Like Mind, Like Body Recovery Is Not a Straight Line (John Stracks, MD)
Oct 16, 2018
Dr. John Stracks, a physician specializing in mind-body medicine, shares his personal journey of confronting chronic pain. He discusses the challenges of relapse, revealing that he faced debilitating symptoms himself while starting a new practice. John highlights the significance of movement, empathy gained from suffering, and the importance of seeking help from therapists and bodyworkers. He emphasizes that healing involves listening to one's body, and big life changes often trigger emotional and physical grief, making recovery a complex but vital process.
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Instant Stress-To-Pain Episodes
- John Stracks describes quick, stress-linked flare-ups like a shaving accident that threw his back into spasm within minutes.
- He used breathing and resumed activity to calm the pain and found movement often loosened symptoms quickly.
Relapse After Launching A New Practice
- After leaving Northwestern to start a solo practice, John had a prolonged relapse starting with a back injury that wouldn't resolve.
- He tried self-help, chiropractic care, and later energy work and bodywork before symptoms gradually improved.
Combine Mind And Body Treatments
- Seek multiple kinds of help: combine mind-body techniques with trusted hands-on practitioners when self-care stalls.
- Use clinicians you trust and view body treatments as complementary rather than contradictory.