Are you a good candidate for The Mindbody Approach?

Is your pain neuroplastic?

It is crucial to carefully evaluate your situation to determine if a mindbody approach can work for your chronic symptoms. 

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STEP 1: Rule OUT a structural or systemic problem: 

This means you should first get a medical workup from your physician or medical team. Ideally, they would be Mindbody Medicine informed.

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(Disclaimer: most people I work with have seen MANY medical providers, have gotten several structural diagnoses, and tried many of the standard treatments to no avail. Unfortunately, mindbody approaches are not medical mainstream just yet. But it's important to rule out major red flags such as cancer, autoimmune issues, fractures, or infections, and any physician can do that.)

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STEP 2: Rule IN a Mindbody Condition 

(aka neuroplastic pain, neural circuit disorder, psychophysiologic disorder (PPD), TMS, Mindbody Syndrome, etc.)

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The presence of specific criteria make a mindbody condition more likely. They are grouped into three categories: Functional, Inconsistent, or Triggered. These 'F.I.T. Criteria' have been developed by Dr. Howard Schubiner, an icon in mind-body medicine.

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The 'F.I.T.' Criteria for the assessment of neuroplastic pain

The more of the following statements apply to you, the more likely it is that you have Mindbody Syndrome/neuroplastic symptoms. Remember that even ONE is enough to qualify. 

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F - Functional Criteria:

• Symptoms began without physical precipitation or injury.

• Symptoms persist after an injury has healed.

• Symptoms are in a symmetric distribution pattern.

• Symptoms occur on one whole side of the body or half of the face, head, or torso.

• Symptoms spread over time to different areas of the body.

• Symptoms radiate to the opposite side of the body or down a whole leg or arm.

• Symptoms that occur in many different body parts at the same time

• Symptoms that have the quality of tingling, electric, burning, numb, hot or cold

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I - Inconsistent Criteria:

• Symptoms shift from one location in the body to another.

• Symptoms are more or less intense depending on the time of day or occur first thing in the morning or in the middle of the night.

• Symptoms occur after, but not during, activity or exercise.

• Symptoms occur when one thinks about them or when someone asks about it.

• Symptoms occur when stress increases or one thinks about stressful situations.

• Symptoms are minimal or non-existent when engaged in joyful or distracting activities, such as when on vacation.

• Symptoms are minimal or non-existent after some kind of therapy, such as massage, chiropractic, Reiki, acupuncture, or an herbal or vitamin supplement.

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T - Triggered Criteria:

• Symptoms are triggered by things unrelated to the actual symptom, such as foods, smells, sounds, light, computer screens, menses, and changes in the weather.

• Symptoms are triggered by the anticipation of stress, such as before school, work, a doctor’s visit, a medical test, a visit to a relative, a social gathering, or during those activities.

• Symptoms that are triggered by simply imagining engaging in the triggering activity, such as bending over, turning the neck, sitting or standing.

• Symptoms are triggered by light touch or innocuous stimuli, such as the wind, cold, or barometric pressure.

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When you coach with me, we'll review your health history together in detail, and make the neuroplasticity assessment in your first session. 

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What do personality traits have to do with it?

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Research shows that there is a higher risk for the development of neuroplastic pain/mindbody syndrome/psychophysiological disorders in people who
 

•   Put more pressure on themselves.

•   Have perfectionistic tendencies

•   Are more self-critical and self-blaming

•   Feel more obligations

•   Have a stronger sense of duty

•   Worry excessively

•   Take responsibility for external problems

•   Are overly conscientious and caring about others especially to the exclusion of doing things for themselves

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So, if one or more of this traits describe(s) you, this also increases the probability of neuroplastic symptoms. 

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If you'd like help reviewing your situation and making an assessment, please reach out via the contact form below.

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