ABOUT ME

LARA SABELLA, PHARM.D

Hi :) I’m Lara, born in 1993 and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. I’ve always had a passion for healthcare and well-being as I remember roaming between pharmacy rows and reading product labels for fun as a child. This is why I initially pursued a career in Pharmacy and completed my doctorate in Pharmacy at the Lebanese American University between Lebanon and the US.

Upon graduation, I worked in a community pharmacy during which I realized the following:

♡ First, more of a confirmation rather than a realization, how much I love to help people improve their health and well-being.

♡ Secondly, how many people were suffering from certain chronic conditions, known as psychosomatic and stress-related (e.g. fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, migraines, tension headaches, insomnia, IBS, GERD, eczema, allergies, tinnitus…) and not finding sufficient relief despite consulting many healthcare professionals and trying many therapies.

♡ Lastly, how dealing with chronic symptoms can make you feel so helpless, frustrated, hopeless, angry, anxious, lonely, misunderstood - so much that it can literally take over your life.

Continued...

At that time, I was also suffering from chronic symptoms of my own and was trying to find relief anywhere I could with no success (you can read more about My Story in the "Blog" section). This is when I knew - hoped actually - that there had to be a solution for these chronic, debilitating conditions that can only be managed (if that, for some) with commonly used therapies - whether conventional or alternative.

A couple of years down the line, after a lot of research and self-quest, I came across the Mind-Body Syndrome (TMS*) Practitioner certification course at the Mind Body Food Institute (MBFI) which provided me with the appropriate tools and knowledge to successfully deal with my symptoms using Dr Sarno’s approach & principles.

What I loved about this course was not only that it helped me treat my own symptoms but also the fact that it gave me the opportunity to help others who are suffering.

Now that I am a Certified Chronic Pain Practitioner and Coach, I am so excited to share with you my personal take on chronic pain - from the concepts to the tools, the intentions, the pitfalls - basically everything I’ve learnt during my journey. I know how frustrating, lonely, scary, hopeless, helpless, infuriating, devastating and debilitating dealing with chronic symptoms can be and I just want to say that you are not alone, and there is a way out, as Alan Gordon says.

With that said, I hope you enjoy my content - I hope it helps you cultivate feelings of freedom, hope, happiness, pride, abundance, confidence, relaxation and strength deep inside that you so much deserve, whether you are dealing with chronic pain or not, because who can say no to that!

*TMS stands for Tension Myositis (later Myoneural) Syndrome which is the term initially used by Dr Sarno to describe all the chronic conditions that are stress-related under one big umbrella (more information on the topic can be found in the "Blog" section).

About Mind Over Pains

The name "Mind Over Pains" was chosen as a reference to Dr. John Sarno's initial book, "Mind Over Back Pain (1984)," since the approach is rooted in his foundational principles for addressing chronic symptoms.

This method solely emphasizes the mind's ability to alleviate symptoms through conscious decision-making and accurate knowledge. Understanding and accepting this concept is vital for achieving successful outcomes, serving as a pre-requisite for engaging with the approach.

The plural noun "pains" denotes the different types of chronic pain typically involved in this scope of work:

♡ Physical pain

♡Physical symptoms that are not necessarily painful but chronic and very debilitating such as skin and gastrointestinal issues

♡ Emotional pain - most importantly!

The three leaves in soothing colors, located at the base of the brain where the amygdala* is = the holistic approach through spirit, mind & body alignment that will help achieve less detection of “dangers”, thus less activation of pains

Roots = the contributing factors to pains - genetics, personalities, past traumas, environmental factors, life events

Tree shaped in the form of a brain = growth and healing, that is achieved solely by thinking and behaving differently

Dark trunk = the debilitating phase characterized by suffering and feelings of brokenness, anger, fear, frustration and hopelessness

*responsible for detecting danger and activating the sympathetic nervous system