Thu Mar 13 2025

Rumination—those endless loops of worry, symptom monitoring, and "what if" thinking—can make chronic pain worse by keeping the nervous system stuck in a state of high alert. In this episode, therapist John Gasienica works with Leslie, a new mom struggling with chronic pelvic pain and obsessive thoughts about her symptoms. John, alongside expert therapist Callie Klebanoff, breaks down the Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) blueprint for disrupting rumination and retraining the brain to feel safe. They discuss: - Why rumination is one of the biggest roadblocks to pain recovery. - How overthinking reinforces pain pathways in the brain. - Practical strategies for shifting from fear-based thinking to self-compassion. - A real-time session where Leslie learns to calm her nervous system and reduce pain. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your thoughts about pain, this episode will give you the tools to break free from the cycle and start healing.