The Pain Companion

Sarah Anne Shockley is an award-winning filmmaker and former university instructor who has lived with debilitating neuralgia from thoracic outlet syndrome for more than ten years. Because her condition was unresponsive to existing traditional or alternative therapies, she developed a unique method of pain management and pain reduction not reliant on pharmaceuticals or medical intervention. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.Retired surgeon Bernie S. Siegel speaks, writes, and runs support groups in his effort to empower patients. His books include Love, Medicine & Miracles and 365 Prescriptions for the Soul. He lives in Woodbridge, Connecticut.

A uniquely practical, gentle, and empathic approach to pain management and reduction from a fellow sufferer

Introduction PART 1: PAIN MOVES IN Chapter 1 Life Taken Over by Pain Chapter 2 The Submersion of the Self Chapter 3 When Pain Won't Leave Chapter 4 Feeling Bad About Feeling Bad PART 2: THE EMOTIONAL LIFE OF CHRONIC PAIN Chapter 5 Pain's Emotional Traps Chapter 6 Guilt and Shame Chapter 7 Anger and Blame Chapter 8 Victimization and Powerlessness Chapter 9 Fear, Anxiety, and Stress Chapter 10 Isolation and Loneliness Chapter 11 Invisibility and Silence Chapter 12 Physical and Emotional Exhaustion Chapter 13 Sadness and Loss PART 3: MEDITATIVE APPROACHES TO PHYSICAL PAIN Chapter 14 Discovering Pain's Purpose Chapter 15 The Body Made Wrong Chapter 16 Finding a New Approach Chapter 17 Communicating with Pain Chapter 18 Soothing the Wild Animal Chapter 19 Introduction to Meditative Exercises Chapter 20 Releasing Breath Chapter 21 Unlocking Contraction Chapter 22 Paying Attention to Pain Chapter 23 Shifting Your Relationship to Pain Chapter 24 Loving the Places that Hurt Chapter 25 Imaging Pain's Form Chapter 26 Giving Pain What It Wants Chapter 27 Writing Pain a Letter of Complaint Chapter 28 Pain As Messenger Chapter 29 Telling Pain Your Story Chapter 30 Listening to Pain PART 4: WHEN PAIN IS THE TEACHER Chapter 31 Resistance Is Futile Chapter 32 Having Compassion for Yourself Chapter 33 What I Learned From Pain Chapter 34 The Nature of True Healing Chapter 35 Enlisting Pain as an Ally Chapter 36 You Are Not Your Pain Chapter 37 Some Concluding Thoughts