Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain

John E. Sarno

4.02 · Rating details · 2,464 ratings · 232 reviews

Dr. John Sarno caused quite a ruckus back in 1990 when he suggested that back pain is all in the head. In his bestselling book, Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection, he claimed that backaches, slipped discs, headaches, and other chronic pains are due to suppressed anger, and that once the cause of the anger is addressed, the pain will vanish. Relieved Amazon.com rea Dr. John Sarno caused quite a ruckus back in 1990 when he suggested that back pain is all in the head. In his bestselling book, Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection, he claimed that backaches, slipped discs, headaches, and other chronic pains are due to suppressed anger, and that once the cause of the anger is addressed, the pain will vanish. Relieved Amazon.com readers call this book "liberating" and say "it sounds too good to be true, but it is true." Sarno has returned with The Mindbody Prescription, in which he explains how emotions including guilt, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem can stimulate the brain to manufacture physical symptoms including fibromyalgia, repetitive strain injuries, migraine headaches, hay fever, colitis, ulcers, and even acne. If these psychosomatic problems all sound a little Freudian, what with the repression of emotions in the unconscious, it's because Sarno unapologetically borrows from Freud for the basis of his theory and cites childhood trauma as a major source of emotional problems. He also says that his program is a "talking cure" of sorts, since patients must be convinced their pain is rooted in their emotions before healing can begin.

The book reads a bit like psychology text, with Sarno quoting from psychoanalytic theorists including Heinz Kohut and Graeme Taylor and the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition). Sarno walks through the neurophysiology of mindbody disorders, lists the symptoms of dozens of disorders that he believes are emotion-based, and offers a basic program for overcoming psychosomatic pain and illness. His recovery plan includes meditation and sometimes psychotherapy, including behavior modification, and stopping any medication or physical therapy. While Sarno's ideas seem radical, they were commonly implemented earlier in the 20th century, when psychoanalysis was at its peak of popularity, and they promise to become more accepted in our current era of alternative medical therapies and anger management. --Erica Jorgensen

...more

Get A Copy

Audiobook, Audible, 210 pages

Published (first published April 1st 1998)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Mindbody Prescription, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.02 ·

Rating details

· 2,464 ratings · 232 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain

Jun 18, 2012 Mark Dickson rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Let me preface this review with the fact that the rating doesn't apply to Sarno's theory--that many physical ailments have mental causes--but rather to the book itself--to its execution. I feel like I could have gotten everything I needed from this book in the first chapter alone; the rest fel like overwrought redundancy, Sarno laundry-listing all of the ailments that are maybe/possibly/definitely rooted in mental causes.

I should preface this doubly with the suggestion that this may, in fact, bu ...more

flag 49 likes · Like · see review

Aug 08, 2012 Aleksander Skjæveland Larsen rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

This book is utter nonsense. In the book, the author complains his paper was rejected 7 times from different scientific publications. It
is my suspicion this was due to serious scientific mistakes, as the
book shows the author does not master this skill.

At one point he finds it incredible that occurrence of RSI was increased by 467% between 1989 and 1994. I fail to see why this is problematic; use of home computers exploded in this period. You would expect people spending too much time at the keyb ...more

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

Mar 22, 2016 Yelda Basar Moers rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: health-wellness

Truly an amazing, life-altering read!! Within 24 hours of reading this book my leg pain disappeared! Dr. Sarno believes that back and leg pain can be due to repressed emotions that turn to an interior rage that then become masked as pain. Confronting the mind with this awareness can break the cycle, or so he explains in his brilliant book!

flag 13 likes · Like · see review

Jan 22, 2015 Stefan Kanev added it · review of another edition

I'm reluctant to rate this book. It sounds very convincing and both the symptoms and history of my RSI issues fit the narrative perfectly, but I feel I should give it a fair shot before having an opinion.

It's basically a very simple idea. A lot of chronic pain problems, (usually related with the back and the upper body) are caused by stress-induced tension, as opposed to serious structural anomalies/deviations/problems. Thus, treatment should be focus on psychological issues and not on physical ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Mar 04, 2013 Paul Lyons rated it really liked it · review of another edition

TMS: Tension Myositis Syndrome is relatively new term that few doctors are aware of, or want to be aware of. Thankfully Dr. John E. Sarno has brought this fascinating, frustrating mysterious condition to light. Dr. Sarno's 1998 book "The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain" functions in a very special manner, in that educates and heals at the very same time. It's value goes beyond traditional study of what makes a book good or bad, in that it is the equivalent of medicine v TMS: Tension Myositis Syndrome is relatively new term that few doctors are aware of, or want to be aware of. Thankfully Dr. John E. Sarno has brought this fascinating, frustrating mysterious condition to light. Dr. Sarno's 1998 book "The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain" functions in a very special manner, in that educates and heals at the very same time. It's value goes beyond traditional study of what makes a book good or bad, in that it is the equivalent of medicine via paper.

Dr. Sarno's theory, which has been proven as fact after years of practice and analysis, is that a fair majority of our traditional physical ailments are the result of a function of the brain, Each individual has both a conscious and unconscious mind. The conscious mind helps us observe, think, remember, see, feel, hear, touch and rationalize. The unconscious mind, however, is purely narcissistic, and completely irrational. What happens with TMS is that the trials and tribulations of life since childhood creates rage, stress, and extreme emotion in the unconscious, whether we realize it or not. Everyone has it due to the complexity of the psyche verses the selfish, irrational self hidden in the unconscious. It is this unconscious rage that triggers the brain to protect you from letting it all out. As a defense mechanism, the brain sends a signal to deprive oxygen from a certain part of the body, reducing the blood flow and this creating pain in affected area. The pain is real, yet it also serves its function as a distraction from the unconscious rage. That is the whole point of pain: to get your mind focused on your body instead of what's really happening inside your mind. In essence, pain is a trick of the brain.

Common TMS maladies include back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive use injury, leg and shoulder issues, foot problems, ulcers, headaches, stomach-gastrointestinal problems, arthritis, and even auto-immune issues, and possibly cancer. Dr. Sarno is quick point out what TMS is, and what it is not, and that a self-diagnsosis of TMS (in general) should only be done after first consulting with a traditional doctor to make sure nothing is life-theaating. That said, traditional medicine too often misdiagnosis an issue without first examining the cause.

Dr . Sarno raises a fascinating, too-overlooked point: we, as humans, have not survived all of these thousands of years on Earth because we are weaklings. If our bodies were as fragile as current fashionable medicine proclaims, humanity would have died out years ago. Carpal tunnel syndrome, for example, was not identified as a problem until the last 20-30 years, and it is the current awareness of it that inadvertently creates the problem in the first place.

Reading "The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain," Dr. Sarno lectures on the same subject over and over again, in a variety of examples, covering the technical biological conditions and TMS symptoms in just about every part of the body, however the point is always the same: TMS is a practice of distracting your from unconscious rage, and that education and awareness can work wonders in healing and providing a permanent cure. However, as Dr. Sarno deftly points out, it takes some time and work to make the healing-cure happen, and each person has a different depth of unconscious rage to contend with. Some are cured just by reading the book, or attending a TMS lecture or two, others should get help with their unconscious rage through a psychiatrist or psychotherapist. No matter what the case, it all comes down to an individual learning about TMS, and buying into it one hundred percent.

"The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain" is not for pleasure-reading, nor is it meant to enthrall the reader with wonder. Instead, Dr. Sarno's book exists as an important tool for many of those who suffer chronic pain, and offers a solution that will change the way you look at both your body and your mind.

...more

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Jan 02, 2015 Dustin Davis rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I have the audio book. I listened to it all once through and started getting immediate relief to 10 years worth of RSI in my wrists. The pain then moved to my upper back as the book said to expect. Then to my lower back. After a month the pain finally went away. It sprang up again number times over the next couple of years. Every time it did I would listen to chapter 9 on my train ride commutes.

Also, I have herniated my L5-S1 disc twice. It is ruptured. My neurosurgeon is amazed from my MRIs tha ...more

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Nov 13, 2013 Travis Callender rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sh-psychotherapy, 7-non-fiction-read, primary-care-psychotherapy-intersec, medicine, integrative-medicine

Theory of Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS)
The unconscious mind may avoid dealing with painful emotions of rage, sadness, shame, etc. through causing a pain syndrome in the body, thereby distracting the conscious mind’s attention to the physical pain rather than the emotional pain. The mind achieves this through constricting blood vessels and causing local anoxia/ischemia. The areas most typically effected are the postural muscles, tendons and nerves (e.g. back pain, neck pain, sciatica); but red Theory of Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS)
The unconscious mind may avoid dealing with painful emotions of rage, sadness, shame, etc. through causing a pain syndrome in the body, thereby distracting the conscious mind’s attention to the physical pain rather than the emotional pain. The mind achieves this through constricting blood vessels and causing local anoxia/ischemia. The areas most typically effected are the postural muscles, tendons and nerves (e.g. back pain, neck pain, sciatica); but reduced blood flow may potentially impact many other areas also. The unconscious mind will often choose to create the pain where there has been a physical alteration from aging or previous physical injuries.

Amongst other things, John Sarno says unconscious pain often develops from low self-esteem: Deeply repressed feelings of inadequacy and self doubt lead to perfectionism, and goodism. Perfectionism and goodism lead to excessive self-imposed pressure which generates internal conflict and thereby rage.

Perfectionists unconsciously set up standards for themselves they cannot possibly meet; their inevitable failure to live up to them results in unconscious shame and rage.

Goodism (co-dependency) is the need to be excessively good. Driven to be helpful, to ingratiate, to want everyone to like them. Rage is generated when the individual excessively sacrifices what is good for them in the interest of others; when there is not enough appreciation from others for what they have given.

John Sarno’s Protocol for the Treatment of Tension Myositis Syndrome
1. Repudiate the structural diagnosis (e.g. the idea that your back pain is “caused by spinal stenosis” or “a herniated disk”). There may be a simultaneous physical phenomenon but if you have Tension Myositis Syndrome, then the pain is not caused by it.
2. Acknowledge the psychological basis of the pain.
3. Accept that it is ok that your psychology and beliefs are the way they are.
4. When you feel the physical pain, ask yourself what you are feeling emotionally. Get in touch with your rage, grief, shame, etc..
5. Write a list of all the pressures in your life. Acknowledge these and take action to reduce them.
6. Set aside a daily session of reflection or meditation.
7. Engage in psychotherapy.
8. Re-engage in full physical activity (that you may have limited because of your pain syndrome).
...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Jan 03, 2012 Stephane rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommended to Stephane by: Heard about on Rosie Radio

Shelves: favorites

A life changing read! This book truly connects the dots between the mind and the body. It shines a spotlight on the impact emotional stress can have on the physical body. I suffered from back pain for many years prior to reading this book. That pain is now gone and when I feel it starting to return, I now know it is a sign that I need to deal with emotional stress. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who suffers from chronic pain.

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Mar 29, 2013 Nancy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

amazing book for dealing with physical pain. Could not walk on my leg, had all tests done, was babying it. Book suggested to address it as caused by hidden rage - I did - leg's all better. WOW.

If you have migraines, aches and pains, shooting pain in arms, hands related to use of computers (carpel tunnel)...READ it....IF you are willing to accept the idea that - if tests have been done and there is no physical cause of the pain to be found - that the pain is cased by your brain. ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Feb 15, 2017 Jane rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mental-health, self-help, nonfiction

The message that he is trying to give is that your brain is causing pain in your body due to repressed emotions and your pain will go away by understanding this. For this information, I offer 5 stars. The delivery of the information could be better though. It's not a very captivating read but if you're suffering from any kind of chronic pain, the readability of the book is certainly the least of your concerns.

If you have any kind of pain such as back pain, neck pain, knee pain or migraines (or The message that he is trying to give is that your brain is causing pain in your body due to repressed emotions and your pain will go away by understanding this. For this information, I offer 5 stars. The delivery of the information could be better though. It's not a very captivating read but if you're suffering from any kind of chronic pain, the readability of the book is certainly the least of your concerns.

If you have any kind of pain such as back pain, neck pain, knee pain or migraines (or almost any pain) you must read this book! You'll be happy to know that he is not saying that the pain is imaginary or that you're faking it. The pain is absolutely real. It creates pain the same way your brain can give you a stomach ache when you're anxious.

I totally believe in the power of the brain. I know of people who have had pain disappear from reading this book. Years ago I had stomach problems which on hindsight I am certain were brain induced. I've also experienced vertigo but I was suspicious that my brain was experimenting with attempts at distracting me and it quickly disappeared. Even before reading this book, I had heard about Dr. Sarno and his books so I was fortunate to know this and it probably saved me from other unnecessary pain.

A lot of the book is an explanation of all of the ways the body can be effected by your brain. On the one hand, I found this rather boring and disappointing that this was such a big portion of the book. On the other hand, I realize that this is exactly what we need to know. If I ever experience symptoms in any of these areas I will be able to nip it in the bud. If he didn't cover all of these ailments, my brain would be able to find a new way to distract me without making me suspicious. In fact, before reading this book I thought I was developing arthritis. I had pain in my hands and I didn't know that this was one of the places that the brain creates pain. Now that I know, the pain is gone.

In general I am a big skeptic about most things but in this case it all rings true for me. I don't have a problem with the lack of science to prove his theory. To me, the fact that it works for so many people is proof enough. I appreciate that he acknowledges that there are parts of the brain that no one understands. Just because we don't know exactly how it happens doesn't mean the solution doesn't work.

The only other thing that I wish he addressed is what the brain does with the repressed emotions once you have successfully stopped it from creating pain. Personally, I do transcendental meditation twice a day which I believe serves as a release but I wonder what others do. ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Feb 12, 2016 David Tybor rated it did not like it · review of another edition

This book provides many nice examples of logical fallacies.

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Jan 28, 2020 Roslyn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Although great strides have been made in neuroscience and mindbody understanding since this was written, I still think this stands as the pioneering work it was and still is.

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Oct 17, 2013 Erika rated it it was ok · review of another edition

If you are new to mindbody principles, it is good, if you are not, it is basic and obvious. So my rating would vary depending on who picked it up...
maybe it would convince some new comers to this now widely accepted fact, that the mind affects the body for real and not just in the old understanding of- in the 'psychosomatic' sense. But if you have already read things like Damasio, Alexander, 'When the Body Says No' or any contemporary neuroscience, don't bother. BUT if you want to recommend a bo ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 17, 2021 Maddie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: psychology

Y'all I know this book's premise seems so goddamn incredulous. It's form is tedious and kinda sloppy, and Sarno occasionally jumps to certain conclusions that are somewhat dubious... but this book saved my hand, and possibly my life.
In my junior year of college (2018, around the same time that I had begun transitioning) my hand's health was progressively getting worse. I was diagnosed with tendonitis, carpal tunnel, RSI, golfer's elbow, you name it. My shoulder was also always uncomfortably stif Y'all I know this book's premise seems so goddamn incredulous. It's form is tedious and kinda sloppy, and Sarno occasionally jumps to certain conclusions that are somewhat dubious... but this book saved my hand, and possibly my life.
In my junior year of college (2018, around the same time that I had begun transitioning) my hand's health was progressively getting worse. I was diagnosed with tendonitis, carpal tunnel, RSI, golfer's elbow, you name it. My shoulder was also always uncomfortably stiff, the pain radiating from my left index finger all the way up into my neck.
I am a jazz musician (keys and bone) and an avid smash bros player so these symptoms made "logical sense" to me, and I 100% believed that the combination of the aforementioned (plus coding, eugh) was slowly and permanently damaging the structure of my hand. So many days I could not even pick up a pencil/plastic fork, let alone play my beloved instruments. Oftentimes, I could not even sleep at night as the pain made it so it was almost impossible to sleep comfortably. I found myself entering a deep depression, the future so uncertain as I spent sleepless nights wondering if I'd ever be able to function again, let alone pursue my dream.
Let it be known that I am generally quite the skeptic and believe in a scientific evidence-based process. I had tried exercises, stretches, nerve glides, extended rest, ibuprofen, cold/hot compresses, massaging, literally everything that the doctors and physical therapists recommended. Yet it just kept on getting worse and worse. I was at the end of my rope and had officially (with a heavy heart) made a fb post telling everyone that I was never to pick up a controller again, forced into an early retirement as I desperately tried to mitigate symptoms so I could still make music.
Someone in the comments recommended this book, citing gaming legends Silentwolf (melee) and Simply (mario 64) that had used this method to heal their tendonitis and continue their craft. If I was not so desperate, I would have dismissed it. But after watching their videos on their healing process, I was intrigued, and copped the book.
I read the book within 3 days during summer of 2020. Pretty much all the book really says is that subconscious rage (but imo also unresolved trauma, and a broader spectrum of negative emotion) manifests itself in your body (by depriving certain areas of blood flow) as a physical distraction from the psychological turmoil you are experiencing. It does so connivingly, typically affecting places that would make the most sense (knees for athletes, lower back for office workers, hands for musicians etc). And somehow it works. When the chronic pain gets you, it controls your thoughts and your life and doesn't let go. Sarno's recommendation to counter this is a prescription of belief, as well as self-reflection in the forms of investigative journaling as well as meditation.
As I mulled over this information, the conclusion that I eventually came to (noticing when my hand was acting up the most helped with diagnosing this) was that I had an incredible anger inside of me - I felt shunned and discarded by society (and my father) after coming out as trans. I also felt like I had been forced to live for my father and had wasted so many years that I could never get back. I desperately wanted to prove the entire world wrong and envied/criticized those that I deemed more attractive/successful than I. And when I came short (as I often do), I was ruthlessly critical. There is a lot more here that I could get into, but the point is that at a certain subconscious level I was fucking angry as hell and wanted to exact my vengeance (still true, but I'm more aware of it lol).
That being said, I would caution those to avoid going down the rabbit hole of trying to turn over every little rock of the past. After enough contemplation, accepting that the pain is psychosomatically caused is usually enough for it to recede.
On the day I finished the book, I found that a good portion of my subconscious rage had surfaced, and for the first time since middle school I actually wanted to fight someone, lmao. That boiling anger lasted for a few days before receding. Not even a week later, the pain had basically vanished. A few weeks later I went to a neurologist who told me my nerves were incredibly healthy and that what I had been experiencing was a software issue, not a hardware one.
Since then, the pain has dramatically reduced, at times nonexistent (I can play keys for days and smash for hours). It only really comes back every now and then when I'm feeling incredibly stressed for a sustained amount of time. And when it does, I give it a slap and tell it that the pain is being psychologically induced. And it's been working, I shit you not.
Having my hand back in this capacity is not something that I ever considered possible. As I navigate through life, knowing that I was able to overcome this has been one of my greatest sources of strength. I wish I could say that I'd never take my hand for granted after this, but I kinda already do again, haha. On the bright side, I'm definitely more ambidextrous because of it. I wish y'all the best, you got this!
Also, check out "The Body Keeps the Score" for a more comprehensive deep-dive into how trauma affects the body. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Jun 24, 2016 Autumn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

I'm currently trying to solve an RSI issue. I had previously read It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!: RSI Theory and Therapy for Computer Professionals. Funnily enough, that book mentions Dr. Sarno's The Mindbody Prescription, but dismisses it because the authors take offense at the idea that it might be all in your head. And then I read a blog article in which the author took issue with It's Not Carpal Tunnel because the authors claim that RSI is a lifelong problem that can only be managed. The b I'm currently trying to solve an RSI issue. I had previously read It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!: RSI Theory and Therapy for Computer Professionals. Funnily enough, that book mentions Dr. Sarno's The Mindbody Prescription, but dismisses it because the authors take offense at the idea that it might be all in your head. And then I read a blog article in which the author took issue with It's Not Carpal Tunnel because the authors claim that RSI is a lifelong problem that can only be managed. The blogger said that he hasn't had a problem with RSI since reading The Mindbody Prescription.

Now, on first reading the blog article and the synopsis of The Mindbody Prescription, my gut reaction was, "That won't apply to me. I'm the most emotionally stable person I know." But lo and behold, after the seed was planted, I started to realize just how much anxiety I was holding in. Sarno describes me to a T - I recognize that I have perfectionist tendencies, and I'm a goodist all the way. [Aside: one side of my family has auto-immune disorders in abundance; we might be a high-strung sort of family.] He also describes my physical problems as if we've talked. Every health professional I've discussed my problem with has given me a skeptical sort of look at the range of problems I've been experiencing, saying things like, "Well, it could be this, but that's usually only experienced in such and such a way." Or, "It's weird that..." So it was kind of nice to receive a certain sort of validation.

Other than my initial reaction, it hasn't been much of a leap for me to believe that my physical problems might stem from emotional distress. The body is a complex organism, and I'm aware of many scientific studies that have shown how much of an impact the mind can have on physical outcomes. Also, given that I am physically fit and have been following the advice for treating RSI and have seen therapists to help me deal with my physical issues, after a couple of months of not seeing improvement except for temporarily, it seems fairly obvious to me that something else is at play here.

So I'm trying Dr. Sarno's strategy. I've experienced some short-term relief, but I wouldn't call myself cured yet. I'll stick with it for a while before looking for the next fix, but I hold out hope that this will do it for me. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 15, 2017 Risa Fey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Words cannot express how much this book has somehow effected/contributed to/verified/debunked/destroyed everything I know and believe. There is more to think about and consider than just what is presented by Dr. Sarno. Can I give it 10/5 stars?

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 11, 2018 Morgan Forrest rated it really liked it · review of another edition

If you suffer from chronic pain I highly reccommend it. Combined with the Curable app the two have halfed my pain levels.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 16, 2022 Sondra Retzlaff rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, health

I'm so tired of living with pain, intense chronic pain. I've been chasing diagnoses for most of my life. A friend at work introduced me to the work of Nicole Sachs (The Cure for Chronic Pain), and I started listening to the episodes of interest on her podcast and checking out her website. That led to checking out Dr. John Sarno. In his work, Dr. Sarno is quite clear that it is first our responsibility to get significant pain or possible infections checked out by medical doctors to address or rul ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Dec 20, 2021 David rated it liked it · review of another edition

Don’t get me wrong, the concepts in this book are essential for someone in chronic pain to understand.

I think the reason this book is so highly rated is because once you explore the possibility that your pain is not the cause of any structural issue, but rather your mind, you achieve a sense of freedom, relief, and control.

However, I think this research is dated and the reasoning as to why your mind is sending pain signals was a little questionable for me. The author clearly tries to relate to ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Dec 14, 2021 Tammy (Wyse) Schoch rated it it was ok · review of another edition

There’s a few gems in here.

But they’re covered over with endless repetition, and it feels like a snake oil salesman’s approach. If the patient doesn’t accept his ideas then he can’t recover. Such circular reasoning - “if you accept my thesis you will recover. If not, you won’t. If you don’t recover, you need psychotherapy to keep exploring my thesis.” The thesis is that it’s unconscious rage which causes many common ailments, and once one learned of this fact, the rage will no longer have a neg ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 09, 2022 Kay Chandler rated it liked it · review of another edition

I learned a lot from reading this book so I definitely think it’s worth reading. Pain of all different types that we regularly feel (including headaches for me) are mindbody experiences so can be addressed by our conscious mind recognizing that and calling it out. I’m a believer in medicine and science, and I’m also a believer that are brains are an integral part of our body and what we experience. I’ve tried to see and call out pain as the result of my brain providing a distraction from somethi ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 14, 2018 Kate L rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018

the book itself is an outdated bore (lots of freud) but there are a couple solid ideas within it i will try.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jan 08, 2021 Peaches & Sunshine added it · review of another edition

Shelves: rating_3stars, genre_health, read_borrowed, 2019

While Dr. Sarno contributed greatly to the field of pain psychology (and therefore medicine), some aspects of his relatively new thinking have been updated. Because there have been so many advances in the field, there are several other more accurate, more accepting (read: less stubborn) resources available to those wanting to learn about how chronic pain works. See the Psychophysiologic Disorders Association website for recommended books and other resources.

...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 24, 2018 Lori rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I really liked this book and I appreciate the depths that Sarno goes into when discussing his theory. And I do think he provides a good starting place for dealing with pain that results from repressed emotions. However, I’m not sure I am entirely on board with all of the disorders he lists being solely about repressed emotions. Partly I think that is because this book is more than a decade old. That being said, I think some soul searching can help a person figure out if any of their pain is rela ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jan 09, 2019 Jared rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Honestly, I've been doing a deep dive into Dr. John Sarno's work, and this is the second book of his that I've read in less than a month. The ideas are kind of mind blowing, and for some are going to be completely unbelievable.

What I am learning from these books is that almost all chronic pain is the result of reduced oxygen to an area of the body caused by stress, emotions, repressed memories, and social programming. And that injuries like slipped discs, torn rotator cuffs, minor meniscus tear ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jul 16, 2011 Jennifer rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: alternative-healing, mind-body, gupta

4 stars is pending results in 2 months
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
I've seen this recommended by so many people; he also has a book strictly on back pain. Found it today for $1 at Half Price Books. I've heard so many testimonials about the roots and cures of back pain, which are backed up by what both MDs and DVMs know but don't understand... that the severity of radiological lesions in no way correlates with the severity of clinical pain in spinal disorders. Add to that the mysteries of the related pain syn ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 06, 2020 Tyler Cook rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Miracle!!!

This book is a miracle! My back was injured when I was hit by a truck 3 1/2 years ago. I had disc problems, torn muscles & torn ligaments. They never healed. I gave up all the physical activities I once enjoyed. I was lead to this book at my breaking point. I’ve tried a dozen or so other things to heal my back. I’d already lost most of my money from treatments, underemployment and unemployment. I was at the pit of despair. I felt sad and angry so I bought the book instantly. This book ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Aug 05, 2019 SoulSurvivor rated it liked it · review of another edition

This was written over 20 years ago and if you don't pay attention you won't know what the Hell is going on . Hint , Make note of what TMS is , it's only defined once in the book even though it is mentioned on practically every page .
Basically Dr. Sarno postulates that most pain results from the tension we hold from not letting go of inner rage . Okay , my back hurts from lawn work today , so :
I HATE THAT REESE WITHERSPOON thinks I give a rat's arse about her bbook selections . Wow ! I feel bett ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 09, 2008 Melisa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Everyone

A life changer because it changed the way I view physical aches and pains. I mean the little aches and the excruciating pains: back pain, stomach aches, searing headaches, lingering pain from physical injuries. Get this: we find it easier to handle physical pain then sit with fear, sadness, grief. Yup, it's true. Only way to find out is use/follow the book to bring yourself some relief from what ails you.

...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jul 18, 2017 pat rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I KNEW MY 30 YEARS OF PAIN WAS INDUCED BY SOMETHING OTHER THAN BAD DISCS

I just began using the techniques, and they worked immediately. I plan to dig up all my rage and really heal back, stomach, headache, tension & anxiety maladies.

I knew it was something, but rage didn't occur to me... and I AM conscience angry, can't wait to unearth the old rage too! ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
How To Learn About Perfect Nature CBD In Only 10 Days	1	1	Dec 16, 2019 11:27PM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Health

97 users

Nonfiction

56 users

Psychology

39 users

Self Help

34 users

Health > Medicine

8 users

Audiobook

6 users

Medical

6 users

Health > Mental Health

6 users

Self Help > Personal Development

4 users

Reference

4 users

See top shelves…

About John E. Sarno

John E. Sarno

86 followers

John E. Sarno, MD was Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at the New York University School of Medicine. He graduated from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and was board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Sarno served in the U.S. Army Medical Department, 67th Field Hospital-European Theater from 1943 to 1946. He practiced as a family physician for ten yea ...more

Books by John E. Sarno

Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection

The Divided Mind: The Epidemic of Mindbody Disorders

Mind Over Back Pain: A Radically New Approach to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Back Pain

Stroke: A Guide for Patients and Their Families

More…

News & Interviews

The Most Read Books of the 2022 Reading Challenge (So Far)

Now that we’re halfway through the year, it’s time to check in on the 2022 Goodreads Reading Challenge, our rigorous annual initiative for book...

Trivia About The Mindbody Pres...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from The Mindbody Pres...

“You begin to wonder whether you have lived a full life. And, strange as it may seem, strong negative feelings about your mother or father have not gone away; instead, they continue to be repressed and may give rise to symptoms.” — 0 likes

“he decides that bringing up children is the woman’s job, his children are in trouble. Either” — 0 likes

More quotes…

See a Problem?

Preview — The Mindbody Prescription by John E. Sarno

The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain

Get A Copy

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

Readers also enjoyed

Genres

About John E. Sarno

Books by John E. Sarno

News & Interviews

Trivia About The Mindbody Pres...

Quotes from The Mindbody Pres...

See a Problem?

Preview — The Mindbody Prescription by John E. Sarno

The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain

Get A Copy

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

Readers also enjoyed

Genres

About John E. Sarno

Books by John E. Sarno

News & Interviews

Trivia About The Mindbody Pres...

Quotes from The Mindbody Pres...

new topic
Discuss This Book