Dr. Sarno method for psychosomatic symptoms

Photo of clouds illustrates how using the Dr. Sarno method alleviates unexplained chronic pain and other physical symptoms.

Are you experiencing physical symptoms that seem to have no apparent cause?

You may be suffering from psychosomatic symptoms, which are physical manifestations of emotional stress.

Dr. John Sarno developed a method to help people suffering from these symptoms understand and treat this condition while he was a specialist in rehabilitation medicine at NYU Medical Center.

The Dr. Sarno method explains how psychosomatic symptoms occur and how to address them.

According to Dr. Sarno, emotions such as anger, hurt, and emotional pain can be deposited in the unconscious mind and accumulate over time. When the accumulation reaches a critical level, the brain creates pain and other physical symptoms to distract us from these negative emotions.

Identify possible emotions

To prevent this, Dr. Sarno has developed a strategy to identify possible emotions that can lurk in the unconscious mind. The process involves setting aside time every day to reflect on and write down emotions that may be contributing to psychosomatic symptoms.

By bringing these emotions from the unconscious to the conscious mind, the brain stops its protective mechanism, and the symptoms begin to subside. Dr. Sarno’s approach has been beneficial for thousands of people.

Dr. Sarno’s books, including “Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection” and “The Divided Mind: The Epidemic of Mindbody Disorders,” provide insight into the explanation behind mind-body disorders.

Understanding this connection can be an essential step in treating psychosomatic symptoms. Don’t let your emotional stress manifest as physical symptoms any longer. Start addressing your symptoms today using the Dr. Sarno method for psychosomatic symptoms.

Emotions impact physical health

Research has shown that the mind-body connection is strong, and emotions can have a significant impact on your physical health. According to a study published in the “Journal of Psychosomatic Research” in 2015, individuals who reported high levels of stress were more likely to experience physical symptoms such as headaches, back pain, and stomach problems.

The Dr. Sarno method for psychosomatic symptoms is an effective approach that can help you understand and address the underlying emotional causes of your physical symptoms.

By bringing repressed emotions to the conscious mind, the brain stops creating protective mechanisms, and symptoms begin to subside.

This method can be particularly beneficial if you experience chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. A study published in the “Journal of General Internal Medicine” in 2017 found that patients with fibromyalgia who received Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to change negative thought patterns experienced significant improvements in their pain symptoms.

Fortunately, it is possible to employ the brain’s own abilities to counteract physical pain or symptoms caused by the mind.

Simple writing exercise

Dr. Sarno developed a simple writing exercise to identify and address underlying emotions that may be triggering such symptoms.

This involves setting aside a specific time daily, ideally 15 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening, to reflect on the following topics:

  • Create a list of potential contributors to any distressing emotions you may be experiencing.
  • Compose an essay on each item on your list to focus on key emotional factors in your life. These could stem from sources such as childhood experiences, emotional, sexual or physical abuse, lack of emotional support or love, excessive discipline, or high expectations.
  • Identify any personality traits that may exacerbate emotional pain, such as a strong drive for perfection, self-criticism, a need to please others, or excessive helpfulness.
  • Include any stressors in your life, such as work, marriage, parenting, familial responsibilities, or major problems.
  • Add situations in which you experience conscious anger or annoyance but are unable to express it for any reason.

By engaging in this daily practice and writing out your thoughts, you can bring unconscious emotions to the surface and reduce the brain’s protective mechanism, ultimately leading to the resolution of your symptoms.

The Dr. Sarno method for psychosomatic symptoms is a valuable tool that can help you address the underlying emotional causes of your physical symptoms.

By bringing repressed emotions to the conscious mind, you can break the cycle of pain and begin the healing process.

If you are struggling with chronic pain or unexplained physical symptoms, consider incorporating this approach into your treatment plan.