain management, effectively pacing and managing expectations requires you to increase your self-awareness and personal connection to both mind and body. There are studies that show ...
Focusing is an experiential, body-oriented process of self-awareness and emotional healing. It can help you manage the overwhelming emotions and strong physical sensations of pain that disrupt your overall sense of well-being and ability to live your life with ease. Today, Shelly speaks with Anne Weiser Cornell. Anne is internationally recognized as one of the leading innovators and theoreticians of Focusing. She has taught Focusing in nineteen countries, and her Focusing books and manuals have ...
When living with pain it can be a challenge to feel as productive as you once were. It can feel like you can’t get anything done on your to do list. Everything, especially goals, can feel out of reach. Even without including pain into the equation, in general, Goals can be so overwhelming as a concept, but it doesn't have to be like that. Listen in to learn more about the importance of how to be intentional about what kind of goals we set for ourselves. The key isn’t to create less goals, or les...
Today we’re featuring a powerful painiac, Jennifer Lesea-Ames. Jen is a former triathlete and training coach, who lived an active life until congenital bilateral hip dysplasia caused her to be debilitated from pain. She’s the editor of Onward: Navigating through Hip Dysplasia, Periacetabular Osteotomy Surgery and Beyond. And she now manages the website and online community The PAO Project, which provide resources for those live with hip dysplasia and hip pain. She also designs and sells inspirin...
Let’s face it. Living with chronic pain or chronic illness isn’t “sexy”. Not only can living with pain make us feel uncomfortable in our daily lives, but especially in the bedroom and in our intimate relationships. Studies estimate that 75% of people living with chronic pain experience some form of emotional and sexual dissatisfaction, discomfort, or dysfunction. But it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s possible to have a satisfying sex life and healthy intimate relationships, even while living ...
Description: Living with chronic pain is not only challenging, but it's also often lonely. It can feel like no one "gets it" and that there isn't anyone to talk to. That's why we invited painiacs to submit questions about pain management and living with pain, so that we can provide more support, guidance, and encouragement. Listen to this week's episode to hear from some fellow painiacs, including a caregiver!
Why is it so hard to take time for self-care? When living with pain, it can feel like all we do is think about how we want to feel better, but do we actually make caring for our bodies a priority? Unfortunately, self-care is often placed on the bottom of our to-do lists, which only results in an increase in pain. But it doesn’t have to be so hard. Join Shelly in this week’s episode for a conversation about self-care and self-love with Sarah Steckler, a creative self-love coach. This episode will...
Living with chronic pain is hard enough, but when you add the typical strains of travel like jet lag, uncomfortable seats, unpredictable accommodations, and general exhaustion, pain can increase and be difficult to manage. Whether traveling for work or for fun, it doesn’t have to be so painful and worrisome and it doesn’t have to be impossible, either! Today we are talking about some easy tips you can do to help make your trip more manageable and enjoyable; all it takes is a little planning and ...
It’s rare when you meet a person with contagious optimism, a bright, big spirit, and riveting talent, but musician and disability rights advocate, Gaelynn Lea, is one of these rare and inspiring souls. Gaelynn Lea was recently named the winner of NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest . She has been playing violin for over twenty years. Gaelynn also regularly speaks publicly about disability, overcoming challenges, and the joy of music. She lives with a congenital disability called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or ...
How to Talk with your Doctor about Living with Chronic Pain or Illness Do you ever feel like your doctor isn't hearing you? It's a common challenge that many people face, not just painiacs. Communicating about pain -- and the emotional and mental struggles that come with it -- is hard to do. Listen to this week's episode that suggests simple, practical, and easy-to-remember tips about how to prepare for an office visit, effectively communicate about pain, and ultimately how to develop a partners...
Why is asking for help so hard? In this week’s episode, Shelly talks about the reality of what it means when we don’t ask for help when we really need it. She’ll help you determine how to effectively reach out and get the help you need to make living with chronic pain or illness more manageable. Although Shelly Jackson is a certified professional coach, she is not providing medical advice. The pain management information on Painiac the Podcast for Mindful Pain Management is provided by Peaceful ...
Join Shelly in a conversation with Mindfulnessbased Stress Reduction (MBSR) facilitator and fellow painiac Cecily McGaw. M BSR and its curriculum integrates both seated and walking meditation, gentle movement, and simple bodyawareness practices. T he MBSR program started in the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in 1979 and is now offered in hundreds of hospitals and clinics around the world. MBSR is an inspiring tool for pain management because it emphas...
Last week, we explored about what it means to change the vocabulary we use to talk about pain. Today, we’ll talk about the nitty gritty reality of limiting beliefs and the false truths we tell ourselves and how they keep us from doing what we are capable of. Fear not, Shelly will help you learn how to move beyond these unhelpful thoughts, expectations, and difficult emotions, so that you can start to feel better and more empowered to change your relationship to pain. Although Shelly Jackson is a...
