Healing Your Nervous System: Chronic Pain, Anxiety, and JournalSpeak with Nicole Sachs, LCSW
Have you ever felt like you’re doing "all the right things" …the supplements, the physical therapy, the breathing exercise, yet your body remains stuck in a loop of distress?
Whether it’s chronic back pain, digestive issues, or the relentless hum of anxiety and panic, it often feels like our bodies are betraying us. But what if your body isn't broken? What if it’s actually trying to protect you?
I sat down with Nicole Sachs, LCSW, a pioneer in mind-body medicine and the creator of JournalSpeak. Nicole’s journey from a devastating spinal diagnosis at age 19 to living a pain-free, limitless life is nothing short of incredible. We dive deep into why the brain uses physical symptoms as a "placeholder" for emotional truth and how you can start speaking your body's language to find real healing.
The "Placeholder" Theory: Why It’s Not Just About Pain
One of the most profound things Nicole shared is that "pain" is often just a placeholder.
Many people dismiss mind-body work because they think, "I don’t have chronic back pain, I just have panic attacks," or "I just have IBS." Nicole clarifies that whether it's migraines, skin issues, chronic fatigue, or OCD, the genesis is often the same: Nervous System Dysregulation.
Our brains are hardwired for survival. When we have a "reservoir" of repressed emotions—rage, shame, grief, or terror—that feels too dangerous to face, the brain creates a diversion. It sends a physical symptom (like a flare-up or a panic attack) to grab your attention.
"The epidemic of chronic pain is not pain—it’s fear. The fear and meaning we place on the symptom become the catalyst for the loop." — Nicole Sachs
Understanding TMS (Tension Myoneural Syndrome)
Nicole worked closely with the legendary Dr. John Sarno, who identified TMS. The core idea is that structural "abnormalities" (like a herniated disc or a tilted pelvis) are often "normal abnormalities"—the internal version of gray hair or wrinkles. They aren't necessarily the cause of your 10/10 pain.
Instead, the pain is a protective mechanism. Just like you pull your hand off a hot stove, your brain uses pain to "protect" you from the "predatory" emotions brewing in your unconscious mind.
What is JournalSpeak? (And Why It’s Not Regular Journaling)
If you’ve tried "gratitude journaling" or "bullet journaling" and found it didn't help your symptoms, there’s a reason. JournalSpeak is different. It is an unapologetic, raw excavation of your "internal ID."
How to Practice JournalSpeak:
The Unfiltered Truth: You write the things you aren't "allowed" to say. The "I hate being a mother" or "I resent my partner" or "I am terrified I’m a failure" thoughts.
The 20-Minute Rule: You go into the "basement" of your psyche for a set amount of time.
Destroy the Evidence: You don't keep these entries. You rip them up or delete them. This tells your nervous system: It is safe to feel this, and then it is over.
The Soothe: You follow the writing with 5-10 minutes of radical self-compassion and stillness.
Nicole’s own breakthrough came when she finally admitted the "unacceptable" stresses of motherhood. By giving those repressed feelings a voice, her nervous system finally felt safe enough to let go of the chronic back spasms that had haunted her for years.
Change Your Narrative, Change Your Body
Healing isn’t about "fixing" a broken part; it’s about replacing fear with curiosity. When a symptom arises, instead of asking, "What did I do to hurt myself?" try asking, "What is happening in my life right now that feels like a predator?"
In this episode, we also discuss:
Why "A-students" and perfectionists are more prone to chronic symptoms.
The difference between a human and a gazelle when it comes to "shaking off" trauma.
How to build a self-compassion practice that actually works.
Connect with Nicole Sachs:
Website: NicoleSachs.com
Podcast: The Cure for Chronic Pain
Book: Mind Your Body
ready to stop doing it alone?
Inside my 10-week program, Panic to Peace, I’ll guide you through this work step by step and you’ll be surrounded by people who truly get it.
You don’t have to stay stuck. Healing is possible and it’s closer than you think.
Come hang out with me on Instagram → I'd love to connect with you!
