Reprogramming Pain: Transform Pain and Suffering Into Health and Success (Developments in Clinical Psychology)

This book explores why some individuals experience a cycle of unresolved pain, why it occurs and describes methods for both prevention and intervention. Dr. Bittman helps the reader understand the relation between mind and body and how stress, secondary to unremitting pain, can lead to a hopeless-helpless despair. Written in easy to understand prose with case stories, the book educates the reader regarding anatomy, physiology and the role of the mind in the interpretation of pain stimuli. The greatest contributions found in the book are the chapters describing the role of learned responses to pain, and what is learned can also be reprogrammed. This book is about transforming power from the expert to the ultimate user- the individual experiencing pain. It encourages the individual to take action which can help reduce the intensity, frequency, and duration of pain. Dr. Bittman helps patients asses their situation, work with members of the health care team and establish realistic goals.