Memoir now available.

HEALING FROM CHRONIC MYOFASCIAL PAIN

Support for Chronic Pain Sufferers

HEALING FROM CHRONIC MYOFASCIAL PAIN

Support for Chronic Pain Sufferers

MARIA SOCOLOF

Health Scientist, Pain & Trauma Survivor, Author, Speaker

What You'll Find on This Site . . .

To help your recovery from chronic pain

If you're in chronic pain and your doctor has ruled out underlying diseases or acute injuries, and maybe you've tried everything your doctor has prescribed and are still suffering, I encourage you to review the information on this website. If you’re in the early stages of chronic pain, take advantage of this information before trying expensive and invasive treatments. Wherever you are in your healing journey, my hope is that my words here (and in my memoir) will provide you with useful information and give you hope.

On this site you’ll find:

my story of healing from years of chronic pain, a description of and links to my memoir, plus links to stories of others who have healed or are healing in similar ways;
what chronic myofascial pain is;
how trauma can be linked to this and other chronic pain conditions; and
the many treatments I've tried or considered trying, and which ones have worked best for me;
lists of resources, including links to outreach activities such as interviews and talks; and
my blog.

Some people who experience chronic pain may gain immediate relief from just one treatment approach. But everyone is different. What works for some doesn't work for others. And for those of us who fall into the category of “difficult to heal,” relief rarely, if ever, comes from one magic pill or therapy. It usually requires a combination of therapeutic approaches.

When my doctors couldn't “fix” me, I set out to learn everything I could about my condition and every possible way to get better. The most important things I discovered were that healing involves our inextricably linked body and mind and that we have an amazing ability to heal ourselves. This knowledge led me to the healing approaches that, over time, brought me miraculous relief from pain. I sincerely wish the same for you.

For full disclosure, I still live with daily pain. But it is far less intense and more manageable than it once was. I am still working on healing and have undying hope that I can eventually attain full freedom from pain.

I'm writing about chronic pain . . .

to Help Others

I've lived with chronic myofascial pain since 2005. The first few years were highly debilitating and life-changing. During that time, I tried every traditional treatment my doctors prescribed. Some provided moderate, temporary relief. But they weren't curing me. Only after I learned there was a direct link between my chronic pain and both subconscious muscle tension and hidden emotions did I find what was most helpful to reduce pain that hadn't responded to pills, shots, and traditional physical therapy.

People often ask me for advice related to my experience with chronic pain. It’s difficult to cover all I’ve learned in a brief conversation, so I decided to create this site—and to write a book (The Invisible Key)—in the hope that I can help support others who are living with chronic pain to achieve greater health and wellness.

Outreach

memoir

healing interview video

THE INVISIBLE KEY: Unlocking the Mystery of My Chronic Pain -

Competitive athlete turned scientist discovers the key to healing her chronic pain in this raw and gripping memoir.

Amazon.com,
The Dolphin Bookshop, Port Washington, NY
BarnesandNoble.com
Walmart.com
Select Libraries (ask your librarian)

For more info go to My Memoir page.

healing interview video

UNLOCKING CHRONIC PAIN -

Video-recorded interview-EmpowerTV

Interview by Monika at EmpowerTV—Empower Your Health, Empower Your Life. Maria Socolof shares her story in her memoir, The Invisible Key: Unlocking the Mystery of My Chronic Pain. She shows us that one can heal even when hope is lost. Nov 7, 2021.

Author TALK video

healing interview video

Author TALK video

The Invisible Key by Maria Socolof-Author Talk on Zoom for the Riverhead Public Library, NY.

HEALING FROM CHRONIC MYOFASCIAL PAIN -

Video-recorded author talk

Meet Maria Socolof, author of The Invisible Key: Unlocking the Mystery of My Chronic Pain. In the complex world of healing from chronic pain, this book brings to light the commonly unknown condition of "myofascial pain syndrome" and how emotions and trauma can be underlying causes of chronic physical pain. May 1, 2021.

written INTERVIEW

video INTERVIEW of PAT OGDEN, PHD

Author TALK video

MIND BODY THOUGHTS WEBSITE -

Online written interview

Exclusive Author Interview - Maria Socolof - June 30, 2021.

Trauma-illness INTERVIEW video

video INTERVIEW of PAT OGDEN, PHD

Author Maria Socolof interviewed on The Mighty's Trauma-Illness Paradigm show

THE TRAUMA-ILLNESS PARADIGM -

Video-recorded interview - The Mighty Live

Co-hosts Cynthia Toussaint and John Garrett talked with The Invisible Key author Maria Socolof about how her early-life trauma led to chronic pain and how the body never forgets when it comes to trauma. April 13, 2021.

video INTERVIEW of PAT OGDEN, PHD

THE TRAUMA-BODY CONNECTION: The Physical Effects of Psychological Trauma - Video-recorded interview

Discussion with Pat Ogden, PhD—pioneer in somatic psychology, and creator of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute—on how child sexual abuse and other forms of trauma can impact us physically and lead to chronic pain later in life, as well as strategies for working through the body to resolve past trauma. October 12, 2021.

Multimedia Creations

AERIAL SILKS COLLABORATION

video MONTAGE with 1986 GYMNASTICS FOOTAGE

MY BODY, MY LOVE

Aerial silks routine performed by my former gymnastics teammate Fritzi Frey, accompanied by my daughter, vocalist Camille Socolof, and pianist Blair Greene. Inspired by my memoir, The Invisible Key: Unlocking the Mystery of My Chronic Pain. With an introductory poem written and read by me, this video is a representation of my relationship with my body.

video MONTAGE with 1986 GYMNASTICS FOOTAGE

THE GYMNAST IN ME

Video montage of me competing in gymnastics in 1986 and reading excerpts from my 2020 memoir, The Invisible Key: Unlocking the Mystery of My Chronic Pain. When my physical pain changed how I could express myself, I had to find new ways of creative expression. Hence my foray into writing and video making.

HEALING FROM CHRONIC MYOFASCIAL PAIN

Support for Chronic Pain Sufferers

HEALING FROM CHRONIC MYOFASCIAL PAIN

Support for Chronic Pain Sufferers

What You'll Find on This Site . . .

To help your recovery from chronic pain

I'm writing about chronic pain . . .

to Help Others

Outreach

memoir

healing interview video

healing interview video

healing interview video

healing interview video

healing interview video

Author TALK video

healing interview video

Author TALK video

written INTERVIEW

video INTERVIEW of PAT OGDEN, PHD

Author TALK video

Trauma-illness INTERVIEW video

video INTERVIEW of PAT OGDEN, PHD

video INTERVIEW of PAT OGDEN, PHD

video INTERVIEW of PAT OGDEN, PHD

video INTERVIEW of PAT OGDEN, PHD

video INTERVIEW of PAT OGDEN, PHD

Multimedia Creations

AERIAL SILKS COLLABORATION

video MONTAGE with 1986 GYMNASTICS FOOTAGE

video MONTAGE with 1986 GYMNASTICS FOOTAGE

video MONTAGE with 1986 GYMNASTICS FOOTAGE

video MONTAGE with 1986 GYMNASTICS FOOTAGE

video MONTAGE with 1986 GYMNASTICS FOOTAGE

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