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Science based strategies and life coach tools to help you feel better in your body at any age!
Episodes
Monday Nov 22, 2021
Monday Nov 22, 2021
Training wheels is a concept I came up with, to explain how you may need a little extra support during times of high stress or pain.
And that's ok!
When you are in extreme conditions, there are things you may do to calm your nervous system, that are different than what you might do when you are in a neutral state.
AND if you do some of these comforting things, it ends up way worse if you then beat yourself up, or feel bad you aren't doing all of the "right" things for healing.
Maybe you worked extra and had a stressful week. You might not have meditated or journaled. Or you may have a go-to strategy for feeling better like having a drink or binging on Netflix.
Maybe you have a medication you take when the pain is really bad.
Even if you're doing this work and know strategies to decrease pain, there are times that you aren't in a mental state to do thought work or process emotions.
If you then beat yourself up for "not doing things right", you add so much more pain to an already difficult situation!
I view these comforting activities you choose in a time of high stress or pain, as a child who needs extra support with training wheels while learning to ride a bike.
It's neutral, and it doesn't predict the future of that kid being able to ride without training wheels some day.
Even if the comforting behavior is one you eventually want to change, the best way to change the habit is to accept yourself where you are. (Radical Self Acceptance)
Listen more for this counter-intuitive, but compassionate approach.
For fresh content on healing chronic pain or disease, follow Betsy
on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bodyandmindlifecoach/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvXZSYYGL2cfJl-oEOzqspA
Website https://bodyandmindlifecoach.com
*Free Nervous System Modules- 4 free videos explaining the nervous system, how it affects your health, and how to regulate it https://view.flodesk.com/pages/620ffa96e0eda1a0d870b5a6
*Curable App- 6 Weeks Free with this code http://www.curable.com/betsyjensen
If you like this podcast, please give it a five star rating and review on Itunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unstoppable-body-and-minds-podcast/id1493360543
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
This episode was inspired by a question on my Instagram live, and is a very common question with persistent symptoms or when new conditions arise.
When do you seek medical attention?
This podcast is not intended to replace medical advice, and I do believe that there is an important place for the medical system alongside this work.
I get regular check ups and blood work just as I would get an oil change in my car or an update for my phone.
The clients who I work with have also been through the medical system and have tried the suggested treatments for years or sometimes decades. Many of them are Physicians themselves.
But just as there are signs to rule in or out medical conditions, there are clues in the pain's behavior to RULE IN Neural Circuit (NC, or mindbody) issues.
The FIT Criteria (Dr Schubiner) can be used to determine if your pain is behaving like NC (Neural Circuit) pain.
Things like the pain changing locations, hurting after but not during exercise, and increase in pain when talking about the area are signs that your brain is misinterpreting safe signals as dangerous- and activating the same neural circuits of real pain that you feel in your body.
To take a quiz based on the FIT criteria, and determine if you have NC pain- click the link below!
The other thing to consider is looking at the whole person and history of pain and illness. The more of these conditions you've had, the more likely that the pain you are feeling now is also NC pain.
Dr Schubiner says these medical conditions are "Likely NC:"
IBS, Functional dyspepsia, Fibromyalgia, MPS, scoliosis, weak core, tight hamstrings, SI joint dysfunction, piriformis syndrome, leg length discrepancy, TMJ, Chronic fatigue syndrome, tension and migraine headaches, facial pain, small fiber neuropathy, PHN, interstitial cystitis, pelvic floor dysfunction, pudendial neuralgia, vulvodynia, anxiety, depression, PTSD
The next list from Dr Schubiner is "Diseases that are diagnosed as not NC, but are often NC":
Chronic Fatigue, SEID, post-COVID syndrome, Lyme disease, CMV, EBV, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, costo-chondritis, chronic constipation, GERD, SIBO, POTS, Atypical chest pain
Lastly, Dr Schubiner considers these "Not NC":
cancer, HIV, infections like Lyme, Parkinson's, dementia, ALS, Hearing loss, Meniere's disease, Severely ruptured disc or severe arthritis limiting movement
I suggest working along with a Medical team, but do notice with yourself if you are creating a lot of anxiety worrying about symptoms and catastrophizing.
Research shows high catastrophizers are more likely for acute pain to turn chronic, to get new acute pain, and to have a more difficult recovery after surgery.
So check out my episode on the Pain-Fear-Pain cycle if you are feeling some medical anxiety and want to understand more about how your thoughts can amplify pain.
For fresh content on healing chronic pain or disease, follow Betsy
on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bodyandmindlifecoach/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvXZSYYGL2cfJl-oEOzqspA
Website https://bodyandmindlifecoach.com
*Free Nervous System Modules- 4 free videos explaining the nervous system, how it affects your health, and how to regulate it https://view.flodesk.com/pages/620ffa96e0eda1a0d870b5a6
*Curable App- 6 Weeks Free with this code http://www.curable.com/betsyjensen
If you like this podcast, please give it a five star rating and review on Itunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unstoppable-body-and-minds-podcast/id1493360543
Wednesday Nov 03, 2021
Wednesday Nov 03, 2021
Today I have a special episode that you will want to listen to if you struggle with sleep!
If you have chronic pain, you may also struggle with insomnia, anxiety, or insomnia anxiety- and this is what Raina helps with. Sleep hygiene is only part of the solution, and may not really help if you are having anxious thoughts all day. Her approach combines thought work with intuitive work- helping you find the techniques that work best for you.
This episode is for you if you are struggling to get to or stay asleep, or feeling anxious around not getting enough sleep.
As I talk with Raina, listen to the ways that processing insomnia anxiety and similar to what I teach with processing chronic pain!
About Raina: Raina struggled with insomnia anxiety for 5 years, sleeping on average between 2-3 hours per night. In addition to treating the medical aspects (guided by my doctor), she decided to tackle the insomnia anxiety that had been spinning out of control head-on. Since 2020, she's been sleeping 6-7 hours a night and can calm the insomnia anxiety when she feels it coming back on. For free lessons and worksheets, join her Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/insomniaanxiety
For fresh content on healing chronic pain or disease, follow Betsy
on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bodyandmindlifecoach/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvXZSYYGL2cfJl-oEOzqspA
Website https://bodyandmindlifecoach.com
*Free Nervous System Modules- 4 free videos explaining the nervous system, how it affects your health, and how to regulate it https://view.flodesk.com/pages/620ffa96e0eda1a0d870b5a6
*Curable App- 6 Weeks Free with this code http://www.curable.com/betsyjensen
If you like this podcast, please give it a five star rating and review on Itunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unstoppable-body-and-minds-podcast/id1493360543
Monday Oct 18, 2021
Monday Oct 18, 2021
How are parenting and rewiring your brain for less pain similar? You may be surprised.
Crystal Haitsma teaches Radical Connection Parenting, in which connection and relationship are valued over behavior modification. Instead of using rewards and punishment to get kids to do what you want, you work on the relationship instead, so they naturally do what you want them to.
She talks a lot about emotional regulation in parenting- for both parent and child. As we learn to process our own thoughts and emotions, we can model this and hold space for our children to do the same. As we develop that secure attachment with them, they are more likely to obey us and listen to us and model our behavior.
This episode is not just for parents. Crystal teaches that as you heal yourself from the inside out, then you heal your parent-child relationship. Which is also the way to heal all relationships in life.
The more compassion you have for yourself, the more compassion you will naturally have for others in your life. So parenting starts with our own inner work.
You can find Crystal on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the.parenting.coach/ or on “The Freedom Moms Podcast”
For fresh content on healing chronic pain or disease, follow Betsy
on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bodyandmindlifecoach/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvXZSYYGL2cfJl-oEOzqspA
Website https://bodyandmindlifecoach.com
*Free Nervous System Modules- 4 free videos explaining the nervous system, how it affects your health, and how to regulate it https://view.flodesk.com/pages/620ffa96e0eda1a0d870b5a6
*Curable App- 6 Weeks Free with this code http://www.curable.com/betsyjensen
If you like this podcast, please give it a five star rating and review on Itunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unstoppable-body-and-minds-podcast/id1493360543
Monday Sep 27, 2021
Monday Sep 27, 2021
When someone has chronic pain (more than 3-6 mo, resistant to medical treatment), then the brain processes pain differently. Neural pathways of pain become like habits, and pain can remain even after normal healing time has passed.
But the brain is neuroplastic, and we can train it to produce less pain.
Graded exposure is one technique used in reprocessing pain and rewiring the brain.
Graded exposure is a way to slowly introduce movements back, that are usually associated with pain.
You can have a corrective experience when you try a movement previously associated with pain, but are able to interpret it differently. When you do this over and over, in progressively higher amounts, you rewire to brain to move with safety and without producing pain.
If you have pain with a certain movement, I would suggest you start your graded exposure in your IMAGINATION.
Once you get good at imagining yourself moving without pain, and paired with a joyful or positive emotion, then you will train your brain it is safe. Not dangerous. No pain signals are required.
Here is a 7 min clip of me using this graded exposure technique with a client:
For fresh content on healing chronic pain or disease, follow Betsy
on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bodyandmindlifecoach/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvXZSYYGL2cfJl-oEOzqspA
Website https://bodyandmindlifecoach.com
*Free Nervous System Modules- 4 free videos explaining the nervous system, how it affects your health, and how to regulate it https://view.flodesk.com/pages/620ffa96e0eda1a0d870b5a6
*Curable App- 6 Weeks Free with this code http://www.curable.com/betsyjensen
If you like this podcast, please give it a five star rating and review on Itunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unstoppable-body-and-minds-podcast/id1493360543
Monday Sep 13, 2021
Monday Sep 13, 2021
For fresh content on healing chronic pain or disease, follow Betsy
on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bodyandmindlifecoach/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvXZSYYGL2cfJl-oEOzqspA
Website https://bodyandmindlifecoach.com
*Free Nervous System Modules- 4 free videos explaining the nervous system, how it affects your health, and how to regulate it https://view.flodesk.com/pages/620ffa96e0eda1a0d870b5a6
*Curable App- 6 Weeks Free with this code http://www.curable.com/betsyjensen
If you like this podcast, please give it a five star rating and review on Itunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unstoppable-body-and-minds-podcast/id1493360543
Monday Sep 06, 2021
Monday Sep 06, 2021
Today's episode is an interview with my client, Kathleen. She is a Physician, Mom, and back pain sufferer for 8 years. Listen to her incredible 12 week journey coaching with me.
Kathleen signed up for coaching and within the first couple of weeks had INCREASED pain and a new symptom. Instinctually she was led to the mind-body approach, but her Doctor brain kept worrying that she was missing something that was physically wrong.
Listen as Kathleen describes her journey from pain, fear, and self doubt, to a life of less stress, increased joy, and no chronic back pain!
For fresh content on healing chronic pain or disease, follow Betsy
on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bodyandmindlifecoach/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvXZSYYGL2cfJl-oEOzqspA
Website https://bodyandmindlifecoach.com
*Free Nervous System Modules- 4 free videos explaining the nervous system, how it affects your health, and how to regulate it https://view.flodesk.com/pages/620ffa96e0eda1a0d870b5a6
*Curable App- 6 Weeks Free with this code http://www.curable.com/betsyjensen
If you like this podcast, please give it a five star rating and review on Itunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unstoppable-body-and-minds-podcast/id1493360543
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Stress and anxiety are emotions that cause physiological changes in our bodies.
The stress response is very helpful short term, in survival moments. But many of us live in a stressed out state, and constantly feel like we are in survival mode.
Today I talk all about the physiological effects of chronic stress and anxiety on our bodies, including:
Rapid heart rate
Palpitations
Chest pain
Increased risk of high blood pressure and heart disease
Heartburn or acid reflux
Stomach ulcers
Diarrhea or Constipation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Decreased libido, impotence
For women, irregular, heavier, or more painful periods.
Magnify the physical symptoms of menopause
Tension and Migraine Headaches
Back shoulder neck, body pain, body aches
"Unexplained aches and pains”
Increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Sleep disturbances and insomnia
Fatigue
Skin problems like hives and rashes
Chronic cortisol leads to inflammation in the body
Tingling of the hands and feet
Nerve pain
Lightheadedness/Dizziness
Vision problems
Memory problems
Lack of Focus/Concentration
Confusion
Chronic anxiety can mimic conditions like MS, Lyme disease, brain tumors and even seizure disorders (epilepsy)
Stress is based on our perception of danger or inability to cope. It is easy to see why chronic pain increases stress. Plus people with chronic pain are more likely people who place a lot of internal pressure on themselves.
Listen for more details about how stress and anxiety show up physically, and understand how this could be affecting your life.
For fresh content on healing chronic pain or disease, follow Betsy
on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bodyandmindlifecoach/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvXZSYYGL2cfJl-oEOzqspA
Website https://bodyandmindlifecoach.com
*Free Nervous System Modules- 4 free videos explaining the nervous system, how it affects your health, and how to regulate it https://view.flodesk.com/pages/620ffa96e0eda1a0d870b5a6
*Curable App- 6 Weeks Free with this code http://www.curable.com/betsyjensen
If you like this podcast, please give it a five star rating and review on Itunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unstoppable-body-and-minds-podcast/id1493360543
Monday Aug 23, 2021
Monday Aug 23, 2021
In this episode I interview Drew Coverdale, a Physiotherapist in Northeast England, and author of the book “The Pain Habit: Your Journey To Recovery”
Drew has intuitively explored various strategies with his PT patients with persistent pain who were not seeing improvements any other way.
He integrates concepts from talk therapy, behavior science, neuroscience and psychology, and has come to view pain as a habit.
He has seen rapid transformations with people, and with others it takes longer. But “Change is possible for persistent pain. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, if you are ready to take the steps.”
Pain is a habit, driven by a stress response. Fear and frustration are the biggest emotions that he sees trigger the stress response, which can then trigger pain.
Pain recovery can start where you are now, in the moment. You can learn to create new, positive habits, instead of the habit of pain.
Changing the habit involves how you think, breathe, move, or feel. Be sure to include the emotional component by rewarding yourself as you do the new habit. That is the fastest way to rewire your brain for habit change.
You can find “The Pain Habit: Your Journey To Recovery” by Drew Coverdale on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pain-Habit-Journey-Recovery-Discover-ebook/dp/B08KLYSLFG
For fresh content on healing chronic pain or disease, follow Betsy
on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bodyandmindlifecoach/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvXZSYYGL2cfJl-oEOzqspA
Website https://bodyandmindlifecoach.com
*Free Nervous System Modules- 4 free videos explaining the nervous system, how it affects your health, and how to regulate it https://view.flodesk.com/pages/620ffa96e0eda1a0d870b5a6
*Curable App- 6 Weeks Free with this code http://www.curable.com/betsyjensen
If you like this podcast, please give it a five star rating and review on Itunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unstoppable-body-and-minds-podcast/id1493360543
Monday Aug 16, 2021
Monday Aug 16, 2021
One common question I get, is how to distinguish if you are feeling intuition vs another strong feeling like fear.
Intuition is something we all have, and that we can develop. When we check in with our body, we are developing a connection with ourselves that will increase our intuition.
In society, you might have gotten messages from society (religion, medicine, education) that you should NOT to trust yourself. Notice if you have resistance to relying more on your intuition, and question that.
You might also resist using your intuition, because you were taught you have to work hard, and there is no easy way.
What I offer, is that using your intuition is going to be a process that helps you connect with your body. And helps you create the results you want in an easier way!
For fresh content on healing chronic pain or disease, follow Betsy
on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bodyandmindlifecoach/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvXZSYYGL2cfJl-oEOzqspA
Website https://bodyandmindlifecoach.com
*Free Nervous System Modules- 4 free videos explaining the nervous system, how it affects your health, and how to regulate it https://view.flodesk.com/pages/620ffa96e0eda1a0d870b5a6
*Curable App- 6 Weeks Free with this code http://www.curable.com/betsyjensen
If you like this podcast, please give it a five star rating and review on Itunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unstoppable-body-and-minds-podcast/id1493360543