Writing
Answers to the questions I get asked most about this work.
My longer thoughts are on Substack.
Latest on Substack 15 October 2026
why you must connect to your own ancestral traditions and lineage
in a world where most of our ancestral traditions are buried and forgotten under colonialism and capitalism, we must be the ones to resurrect them
Read the essaySubscribe on Substack
The questions that come up most
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Understanding pain
What is a mind-body approach to chronic pain?
A mind-body approach to chronic pain recognizes that not all pain comes from structural damage.
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Understanding pain
How do I know if my pain might be mind-body?
Common signs of mind-body pain include pain that moves around the body, changes with stress or emotions, began during a hard period of life, or doesn't match what your scans show.
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Understanding pain
What does a decolonial approach to chronic pain mean?
A decolonial approach to chronic pain sees pain as connected to your whole life and the world you live in, not only to a part of your body.
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Understanding pain
What is TMS, the name Dr. Sarno gave to mind-body pain?
TMS stands for tension myositis syndrome. It's the name Dr. John Sarno gave to chronic pain that is real and physical, but that comes from the nervous system responding to emotional tension rather than from structural damage.
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Understanding pain
Is this pain all in my head?
No. Mind-body pain is not imagined. It's a real, physical experience.
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Symptoms
Can back pain and sciatica be mind-body?
Yes. Back pain and sciatica are some of the most common ways mind-body pain shows up, including pain that runs from the lower back down the leg, like mine did.
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Symptoms
Can mind-body work help if I have a diagnosis like a herniated disc or scoliosis?
Yes, it often can. Mind-body work doesn't deny what's on your scan, but many people with the very same findings live without pain.
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Understanding pain
Do I need to see a doctor before starting mind-body work?
Yes, I recommend having a doctor rule out serious medical causes first.
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Breath
What does breath have to do with chronic pain?
Conscious connected breathwork is a practice of feeling: a way into the emotions and nervous system patterns we usually keep out of awareness.
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Symptoms
How I found freedom from a year of back and leg pain
In May 2024, I was struck with pain from my lower back down my right leg, and for almost a year I could barely walk.
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Symptoms
Are panic attacks mind-body?
Yes. A panic attack is your nervous system's alarm going off at full volume, and everything you feel during one is real and physical.
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Breath
What is conscious connected breathwork?
Conscious connected breathwork is a way of breathing with no pause between the inhale and the exhale, kept up for a sustained stretch of time, with the guidance of a certified practitioner.
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Symptoms
Can migraines and tension headaches be mind-body?
Often, yes. The nervous system plays a big part in both migraines and tension headaches, and many people notice that theirs follow stress or other triggers.
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Symptoms
Can IBS and gut problems be mind-body?
Gut symptoms are a very common way mind-body pain can show up.
Podcast episode
Hear from me
I joined Suks on the Inspire Breathwork Podcast to talk about chronic pain in an unjust world, mind-body medicine, and how we stay well when everything around us is collapsing.
Free 50-minute class
Start with the free class
I share my story, explain how mind-body pain happens, help you tell whether you might be experiencing it, and leave you with a roadmap and tools to start working with it.