Anxiety: Another Name for Pain

Grief

Honoring Loss by Living

David Hanscom MD on December 22, 2025

"Sehnsucht" represents feelings and thoughts about aspects of life that are unfinished or imperfect. It is not create a good life.

"Sehnsucht" represents feelings and thoughts about aspects of life that are unfinished or imperfect. It is not create a good life.

Cognition

Let's Wake Up and Move Beyond Survival-Mode Reactivity

David Hanscom MD on December 1, 2025

When you are anxious or angry, the blood supply to your highest thinking centers is compromised. You must bring your brain back online to live a rational and constructive life.

When you are anxious or angry, the blood supply to your highest thinking centers is compromised. You must bring your brain back online to live a rational and constructive life.

Anxiety

Connect to Your Dark Side to Heal

David Hanscom MD on November 4, 2025

Suppressing anxiety, anger, envy, and schadenfreude begets repetitive, unwanted thoughts. Train your brain to be less reactive and heal.

Suppressing anxiety, anger, envy, and schadenfreude begets repetitive, unwanted thoughts. Train your brain to be less reactive and heal.

Altruism

For Pain Relief: Schadenfreude or Altruism, It's Your Choice

David Hanscom MD on July 16, 2025

Schadenfreude is a survival emotion that activates pleasure circuits and decreases pain. So does altruism, if you make it accessible.

Schadenfreude is a survival emotion that activates pleasure circuits and decreases pain. So does altruism, if you make it accessible.

Cognition

Wake Up, People! Get Your Thinking Brain Going!

David Hanscom MD on May 15, 2025

When you're feeling angry, your thinking brain is less functional, and you often behave poorly. The collective future requires that we re-engage our thinking brains—soon.

When you're feeling angry, your thinking brain is less functional, and you often behave poorly. The collective future requires that we re-engage our thinking brains—soon.

Chronic Pain

How Unwanted Thoughts Drive the Experience of Pain

David Hanscom MD on February 13, 2025

There is no escape from mental pain. It's necessary to learn techniques that soften the body's physiologic response to threats.

There is no escape from mental pain. It's necessary to learn techniques that soften the body's physiologic response to threats.

Stress

Mangione Tragedy: Pain, Isolation, and the Survival Response

David Hanscom MD on January 2, 2025

Luigi Mangione's murder of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare is unacceptable but understandable in light of what happens to the brain when people feel trapped by pain and circumstances.

Luigi Mangione's murder of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare is unacceptable but understandable in light of what happens to the brain when people feel trapped by pain and circumstances.

Chronic Pain

Want to Be Smarter and Live Longer?

David Hanscom MD on November 22, 2024

We undertake heroic efforts to improve our quality of life and live longer. One simpler approach is to play racquet sports. They are accessible, and the effects are profound.

We undertake heroic efforts to improve our quality of life and live longer. One simpler approach is to play racquet sports. They are accessible, and the effects are profound.

Stress

Be an Expert at Life and Heal

David Hanscom MD on May 6, 2024

Few of us are taught the skills to navigate adversity and nurture joy. They are within the reach of anyone. Why not attain the highest level of expertise in living life?

Few of us are taught the skills to navigate adversity and nurture joy. They are within the reach of anyone. Why not attain the highest level of expertise in living life?

Anger

Our Need to Feel Safe

David Hanscom MD on April 11, 2024

Not feeling safe drives unpleasant emotions and behaviors. We will do almost anything to achieve feelings of safety, including self-destructive acts.

Not feeling safe drives unpleasant emotions and behaviors. We will do almost anything to achieve feelings of safety, including self-destructive acts.

Stress

Downhill Skiing Is Dangerous—So Is Life

David Hanscom MD on March 17, 2024

Just as skiing down a hill that is above your skill level can be terrifying, life has many challenging runs. Becoming an "expert" at life allows you to enjoy it.

Just as skiing down a hill that is above your skill level can be terrifying, life has many challenging runs. Becoming an "expert" at life allows you to enjoy it.

Meditation

A Simple Starting Point for Healing: Active Meditation

David Hanscom MD on February 12, 2024

Humans' inability to escape from unpleasant thoughts creates much suffering. One effective strategy is simply shifting your attention to a specific sensation multiple times a day.

Humans' inability to escape from unpleasant thoughts creates much suffering. One effective strategy is simply shifting your attention to a specific sensation multiple times a day.

Anxiety

The Abyss: Honour Your Suffering

David Hanscom MD on January 22, 2024

Feeling trapped without an escape causes an intense flight-or-fight reaction. There are viable ways out of the suffering; the first step is giving yourself a break.

Feeling trapped without an escape causes an intense flight-or-fight reaction. There are viable ways out of the suffering; the first step is giving yourself a break.

Stress

How to Heal From Chronic Stress

David Hanscom MD on January 19, 2024

Chronic stress keeps your your body revved up, and it eventually breaks from the effects of the threat physiology. Learning to regulate flight or fight to safety is healing.

Chronic stress keeps your your body revved up, and it eventually breaks from the effects of the threat physiology. Learning to regulate flight or fight to safety is healing.

Anxiety

Social Anxiety—Because Vulnerability Doesn’t Feel Safe

David Hanscom MD on December 26, 2023

Humans need to feel safe and do not tolerate uncertainty and vulnerability well. Yet vulnerability is essential for satisfying relationships.

Humans need to feel safe and do not tolerate uncertainty and vulnerability well. Yet vulnerability is essential for satisfying relationships.

Anxiety

Be All that You Can Be—or Just Be

David Hanscom MD on November 27, 2023

Our nation's mental health is declining. Why? The driving force, anxiety, continues to be addressed purely as a psychological problem when it is not.

Our nation's mental health is declining. Why? The driving force, anxiety, continues to be addressed purely as a psychological problem when it is not.

Unconscious

Accept the Gift of Consciousness—Choice

David Hanscom MD on November 8, 2023

Repetitive unpleasant thoughts reflect sensations created by our powerful unconscious brain. You cannot access choice while fighting off RUTs.

Repetitive unpleasant thoughts reflect sensations created by our powerful unconscious brain. You cannot access choice while fighting off RUTs.

Anxiety

Mindfulness Should Not Be Taught in School? Really?

David Hanscom MD on October 18, 2023

Mental rigidity is one way of trying to escape unpleasant thoughts. It is usually a futile effort and is a core characteristic of many mental health diagnoses.

Mental rigidity is one way of trying to escape unpleasant thoughts. It is usually a futile effort and is a core characteristic of many mental health diagnoses.

Fear

Fear Can't Be Controlled with Behavioral Suppression

David Hanscom MD on August 22, 2023

From birth, most of us are guided to engage in behaviours that allow us to look good regardless of how we feel. There is a significant negative impact on body and brain.

From birth, most of us are guided to engage in behaviours that allow us to look good regardless of how we feel. There is a significant negative impact on body and brain.

Artificial Intelligence

AI and the Cumulative Effects of "Trauma"

David Hanscom MD on August 9, 2023

Similar to AI, your brain's functional capacity depends on the quality of data input and the processing algorithm. You are the product of your past but can choose your future.

Similar to AI, your brain's functional capacity depends on the quality of data input and the processing algorithm. You are the product of your past but can choose your future.