IFS and Physical Pain

Submitted by monsoonvt on Mon, 12/14/2009 - 14:26.

This posting is carried ovwer from a previous forum comment, on our first experimental forums. Given the amount of current research on pain and the use of the IFS module I though this migh make a great first entry.

"I have experienced several unburdenings in IFS sessions that have resulted in significant changes in my physical state. For example, the amelioration of chronic pain, breathing deeper and more fully down to my tippy toes and changes in musculature. I am interested to hear from others of you who may have experienced similar transformations.

I have a particular session that I did with Dick that I hope to write about some day that kept me from having surgery that was recommended by my OB-GYN. IFS works. Nuf said. " Karen Blicher

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Re: IFS and Physical Pain

Submitted by dancing123 on Wed, 01/06/2010 - 14:26.

I would love to know more about how this worked for you. I have chronic pain but have not worked on it with IFS yet. I do Pilates which includes deep breathing and it feels like I am meditating while I do the execises. Maybe I could include IFS too.

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Re: IFS and Physical Pain

Submitted by jlovas on Sun, 01/10/2010 - 05:38.

I've only started to study IFS (reading Schwartz's excellent book), but have been meditating for some 12 years now and see a wonderful degree of overlap. Based on my experience in meditation, I suspect in IFS work also, the goal ideally is to not to get rid of physical pain, but to harmonize the relationship between the parts, allowing the Self to lead. Pain (suffering) reduction may then be a natural byproduct. If, however, one enters IFS work (or any other modality) specifically to rapidly eliminate chronic pain, I foresee little or no benefit.

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Re: IFS and Physical Pain

Submitted by KiraFreed on Sun, 04/18/2010 - 13:22.

I experienced a *dramatic* reduction in physical pain after participating in a demo in one of Susan McConnell's Somatic IFS workshops. Before the workshop, I had so much pain in my right foot that I hadn't done any recreational walking for three months. After that one demo, I was walking again. A similar shift happened more recently as a result of working with her. I've been learning about how one of my parts hijacks my body because it thinks I'll be safer if I stay inside and apart from people. As I've been working with that part, I've been feeling much more embodied and have experienced much less pain.

BTW, Susan is offering Somatic IFS workshops this year in the Bay Area (June) and in the Boston area (November). And she's offering a week-long retreat in Costa Rica next February. See events section of the website for details.

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Re: IFS and Physical Pain

Submitted by csl on Sat, 04/24/2010 - 12:03.

Kira and all interested in pain management,

Have you had a chance to watch this video? The study is based in Boston and the video documents a small group of people suffering with Rheumatoid Arthritis and their use of IFS therapy.
It would be wonderful to hear more details about the Somatic IFS Workshop in Costa Rica.
Here is the link to the video, (it is also featured in the most recent blog entry at www.ifstherapyblog.com )
http://www.pacostudy.org/player.swf?file=http://www.pacostudy.org/wp-content/uploads/LivingWellWithRA.flv&allowfullscreen=true&height=480&width=625&&id=veneers&searchbar=false&showicons=false&autostart=true&overstretch=fit&backcolor=0×287585&frontcolor=0xFFFFFF&lightcolor=0×000000

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