The Mind-Body Couple – Détails, épisodes et analyse

What if the aches, tension, and fatigue you’ve been fighting are your emotions asking to be felt? We unpack the research on emotional suppression and show how a nervous system stuck in “danger” can translate stress into very real pain/illness—without structural damage. Drawing on studies of suppression and stress reactivity and clinical insights from neuroplastic pain work, we make the science practical, humane, and doable in everyday life.

We walk through four patterns that keep feelings trapped in the body. Alexithymia makes it hard to notice and name what’s happening inside, so emotions “appear” as symptoms or outbursts. Viewing sensations as dangerous turns normal states like sadness or excitement into alarms you try to outrun. Avoidance behaviors—angry cleaning, overworking, caretaking, doom scrolling, perfectionism, sweets or alcohol—numb for a moment but teach the brain that inner experience is unsafe. Invalidation finishes the loop with self talk like “others have it worse,” which buries signals you need to actually heal. You’ll hear candid stories about misreading sensations, blowing past capacity, and how simple validation can redirect an entire day.

Then we offer a clear, repeatable healing cycle. Use short embodiment practices to connect with sensations safely. Approach feelings with curiosity and compassion, noticing qualities like tight, buzzy, heavy, or warm. As safety grows, the nervous system downshifts on its own and symptoms desensitize. We talk about working within your window of tolerance, using strategic avoidance when you’re flooded, and choosing small, consistent check ins that build confidence. By learning to surf emotional waves instead of suppressing them, you teach your brain that discomfort isn’t danger—and relief follows.

If this resonates, press play and try the guided check in with us. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs a gentler way to heal, and leave a review telling us which resistance pattern you’re rewriting next.

Tanner Murtagh and Anne Hampson are therapists who treat neuroplastic pain and mind-body symptoms. They are also married!

In his 20s, Tanner overcame chronic pain and a fibromyalgia diagnosis by learning his symptoms were neuroplastic, not structural. Post-healing, Tanner and Anne have dedicated their lives to developing effective treatment and education for neuroplastic pain and symptoms.

Listen and learn how to assess your own chronic pain and symptoms, gain tools to retrain the brain and nervous system, and make changes in your life and health!

The Mind-Body Couple podcast is owned by Pain Psychotherapy Canada Inc. This podcast is produced by Alex Klassen, one of the wonderful therapists at our agency in Calgary, Alberta. https://www.painpsychotherapy.ca/

Tanner, Anne, and Alex also run the MBody Community, an in-depth online course that provides a step-by-step process for assessing, treating, and resolving mind-body pain and symptoms. https://www.mbodycommunity.com

Check out Tanner's YouTube channel for more free education and practices: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Fl6WaFHnh4ponuexaMbFQ

And follow us for daily education posts on Instagram: @painpsychotherapy

Disclaimer: The information provided on this podcast is for general in...

What if your most stubborn pain isn’t a broken body, but a brilliant brain trying to protect you? We open up about Tanner’s journey from spreading knee, shoulder, and back pain to a full recovery, and how the real turning point came when he reframed pain as a danger signal from the nervous system—not proof of damage. You’ll hear the messy middle too: fear, failed treatments, shrinking routines, and the isolation that follows when life gets small.

We break down the five pillars that changed everything. First, evidence-based education shifted beliefs using the work of Dr. John Sarno and Dr. Howard Schubiner, plus real-world clues like symptom inconsistency and stress-linked flares. Second, brain retraining and graded exposure taught Tanner to approach sensation with safety and rebuild movement without deadlines. Third, daily nervous system regulation—breathwork, mindfulness, qigong, and somatic practices—created a calmer baseline while building capacity to feel emotions in the body without spiralling. Fourth, trauma processing addressed bullying, addiction history, and the trauma of chronic pain itself, using titrated, body-led methods and, when needed, therapeutic support. Finally, social safety sealed the change: fewer toxic ties, less pressure, clearer boundaries, less people-pleasing, and more play.

The result isn’t a life without discomfort; it’s a nervous system that bounces back. Flares show up less often and fade faster because the brain has new proof that movement and emotion are safe. If you’ve been told to just live with it, this conversation offers a different path—rooted in neuroscience, practice, and patience. Subscribe, share with someone who needs hope, and leave a review to help others find these tools. What’s the first safety signal or small exposure you’ll try this week?

Tanner Murtagh and Anne Hampson are therapists who treat neuroplastic pain and mind-body symptoms. They are also married!

In his 20s, Tanner overcame chronic pain and a fibromyalgia diagnosis by learning his symptoms were neuroplastic, not structural. Post-healing, Tanner and Anne have dedicated their lives to developing effective treatment and education for neuroplastic pain and symptoms.

Listen and learn how to assess your own chronic pain and symptoms, gain tools to retrain the brain and nervous system, and make changes in your life and health!

The Mind-Body Couple podcast is owned by Pain Psychotherapy Canada Inc. This podcast is produced by Alex Klassen, one of the wonderful therapists at our agency in Calgary, Alberta. https://www.painpsychotherapy.ca/

Tanner, Anne, and Alex also run the MBody Community, an in-depth online course that provides a step-by-step process for assessing, treating, and resolving mind-body pain and symptoms. https://www.mbodycommunity.com

Check out Tanner's YouTube channel for more free education and practices: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Fl6WaFHnh4ponuexaMbFQ

And follow us for daily education posts on Instagram: @painpsychotherapy

Disclaimer: The information provided on this podcast is for general in...

Ever find yourself trapped in a cycle of obsessing over every twinge, googling symptoms endlessly, or talking about your pain nonstop? That mental fixation isn't just a reaction to your chronic pain and illness—it might actually be the force keeping it alive.

In this transformative episode, we unveil our powerful "Go From T to S" brain retraining technique for breaking free from chronic pain and illness patterns. This simple yet profound approach helps you identify when you're feeding symptom pathways through common behaviours (the T's): Trying to fix it, Thinking about it too much, Testing it constantly, and Talking about it excessively. We then guide you through shifting to healing actions (the S's): Starving the pathway of attention, Shifting to safety signals, Showing your body it's healthy, practicing Somatic focus appropriately, and Sticking to your game plan.

Tanner shares his personal journey from being bedridden with debilitating pain to experiencing his first breakthrough moment of genuine indifference toward symptoms during his honeymoon. He describes how cultivating this indifference wasn't about forced positive thinking, but about consistently redirecting his attention away from fear-based responses toward safety and regulation. Through concrete examples and practical strategies, we demonstrate how this technique helps your brain finally "forget" about chronic pain and illness by creating new, healthier neural pathways.

Whether you're struggling with chronic pain, fatigue, fibromyalgia, IBS, or anxiety symptoms, this episode offers a missing piece that could transform your healing journey. The goal isn't to mask or ignore your symptoms, but to change your brain's relationship with them at a fundamental level. Check out our online course for comprehensive support in implementing these strategies into your daily life: https://www.mbodycommunity.com/

Tanner Murtagh and Anne Hampson are therapists who treat neuroplastic pain and mind-body symptoms. They are also married!

In his 20s, Tanner overcame chronic pain and a fibromyalgia diagnosis by learning his symptoms were neuroplastic, not structural. Post-healing, Tanner and Anne have dedicated their lives to developing effective treatment and education for neuroplastic pain and symptoms.

Listen and learn how to assess your own chronic pain and symptoms, gain tools to retrain the brain and nervous system, and make changes in your life and health!

The Mind-Body Couple podcast is owned by Pain Psychotherapy Canada Inc. This podcast is produced by Alex Klassen, one of the wonderful therapists at our agency in Calgary, Alberta. https://www.painpsychotherapy.ca/

Tanner, Anne, and Alex also run the MBody Community, an in-depth online course that provides a step-by-step process for assessing, treating, and resolving mind-body pain and symptoms. https://www.mbodycommunity.com

Check out Tanner's YouTube channel for more free education and practices: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Fl6WaFHnh4ponuexaMbFQ

And follow us for daily education posts on Instagram: @painpsychotherapy

Disclaimer: The information provided on this podcast is for general in...

Ever notice how your thoughts about pain or symptoms seem to make it worse? You're not imagining things—negative thinking patterns actually trigger and intensify chronic pain and symptoms by dysregulating your nervous system.

In this revealing episode, we dive deep into the powerful connection between your thoughts and physical symptoms. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience, we share our own recent struggles with anxiety spirals—Anne's obsessive worrying about her horse's health and Tanner's business-related stress—and how we applied therapeutic techniques to break free.

The mind-body connection isn't just theoretical. When caught in patterns of fearful, hopeless, or obsessive thinking, you create a sensitization cycle where pain/symptoms leads to dysregulation, which leads to more symptoms. These thinking habits might have been present before your symptoms developed, but they take on new power when chronic pain/symptoms enters the picture.

We introduce the transformative "3R" technique—Realize, Re-examine, and Restore (which originates from Pain Reprocessing Therapy)—a powerful framework for shifting from mind to body and breaking negative thought cycles. This Technique comes from Pain Reprocessing Therapy. The skill works because, as polyvagal theory expert Deb Dana explains, "story follows state." Your nervous system state determines the story your mind creates.

The episode includes a complete guided meditation that walks you through the Three R process, teaching you to observe thoughts non-judgmentally, re-examine their validity, and restore safety by shifting awareness to your body. This practice is especially valuable for anyone caught in pain/symptom-focused thinking or symptom-checking behaviors.

Ready to transform your relationship with chronic pain and illness? Listen now to discover how changing your thinking patterns can create lasting relief—and experience our guided meditation designed specifically for pain reprocessing. Your healing journey begins with understanding the power of your thoughts.

Tanner Murtagh and Anne Hampson are therapists who treat neuroplastic pain and mind-body symptoms. They are also married!

In his 20s, Tanner overcame chronic pain and a fibromyalgia diagnosis by learning his symptoms were neuroplastic, not structural. Post-healing, Tanner and Anne have dedicated their lives to developing effective treatment and education for neuroplastic pain and symptoms.

Listen and learn how to assess your own chronic pain and symptoms, gain tools to retrain the brain and nervous system, and make changes in your life and health!

The Mind-Body Couple podcast is owned by Pain Psychotherapy Canada Inc. This podcast is produced by Alex Klassen, one of the wonderful therapists at our agency in Calgary, Alberta. https://www.painpsychotherapy.ca/

Tanner, Anne, and Alex also run the MBody Community, an in-depth online course that provides a step-by-step process for assessing, treating, and resolving mind-body pain and symptoms. https://www.mbodycommunity.com

Check out Tanner's YouTube channel for more free education and practices: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Fl6WaFHnh4ponuexaMbFQ

And follow us for daily education posts on Instagram: @painpsychotherapy

Disclaimer: The information provided on this podcast is for general in...

When chronic pain or symptoms grip your life, the real culprit often lurks beneath the surface—a nervous system stuck in a state of perpetual danger. In this illuminating episode, Tanner and Anne share five powerful, scientifically-backed techniques to regulate your nervous system and create the internal safety your body desperately needs to heal.

Most of us instinctively flee from uncomfortable sensations, a natural human tendency that paradoxically keeps us trapped in pain cycles. "Safety is the cure," Tanner explains, reframing regulation not as mere calmness but as developing the flexibility to return to equilibrium when life inevitably knocks us off balance.

The strategies range from deceptively simple to profoundly effective: learning to drop into and describe bodily sensations throughout your day; practicing specific somatic movements calibrated to your current state; intentionally savouring pleasant sensations to counterbalance discomfort; utilizing deep breathing with extended exhales to activate your parasympathetic system; and visualizing calming memories that trigger your body's relaxation response.

What makes these approaches particularly valuable is their accessibility. None require special equipment or lengthy time commitments—most can be practiced within a few minutes while going about your day. As Tanner shares how he uses these techniques before family vacations, listeners gain practical examples of regulation in action.

Whether you're struggling with chronic pain, managing anxiety, or simply feeling overwhelmed by life's demands, these five regulation strategies offer both immediate relief and long-term resilience. Your nervous system holds the key to healing—these practices help you unlock it.

Try our free YouTube practices or explore our comprehensive digital course featuring over 60 somatic exercises designed to help you unlearn chronic pain and create lasting nervous system regulation.

Free Releasing Emotions Practice: https://youtu.be/erFtcNRlSHM

Free Somatic Movement Practice: https://youtu.be/w5Ddn2ndJNc

Tanner Murtagh and Anne Hampson are therapists who treat neuroplastic pain and mind-body symptoms. They are also married!

In his 20s, Tanner overcame chronic pain and a fibromyalgia diagnosis by learning his symptoms were neuroplastic, not structural. Post-healing, Tanner and Anne have dedicated their lives to developing effective treatment and education for neuroplastic pain and symptoms.

Listen and learn how to assess your own chronic pain and symptoms, gain tools to retrain the brain and nervous system, and make changes in your life and health!

The Mind-Body Couple podcast is owned by Pain Psychotherapy Canada Inc. This podcast is produced by Alex Klassen, one of the wonderful therapists at our agency in Calgary, Alberta. https://www.painpsychotherapy.ca/

Tanner, Anne, and Alex also run the MBody Community, an in-depth online course that provides a step-by-step process for assessing, treating, and resolving mind-body pain and symptoms. https://www.mbodycommunity.com

Check out Tanner's YouTube channel for more free education and practices: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Fl6WaFHnh4ponuexaMbFQ

And follow us for daily education posts on Instagram: @painpsychotherapy

Disclaimer: The information provided on this podcast is for general in...

The struggle for control lies at the heart of many chronic pain conditions—but what if letting go could offer more relief than fighting ever could? 

When faced with persistent symptoms, our natural instinct pushes us to fight, fix, and control. We've been conditioned to believe that addressing physical problems means actively engaging with them, finding their cause, and eliminating them through sheer determination. Yet for those with neuroplastic pain and symptoms, this approach often backfires, creating a feedback loop of frustration, fear, and worsening symptoms.

Drawing on Mel Robbins' powerful "Let Them" concept, we explore the counterintuitive approach of acceptance and allowing that can transform your relationship with chronic symptoms. This isn't about resignation—it's about recognizing what you genuinely can and cannot control. As Mel wisely states, "Focusing on what you can't control makes you stressed. Focusing on what you can control makes you feel powerful."

Tanner shares a deeply personal story of his longest pain flare after initial recovery, describing how weeks of attempting to control and fix his symptoms led nowhere. The breakthrough came only when he genuinely surrendered the fight, creating space for his nervous system to regulate and his symptoms to naturally subside. This powerful example demonstrates how our attitude toward symptoms can be more influential than any specific technique or practice.

Rather than fighting against pain and illness, we invite you to explore embodiment practices with curiosity and compassion, shift your focus toward meaningful activities aligned with your values, and remind yourself that your body is fundamentally safe and healthy. These approaches create the platform of safety from which true healing can emerge.

Ready to transform your relationship with chronic symptoms? Download our free embodiment practice using the link below, or explore our comprehensive digital course featuring over 60 somatic practices and brain retraining techniques designed to support your healing journey.

Embodiment Practice for Chronic Pain & Illness: https://youtu.be/FuE_XMbWEh4

Tanner Murtagh and Anne Hampson are therapists who treat neuroplastic pain and mind-body symptoms. They are also married!

In his 20s, Tanner overcame chronic pain and a fibromyalgia diagnosis by learning his symptoms were neuroplastic, not structural. Post-healing, Tanner and Anne have dedicated their lives to developing effective treatment and education for neuroplastic pain and symptoms.

Listen and learn how to assess your own chronic pain and symptoms, gain tools to retrain the brain and nervous system, and make changes in your life and health!

The Mind-Body Couple podcast is owned by Pain Psychotherapy Canada Inc. This podcast is produced by Alex Klassen, one of the wonderful therapists at our agency in Calgary, Alberta. https://www.painpsychotherapy.ca/

Tanner, Anne, and Alex also run the MBody Community, an in-depth online course that provides a step-by-step process for assessing, treating, and resolving mind-body pain and symptoms. https://www.mbodycommunity.com

Check out Tanner's YouTube channel for more free education and practices: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Fl6WaFHnh4ponuexaMbFQ

And follow us for daily education posts on Instagram: @painpsychotherapy

Disclaimer: The information provided on this podcast is for general in...

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 response we recognize as depression.

Throughout this episode, we share our personal experiences with this cycle and outline four key strategies to break free. We explore how purposeful action – starting with tiny steps like brief journaling or getting sunlight – can gradually mobilize your nervous system out of shutdown. We discuss true embodiment practices that create safety with all sensations rather than forcing toxic positivity. We highlight the importance of modifying activities instead of complete avoidance, and we provide guidance on creating a depression flare plan for your most difficult days.

The sensitization cycle connecting pain and depression is real and brutal, but understanding this connection is the first step toward healing. Whether you experience exhaustion, low motivation, social withdrawal, or all of these symptoms alongside your chronic pain and illness, your body isn't broken – your nervous system is simply trying to protect you the best way it knows how.

As someone who has personally healed from debilitating chronic pain and depression using these approaches, I can tell you that recovery is possible. Each small step you take creates momentum toward healing both conditions simultaneously. Join us as we explore this crucial mind-body connection and provide practical tools to help you reclaim your life.

Ready to start healing? Check out our free emotion practice video, explore our comprehensive online course, or book a consultation with one of our therapists through the links below. 

Free emotion practice: https://youtu.be/CC6wTTaWJaY

Tanner Murtagh and Anne Hampson are therapists who treat neuroplastic pain and mind-body symptoms. They are also married!

In his 20s, Tanner overcame chronic pain and a fibromyalgia diagnosis by learning his symptoms were neuroplastic, not structural. Post-healing, Tanner and Anne have dedicated their lives to developing effective treatment and education for neuroplastic pain and symptoms.

Listen and learn how to assess your own chronic pain and symptoms, gain tools to retrain the brain and nervous system, and make changes in your life and health!

The Mind-Body Couple podcast is owned by Pain Psychotherapy Canada Inc. This podcast is produced by Alex Klassen, one of the wonderful therapists at our agency in Calgary, Alberta. https://www.painpsychotherapy.ca/

Tanner, Anne, and Alex also run the MBody Community, an in-depth online course that provides a step-by-step process for assessing, treating, and resolving mind-body pain and symptoms. https://www.mbodycommunity.com

Check out Tanner's YouTube channel for more free education and practices: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Fl6WaFHnh4ponuexaMbFQ

And follow us for daily education posts on Instagram: @painpsychotherapy

Disclaimer: The information provided on this podcast is for general in...

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 trying to resolve.

True healing begins with creating safety. This means embracing slowness, lightness, and ease in your practices and daily life. It means removing self-imposed healing deadlines and giving yourself permission for days off without guilt. It means slowing your walking pace, speaking more deliberately, and allowing unstructured free time—simple yet powerful ways to signal safety to your nervous system.

Facing fears represents another crucial mindset shift. While strategic avoidance during intense flare-ups makes sense, perpetual avoidance reinforces your brain's perception of danger. Those who recover most successfully gradually expose themselves to feared triggers, sensations, and activities, dismantling their "rule book" of avoidance behaviors one small challenge at a time.

Perhaps most fulfilling is reclaiming purposeful action. Chronic pain often disconnects us from activities that bring joy and meaning. Reconnecting with your values—whether through helping others, enjoying nature, or simply having dinner with friends—regulates your nervous system in ways meditation alone cannot. Start wherever your current capacity allows, extending compassion to yourself throughout the process.

Finally, cultivate genuine hope in your recovery through whatever resonates—understanding the science, hearing success stories, or tracking "healing wins" beyond pain reduction. Notice how you're responding to symptoms with less fear, widening your world, and improving emotional regulation as evidence of your progress.

This week, we challenge you to focus more on your healing mindset than on perfecting techniques. The path forward isn't about trying harder—it's about creating the internal conditions where healing naturally unfolds.

Tanner Murtagh and Anne Hampson are therapists who treat neuroplastic pain and mind-body symptoms. They are also married!

In his 20s, Tanner overcame chronic pain and a fibromyalgia diagnosis by learning his symptoms were neuroplastic, not structural. Post-healing, Tanner and Anne have dedicated their lives to developing effective treatment and education for neuroplastic pain and symptoms.

Listen and learn how to assess your own chronic pain and symptoms, gain tools to retrain the brain and nervous system, and make changes in your life and health!

The Mind-Body Couple podcast is owned by Pain Psychotherapy Canada Inc. This podcast is produced by Alex Klassen, one of the wonderful therapists at our agency in Calgary, Alberta. https://www.painpsychotherapy.ca/

Tanner, Anne, and Alex also run the MBody Community, an in-depth online course that provides a step-by-step process for assessing, treating, and resolving mind-body pain and symptoms. https://www.mbodycommunity.com

Check out Tanner's YouTube channel for more free education and practices: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Fl6WaFHnh4ponuexaMbFQ

And follow us for daily education posts on Instagram: @painpsychotherapy

Disclaimer: The information provided on this podcast is for general in...

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 for my first two years," Tanner reveals, highlighting how many of us fall into this pattern without realizing it's counterproductive.

Through practical examples and compassionate guidance, they explain why frantically researching solutions, scheduling endless appointments, and pushing through pain actually sends danger signals to your brain, perpetuating the very symptoms you're trying to eliminate. The solution? A paradoxical approach that involves allowing your sensations rather than battling them.

You'll discover practical strategies for breaking free from the fight cycle – embodying sensations instead of amplifying them, using safe self-talk, and embracing short-term acceptance that signals safety to your nervous system. Perhaps most challenging is learning to embrace uncertainty rather than constantly seeking control.

Whether you struggle with chronic pain, mysterious symptoms, or find yourself constantly fighting to fix your body, this episode offers a refreshing perspective that could transform your healing journey. Notice when you're going into fight mode this week and try gently stepping out of it – your nervous system will thank you.

Tanner Murtagh and Anne Hampson are therapists who treat neuroplastic pain and mind-body symptoms. They are also married!

In his 20s, Tanner overcame chronic pain and a fibromyalgia diagnosis by learning his symptoms were neuroplastic, not structural. Post-healing, Tanner and Anne have dedicated their lives to developing effective treatment and education for neuroplastic pain and symptoms.

Listen and learn how to assess your own chronic pain and symptoms, gain tools to retrain the brain and nervous system, and make changes in your life and health!

The Mind-Body Couple podcast is owned by Pain Psychotherapy Canada Inc. This podcast is produced by Alex Klassen, one of the wonderful therapists at our agency in Calgary, Alberta. https://www.painpsychotherapy.ca/

Tanner, Anne, and Alex also run the MBody Community, an in-depth online course that provides a step-by-step process for assessing, treating, and resolving mind-body pain and symptoms. https://www.mbodycommunity.com

Check out Tanner's YouTube channel for more free education and practices: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Fl6WaFHnh4ponuexaMbFQ

And follow us for daily education posts on Instagram: @painpsychotherapy

Disclaimer: The information provided on this podcast is for general in...

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 dangerous, having learned from experiences where emotions seemed overwhelming or unsafe. Many consciously avoid emotions through distraction, never allowing themselves to fully process what's happening in their bodies.

Breaking this cycle requires what we call "the purge"—letting yourself fully experience and release emotional energy. This isn't always pretty. It might involve crying, shaking, or journaling raw truths. But when we allow this natural process instead of intellectualizing or ignoring our feelings, we help our nervous system regulate and begin healing.

The process starts with recognizing emotions as bodily sensations. Sadness isn't just a concept—it's hollowness in your chest or a pit in your stomach. By approaching these sensations with curiosity rather than resistance, and creating safety through techniques like breathwork and self-compassion, we can release what's been trapped.

This approach combines elements from pain reprocessing therapy, somatic experiencing, emotional awareness and expression therapy, and polyvagal theory. When practiced consistently, it creates a positive feedback loop—reducing resistance, releasing emotional energy, regulating your nervous system, and diminishing pain.

Ready to transform your relationship with emotions and chronic symptoms? Try our free 20-minute somatic practice for releasing emotions on YouTube, or explore our comprehensive digital course "The Somatic Safety Method" with over 60 specialized practices. Your body has deep wisdom—when you listen and release what it's holding, healing becomes possible.

Free Practice: https://youtu.be/CC6wTTaWJaY

Tanner Murtagh and Anne Hampson are therapists who treat neuroplastic pain and mind-body symptoms. They are also married!

In his 20s, Tanner overcame chronic pain and a fibromyalgia diagnosis by learning his symptoms were neuroplastic, not structural. Post-healing, Tanner and Anne have dedicated their lives to developing effective treatment and education for neuroplastic pain and symptoms.

Listen and learn how to assess your own chronic pain and symptoms, gain tools to retrain the brain and nervous system, and make changes in your life and health!

The Mind-Body Couple podcast is owned by Pain Psychotherapy Canada Inc. This podcast is produced by Alex Klassen, one of the wonderful therapists at our agency in Calgary, Alberta. https://www.painpsychotherapy.ca/

Tanner, Anne, and Alex also run the MBody Community, an in-depth online course that provides a step-by-step process for assessing, treating, and resolving mind-body pain and symptoms. https://www.mbodycommunity.com

Check out Tanner's YouTube channel for more free education and practices: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Fl6WaFHnh4ponuexaMbFQ

And follow us for daily education posts on Instagram: @painpsychotherapy

Disclaimer: The information provided on this podcast is for general in...