My favourite books on mind-body medicine

Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed and confused by your chronic symptoms? Or perhaps unsure of which espert to follow or where to start with your learning and research?

I've been there! I remember the days when I desperately searched for answers to my chronic pain, and it was a game-changer when I discovered the incredible world of mind-body medicine. What was once a frustrating, isolating experience suddenly became a journey of self-discovery.

I've curated this list of my most recommended books that have transformed how I understand and approach pain, all of which offer a warm, optimistic, and dare I say, fun approach to healing from suffering.

Books I recommend on the mind-body connection (TMS)

This page is dedicated to the ones who truly "get it" and have offered me (and countless others) a path toward healing. These books are about addressing the relationship you have with your emotions, your symptoms and help you understand how to relate to your body in a different way than you're used to.

Some may take a more neuroscientific approach (which is very helpful for many people to understand) and others are more focused on the emotional side. But all sing from the same song sheet in their own unique way, showing you that your brain can learn pain and, more importantly, it can unlearn it.

This is not an exhaustive list, and is in no particular order...

1. The Pain Reprocessing Therapy Workbook by Vanessa M. Blackstone and Olivia S. Sinaiko
   This workbook is an incredible, practical approach to applying Pain Reprocessing Therapy concepts in your own recovery. A fantastic option if you are wanting a more active approach to symptom management.
2. The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté with Daniel Maté
   Gabor's approach explores the profound impact of trauma and modern society on our well-being. A deeply insightful book that is a must-read for all.
3. The Great Pain Deception by Steven Ray Ozanich
   A brilliant deep dive into how faulty medical advice can lead to chronic pain, this book is a must for those who have been through the medical runaround and are looking to understand the science behind why that is, very much a traditional approach to healing TMS based on the works of Dr John Sarno.
4. Chronic Pain: Your Key to Recovery by Georgie Oldfield
   Georgie Oldfield's book offers a clear, compassionate, and very empowering guide to understanding chronic pain through a mind-body lens. It provides very practical tools and techniques to support you in your recovery and a very hopeful approach that is super accessible.
5. Unlearn Your Pain by Howard Schubiner, MD, with Michael Betzold
   Schubiner's work offers a powerful, evidence-based approach to "unlearning" pain. I found this a really empowering concept that is hugely helpful to understand in order to reduce your fear of pain.
6. Mind Your Body by Nicole J. Sachs
   Nicole's work was foundational to my own recovery and this new book provides a very practical and actionable roadmap for releasing chronic pain and anxiety. If you are drawn to a more emotional approach to recovery, this one is definitely for you.
7. The Secret Language of the Body by Jennifer Mann & Karden Rabin
   This book teaches you how to understand and interpret what your body is trying to tell you by understanding the nervous system. A super unique take that will benefit anyone interested in the connection between the body and mind.
8. The Mindbody Prescription by John E. Sarno, M.D.
   Another essential from Dr. Sarno. This work goes deeper into the emotional aspect and practical steps to heal your chronic pain. If you're just beginning your journey in understanding chronic pain and conditions, this is a good place to start.
9. Think Away Your Pain by David Schechter, M.D.
   This book provides a very straightforward brain-focused approach to chronic pain and is hugely helpful in removing the fear of a chronic diagnosis.
10. Pain Free You by Dan Buglio
    Another new release, Dan's book is a very empowering look at how you can teach your brain to end chronic pain, a super accessible and encouraging approach.
11. The Way Out by Alan Gordon, LCSW, with Alon Ziv
    As I mentioned earlier, The Way Out was a game-changer for me. It's a simple and often hilarious account of how to disarm the pain-fear cycle. A highly pragmatic and refreshing approach.
12. Crushing Doubt by Dr. Dan Ratner
    A new much-anticipated release! Dr. Ratner provides the perfect balance of practical and scientific knowledge to create an incredibly helpful method to help with chronic symptoms.
13. Psychophysiologic Disorders David Clarke MD, Howard Schubiner MD, Mags Clark-Smith MA, Allan Abbass MD.
    A great place to start if you are looking to dig deeper into the science of trauma-informed care and understand how the medical world sees things like PPD and how they are approached clinically. They also have another diagnostics book which is equally awesome, particularly good for practitioners in the field.
14. How to Do The Work by Nicole LePera The Holistic Psychologist
    Although not directly mind-body TMS-themed, Nicole LePera's book is a powerful guide to self-healing, offering a practical and empowering approach to understanding your patterns, triggers, and behaviours. This book is more about a journey of self-inquiry and self-responsibility, but I feel it is massively important to pair this approach with mind-body approaches because we need to understand why our nervous systems are dysregulated in the first place. It is super helpful in understanding the 'why' behind some of your chronic symptoms (although that might not be the primary focus, it is a helpful piece to the puzzle!). If you're looking to understand the emotional connection to your pain, this book is a great.
15. Back in Control: A Surgeon's Roadmap Out of Chronic Pain by David Hanscom, M.D.
    Why I recommend it: Dr. Hanscom's book provides a very structured, evidence-based approach to understanding and overcoming chronic pain from a surgeon's perspective. It combines neuroscientific concepts with very practical tools for shifting your relationship to pain and reducing the fear around it. This is a great choice for those seeking a more structured, step-by-step approach to their healing journey. He offers a very clear and compassionate understanding of the science behind why our brains can keep us in a chronic pain cycle.

These books are not just a list of recommendations; they’re a collection of invaluable resources that have guided me and many others toward lasting healing. They're a gateway to a different way of thinking about your body and your pain and that alone can make all the difference.

I encourage you to explore these books, I've included links to Amazon UK and USA, but they are mostly available wherever you prefer to shop, and typically also available in ebook and audible formats. Start where you feel most drawn, and remember that your journey to healing is unique, take your time as you approach and digest this information, I know it's a lot! If you have any questions or want to share your experience, please feel free to contact me.

How I can help you personally

If you're new to my website, check out my other free resources including my Recovery Journey Roadmap and all the ways I can personally help you here. There are many other ways we can work together, such as my Yoga for TMS School or in any of my online courses. Let's connect on social media, I'm on Facebook or Instagram and post daily insight and inspiration over there. 

*links may contain affiliate commissions if purchased through Amazon, they are not sponsored links, financially motivated or biased.