Pain is a Major Depressant

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dr. Laura Call of the Day – "Pain is a Major Depressant"

Episode Information:

• Title: Pain is a Major Depressant
• Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
• Release Date: August 12, 2025
• Platform: SiriusXM Triumph 111

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Introduction:

In this insightful episode of Dr. Laura Call of the Day, Dr. Laura Schlessinger addresses the profound impact that physical pain can have on an individual's mental health. The episode features a heartfelt conversation with Avi, a 41-year-old dentist struggling with a recent back injury. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Laura offers compassionate advice, drawing on personal anecdotes and emphasizing the importance of resilience, responsibility, and the support of loved ones in overcoming adversity.

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Caller’s Story: Avi’s Struggle with Back Injury and Mental Health

[00:42] Avi:
Avi begins by sharing his seemingly perfect life—married for 18 years, three healthy young boys, a stable career as a dentist, and the role of the primary breadwinner. However, his life took an unexpected turn when he herniated a disc in his back about a month ago, aggravating an old injury. This physical ailment has not only caused significant pain but has also led to feelings of anxiety and depression. Avi expresses his frustration and mental stagnation despite maintaining an optimistic outlook about his recovery.

Key Quote:

“I feel deep down optimistic that I can get through this. But the idea of not being able, being able to provide, not being able.”
— Avi [01:59]

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Dr. Laura’s Response: Challenging the Perception of Being Stuck

Dr. Laura immediately challenges Avi’s feeling of being "stuck." She highlights that Avi continues to fulfill his roles as a husband, father, and professional, which signifies resilience and responsibility. According to her, being "stuck" implies a more debilitating state, such as not getting out of bed, which is not Avi's case.

Key Quote:

“Every day you're good to your wife and you're good to your kids. Every day you go into work and do the best under the situations you have. That's not a person who's stuck.”
— Dr. Laura [02:47]

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Drawing Parallels with a Fellow Dentist: Inspiration and Role Modeling

To further encourage Avi, Dr. Laura shares the story of a close friend who is also a dentist facing multiple physical challenges, including issues with her back, hips, hands, and arms. Despite her pain, she continues to practice dentistry because of her deep passion for helping patients. This friend's unwavering dedication serves as a powerful role model for Avi, illustrating how love for one's work and commitment to family can act as strong motivators against depression and anxiety.

Key Quote:

“She loves dentistry so much that her philosophy is, I'll pay the price to keep helping my patients.”
— Dr. Laura [05:20]

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Emphasizing the Importance of Purpose and Support

Dr. Laura underscores that having a sense of purpose—such as Avi’s dedication to his family and profession—can be a crucial factor in combating depression and anxiety. She reassures Avi that his responsibilities and the love from his family provide him with the necessary strength to navigate through his current challenges.

Key Quote:

“That's right. That's it. That's the answer to depression and anxiety. You're needed, you're wanted, you're good.”
— Dr. Laura [07:01]

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Encouraging Proactive Solutions and Adaptations

Addressing Avi's concerns about his ability to continue working as a dentist, Dr. Laura encourages him to focus on practical adjustments rather than dwelling on "what ifs." She suggests making modifications to his work environment to alleviate physical strain, thereby enabling him to maintain his professional responsibilities without exacerbating his injury.

Key Quote:

“Let's make them now.”
— Dr. Laura [08:31]

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Closing Remarks: Reinforcement of Support and Encouragement

As the conversation concludes, Dr. Laura reiterates her support, reminding Avi of his strengths and assuring him that he will find ways to overcome his current obstacles. She emphasizes his qualities—responsibility, strength, and talent—and expresses her confidence in his ability to navigate through this challenging period.

Key Quote:

“You're a responsible, strong, talented, hard working guy and this is a challenge. ... you'll figure a way around everything. I'm pretty sure of that.”
— Dr. Laura [07:31]

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Conclusion:

In this episode, Dr. Laura Schlessinger masterfully addresses the intricate relationship between physical pain and mental health. Through Avi's story, she highlights the significant role that purpose, responsibility, and support from loved ones play in overcoming depression and anxiety induced by chronic pain. Dr. Laura's compassionate yet straightforward advice serves as a reminder of the importance of resilience and proactive problem-solving in the face of life's unexpected challenges.

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Additional Notes:

• The episode contains sponsored segments promoting Birch Lane, Walmart, All Free Clear Laundry Detergent, Modern furniture, Mint Mobile, and State Farm. These segments are interruptions and do not pertain to the main discussion about pain and mental health.

Transcript

[Dr. Laura]

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[Avi]

Hey Dr. Laura, how are you?

[Dr. Laura]

Good, Avi. How can I help?

[Avi]

Thanks for taking my call. I'm 41 years old and for all intents and purposes I have an amazing life. I have a wife of 18 years. I have three young boys that are all in great shape. My wife mostly stays home with them. She works some. I'm a full time, I have a full time job. I'm the breadwinner and yeah, things are great. I really don't have any complaints. But about a month ago, about three and a half weeks ago, I lifted something and I herniated a disc in my back. And it's been a rough ride. It's been tough, a lot of pain. It's a re aggravation of an old injury that I was able to rehab in the past, but this one's a little bit worse. Yeah, I'm under the care of docs, you know, MRIs, everything. I have a plan. I'm not happy about it. I don't feel good. It's hard to work with. I've been able to work, but you know, the anxiety and some depression too has been really tough on me and I've been very stuck mentally about it. I feel deep down optimistic that I can get through this. But the idea of not being able, being able to provide, not being able.

[Dr. Laura]

Why would one disc problem make you not be able to provide? What kind of job do you have?

[Avi]

I'm a dentist, so it does hurt to work. Although I've been able to, I've been able to work but you know, it's, it's, I'm not, I'm not a construction worker, but it's a, it's a, it's a body intensive job for sure.

[Dr. Laura]

Minimally. There's a lot of leaning over.

[Avi]

Yeah, there's a lot. Yeah, I've been through this before and I've able to get past it. So, you know, I think with rehab and I think, you know, I don't know, it's surgery and my is it not in my future? I don't know. I think the uncertainties are just I'm really stuck and sir, sir, what's that?

[Dr. Laura]

Yes, you are not stuck. Every day you're good to your wife and you're good to your kids. Every day you go into work and do the best under the situations you have. That's not a person who's stuck. A person who's stuck doesn't get out of bed. You're having normal, reasonable reactions to a painful challenge. Life doesn't have to be so complicated. Walmart helps you simplify. They're your one stop shop for daily essentials like groceries, snacks, school supplies and thanks to Walmart Pharmacy, you can count on them for your prescription needs too. Use the Walmart app to easily manage your family's medications and save time by getting prescriptions delivered right to your door. Switch your prescriptions to Walmart Pharmacy Delivery not available for all prescriptions and exclusions apply. Did you know that skincare can start in the laundry room? The Dr. Laura program is happy to be partnering with our sponsor All Free Clear Laundry Detergent. My peeps with kids are especially thrilled to to use it because it's 100% free of dyes and perfumes. All Free Clear is the number one laundry detergent brand recommended for sensitive skin by pediatricians, dermatologists and allergists. For a clean you can feel good about, all you need is All Free Clear. Hi we're all modern. We have the best of modern furniture and decor. Plus our fast and free shipping lets you upgrade your space for fall with ease. Free shop [e-mail] that's modern made simple. Don't get burned by your wireless bill. Get three months of unlimited service from Mint Mobile for just $15 a month. While your friends are sweating their data, overages and surprise charges, you can chill with extra money for your barbecues and beach vacations. All plans include high speed data and unlimited talk and text delivered on the nation's largest 5G network. Use your own phone. Keep your old number and all your existing contacts this year. Skip breaking a sweat and breaking the bank. Get this new customer offer and your three month unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com drlaura that's mintmobile.com drlaura upfront payment of $45 is required, equivalent to $15 a month limited time. New customer offer for the first three months only. Speeds may slow above 35 gigabytes on unlimited plan, taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details. And I should say one of my dearest, dearest friends is a dentist in the Boston area. Between her back, her hips, her hands, her arms, she has a million things going on. I don't know how she keeps working. I'm certain that in her condition I would have given it up long ago. But she loves dentistry so much that her philosophy is, I'll pay the price to keep helping my patients. So I'm using her as a role model for you. She's above and beyond what I think I would be able to handle, but she's just remarkable. She loves dentistry so much that she's willing to suffer and she has to take breaks. So she allows people for a few weeks sometimes to come in and help her out. But she loves dentistry and that keeps her from being depressed because she can still do what she loves, albeit uncomfortably, and it does not seem to have interfered with the quality of her work.

[Avi]

Yeah, I love my family too, you know, and I don't want to give up for them, you know, I do it for them.

[Dr. Laura]

That's right. That's it. That's the answer to depression and anxiety. You're needed, you're wanted, you're good. Whatever price you have to pay to keep doing what you have as a priority, you do.

[Avi]

Yeah.

[Dr. Laura]

And that's in exchange for depression and anxiety, which means you don't get out of bed.

[Avi]

Yeah, that's not going to be me.

[Dr. Laura]

No, that's not you. You're a responsible, strong, talented, hard working guy and this is a challenge. And we don't know all the ways you'll be challenged with this, but you'll figure a way around everything. I'm pretty sure of that.

[Avi]

Damn right I will.

[Dr. Laura]

Next. Yeah, damn straight.

[Avi]

Thank you.

[Dr. Laura]

You're welcome. Call me anytime.

[Avi]

Thanks.

[Dr. Laura]

You might want to talk about a lot of the equipment and the height of things and so you don't have to bend over lights, cameras, mirrors. I mean there are probably, if there's one profession, surgery and dentistry. You're leaning over a hell of a lot. So there must be a lot of.

[Avi]

Modifications I can make. Yeah, right.

[Dr. Laura]

Let's make them. Let's not wait, let's make them now.

[Avi]

Because on what I can do to make it easier and not focus on all the what ifs of what could happen.

[Dr. Laura]

Right. I'm with you on that. I think that's exactly right.

[Avi]

That's good. Thanks.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay, sir, take care and call me back anytime you're welcome a lot. Call me back anytime, any anytime. My number one, 800-375-2872. You're just a click away from some terrific deals being offered by companies that get the Dr. Laura stamp of approval. Visit DrLaura.com, click on sponsors to take advantage of the special discounts available to DrLaura listeners like you. If your small business is booming, you might say Cha Ching. But you should say, like a good.

[Avi]

Neighbor, State Farm is there and we'll.

[Dr. Laura]

Help your growing business. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.