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“A comprehensive and powerful guide to overcoming chronic pain. Reflecting on personal experiences, Dr. Hunt discusses mental training techniques and integrative care plans for conquering pain that can be easy to implement. This book is an amazing resource for patients with chronic health conditions who are looking to get started on managing their pain in tangible ways.”

—Dana DiRenzo, MD, MHS, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine (Rheumatology), Penn Medicine


“I have read many books about chronic pain, and this one is the most useful! Dr. Hunt’s insights are grounded in scientific expertise as well her own experience, which really resonated with me. I am familiar with (and already use) some of the ideas in this book, but see new strategies I am eager to try for solving the chronic pain puzzle.”

—Lou N., Baltimore

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

I. Understanding Your Pain

1. Setting the Stage for Healing: Understanding Pain and Your Brain

2. Identifying Threats

3. Identifying Sources of Joy and Meaning

II. Reducing Threats and Finding Safety

4. Working with Pain Sensations and Thoughts: Mindfulness-Based and Cognitive Approaches

5. Addressing Trauma

6. Cultivating Healthy Relationships and Belonging

III. Finding Joy and Living Meaningfully

7. Savoring

8. Self-Compassion

9. Benefiting Others

10. Pursuing Meaning in Life

IV. Lowering Inflammation to Heal Chronic Pain

11. Eat to Live: Lower Inflammation with Food

12. Quiet the Alarm and Boost the Reward System with Good Sleep

13. It’s Safe to Move: Lowering Inflammation, Pain, and Fear While Boosting the Reward System

V. Widening the Lens: Building a Holistic Pain Self-Management Plan

14. Integrative Pain Care

15. Going Forward—with a Plan

My Integrative Pain Care Plan: For My Providers

Resources

References

Index

About the Author

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About the Author

Carly Hunt, PhD, is a Maryland-based health and performance psychologist and expert in chronic pain self-management. She has a private psychotherapy and consulting practice specializing in helping people optimize their health, well-being, and performance. She is also a Research Psychologist in the Johns Hopkins Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Hunt has lived with chronic pain and experienced the recovery process. She played college golf and continues to compete as an amateur locally and nationally.

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Audience

Anyone living with chronic pain; also of interest to mental health and medical professionals.