Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind

David Hanscom, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon who practiced complex spine surgery for thirty-two years in Seattle, Washington, and Sun Valley, Idaho. His expertise in healing chronic mental and physical pain emerged from his relentless search for answers to his own challenges with chronic pain and recurring intrusive thoughts. As he applied what he was learning to his spine practice, many of his surgical patients began to heal. He presented the healing principles he learned in Back in Control: A Surgeon’s Roadmap out of Chronic Pain, published in 2012, with a second edition in 2016. Dr. Hanscom quit his clinical practice in 2019 to bring his healing concepts into mainstream awareness. He is a guest on TV and radio programs spearheading efforts to define chronic illness, a regular contributor to Psychology Today, and a sought-after speaker at medical conferences worldwide.

“Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind is a comprehensive and brilliant exposition on mind-body medicine. The author has done the work of integrating mindfulness and stress medicine in the most complete form I have seen. The techniques presented are excellent and the collated background research is first-rate.” —Frederic Luskin, PhD, author of Forgive for Good“Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind offers a clear, compassionate roadmap for breaking free from anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and chronic mental pain by addressing their true driver: a nervous system stuck in threat mode. Hanscom shows how restoring physiological safety, rather than fighting thoughts, allows the mind to settle naturally—often after years of struggle. The result is a book that is both deeply validating and genuinely liberating.”—Matthew Lederman, MD, New York Times–bestselling coauthor of The Forks Over Knives Plan; cofounder, ConnectionDocs“David Hanscom is a hero, and in this book, he shares a true ‘hero’s journey.’ For decades, Dr. Hanscom changed lives as a skilled surgeon. Yet it is his relentless quest to understand chronic pain and help his patients overcome it that sets his story apart. Through personal experiences and profound insights, with humility and without self-pity, Dr. Hanscom offers a novel perspective on the human experience.”—C. Sue Carter, PhD, distinguished research professor; director emerita, Kinsey Institute; professor of psychology, University of Virginia“This is a brilliant, upbeat, and often riveting read. Dr. Hanscom artfully weaves the latest findings from neuroscience with some surprising findings from psychology, along with advice taken from that most neglected field called common sense. Adding to the book’s power and credibility is the personal story Dr. Hanscom tells, which is not only helpful but gripping. Highly recommended!”—Edward Hallowell, MD, New York Times–bestselling coauthor of Driven to Distraction and ADHD 2.0“There is no ‘yellow brick road’ to curing chronic mental pain, but Dr. Hanscom’s new book, Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind, is a great start. His road map is paved with originality, research, logic, and the story of how he transcended his own personal abyss. Beginning with repetitive unwanted thoughts (RUTs), you will learn about the root causes of mental pain and how to manage them. Dr. Hanscom’s introduction of tall poppy syndrome and schadenfreude into the milieu offers new and unique bricks for the road.” —Doug Garland, MD, author of The Tall Poppy Syndrome “Dr. Hanscom brings to this remarkable book a lifetime of experience not only with surgical successes, but with failures. This has allowed him to look at complex problems from a much wider perspective. He chronicles his journey to explore the intersection of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of pain and illness in a unique fashion. By connecting with the leaders in mind-body science, he brings to the reader a wealth of knowledge that includes genetics, autonomic nervous system physiology, molecular biology, and neuroscience. For anyone interested in new perspectives on health and illness, this book is a must-read.” —Richard Gevirtz, PhD, BCB, distinguished professor, Alliant International University, San Diego“Dr. Hanscom provides solutions for the long-standing problems of ruminative thoughts. He eloquently describes a vast array of solutions through a mixture of scientific and psychological resources. Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind is a compassionate and practical guide to understanding how stress and trauma affect the nervous system. With clear insights and practical exercises, it empowers readers to restore balance, safety, and calm from the inside out.”—Mel Pohl, MD, coauthor of The Pain Antidote; chief medical officer, The Pointe Malibu Recovery Center “Dr. David Hanscom has written a book that is both scholarly and accessible. It is filled with scientific information on understanding the role of the brain in pain and in other conditions, and it contains practical methods for coping with repetitive unwanted thoughts. Many will be helped by the wisdom in these pages.”—Howard Schubiner, MD, coauthor of Unlearn Your Pain; clinical professor, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine“Backed by scientific research, his personal experiences, and many years of clinical practice, Dr. Hanscom presents a magnificent discussion of the many facets of the human condition and the current distressing human dilemma. If you experience chronic physical, emotional, mental, social, or spiritual pain and suffering (or if you tend to cause this pain and suffering), Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind is an absolute must-read—for the sake of humankind.”—D.R. Clawson, MD, physiatrist“Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind reframes chronic pain with accomplished insight. Dr. David Hanscom reveals pain as a learned threat response; not something to fight, but information to understand. Hanscom is a respected spinal surgeon who has learnt this over years of clinical practice. Grounded in neuroscience and humanity, this book shows how connection, safety, and life engagement restore meaning, freedom, and hope. This book is not just hopeful. It is liberating.”—Mags Clark-Smith, MA, pain science specialist; coauthor of Psychophysiologic Disorders“Dr. Hanscom delivers a clear, neuroscience-based approach to healing anxiety, chronic pain, and intrusive thoughts. Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind shifts the focus from managing symptoms to restoring nervous system safety, where real healing occurs. I will be recommending this amazing book to patients.”—Les Aria, PhD, chief science officer and cofounder, Menda Health“Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind is an empowering and accessible guide to uncovering the subtle but deeply ingrained mindsets that quietly undermine resilience, while offering practical, science-backed strategies for everyday life. Rather than minimizing struggle, it helps readers reclaim a sense of agency, peace, and joy even amidst ongoing challenges. An essential companion for those facing chronic physical or mental pain or unexpected adversity, this book ultimately reminds us that meaningful growth and renewed potential remain possible, regardless of circumstances.”—Brenda Stockdale, PhD, REACE, CWP, author of You Can Beat the Odds “Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind is exceptionally helpful and deeply informative. Having worked alongside Dr. Hanscom as a medical colleague for decades, I can attest that he gets it, and I quote: ‘Consciousness grants us something no other species possesses: the power to choose our response.’ Amen!”—David J. Tauben, MD, FACP, clinical professor emeritus, University of Washington