Sleep Aids and Chronic Pain: Benefits, Risks, and Smarter Alternatives

Living with chronic pain often means struggling to get enough restful sleep. Pain can make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or reach the deeper, restorative stages of the sleep cycle. When poor sleep becomes a pattern, it can also make pain worse—creating a frustrating cycle that’s hard to break. It’s no surprise that…

Read More

Desensitization Therapy for Chronic Pain: Retrain Your Nervous System

For many people with chronic pain, even gentle sensations like a soft breeze or light touch can feel painful. This type of heightened sensitivity, known as allodynia, often results from changes in how the nervous system processes information. When pain becomes chronic, the nervous system can become overprotective, amplifying pain signals and reacting to harmless…

Read More

Why Your Mind and Spirit Matter in Chronic Pain

Pain patients are often confronted with treatment options that don’t fit their needs. When seeking medical care for chronic pain, very rarely do clinicians consider the whole person: their mind, body, and spirit. As a condition that affects the whole person—physically, mentally, socially—effective treatments should incorporate all aspects of the patient. Navigating the complex world…

Read More

Affirmations for Chronic Pain: Reframing Thoughts, Supporting Healing

you didnt come this far to only come this far lighted text

Living with chronic pain can challenge more than your body, it can take a toll on your thoughts, emotions, and overall outlook. When pain is persistent, it’s easy to fall into negative thinking patterns that increase stress, reduce motivation, and make coping feel harder. That’s where affirmations for chronic pain can help. These short, supportive…

Read More

Why Sleep Deprivation Worsens Pain: Chronic Pain and Sleep

If you live with chronic pain, you’ve likely noticed a frustrating pattern: the worse your pain, the harder it is to sleep; the less you sleep, the worse your pain feels. This isn’t just anecdotal. A growing body of research confirms that sleep deprivation and pain are deeply interconnected, creating a cycle that can be…

Read More

Understanding the Nervous System’s Role in Chronic Pain

purple and pink plasma ball representing neurons in the science of chronic pain

If you live with chronic pain, you’ve probably noticed that it’s not just a sore back or achy joints. Pain can feel all encompassing. That’s because your nervous system plays such a major role in chronic pain. This article will explore how chronic pain and the nervous system are interconnected. We’ll discuss strategies for calming…

Read More

Chronic Pain-Friendly Meal Prep: How to Eat Well Without the Extra Effort

six glass jars full over fruits & overnight oats sitting on a white marble surface

When you live with chronic pain, tasks like grocery shopping, meal prep, cooking, or washing dishes can feel overwhelming. However, eating well is one of the most powerful tools you have for managing your symptoms. The good news? Healthy meals don’t have to be complicated or exhausting. With a little planning, meal prep can be…

Read More

How to Stay Engaged in Your Chronic Pain Care Between Appointments

a woman using a standing desk with a laptop

When you live with chronic pain, much of your care happens outside the doctor’s office. The space between medical appointments can feel long, uncertain, and overwhelming—but it’s also where meaningful self-care and progress can happen. That’s where the I-Engage Academy comes in. This free online resource is designed to help you stay supported, informed, and…

Read More

Learn How CBT Techniques Can Help You Feel More in Control of Chronic Pain

Living with chronic pain isn’t just about managing physical symptoms, it’s about navigating the emotional, mental, and social toll that pain can take over time. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques can help manage a multitude of factors that impact chronic pain. CBT is a proven approach used in mental health care that helps people shift…

Read More

The Gut-Pain Connection: The Role of Gut Health in Chronic Pain

gut microbiome

Did you know that your gut health might be affecting your chronic pain? Your digestive system and nervous system are more connected than you think. Recent research is showing that gut health plays a powerful role in how we experience and manage chronic pain. This article will explore how it works and how you can…

Read More

Patient Activation: A Learnable Skill for Better Pain Management

Living with chronic pain can feel overwhelming, but one factor that significantly improves health outcomes is patient activation—an individual’s knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing their health and healthcare. The good news? Patient activation is not an inherent trait but a skill that can be learned and strengthened over time. What is Patient Activation? Patient…

Read More

Nourish Your Body, Ease Your Pain: Free Nutrition for Chronic Pain Course

family enjoying a meal together

Chronic pain and nutrition are more connected than you might think. The food we eat influences inflammation, energy levels, and overall health—factors that can play a big role in how we experience and manage pain. That’s why the I-Engage Academy offers the Nutrition for Chronic Pain course, a free resource designed to help you make…

Read More