The Cure for Chronic Pain with Nicole Sachs, LCSW

Why Is the Body Attacking Itself? Rethinking Autoimmune Disease

4 snips
Mar 13, 2026
A deep dive into why autoimmune symptoms may arise and how the nervous system’s chronic threat response can shape physical flare ups. Stories of symptom reduction after journaling and nervous-system regulation highlight a different way to think about immune reactions. Practical ideas for prevention and cultivating safety in the body are explored.
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ANECDOTE

Spinal Abnormality Didn't Explain Moving Pain

  • Nicole Sachs had degenerative spondylolisthesis on film but her pain shifted locations and included sciatica and upper back issues.
  • Dr. John Sarno pointed out the mismatch between imaging and symptom pattern, which began Nicole's recovery.
INSIGHT

Immune Symptoms Can Be Brain Driven

  • Autoimmune symptoms may be produced by a nervous system stuck in chronic threat rather than solely by structural damage or lab markers.
  • Nicole Sachs explains her own degenerative spinal abnormality caused pain that moved and didn't match the film, revealing correlation ≠ causation.
INSIGHT

Sniper Versus Bomb Immune Response

  • Immune responses vary from precision 'sniper' actions to all-out 'bomb' inflammation, explaining why the same exposure causes mild illness in some and severe disease in others.
  • Sachs relays an immunologist's COVID analogy to show immune tone matters more than exposure alone.
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