addressing the entire spectrum of psychosomatic disorders and the history of psychosomatic medicine .
Kay was eager to hear what Sarno had to say and made the appointment . Her husband had to put down the back seat of their station wagon so that she could lie down for the ride . That evening I got a phone call from her , eager to tell me what had happened . It felt like a miracle . After her exam by Dr . Sarno , she attended a psychoeducational lecture on the nature of chronic pain syndrome and learned that the brain actually induces physical changes in the body for the purpose of preventing the conscious brain from becoming aware of unconscious feelings like rage or other emotional pain . She heard that chronic pain should always be approached as a symptom closely associated with emotional disturbances . She attended an exercise class that afternoon and actually stood up and moved . She rode home sitting upright . For her , the psychoeducation and continuing in the exercise class were enough for her to make what seemed to be a full recovery . She laughed as she told me that she had cancelled the appointment for surgery .
Sharon K . Farber , Ph . D ., is a board certified clinical social worker , maintaining a private practice in psychotherapy in Hastings-on-Hudson , New York .