Directory of Resources for Healing from Chronic Illness & Pain
Alanna Carlson ConsultingShare
Directory to support mindbody healing from complex chronic illness and pain
I do not get any kickbacks from this; I made this list because it can be so hard to find reliable information on healing! I have personally used or interacted with all of these resources.
Mindbody Healing
These resources are recommended to support healing from: chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, post viral syndrome (Long COVID), burnout, anxiety, PTSD, tachycardia, POTS, dysautonomia, hashimotos, vertigo, reynaud’s, psoriasis, chronic allergies, GI disorders, IBS, food sensitivities, multiple chemical sensitivity, endometriosis, tinnitus, Epstein-Barr syndrome, mast cell syndrome, chronic pain including regional pain syndrome, sciatica, back pain (including herniated discs, pinched nerves), TMJ, whiplash, tendonitis, knee pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive strain injury, myofascial pain syndrome, neuropathy, chronic migraines/headaches, pelvic floor pain and more.
For my explanation of mindbody healing, visit my previous post, here.
Reading List 📚
The Way Out by Alan Gordon, LCSW
Unlearn Your Pain: 28 day process by Dr. Schubiner
The Mind-Body Prescription by Dr. Sarno
When the Body Says No by Dr. Gabor Maté
Breaking Free from Chronic Fatigue and Long Covid Symptoms by Jan Rothney
Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve by Stanley Rosenberg
Anchored by Deb Dana
The Myth of Normal by Dr. Gabor Maté
What my Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo
The Pain We Carry: Healing from Complex PTSD for People of Color by Natalie Gutierrez
No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma And Restoring Wholeness With The Internal Family Systems Model by Richard Schwartz
see my book reviews on Goodreads
Podcasts 🎧
- Like Body, Like Mind interviews with researchers by Curable
- Tell Me About Your Pain interviews with recovered individuals by Curable
-
The Cure for Chronic Pain by Nicole Sachs, LCSW
- The Mind-Body Couple from Pain Psychotherapy Canada
- Post Viral Podcast by Lindsay Vine and Stuart Bryan --> my interview on Neurodiversity and CFS
- Feminist Wellness
- Quiet the Diet with Michelle Shapiro, RD
Apps for mindbody healing
- Curable for chronic pain & chronic symptoms → free trial
- Superbetter to gamify healing process
- Insight Timer - good tracks for yoga nidra, binaural sounds, nature sounds
- fav teachers: Sarah Blondin, Ally Boothyrod, Tara Brach
- Meditone.v - brown noise, healing tones, binaural sounds
- Balance
- Soma Share - somatic work like yoga nidra
YouTube channels 🎦
Pain Psychotherapy Canada chronic pain recovery using PRT (clinic located in Calgary)
TheCureForChronicPain Nicole Sachs JournalSpeak method
AllyBoothyrod Yoga Nidra (brain retraining practice)
MindBodyIntegrate chronic illness recovery using IFS with Lucy Feighery
RaelanAgle chronic illness recovery success stories
Socials 📲
Documentaries 📺
This Might Hurt
The Wisdom of Trauma
Heal
Research and Articles 🥼
- Pain Reprocessing Therapy for Chronic Pain (1)
- Pain Reprocessing Therapy for Chronic Pain (2)
- Effectiveness of Pain Education for Migraine
- Perfectionism and Chronic Fatigue
-
Long COVID - diagnostic evaluations revealed no specific cause of symptoms
- Forbes article on Long COVID and the vagus nerve
- The Vagus Nerve and Long COVID re: cervical instability
-
Long COVID treated using brain retraining
Blogs and forums
Trauma Geek - neurodivergent-friendly trauma educational essays (also posts frequently on facebook)
My TMS Journey - great resources and articles on healing
TMS Wiki - find out whether your symptoms are a mind-body concern rather than structural
Practitioner Directories (Canada)
- Internal Family Systems - trauma therapy, especially helpful for healing from chronic conditions
- Safe and Sound Listening Protocol - trauma therapy, often recommended for reducing hypersensitization in PTSD --> read this article if you are neurodivergent
- EMDR and ART - trauma therapy, often recommended for PTSD
- Pain Reprocessing Therapy - chronic pain therapy
- Canadian Psychotherapists and Counsellors
Health Coaching
The following health coaches are individuals that I know personally and can attest to their knowledge and personal and professional experience in healing from chronic pain and illness. I consider these individuals psychologically safe, including for queer, neurodivergent and BIPOC people.
- Lindsay Vine, CFS, Long COVID and PRT Coach
- Lucy Feighery, MindBody Integrate health coaching
- Deb Malkin - pain and habit coaching (body neutral, queer, neurodivergent)
- Megan Johnston - neuroqueer RPN, Solutions Focused Brief Therapy
- Alanna Carlson - Contact me for health recovery planning sessions
Health Recovery Programs or Courses 🌄
The below health recovery programs are suitable for those experiencing: ME/CFS, Long COVID or other Post Viral Syndrome, POTS, fibromyalgia, hashimotos, vertigo, tachycardia, psoriasis, GI disorders, MCS, EBS, tinnitus, endometriosis, anxiety, and chronic pain including CRPS, sciatica, back pain, whiplash, TMJ, tendonitis, neuropathy, migraines and more. There are some more focused on chronic pain and some more focused on chronic illness.
According to Lindsay Vine, helpful health recovery programs will focus on change in one to four main areas:
- Lifestyle - sleep, rest, nutrition, maintain and progress pacing method
- Mindset - radical acceptance, helpful thinking, boundaries, self-compassion, gratitude
- Somatics - slow nasal breathing, vagus nerve stimulation, somatic tracking, present moment awareness
- Self-Discovery - values, purpose, processing emotions and trauma
Some people will need support in all four of these areas in order to recover their health. Most programs will focus on "brain retraining" only. Some people find this very helpful and some may need more supports, especially pacing and nervous system support.
There are a lot of scammy or overpriced online programs in the “wellness” industry and it can be hard to know which ones are legitimate or appropriate for you.
My friend Lindsay Vine, MPH can help you choose a legitimate online program that supports your needs, here. On her website you can find a valuable directory document of programs she reviewed. 📈
FREE
- Free mental health course for Saskatchewan Residents
- Alan Gordon 21 day self-guided chronic pain course
- Dr Ric Arseneault (UBC) pain and illness healing courses
- Wellbeing at Work workshop I provided to lawyers
- Long Covid Recovery Program $40
SUBSCRIPTION
- Re-Origin - brain retraining program ($)
- DNRS - a more simplified brain retraining program ($)
- CFS Healing by Daniel van Loosbroek ($$)
- Smart Body, Smart Mind by Irene Lyon
- Be your Own Medicine by Rebecca Tolin ($$)
- Nervous System School by Jessica Maguire
- The Edison Effect by Anj Granieri
- The Chrysalis Effect
- Heal (Somia) - program focused on nervous system support ($$$)
- CFS Health - program is best suited for those who are acutely ill for several years, especially women aged 50+ ($$$) — Free training here
This does not constitute medical advice, and any new approaches or treatments should be discussed with a knowledgable health care practitioner.
