Chronic Pain and Addiction | Damien Reilly
Sean Hershey, LCSW | Gay Somatic Therapist NYC
Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain
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Damien Reilly is a certified addiction recovery coach. He’s also trained in pain reprocessing therapy. Damien’s been abstinent from drugs and alcohol for 14.5 years. He tells us about his use, his recovery, and the connection between his use and his chronic atypical facial pain, or trigeminal neuralgia.
In this Episode:
🔹 Addiction is a brain disease.
🔹 When we’re healing chronic pain, we’re rewiring the brain.
🔹 The two recovery processes (addiction and pain) actually have much in common. In both, we want to change the pathways in the brain.
🔹 Damien has a long history of chronic atypical facial pain, or trigeminal neuralgia.
🔹 Damien says, of his use, “Using would either make the pain go away – or it would make me not care.”
🔹 Damien discusses the importance of a pivotal shift in his mindset: “Stop trying to get rid of the pain, and start trying to get rid of the fear.”
When it comes to pain, Damien says, “I have nothing to be afraid of.”
Beautifully put.
Join us for this powerful discussion about chronic pain – and about the intersection between pain and addiction.
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Find Damien:
Damien’s Website: reillyrecovery.com
Damien’s Email: damien@reillyrecovery.com
Damien’s Instagram: @reillyrecovery
Damien’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/damien-reilly-99596a12a
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Find Sean:
Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com
Click Here to Ask Sean a Question
Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week
Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain
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Learn About Therapy with Sean: Therapy for Chronic Pain and Symptoms
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Other Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
S5 E11 | How To Trust Yourself with Anna Holtzman, LMHC
S6 E5 | The Highly Sensitive Person and Chronic Pain with Kayla Jacobsen, LICSW
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…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.
Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.
Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.
Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.
We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.
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