"Take Charge of Your Chronic Pain", Peter Abaci, MD, Globe Pequot Press Publishing: Guilford, CT, $16.95 (800-243-0495)

"Healing the Body Betrayed", Robert Klein, Ph.D., Marcia Goodman Landau, Ph.D., DCI/Chronimed Publishing: Minneapolis, $12.95 (1-612-541-0239)

"Managing Pain Before It Manages You", Margaret A. Caudill, M.D., Ph.D., Guilford Publications, Inc.: New York, NY, $18.95 (1-800-365-7006)

"Addiction-Free Pain Management", Stephen Grinstead, M.A., ACRPS, CADC, Terence Gorski, M.A., NACA II, Herald House/Independence Press: Independence, MO, $9.95 (1-800-767-8181)

"Living with Pain: A New Approach to the Management of Chronic Pain", Richard Reilly, D.O., Deaconess Press: Minneapolis, 1993, $9.95 (1-800-544-8207)

"Coping With Illness", Helen Garvy, Shire Press, 1995. ISBN 091882818. Available in paperback

"Living Creatively with Chronic Illness: Developing Skills for Transcending the Loss", Pain and Frustration, Eugenic E. Wheeler and Joyce Doce-Lombard, Pathfinder Publishing, 1989. ISBN 0934793174. Available in paperback

"Mastering Pain: A Twelve Step Program for Coping With Chronic Pain", Richard A. Sternbach, G.P. Putnam, 1987. Available in paperback

"Meeting the Challenge: Living With Chronic Illness", Audrey Kron, 1996. ISBN 0963387715. Available in paperback

To download a complete list with more descriptions, please click here.

Coping with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Nine Things You Can Do, Fred Friedburg, Ph.D., Oakland, CA : New Harbinger Publications, 1995, $12.95 (1-800-748-6273)

Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Survival Manual, Devin Starlanyl, MD & Mary Ellen Copeland, MS, New Harbinger Publications, 1996, Oakland, $19.95 (1-800-748-6273)

Fibromyalgia: a Comprehensive Approach, Miryam Williamson

Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Other Repetitive Strain Injuries, Sharon Butler & Jacqueline Freeman, Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications , 1996, $17.95 (1-800-748-6273)

The Headache and Neck Pain Workbook, Douglas DeGood, Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 1997, $14.95 (1-800-748-6273)

Numb Toes and Aching Soles: Coping with Peripheral Neuropathy, John A. Senneff

Relief From Back Pain: The Tollison Program, C. David Tollison

The Arthritis Helpbook, Kate Loring, R.N., Ph.D. Available in paperback

To download this list with more descriptions, please click here.

Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories That Heal, Rachel Naomi Remen, Riverhead Books, 1997, $12.50

Carnal Acts: Essays, Nancy Mairs, Beacon Press, 1996

Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl, Washington Square

Patient or Person: Living With Chronic Pain, Penney Cowan

When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Harold S. Kushner,

To download this list with more descriptions, please click here.

Self-Esteem, Second Edition, Matthew McKay, Ph.D. and Patrick Fanning, New Harbinger Publications, Oakland, $12.95 (1-800-748-6273)

Angry All the Time: An Emergency Guide to Anger Control, Ronald Potter-Efron, New Harbinger Publications: 1996, Oakland, $12.95 (1-800-748-6273)

Anger: The Misunderstood Emotion, Carol Tavris, Touchstone

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, David Burns, Wholecare

Healing the Child Within, Charles L. Whitefield, M.D.

The Angry Book, Theodore I. Rubin, Touchstone Books, 1998. ISBN 0684842017. Available in paperback

When I Say "No" I Feel Guilty, Dr. Manual J. Smith, Bantam, 1988. ISBN 0553263900. Available in paperback

To download this list with more descriptions, please click here.

Recovering: A Journal, May Sarton, W.W. Norton, 1980

The New Diary, Tristine Rainer, J.P. Tarcher, Inc., 1979

Hypnosis for Change: A Manual of Proven Techniques, 3rd Ed., Josie Hadley & Carol Staudacher, Oakland, CA, New Harbinger Publications: 1996, $15.95 (1-800-748-6273)

Courage to Heal, Ellen Bass & Laura Davis, Harper Collins, 1994, $22.50

Courage to Heal Workbook, Laura Davis, Harper Perennial, 1994, $20.00 (1-800-331-3761)

What to Say When You Talk to Your Self, Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1982, $6.99

Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., Dell Publishing: New York, 1990, $13.95 (1-800-258-4233)

The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook, Fifth Edition, Martha Davis, Ph.D., Elizabeth Eshelman, M.S.W., and Matthew McKay, Ph.D., New Harbinger Publications, Oakland, $19.95 (1-800-748-6273)

Above and Beyond: 365 Meditations for Transcending Chronic Pain and Illness, J.S. Dorian, Diane Publishing Company, ISBN 0788198173, $12.00.

Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient, Norman Cousins, Doubleday, 1981. ISBN 05533443653. Available in paperback

Getting Unstuck: Breaking Through Your Barriers to Change, Dr.Sidney B. Simon, Warner Books, 1989. ISBN 0446390240. Available in paperback

Chronic Fatigue: Your Complete Exercise Guide, Neil F. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., MPH Human Kinetics Publishers, 1993. ISBN 0673223934. Available in paperback

Stretching: The 20th Anniversary, Bob Anderson, Shelter Publications, 2000. ISBN 0936070226. Available in paperback and video

Food & Mood: The Complete Guide to Eating Well and Feeling Your Best, Elizabeth Somer, Henry Holt and Company, Inc., 1996, New York, $15.95 (1-800-488-5233)

Jane Brody's Good Food Book, Jane Brody, Doubleday, 1987

Eating Well for Optimum Health: The Essential Guide to Food, Diet, and Nutrition, Andrew Weil, M.D., Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. ISBN 0375407545. Available in paperback and audiocassette

Foods That Fight Pain: Revolutionary New Strategies for Maximum Pain Relief, Neal Barnard, M.D., Harmony Books, 1998. ISBN0375407162. Available in paperback and cassette

Helping Yourself Help Others: A Book for Caregiver, Rosalynn Carter

Mainstay: For the Well Spouse of the Chronically Ill, Maggie Strong, Bradford Books, 1997. ISBN 0965717909

Take Charge of Your Worker’s Compensation Claim: An A to Z Guide, 1998. Christopher Ball, Nolo Press, (ISBN 0-87337-393-6)

The Work Injury Handbook: A Simple Guide to California Workers' Comp. Law for the Injured Worker, Peter Goldberger, Goldberger & Associates, 1997

Facts Every Injured Worker Should Know, Ava Gavilan, Luz Consulting, 2000

The Joy of Stress with Loretta LaRoche, WGBH Boston Video, P.O. Box 2284, South Burlington, VT 05407-2284, $19.95. (1-800-255-9424 or www.wgbh.org)

Humor Your Stress with Loretta LaRoche, WGBH Boston Video, P.O. Box 2284, South Burlington, VT 05407-2284, $19.95. (1-800-255-9424)

How Serious Is This with Loretta LaRoche, WGBH Boston Video, P.O. Box 2284, South Burlington, VT 05407-2284, $19.95. (1-800-255-9424)

Relax! You Only Live Once with Loretta LaRoche, WGBH Boston Video, P.O. Box 2284, South Burlington, VT 05407-2284, $19.95. (1-800-255-9424)

Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, Lorig, Kate, et al. Bull Publishing Co. c2000

Living, Loving and Laughing with Pain, Pliskin, Jacqueline J. (publisher unknown) c1995

Sex, Love and Chronic Illness, Carlton, Lucille. National Parkinson Foundation. c1994

Sexuality and Chronic Illness, A Comprehensive Approach. Schover, Leslie R. and Jensen, Soren B. Guilford Publications. c1988

Sex and Back Pain: Advice on Restoring Comfortable Sex That Has Been Lost to Back Pain, Lauren Hebert, PT, IMPACC Publishing: Bangor, ME, 1987 (1-800-762-7720)

American Chronic Pain Association - www.theacpa.org
P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677
Phone Number: (916) 632-0922 Fax: (916) 632-3208

American Pain Foundation - www.painfoundation.org
36 S. Charles St., Suite 7-12
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 468-4101

National Chronic Pain Outreach Association - www.chronicpain.org
P.O. Box 274
Millboro, VA 24460
(540) 862-9437

National Headache Foundation - www.headaches.org
428 W. St. James Pl., 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60614-2450
(800) 843-2256

American Pain Society - www.ampainsoc.org
5700 Old Orchard Road, First Floor
Skokie, IL 60077-1057
Phone Number: (708) 966-5595

American Academy of Pain Management - www.aapainmanage.org
13947 Mono Way #A
Sonora CA 95370
(209) 533-9744

American Art Therapy Association - www.arttherapy.org

Northern California Art Therapy Association - www.norcata.org

National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Associations - www.nccata.org

Art and Healing: Using Expressive Art to Heal Your Body, Mind and Spirit. Barbara Ganim.

The Art Therapy Sourcebook. Cathy A. Malchiodi.

Art Therapy for Groups. Marian Liebmann.

Therapeutic Art Directives and Resources. Susan R. Makin.

Creating Mandalas. Susanne F. Fincher.

Peter Abaci, MD, is certified in anesthesia and pain management by the American Board of Anesthesiology. Dr. Abaci received his undergraduate education at UC San Diego, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and attended medical school at the University of Southern California. During his last year of residency, he served as Chief Resident and participated in a senior elective in pain management. That experience sparked an interest that led him to UC San Francisco, where he completed his fellowship training in Pain Management. In private practice since 1996, he serves as the Medical Director of the nationally recognized Bay Area Pain and Wellness Center, located in Los Gatos, California, which he cofounded with Dr. John Massey. A widely respected expert on chronic pain management and a highly successful chronic pain sufferer, he is the author of Take Charge of Your Chronic Pain: The Latest Research, Cutting-Edge Tools, and Alternative Treatments for Feeling Better.

Visit the "WebMD PAIN MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY" website.

Interview Date: FEB 2, 2011

Dr. Abaci began his quest to radically change conventional chronic pain thinking and treatment after dealing with the agony of his second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. There is help for conquering chronic pain, without a life addicted to drugs, and hope for healing and long-term health. Understanding that commonly prescribed pain-killing medications can actually result in a heightened sensitivity to pain (not to mention addiction), Dr. Abaci focuses on developing alternative solutions to treating chronic pain by drawing on neuroscience research, evidence-based medicine, ancient Eastern spiritual traditions, stress management techniques, nutrition principles, exercise programs, art therapy, and real-life lessons.

What therapy is not: Therapy with a psychologist or therapist does not mean you are "crazy," or, in some way "damaged." In fact, most people who come to therapy are everyday people with concerns such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and relation- ship issues. Generally, therapy is helpful for people who feel "stuck" in some aspect of their lives.

What can I expect? You can probably expect to feel nervous about going to therapy for the first time. Most people feel uncomfortable or on guard when they first talk with a therapist. Just like it takes time to trust a new acquaintance, it will take time to trust the therapist.

Therapy is not like a medical doctor visit. Instead, it calls for a very active effort on your part. Because therapy is very different than a standard medical appointment, your role will be different. Taking a "leap of faith" and beginning to speak about your inner experience, including your thoughts and feelings, will help your psychologist/ therapist to better understand you and know how to help.

Part of being active in therapy includes setting goals with your therapist. Treatment goals allow both you and the therapist to know whether you are address- ing the problems that are most important to you. Often, treatment goals will focus on things such as expressing feelings, understanding patterns of thinking, gaining

perspective on past events and current relation-ships, changing behaviors, and learning skills to help you live a healthier life, both in mind and body.

Benefits and risks: Since therapy involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, helplessness, or loneliness, particularly at first. People often have a temporary worsening of symptoms while these things are being explored. These symptoms will improve, and therapy has been show to have benefits for people who see it through.

How can therapy help with physical pain? People some- times feel intimidated to be referred to a psychologist/therapist when they have pain. First, it is important to know that your pain is very real. The recommendation for therapy is not because we don't believe your pain is real, but instead, to help you cope with all the ways pain can affect your life. Therapy can help by improving your coping, as well as assisting with associated mood changes that almost always accompany chronic pain, such as depression and anxiety. Education can sometimes be a part of visits, including learning about chronic pain and how you can be an active participant in your pain management. This may involve stress manage- ment and a better understanding of the connection between the mind and body.