+ What are the 3 facets of Nicole's work?

• Believe
• Do the work
• Practice patience and kindess to yourself

+ Is it normal for my symptoms to get worse/change/move around when I first start JournalSpeak?

Yes, yes, and yes. Journaling stirs up difficult emotions that you've been suppressing for a long time. There is often a physical backlash as your nervous system desperately tries to keep you 'safe' from the feelings that are rising. It's very common for symptoms to get worse initially, for new symptoms to appear, or for symptoms to move around your body – e.g. from one hip to the other, or from you lower back to your upper back. Keep telling yourself that you're safe, that this isn't a physical problem (it has an emotional genesis, even though it is physically very real), and take these things as proof that something is shifting, which means it's working!

+ How long will it take me to heal?

This is what everyone wants to know, but of course there is no one-size-fits-all answer. There are a rare few who recover almost instantly on discovering the mindbody connection, but they aren't the majority. Even these people must do the deeper work to protect themselves from symptom imperatives down the road.

Most people experience a more gradual recovery that can take weeks, months, or even longer. Also, recovery is rarely a straight line. There will be peaks and troughs along the way, so don't be disheartened if you have bad days even when things have started to improve.

+ What if I relapse?

As stated above, ups and downs are to be expected during recovery. Occasional relapses or symptom flares are a normal part of the process. If/when it happens, don't panic. This fuels them with fear. Try to practice acceptance, and patience and kindness for yourself, and keep journaling and soothing with meditation.

+ What can I do to soothe and calm my nervous system?

Meditation, acceptance, breathing exercises, seeking support from my Facebook group and Instagram commnuity @nicolesachslcsw, knowing you are not alone. Listening to my podcast can be very helpful as well.

+ Is it normal to experience anxiety and/or depression when physical symptoms start to improve?

Yes, this is just part of the symptom imperative. One man's back pain is another man's anxiety. Just keep swimming.

+ Does it matter if I journal about the same things over and over?

No! This is great. Feel it all until you have the deep peace of being okay with it.

+ Won't it make me feel worse if I dwell on negative things?

No. This is one of the biggest misconceptions of TMS work. In fact, if you stay the course and allow yourself to be open to the stream of life it invites, you will feel freer than ever before.

+ Can I still get physical therapy/messages/see a chiropractor?

There are two forces in the universe, love and fear. If you do things out of desperation to heal (fear) they will make you worse. If you get the massage with love to simply connect with your body, then it is good for you. Physical therapy and chiropractic are not advised by Dr. Sarno. If you are not ready to give them up, just try to practice going out of love to gain support instead of "fixing yourself".

+ How do I exercise with pain?

If you can do it out of love and health, exercising through the pain will not hurt you. Don't push it - do what feels comfortable to you.

+ When do I listen to pain and when do I ignore it?

Developing intuition is important in this process. Keep cultivating the belief that nothing is wrong with you, and as you are ready just go out and live your life.

+ How do I explain TMS to my family/partner/friends etc?

Perhaps show them this website or invite them to listen to my Healing Yourself series on YouTube with you. Just remember - this is a program of attraction, not promotion. Your people may question whether an emotional exercise can cure a physical condition, and that's their perogative. Allow people to have their feelings, and lead with quiet confidence. As you get better, your body becomes your proof - and theirs.

+ I have BOTH chronic pain and anxiety. Which course should I take first?

I would recommend taking the Freedom from Chronic Pain course first. This will set the foundation of my theories and practices, which will help you recover from both chronic pain and anxiety. If you still feel you need support with your anxiety after taking that course, my Freedom from an Anxious Life course has more specific tools to help you reduce daily anxiety and how to respond in the moment.

+ When I purchase a course, do I have acess to it forever?

Yes, although you will only have ONLINE access to the course on my website for 30 days. This is why it is recommended to download the course files in full at the start of the course (there is a link for you to do that right away once you begin), so you can keep it with you forever and take it at your own pace or revisit it again in the future.

+ Do you ever offer a discount on your courses?

Not very often, but when I do it's usually on Instagram - so be sure to follow me there at www.instagram.com/nicolesachslscw. Because of the extenstive amount of work, time, and effort that went into creating my courses, they are an incredible value at their standard rates. Most people who take my courses feel that tools they learned to take their lives back are truly priceless.

+ Do you offer one-on-one sessions?

No, but the best way to work with me directly is by attenting one of my retreats.

+ How often do you have retreats? All they all in person?

Every year I typically host two in-person retreats. Because of COVID, I have now hosted many virtual retreats for a fraction of the cost of attending an in-person retreat, and they have been very well received. I host virtual retreats once every few months, and mini virtual retreats pretty regularly. The best way to stay informed about my retreat dates is by subscribing to my newsletter at the bottom of this page. The in-person retreats are opening back up now, and are more involved and immersive, so if you can make an in-person retreat, I highly recommend it! There's nothing like the experiences and community you will walk away with.

+ Could I still benefit from one of your retreats if I already took your online course, practice JournalSpeak, and/or listen to your podcast?

Absolutely. The sense of community and the experience of real-time healing that happens at my retreats is so powerful. Many people notice a huge shift in their symptoms and excelerated healing during and after attending one of my retreats. It's a great way to propel your healing forward, and truly connect with others on their healing journey as well. It can also really help break any barriers or if you are feeling "stuck" at all on your journey.

+ How can I listen to your podcast?

You can find and listen to my podcast, The Cure for Chronic Pain, on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or any other platform that hosts podcasts.

+ How often do you release episodes?

I release a new podcast episode every Friday.

+ How do I get on as a Real-Time-Heal guest?

If you have done my work consistently for awhile and feel you still need some support because you feel "stuck" - you can email me at thecureforchronicpain@gmail.com with the subject line "Real Time Heal" to submit a request. Please briefly let me know your situation, and if it's something that feels like a good fit for a real-time-heal session (something that listeners can really learn from), I will let you know. Please note, I get A LOT of requests for this, and I try my best to respond to everyone.

+ How can I be sponsored on your podcast?

If you are interested in being a sponsor and having me do an ad read for your product or business on my podcast, please submit your inquirty to thecureforchronicpain@gmail.com and I will get back to you if it feels like the right fit for my work and my audience.

+ How can I best support your podcast? I really appreciate the free and valuable content you put out there!

The best way to support my podcast is by contributing to my Patreon, here. Because of my patreon members, I can keep providing content and regularly take the time to record, produce, and publish episodes to help so many people heal. Every dollar helps, so even if you become a Patreon member and only donate $1/month, it makes a difference and is very appreciated.