Anxiety: Another Name for Pain

Understand it and solve it  

David Hanscom, MD

Forgiveness Is Not What You Think

Processing anger has three parts: input; the state of your nervous system; and output. Forgiveness addresses input.

Plan A–Lowering Inflammation Lengthens Life

Mortality from COVID-19 is associated with serious medical conditions linked to chronic inflammation. There are ways to lower the inflammatory markers. First thrive, then survive.

Essence of Illness

Your body creates symptoms based on sensing cues of safety or threat. Sustained mental or physical threat — current or past — will cause serious illness and disease.

Pain: The Gift Nobody Wants

Dr. Paul Brand was a renowned hand surgeon who began his career in India working on lepers who lacked sensation. His compelling story illustrates the beauty of our pain system.

The Relationship Between Anger and Vulnerability

How people in pain can release anger and improve their relationships.

Bullying Is Assault and Should Be Treated as Such

Why do we treat abusive behavior in children differently than we do with adults?

Anxiety Is the Correct Name for Pain

You survive by avoiding threat and gravitating towards safety. Your whole body responds, including your immune system. Anxiety is simply the name humans have given to this reaction.

Reprogram Your Brain Around Pain—Mental or Physical

Threat causes a defensive reaction, which includes inflammation. The sensation is anxiety, which is unpleasant and compelling. Decreasing this stress reaction lowers anxiety.

“Play 20”: Create Your Life at Any Age

Creating and pursuing your vision causes your brain to develop in that direction. Maurice Monet pursued retirement from the perspective of being 20 again–inspiring and why not?

Using a Polyvagal Approach, the COVID Pandemic is Solvable

The solution for the COVID-19 pandemic will be similar to that of solving chronic pain. It is based on harnessing the body's own capacity to heal.

10 Ways to Lower Cytokines (Thrive) and Survive COVID-19

Threat overwhlems our immune system. The key is thriving regardless of circumstances and upping your odds of survival.

Lower Anxiety With a “Family Business” Business Plan

Your family is in the business of living life. Are you in a survival mode? What is your vision for your family to thrive?

Feeling safe is the essence of healing mental and physical pain. Feeling heard is a critical step in establishing a nurturing relationship with your doctor. It has to re-emerge.

5 Important Steps to Heal From Chronic Pain

The essence of healing chronic pain is learning to process and assimilate unpleasant emotions.

Make Your Home a “Safe House”

Your deepest triggers are contained within your family and are magnified in the presence of chronic pain. You have a choice to stop it.

Your Home: Oak Tree or Military Barrack

Does your home provide the protection of an oak tree or does it resemble an army barrack?

Never Walk in the Front Door Angry

Your mood has a direct effect on your family. What environment do you want to create for them?

“The Bottom”–Sometimes It's OK to Be Depressed

Crippling anxiety causes you to withdraw from friends and family and become depressed. You have to give yourself "space" to heal in order to re-engage with life.

Listen to Your Family Without Advice or Criticism

Most of us feel we have the right to be critical of others. But no one likes to receive it. Quit being critical, especially with your family.

Solve the Pandemic Now—Create the “Herd”

We can make great strides in decreasing the impact of the pandemic on our health and quality of life by focusing on safely increasing the pool of people who are immune.

You Can't Relax if You're Angry

The essence of healing from mental or physical pain is feeling safe. Your body's chemistry is optimized. This is best achieved while at play–at any age.

Can Expressive Writing Fight Off the Coronavirus?

Chronic stress manifested by sustained anxiety compromises your immune system. There are tools to lower stress hormones and optimize your body's capacity to fight infection.

Forgiveness Is a Learned Skill

Forgiveness is not an intellectual exercise. It requires learning skills to allow yourself to feel the anger and then release it.

Beyond Forgiveness–Compassion for Those Who Hurt You

Forgivess will set you free. Compassion for the perpetrator will allow you to soar.

Aware of Being Unaware?

Being aware of your needs and those close to you is critical to successful relationships. Understanding when you are unaware of your needs is a critical first step.

The Dark Side of Self-Esteem

Trying to gain self-esteem is a sure way to remain unhappy. It is an ongoing judgement pattern. A deeper problem emerges in rejoicing in the suffering of others: schadenfreude.

Embracing Anxiety: "The Ring of Fire"

Many of us spend our life energy avoiding feeling anxious. Eventually, you'll wear down. Learning to assimilate it into your life will help you create the life you want.

Why Isn't Anyone Doing Something? Polyvagal Theory–Frozen

Society is deeply divided and manifested by an inability to rationally solve differences. This behavior can be explained by the "shut down" phase presented by The Polyvagal Theory

Affirmations and Neuroplasticity

Affirmations can help us to develop a more optimistic way of looking at ourselves and our experiences.  

Solving the Unsolvable: Anxiety

Every species has a survival reaction that allows it to survive. Humans have a word for it: anxiety. It is critical to stop trying to get rid of it.

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