Living with chronic pain can often feel like being trapped in a dark rabbit hole—one filled with fear, frustration, grief, avoidance, and isolation. For many, this experience leads to a deep and painful belief that their body is broken beyond repair, that their pain will never end, and that there is nothing more to be done. But what if this narrative is not the whole truth? What if chronic pain does not mean you are broken? What if your body is inherently designed to heal, and the key to relief lies not just in physical treatments, but in understanding the powerful mind-body connection?
In this article, inspired by the insightful conversation between Pain 2 Possibilities and Hannah Studley, we explore the transformative message that you are not broken. We delve into how all injuries heal, why chronic pain is deeply influenced by our thoughts and mindset, and why you don’t need to do anything to “fix” your thinking to find lasting relief. This fresh perspective on chronic pain care offers hope and empowerment to anyone struggling with persistent pain.
The Dark Rabbit Hole of Chronic Pain
When living with chronic pain, it is common to feel as though you are caught in a downward spiral. This “rabbit hole” can take many forms—despair, fear, isolation, and the relentless search for a cure or a doctor who can finally fix the problem. Hannah Studley, a life coach, trauma counselor, and chronic pain survivor, describes this experience vividly based on her own 25-year journey with chronic back pain, IBS, and allergies.
Hannah’s story is one of repeated trauma, including being mugged three times, suffering severe injuries, and enduring 10 years of PTSD. For decades, she carried the heavy belief that her body was broken—shattered by fractures, herniated discs, and other injuries. This belief was reinforced by healthcare providers who focused solely on her physical damage, telling her that her pain was a natural consequence of her injuries and that there was nothing more to be done.
“I kind of carried around a story with me that my body was broken and weak… I just knew that the next time I have a flare-up and I get stuck on the floor maybe that’s going to be it.”
Her pain was so severe that she experienced paralysis temporarily and relied on a walking stick in her twenties. The fear of permanent disability loomed large, and the story of brokenness became an identity that limited her life.
You Are Not Broken: The Power of Changing the Story
One of the most powerful messages Hannah shares is that you are not broken. This simple but profound shift in perspective is the foundation of her recovery and the work she now does with others. While the body can sustain damage, it also has an incredible innate intelligence to heal itself. In Hannah’s case, her injuries had healed decades ago, but her chronic pain persisted because of how her mind was interpreting and reacting to her physical sensations.
Hannah explains:
“My injuries had healed 25 years ago. So why was I still in so much pain? I started to understand that my pain was actually coming from stress and anxiety. The brokenness was an illusion, a story I was carrying around in my mind.”
Through this understanding, she stopped the endless cycle of seeking fixes through treatments that only reinforced the idea of fragility. Ironically, when she stopped going to chiropractors and other therapies, her pain began to ease. This was because her nervous system finally received the message that she was safe, and the pain no longer served a protective function.
The Role of Story and Thought in Chronic Pain
Hannah emphasizes that chronic pain is not just about the physical body but about the stories and thoughts we tell ourselves. These stories shape how we experience pain and suffering. She describes how she was trapped in a narrative of limitation and brokenness, which magnified her pain and anxiety.
But stories are made of thoughts—transient mental events that pass through the mind. Recognizing that these thoughts are not facts but passing phenomena can help reduce their power.
“Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional.”
When we realize that suffering arises from our reaction to pain, not the pain itself, we can begin to change our experience. Hannah learned to observe her thoughts without adding emotional weight or negative labels, allowing the heavy story of brokenness to dissolve.
The Three Principles: Mind, Thought, and Consciousness
Central to Hannah’s approach is a psychological framework known as the Three Principles: Mind, Thought, and Consciousness. These principles describe how our experience of reality is created from the inside out, through our thinking and awareness.
Hannah uses a simple analogy of baking to explain:
- Mind is like the basic ingredients (flour, eggs, sugar) that provide the energy and life force.
- Thought is the process of mixing and shaping those ingredients into different forms.
- Consciousness is the awareness that allows us to experience the final product.
Just as bakers worldwide use the same basic ingredients to create a vast array of baked goods, all human experience is created from these three principles. This understanding helps us see that our suffering, including chronic pain, is created by our thinking and perception, not by external circumstances alone.
Hannah notes that this framework is not about doing or fixing but about seeing and understanding:
“It’s an understanding rather than a doing. When you understand how experience is created, it takes away a lot of fear and anxiety.”
Living in a Thought-Created World
One of the most profound insights Hannah discovered is that we live in a thought-created world 100% of the time. Our feelings, moods, and perceptions are all the result of our thinking, not the external world itself.
For example, two people can experience the same event but have completely different emotional reactions based on their thinking. This explains why some people thrive despite challenging circumstances, while others suffer deeply in seemingly better conditions.
Hannah shares her own experience living in Jerusalem during a time of war, observing neighbors with large families living in small apartments who manage to find peace, while others may spiral into fear and anxiety. The difference lies in the quality of their thinking, not the situation.
The Turning Point: From Fixing to Understanding
Unlike many who seek to “fix” their pain through endless treatments, Hannah’s turning point came when she realized that there was actually nothing she needed to do to fix her thinking. Instead, by simply understanding how her mind worked, she was able to let go of the heavy stories and allow her innate health to emerge.
This shift helped calm her nervous system, reduce the fight-or-flight response, and ultimately diminish the chronic pain that had dominated her life for decades.
She explains the irony:
“When I stopped trying to fix myself and stopped all treatments, that’s when I got better.”
This is a powerful message for anyone living with chronic pain who may feel overwhelmed by the pressure to “do more” or find the next fix. Sometimes, less doing and more understanding is the path to healing.
The Language of Pain and Healing
Hannah also highlights the importance of language in shaping our experience of chronic pain. Words like “broken,” “damaged,” or “there is nothing more we can do” can reinforce feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
Conversely, shifting the narrative to “I am not broken,” “I have innate resilience,” and “my body is meant to heal” opens the door to hope and empowerment.
She even goes further to suggest that the goal is not to replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations, which can still create tension, but to have no attachment to any thought at all—allowing thoughts to pass through without adding emotional charge.
This practice helps reduce the mental noise and pressure that often exacerbate pain and anxiety.
Hannah Studley’s Work and Resources
Today, Hannah is a certified life coach with 30 years of experience, a diploma in psychology, and a World Health Organization psychological first responder. She has authored three books, including:
- The Myth of Low Self-Esteem – covering trauma and her personal journey.
- Painless – a pain adventure novel that explores the chronic pain journey through relatable characters.
- Very Well – a hormone adventure novel addressing issues like postpartum depression, PMDD, and menopause.
She is currently preparing a fourth book, Beyond Diagnosis, which shares 45 personal stories of recovery from various mental health and physical diagnoses, highlighting the power of the three principles approach.
Key Takeaways for Chronic Pain Care
Drawing from Hannah’s story and insights, here are some important points to consider for anyone navigating chronic pain:
- All injuries heal: Physical damage may occur, but the body has an innate ability to repair itself. Chronic pain often persists due to how the brain and mind interpret sensations, not because the body remains broken.
- We live in a thought-created world: Our experience of pain and suffering is shaped by our thinking. Changing the way we relate to our thoughts can transform our experience.
- There is nothing to fix: Healing comes from understanding and insight, not from trying to force change or control our thoughts. Letting go of the need to “fix” ourselves can bring peace and relief.
- Pain is a language: Pain signals that the body needs attention—often to slow down and rest. Learning to listen to this language without fear is empowering.
- Stories shape experience: The stories we tell ourselves about our pain can either trap us or set us free. Recognizing these stories as thoughts, not facts, helps break the cycle of suffering.
Conclusion: Embracing Hope and Possibility
Chronic pain is a complex and often misunderstood experience. The prevailing narrative that pain means you are broken, damaged, or beyond help can deepen suffering and isolation. Hannah Studley’s journey and the principles she shares offer a refreshing and hopeful perspective: you are not broken. Your body is designed to heal, and your mind holds the key to transforming your pain experience.
By understanding the mind-body connection, recognizing the power of thought, and releasing the need to fix or control every sensation, you can begin to live with less pain and more freedom. Chronic pain care that embraces this paradigm moves beyond symptom management to empower you as the central agent of your own healing.
For those struggling with chronic pain, Hannah’s story is a beacon of hope—a reminder that recovery is possible, and that you are more than your pain. To learn more about her work, books, and resources, visit hannastudley.com.
You are not broken and you are innately proficient in changing your pain you just need a little guidance to help get you there.
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