Good / True / & Beautiful | with Ashton Gustafson

Episode 248: Mind Your Body with Nichol J. Sachs

Sep 12, 2025
Nicole J. Sachs, a licensed clinical social worker and author of 'Mind Your Body,' dives into the transformative power of mind-body medicine. She shares her journey from struggling with chronic back pain to discovering Dr. Sarno's revolutionary approach. The discussion covers how unresolved emotions manifest as physical symptoms and introduces 'journal speak' as a tool for emotional release. Sachs emphasizes understanding childhood triggers and the importance of community support for those seeking healing from chronic pain and anxiety.
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INSIGHT

Mind And Body Operate As One System

  • The mind and body form one system where emotions shape physical health through nervous-system regulation.
  • Understanding neuroscience reframes symptoms as information, not moral failings.
INSIGHT

Emotions Predictably Cause Physical Symptoms

  • Emotional stress produces reliable physical reactions like headaches, loss of appetite, and tears.
  • Recognizing this normal mind-body response removes stigma and opens treatments beyond purely physical fixes.
ANECDOTE

A Personal Back-Pain Turning Point

  • At 19 Nicole was diagnosed with degenerative spondylolisthesis and told she'd likely need spinal fusion later.
  • She learned through Dr. Sarno that chronic pain persisted despite structural findings and shifted her path toward mind-body medicine.
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