Personal Growth
Founder and Psychologist
by Dr. Elisha Goldstein
“Pain isn’t the enemy—it’s the messenger. When we listen to what it’s trying to tell us, healing begins.” – Nicole Sachs, LCSW
We discuss:
00:00 – What to Say to Someone in Pain Who’s Skeptical
02:01 – Why Pain Isn’t Just Physical – The Mind-Body Link
04:28 – How Suppressed Emotions Trigger Chronic Pain
07:38 – Breaking the Cycle: Fear, Stress & Pain Loops
10:08 – The Fire & Alarm Analogy: Treating the Root Cause
16:14 – How Your Nervous System Creates Pain for Protection
24:00 – Nicole’s Rock Bottom Moment & Personal Healing
30:02 – How to Tell If Your Pain is Emotionally Driven
39:49 – Journal Speak: A Simple Practice to Rewire Pain
50:02 – Why Releasing Emotions Helps Heal Chronic Pain
1:03:00 – A Journal Prompt to Get Started Today
1:06:04 – Final Takeaway: The Power of Emotional Awareness
Pain, whether physical or emotional, can feel like an inescapable part of life. Many of us struggle with chronic discomfort – back pain, migraines, gut issues, or even anxiety and panic attacks – searching for answers in medicine, therapy, and lifestyle changes. But what if the real answer isn’t just in fixing the body, but in understanding what it’s trying to tell us?
In this episode of The Emotional Longevity Podcast, I sit down with Nicole Sachs, LCSW, a psychotherapist, author of the newly released book Mind Your Body: A Revolutionary Program to Release Chronic Pain and Anxiety. Nicole is a mind-body expert who has helped thousands of people heal from chronic pain – not by ignoring it or pushing through it, but by decoding its true message.
If you’ve ever been told “there’s nothing wrong with you” or “maybe it’s all in your head,” this conversation will change the way you think about pain, stress, and your body’s resilience.
The Hidden Language of Pain
For many, chronic pain is treated as a purely physical problem. But Nicole explains that pain is often a response to unprocessed emotions, chronic stress, or past trauma that the brain interprets as a threat.
“Pain is not in your head,” Nicole reassures. “But it is being processed through your brain and nervous system, which means we have more power over it than we realize.”
Our bodies store emotions. Ever felt a headache after a stressful day? A stomachache before a big event? These are examples of how emotional stimuli trigger physical responses. But when stress becomes chronic and unresolved emotions build up, the body may turn up the volume – manifesting pain as a way to protect us.
How the Nervous System Triggers Pain
Nicole uses the metaphor of a fire alarm. “If your house was on fire and the alarm started blaring, you wouldn’t hose down the alarm—you’d put out the fire,” she explains.
Most of us, however, go from doctor to doctor, treating symptoms (the alarm) instead of addressing the underlying cause (the fire).
When stress and repressed emotions reach a certain threshold, the nervous system perceives them as a threat – just like it would a physical injury. The brain then sends pain signals to protect us, just as it would if we touched a hot stove. But because emotional pain isn’t as obvious as a burn or a broken bone, we often misinterpret it as purely physical.
Breaking Free: How to Rewire the Mind-Body Connection
Healing isn’t about ignoring pain or “thinking positive.” Instead, Nicole teaches a simple but powerful process that helps release stored emotions and retrain the nervous system.
1. Start with Awareness
The first step is shifting from fear and frustration to curiosity.
- Instead of “What’s wrong with me?” ask, “What is my body trying to tell me?”
- Recognize that pain is real, but its root cause may be emotional as much as physical.
2. Try JournalSpeak: The 20-Minute Emotional Detox
Nicole’s signature practice, JournalSpeak, is a tool for releasing repressed emotions so they no longer trigger chronic stress in the body.
It’s not traditional journaling. It’s a raw, unfiltered way to empty your emotional reservoir—without judgment, without worrying if it makes sense.
How to Do It:
- Set a timer for 20 minutes.
- Write freely, messily, unapologetically about anything weighing on you.
- Express anger, sadness, fear—without censoring yourself.
- Afterward, delete or throw it away. This isn’t for reflection; it’s for release.
Pairing this with a 10-minute meditation helps bridge the emotional release into a calmer state.
How This Applies to Everyone (Not Just People Living with Chronic Pain)
Even if you don’t struggle with chronic pain, this approach can help with:
Stress & Anxiety – Regulate your nervous system before burnout. Emotional Longevity – Release stored emotions instead of suppressing them. Resilience & Well-Being – Understand and process emotions instead of being controlled by them.
Pain, in any form, is a signal. It’s your body’s way of asking you to pay attention. Whether it’s a migraine, back pain, or emotional exhaustion—your body isn’t betraying you. It’s trying to protect you.
Final Thoughts: The Power of Mind-Body Healing
If you’ve ever felt stuck in physical or emotional pain, I hope this episode brings you comfort and new possibilities. You’re not alone in this, and there is hope. For more support, Nicole’s podcast The Cure for Chronic Pain is another great resource.
This conversation is a reminder that healing isn’t just about fixing the body – it’s about learning to listen to what it’s trying to tell us. When we stop fighting pain and start understanding it, we open the door to true emotional and physical resilience.
If you enjoyed this and found it useful, I’d love for you to consider one other person who could benefit from this message and share it with them. They can listen to this episode of The Emotional Longevity Podcast or read this blog.
If you’re ready to take your emotional health to the next level, I invite you to explore my Emotional Health Coaching Program, Uncover the Power Within. This program provides practical tools, evidence-based strategies, and a supportive community to help you cultivate resilience and healing in all areas of life.
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