LE HAWKESBURY SOCIAL, LOOKING WITHIN, HOSTED BY ADAM STACEY

Adam Stacey Host’s - When Pain Teaches You To Become Your Own Advocate

Feb 14, 2026

A raw conversation about how chronic pain reshapes mood, routines, and relationships. Panic attacks in crowds and CBT tools for reframing fear get candid attention. Medication strategies and withdrawal realities are discussed openly. Stories cover nerve stimulation, genetic testing plans, and practical coping rituals that help on bad days.

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ANECDOTE

Panic In Crowds And CBT Recovery

Adam Stacey describes panic attacks in crowded Toronto spaces like Dundas Square and how they made him avoid going out.
He credits long-term CBT at Mount Sinai for teaching him to reframe worst-case fears and accept help if needed.

ADVICE

Check Coverage Criteria For Therapy

Do be proactive about qualifying for covered mental-health programs and ask what criteria apply.
Do involve advocates or ask providers about study programs that might cover CBT or psychiatry.

ADVICE

Combine Meds For Mood And Nerve Pain

Try combining medications strategically to target both mood and neuropathic pain when appropriate.
Tell your prescriber about side effects and adjust dosages (Adam reduced duloxetine sweating by halving dose).

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TALK TO US GUYS! TELL US HOW YOU FEEL!⁠

⁠When Pain Teaches You To Become Your Own Advocate…⁠

What if the worst part of pain isn’t the ache, but the way it hijacks your mood, your plans, and your sense of self? We open up about living at the intersection of chronic pain, anxiety, and depression, and the unexpected tools that turned chaos into a plan. From panic attacks in Toronto crowds to quiet wins at home, this is a grounded look at what actually helps when life feels unmanageable. We walk through hard-earned lessons from cognitive behavioural therapy, including reframing worst-case thinking and building exposure skills that stick. Then we dig into medication strategy with real talk: why duloxetine pulled double duty for anxiety and neuropathic pain, how sweating and other side effects were handled, and why returning to aripiprazole (Abilify) stabilized the emotional spikes that pain can trigger. The point isn’t perfection; it’s function, doing dishes, getting outside, and staying present with people you love, even on rough days. Care access and advocacy take centre stage as we reflect on coverage gaps that push quick prescriptions over therapy, and how choosing a doctor who listens can change outcomes. We share our start with EMG-based nerve stimulation at Ottawa Hospital and the path toward specialized blood work and genetic testing in London, Ontario to pinpoint neuropathy type. That specificity could retire guesswork and focus treatment on what your body actually needs. Along the way, we talk about researching wisely without spiralling, family patterns of “bad nerves,” and the small daily anchors, sleep, food, gentle movement, that keep momentum when motivation is gone. If you or someone you love is navigating pain, panic, or both, you’ll find practical steps, candid stories, and hope rooted in evidence and experience. Listen, share with someone who needs it, and subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations. Got a strategy that’s helped you through a flare or a panic spiral? Tell us, we’ll feature listener insights in an upcoming show.

Kindest Remarks,

⁠Adam Stacey⁠, Founder, Podcast Host & Writer, Content Creator + Mental Health Awareness Advocate