Knowledge is a powerful tool in your healing journey. The books on this shelf have been profoundly influential in my practice and in my understanding of chronic pain, trauma, and holistic wellness. They offer deep, evidence-based insights that can empower you to become the conductor of your own health.
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The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
By Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
This is, without question, one of the most important books of our time for understanding the deep connection between our past experiences and our present physical health. Dr. van der Kolk masterfully explains how trauma reshapes both the body and brain, often manifesting as chronic pain. For anyone whose pain journey is intertwined with past trauma, this book is not just enlightening—it is essential reading.
Explain Pain
By David Butler and Lorimer Moseley
If I could give every one of my patients a single book to demystify the science of their pain, it would be this one. Butler and Moseley are pioneers in pain neuroscience, and they have an incredible gift for making complex concepts accessible. This book empowers you by explaining why you hurt, revealing that pain is a protective mechanism of the brain, not just a measure of tissue damage.
How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers
By Toni Bernhard
This book offers a profoundly compassionate and practical guide to living well despite chronic illness and pain. Writing from her own experience, Toni Bernhard shares how mindfulness and Buddhist principles can help us navigate the immense mental and emotional challenges of being sick. It’s a lesson in gentle self-advocacy and finding solace in the present moment.
The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles
By Terry Wahls, M.D.
Dr. Wahls’ personal story of reversing her own debilitating multiple sclerosis through a targeted diet is a powerful testament to the healing potential of food. While focused on autoimmune conditions, its principles of reducing inflammation are highly relevant for many chronic pain sufferers. This book provides a clear, science-backed framework for using nutrition as a form of medicine. As always, discuss any major dietary changes with your own physician.