469: Pain Addiction is Real: How Your Brain Keeps You Stuck and What Will Set You Free with Scotty Scheller

Did you know that chronic pain can become as addictive as any drug, trapping your brain in cycles that make healing nearly impossible? In this episode, I share my recent experience of dealing with unexpected all consuming nerve pain following a disc replacement surgery. I've navigated pain off and on my whole life, but this was a new level. I bring on my friend, Scotty Scheller, who spent five years paralyzed and in excruciating pain after a hockey injury. This conversation exposes the hidden connections between high-performance personalities, DNA, and chronic pain cycles. What started as my search for relief became a masterclass in neuroscience and healing: from discovering how certain genetic profiles make us more susceptible to pain addiction, to learning why high achievers often push their bodies into states where recovery becomes impossible, this episode challenges everything you think you know about healing. Scotty's transformation from a suicidal, bed-ridden former athlete to a thriving entrepreneur reveals the power of identity shifting and focus redirection. You'll discover why meditation isn't just "woo-woo" but actual neuroscience, how brown noise can quiet your overactive mind, and why the medication you're taking might be working against your genetic blueprint. Most importantly, you'll learn practical strategies for breaking free from pain-focused thinking and reclaiming your life. Whether you're dealing with chronic pain yourself or supporting someone who is, this deep dive into the cutting-edge science of neuroplasticity, identity transformation, and the incredible power your mind has to either trap you in suffering or set you completely free will change how you think about healing, recovery, and human potential forever. ✅ Sign up for the free DNA deep dive here → https://midlifeconversations.com/dna Catch the full episode on YOUTUBE HERE: https://bit.ly/MidlifeConversationsYouTube Learn More About Scotty Scheller: Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/scottyscheller Thank you to our show sponsors! FRESH PRESSED OLIVE OIL CLUB: Try a bottle of the world's most delicious artisanal olive oils direct from gold-medal-winning small farms for just $1 and taste the difference yourself https://GetFreshNatalieJill.com Free Gifts for being a listener of Midlife Conversations! Mastering the Midlife Midsection Guide: https://theflatbellyguide.com/ Age Optimizing and Supplement Guide: https://ageoptimizer.com Connect with me on social media! Instagram: www.Instagram.com/Nataliejllfit Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Nataliejillfit For advertising inquiries: https://www.category3.ca/ Disclaimer: Information provided in the Midlife Conversations podcast is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Do not use the information provided in this podcast for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before making any changes to your current regimen. Information provided in this podcast and the use of any products or services related to this podcast does not create a client-patient relationship between you and the host of Midlife Conversations or you and any doctor or provider interviewed and featured on this show. Information and statements may have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease. Advertising Disclosure: Some episodes of Midlife Conversations may be sponsored by products or services discussed during the show. The host may receive compensation for such advertisements or if you purchase products through affiliate links. Opinions expressed about products or services are those of the host and/or guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of any sponsor. Sponsorship does not imply endorsement of any product or service by healthcare professionals featured on this podcast.