Depression and chronic pain create a vicious cycle that can feel impossible to break. If you're caught in this loop, you're not alone – and there's hope for healing both simultaneously. Many people experience depression as a natural response to living with chronic pain, but few understand how these conditions feed each other through nervous system dysregulation. When your system stays in a heightened state of danger for too long, it can trigger both physical symptoms and a freeze/shutdown respon...
Jul 10, 2025•26 min
Why do some people recover from chronic pain and illness with seemingly imperfect techniques while others follow every strategy meticulously yet struggle? The answer lies not in what you're doing, but how you're doing it. The foundation of effective healing isn't mastering complicated strategies—it's cultivating the right mindset. When we approach recovery with intensity, pressure, perfectionism, or fear, we inadvertently signal danger to our nervous systems, perpetuating the very symptoms we're...
Jul 03, 2025•28 min
Have you ever wondered if your determination to overcome chronic pain might actually be keeping you stuck? This eye-opening discussion reveals how our natural tendency to fight against uncomfortable symptoms can backfire by triggering more nervous system dysregulation. Tanner and Anne expertly break down the fight response – not just physical fighting, but the tension, racing thoughts, urgent behaviors, and constant attempts to fix and figure out our symptoms. "I was perpetually in fight mode fo...
Jun 26, 2025•25 min
What if the key to healing chronic pain isn't fixing your symptoms, but releasing the emotions trapped in your body? When our nervous systems get stuck in protection mode due to stress, trauma, or childhood experiences, physical symptoms often follow—creating a feedback loop that's difficult to break. Most of us respond to difficult emotions in ways that keep us stuck. Some disconnect completely, living "neck up" in a state of perpetual analysis (alexithymia). Others view emotions as inherently ...
Jun 19, 2025•30 min
Ever notice how your chronic pain worsens during stress but mysteriously disappears when you're deeply engaged in something meaningful? That's exactly what chronic pain recovery coach Gemma McFall discovered during her decade-long battle with debilitating back pain. From meticulous symptom tracking (she literally mapped six specific pain points daily) to endless medical treatments across continents, Gemma's healing journey dramatically shifted when she discovered the mind-body approach through D...
Jun 05, 2025•31 min
Your body speaks in sensations, not words, and chronic pain or illness can be its desperate cry for safety. When your nervous system feels threatened—whether from past trauma, prolonged stress, or childhood adversity—it generates protective symptoms as alarm bells. Most of us respond to these signals with frustration, anger, and self-blame, creating a vicious cycle that only heightens nervous system dysregulation and intensifies symptoms. Breaking this pattern requires a fundamental shift in how...
May 29, 2025•24 min
The moment someone tells you "you're just too sensitive," a little piece of you might shrink inside. That dismissal of your experience happens far too often for the 15-20% of us who identify as highly sensitive people. But what if your sensitivity isn't a weakness to overcome but an important aspect of who you are—one that deserves understanding, especially when chronic pain enters the picture? Sensitivity creates a unique relationship with pain. Your heightened awareness of both internal and ex...
May 22, 2025•32 min
Your body isn't failing you - your beliefs might be. Throughout history, healers and scientists have observed how powerful beliefs can create real physical symptoms — from the "voodoo deaths" documented in 1942 to modern medical misdiagnoses that trigger health declines despite no actual disease. That same power of belief has created what we call a "pathology culture" that's making millions chronically ill. This episode dives into fascinating research that challenges everything we think we know ...
May 15, 2025•32 min•Ep. 108
What happens after chronic pain subsides? When the symptoms that once consumed your attention finally ease, where does all that pent-up energy go? This powerful conversation with therapist and coach Anna Holtzman explores the rarely discussed "what next" chapter of the healing journey. Anna shares her personal path from debilitating migraines to recovery through mind-body approaches, detailing the stages that transformed not just her pain experience but her relationship with herself. Through psy...
May 08, 2025•44 min•Ep. 107
Your body isn't damaged, but you're still feeling pain or symptoms? That's because chronic pain/symptoms often persists long after injuries heal due to a sensitized nervous system. In this illuminating episode, we unravel how your brain can misinterpret safe signals as dangerous, creating persistent pain and symptoms even when there's no structural damage. We explore the fascinating neuroscience behind chronic pain/symptoms, explaining how different brain regions become involved when pain transi...
Apr 24, 2025•34 min•Ep. 106
Ever found yourself frustrated that your chronic pain or symptoms aren't resolving as quickly as the success stories you've heard? You're not alone, and more importantly—you're not doing anything wrong. The truth about neuroplastic healing is that while some people experience rapid improvement, many of us face a slower, more complex journey. After working with countless clients, we've identified several factors that can extend recovery timelines: past trauma, mental health challenges, ongoing so...
Apr 17, 2025•27 min•Ep. 105
Excessive people-pleasing isn't just a social habit—it's a physiological trigger for chronic pain and symptoms. In this revealing episode, we explore how constantly putting others' needs before our own creates a state of nervous system danger that manifests as physical suffering. We unpack why people-pleasing behavior develops (it made evolutionary sense for survival) and why it's so difficult to change, especially when relationships have adapted to expect our accommodation. Through personal exa...
Apr 10, 2025•39 min•Ep. 104
Ever wondered why your pain/symptom persists despite countless treatments? The missing piece might be simpler than you think. Tanner and Anne reveal how our tendency to disconnect from uncomfortable bodily sensations actually perpetuates pain and symptom cycles rather than resolving them. Through candid stories about tax scares and zip-lining disasters, they illustrate the dramatic difference between being overwhelmed by sensations versus staying present with them. This isn't just theory—brain s...
Apr 03, 2025•31 min•Ep. 103
Your nervous system might be stuck in a state of high alert, creating very real pain and symptoms even when there's no physical damage. In this second part of our exploration into neuroplastic pain, we reveal the sensitization factors that make chronic symptoms more likely to develop. We break down how chronic nervous system dysregulation—whether you're stuck in states of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn—creates the perfect conditions for neuroplastic symptoms to emerge. High-intensity living patt...
Mar 27, 2025•27 min•Ep. 102
How do you know when your chronic pain/symptoms are neuroplastic rather than structural? This question plagues countless people, who often find themselves caught between conflicting medical opinions, inconclusive test results, and treatments that provide only temporary relief. In this enlightening first installment of a two-part series, Tanner Murtaugh and Anne Hampson break down the concrete criteria that help identify neuroplastic pain and symptoms. They share that neuroplastic pain/symptoms o...
Mar 20, 2025•35 min•Ep. 101
The powerful connection between OCD patterns and chronic pain might be the missing puzzle piece in your healing journey. Tanner and Anne dive deep into how obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviors fuel neuroplastic symptoms, creating a cycle that keeps pain and symptoms alive. You'll discover why that constant symptom checking, endless research, and anxious monitoring actually reinforce your brain's pain circuits rather than solving the problem. With vulnerability and humor, the hosts share t...
Mar 13, 2025•42 min•Ep. 100
In today’s illuminating episode, we dive into the transformative concept of self-parenting—an essential practice that feeds our emotional needs while promoting healing from chronic pain and symptoms. With an engaging blend of personal anecdotes and professional insights, we unravel why many struggle with self-compassion and what it looks like to be your own nurturing parent. Through our candid discussion, we explore how our childhood experiences shape our present-day responses to stress and emot...
Mar 06, 2025•22 min•Ep. 99
Parenting and chronic pain/illness—two life challenges that seem impossible to juggle, right? Join us, Tanner Murtaugh and Anne Hampson, as we unravel the intertwined complexities of nurturing our children while healing from neuroplastic pain and symptoms. Reflect on Tanner's journey from pre-parenthood healing to the new stressors and joys children bring into the mix. For those without kids, we encourage you to consider your own unique stressors and their impact on your healing process. Through...
Feb 20, 2025•34 min•Ep. 98
Imagine navigating the complexities of a challenging week marked by your child's illness and a sudden power outage. That's precisely what we faced recently, and it highlighted how stress can make life seem all the more serious. Join us as we unpack personal experiences and the often unspoken issue of medical trauma—a significant form of trauma that's largely overlooked in the healthcare system. We shine a light on its profound impact on individuals and families, including our own journey, emphas...
Feb 13, 2025•27 min•Ep. 97
After battling a relentless bout of stomach flu that turned our household upside down, we uncovered profound insights into the mind-body connection that we're excited to share with you. Picture this: each family member succumbs to illness, fear creeps in, and suddenly, we're revisiting our mind-body techniques to navigate the chaos. In this episode of the MindBodyCouple podcast, we unravel how fear not only hijacked our minds but also manifested physical symptoms, offering a firsthand look at th...
Feb 06, 2025•27 min•Ep. 96
What if processing shame could be the key to unlocking your healing journey from chronic pain and illness? Join us as we promise to unravel this complex emotion and its significant role in recovery. Our latest episode features an exploration of how guilt, the feeling of having done wrong, differs from shame, which attacks our very sense of self. By shining a light on these often-confused emotions and highlighting their universal nature, we aim to guide you in processing them effectively within y...
Jan 30, 2025•28 min•Ep. 95
What if the key to alleviating chronic pain lies in the way we perceive and engage with our own emotions and habits? Join us as we tackle this intriguing question and uncover the habits that might be hindering your healing journey. We dive into the necessity of downtime and how regulating your nervous system can be a game changer. Plus, we're thrilled to introduce our new weekly virtual Qigong classes, perfect for anyone looking to enhance their somatic movement and breath work. These sessions a...
Jan 23, 2025•32 min•Ep. 94
After years of battling with chronic neuroplastic pain, Tanner Murtaugh discovered the power of purposeful action as a transformative tool in their healing journey. Join us on the MindBodyCouple podcast, where we share how engaging in actions with a sense of purpose, passion, and creativity can help shift focus from fear-driven behaviors to those grounded in values and meaning. By letting go of perfectionism and embracing a life filled with small steps towards new career paths or hobbies, you'll...
Jan 16, 2025•26 min•Ep. 93
What if your dizziness and anxiety were more connected than you ever imagined? Join us in a groundbreaking conversation with Dr. Yonit Arthur, a board-certified audiologist and vestibular specialist, as we unravel the unexpected link between chronic dizziness and mental health challenges like anxiety and obsessive-compulsive patterns. Dr. Arthur sheds light on how sudden bouts of dizziness can trigger a cascade of anxiety, even in those without previous mental health issues, leading to a cycle o...
Jan 09, 2025•44 min•Ep. 92
Discover the revolutionary approach to retraining your brain to conquer chronic pain and illness as we welcome a fresh start in the new year. Through candid reflections on our holiday experiences, we underscore the critical importance of easing pressure and maintaining emotional regulation. Dive deep into the transformative practice of somatic tracking, a cornerstone of pain reprocessing therapy, which empowers you to replace fear and frustration with calmness and compassion. By cultivating a se...
Jan 02, 2025•31 min•Ep. 91
After enduring decades of chronic pain, anxiety, and depression, Aoife, a courageous mind-body coach, graces our latest episode with her incredible journey to healing. As a child, Aoife was dubbed the "mystery girl" by doctors due to her endless symptoms and elusive diagnoses, including fibromyalgia. Her story is a testament to resilience and transformation, from struggling with drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms to embracing a mindful approach to health. Join us to hear Aoife's riveting tal...
Dec 26, 2024•38 min•Ep. 90
Ever felt the weight of the holiday season bearing down on you, especially when managing chronic pain or illness? You're not alone. Join us as we promise to equip you with a "mind-body holiday toolkit" designed to navigate the intense pressures of festive obligations, relationship dynamics, and financial strains. Our heartfelt discussion sheds light on the common yet overwhelming experience of striving for perfection during the holidays. We share personal stories and effective strategies to help...
Dec 19, 2024•23 min•Ep. 89
Unlock the secrets to navigating uncertainty in your healing journey with insights from the MindBodyCouple podcast. Ever wondered how your nervous system's subconscious signals might be impacting your emotional regulation and perception of safety? Join us as we explore the concept of neuroception from polyvagal theory, revealing how childhood adversity, trauma, and chronic pain can skew these signals, leaving you feeling more vulnerable. You'll learn practical strategies to enhance emotional reg...
Dec 05, 2024•28 min•Ep. 88
What if the chronic pain you experience isn't just a physical ailment, but a complex interplay of emotions and neurological patterns? Join us on the MindBodyCouple podcast as Simon unravels his personal journey of battling chronic pain. Despite expert opinions leaving him at a loss, Simon's story is one of resilience and discovery. He sheds light on the neuroplastic nature of his symptoms and how hypervigilance and maladaptive coping mechanisms played a role in his suffering. His journey takes m...
Nov 28, 2024•34 min•Ep. 87
Imagine discovering a path to healing chronic pain/symptoms and trauma that involves something as simple and joyful as play. Join us, Tanner and Anne, as we embark on an insightful journey through the intricate workings of the autonomic nervous system and its vital role in well-being. Our series kicks off with a lighthearted exploration of the ventral vagal, sympathetic, and dorsal vagal states, adorned with personal tales and a sprinkle of humor. We reveal how balancing these states can lead to...
Nov 21, 2024•23 min•Ep. 86
