Is your chronic pain real — even when every test comes back normal? The answer is yes. And the science of neuroplastic symptoms is finally explaining why. In this episode of Inner Voice – A Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan, Dr. Foojan Zeine sits down with Dr. David Clarke, MD — President of the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms (ATNS), board-certified gastroenterologist and internal medicine physician, and author of They Can’t Find Anything Wrong: 7 Keys to Understanding, Treating, and Healing Stress Illness. If you’ve spent months going from doctor to doctor, run every test, and been told “everything looks normal” — this conversation is for you. Dr. Clarke and Dr. Foojan explore the powerful connection between childhood trauma, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), chronic stress, and the very real brain-generated physical symptoms that affect an estimated 40% of all medical patients. This is not “it’s all in your head.” This is neuroscience. 🔍 In This Episode You’ll Learn: • Why neuroplastic pain is not imaginary — it’s a measurable physical change in the brain • How childhood abuse, ACEs, and unresolved trauma create patterns of perfectionism, low self-esteem, and people-pleasing that manifest as physical illness decades later • Why the brain decides whether or not to generate a pain signal — and how stress and fear hijack that process • How the body holds trauma in protective postures — and why releasing those physical patterns is essential to healing • The case of a patient whose stomach was completely paralyzed due to chronic fear activation in the sympathetic nervous system • Why choking sensations, bowel problems, back pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue may all be neuroplastic in origin • The 7 key indicators Dr. Clarke uses to identify neuroplastic conditions • How autoimmune disease, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease risk all increase with higher ACE scores • Groundbreaking results from the Boulder Back Pain Study — 75% pain reduction in just 4 weeks, sustained over 5 years • How the UCLA study showed neuroplastic recovery therapy outperformed traditional CBT by nearly 4 to 1 • Why integrating medical and mental health care produces dramatically better outcomes than treating them separately ⏱ Timestamps 0:00 – Intro: Inner Voice Podcast 4:01 – Meet Dr. David Clarke: Neuroplastic Symptoms & Ending Chronic Pain 4:49 – “They Can’t Find Anything Wrong” — Why So Many Patients Are Left Without Answers 10:24 – Dr. Foojan’s Personal Experience With Somatic Symptoms & Trauma 12:20 – Dr. Clarke’s Origin Story: The Patient Who Changed His Career 15:19 – The Elevator Ride That Changed Everything (Counseling Cured a Physical Condition) 16:51 – From “Psychosomatic” to “Neuroplastic”: Why the Language Shift Matters 18:34 – How the Brain Decides Whether to Generate Pain (The Hammer & the Predator) 20:02 – How Trauma Is Held in the Body: Protective Postures & Muscle Memory 22:48 – The Paralyzed Stomach: Sympathetic Nervous System & Chronic Fear 25:31 – Case Study: Choking Sensations, Immigrant Trauma & the Vagus Nerve 28:27 – Childhood Trauma, Low Self-Esteem, Perfectionism & People-Pleasing 31:22 – The 7 Keys: How to Diagnose Neuroplastic vs. Physical Conditions 33:06 – Stress Triggers, Anxiety & Depression as Hidden Drivers of Physical Symptoms 35:32 – Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): The Biggest Category of All 37:01 – Neuroplasticity & Recovery: Mindset, Meaning & Healing from Real Illness 39:16 – Autoimmune Disease, Cancer & the ACE Connection 41:40 – The Research: Boulder Back Pain Study & UCLA Clinical Trial Results 43:17 – Why Physician + Mental Health Collaboration Gets the Best Outcomes 44:57 – Where to Find Dr. Clarke & Free Resources at symptomatic.me 45:37 – Closing: Dr. Foojan on AIT Certification & Living Fully 📚 Resources Mentioned: 📖 They Can’t Find Anything Wrong by Dr. David Clarke → available wherever books are sold 🌐 Free self-assessment quiz + videos + courses: symptomatic.me 🌐 Therapy, coaching, mind-body & functional medicine: www.iaii.life 📱 The Foojan App — AI-powered support between sessions, available now #ChronicPain #NeuroplasticPain #StressIllness #TraumaHealing #MindBodyConnection #DrFoojan #InnerVoicePodcast #DrDavidClarke #ACEs #ChildhoodTrauma #UnexplainedSymptoms #Neuroplasticity #FibromyalgiaRelief #ChronicFatigue #SomaticHealing #BackPain #AutoimmuneDisease #MentalHealthAwareness #BrainBodyHealing #AwarenessIntegration #ATNS #StressAndHealth #HolisticHealth #PsychosomaticPain #VagusNerve #TraumaRecovery #PerfectionismAndHealth #EmotionalRegulation #FunctionalMedicine

EPISODE 459 | INNER VOICE – A HEARTFELT CHAT WITH DR. FOOJAN What if anger isn't something to suppress, avoid, or fear—but a powerful emotion that can be understood, managed, and transformed into a force for growth? In this compelling episode of Inner Voice – A Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan, Dr. Foojan Zeine welcomes renowned psychologist, author, and anger management expert Dr. Mitch Abrams for a deep conversation about the psychology of anger, emotional regulation, trauma, resilience, relationships, and personal transformation. Drawing from more than two decades of experience in sport psychology, clinical psychology, forensic psychology, and correctional mental health, Dr. Abrams challenges the common belief that anger is a "negative emotion." Instead, he explains how anger can become a valuable ally when recognized early, understood properly, and channeled effectively. As Chief Psychologist overseeing psychological services for seven New Jersey state prisons and Founder of Learned Excellence for Athletes, Dr. Abrams offers unique insights into how anger impacts athletes, executives, families, couples, and society at large. Together, Dr. Foojan and Dr. Abrams explore the emotional, cognitive, and physiological aspects of anger, providing practical tools for emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and lasting personal growth. Based on his groundbreaking book, "I'm Not F***ing Angry!!! Adjust the Flames to Get What You Want and Need," this episode reveals how to move beyond emotional reactivity and cultivate greater clarity, confidence, and resilience. 🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: • Understanding why anger is not a negative emotion • How childhood experiences and trauma shape emotional reactions • The difference between healthy anger and destructive rage • Emotional regulation strategies for high performers • Gender differences in expressing anger • Cognitive distortions and hidden anger triggers • Early warning signs of emotional escalation • The role of forgiveness, accountability, and healing • Revenge, resentment, and emotional freedom • Social media, political polarization, and collective anger • Relationship dynamics and conflict resolution • Building resilience, self-awareness, and emotional mastery ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 01:39 Why Anger Isn't a Negative Emotion 04:03 Meet Dr. Mitch Abrams 09:15 Interview Begins 09:38 Why Mitch Studies Anger 12:14 Dr. Foojan's Personal Anger Journey 13:50 The Truth About Anger 15:56 Men, Women & Anger 20:02 A Different Approach to Anger Management 22:01 Early Detection of Anger 23:16 Albert Ellis & Cognitive Distortions 26:03 Hidden Anger Triggers 27:28 Recognizing Warning Signs 28:23 Anger, Authority & Public Speaking 30:24 Apologies & Accountability 32:39 Forgiveness & Letting Go 36:42 Revenge and Resentment 40:18 Social Media, Politics & Collective Anger 45:50 Anger in Relationships 47:30 Long-Term Power vs. Short-Term Wins 49:19 Final Thoughts on Anger 50:20 Where to Find Mitch Abrams 51:11 Closing Remarks 📘 ABOUT DR. MITCH ABRAMS Dr. Mitch Abrams is a psychologist specializing in sport, clinical, and forensic psychology. He serves as Chief Psychologist for Rutgers University Correctional Health Care, overseeing psychological services within multiple correctional facilities. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at Rutgers Health–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Founder of Learned Excellence for Athletes. His latest book, "I'm Not F***ing Angry!!! Adjust the Flames to Get What You Want and Need," offers a transformative approach to understanding and managing anger for healthier relationships, stronger leadership, and peak performance. 🌿 TAKE THE FREE CLARITY ASSESSMENT Discover your emotional patterns and gain deeper self-awareness: [www.iaii.life](http://www.iaii.life) 🎧 SUBSCRIBE for more conversations on psychology, mental health, emotional intelligence, relationships, personal growth, trauma healing, leadership, resilience, and conscious living. #AngerManagement #EmotionalIntelligence #MentalHealth #Psychology #DrFoojan #MitchAbrams #EmotionalRegulation #TraumaHealing #PersonalGrowth #SelfAwareness #MentalResilience #ForensicPsychology #SportsPsychology #Relationships #Leadership #Healing #Psychotherapy #InnerVoicePodcast #PeakPerformance #Mindset

Are you struggling with tantrums, big emotions, or feeling disconnected from your child? In this powerful E458 Inner Voice A Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan, Dr. Foojan sit down with Dr. Eileen Manoukian — parent coach, child development specialist, early childhood educator, and founder of the award-winning multilingual preschool Gem Educare in Los Angeles — to talk about what it really takes to raise emotionally healthy, confident, resilient children. Dr. Eileen shares her remarkable journey from a successful career in banking to earning her doctorate in Early Childhood Education, inspired by volunteering in South African childcare facilities during her recovery from back surgery. She breaks down her powerful GEM Parenting Framework — Ground Yourself, Enter Your Child’s World, Move with Guidance — and explains why emotional regulation must start with YOU before it can reach your child. Together, Dr. Foojan and Dr. Eileen explore: ✅ Why dysregulated parents cannot regulate their children ✅ How unprocessed emotions from YOUR past silently shape your parenting ✅ What your child absorbs from your energy — even when you say the right words ✅ How children’s behavior at school vs. home reveals what’s really happening at home ✅ Why understanding developmental stages transforms “bad behavior” into normal growth ✅ How the GEM framework helps parents raise emotionally healthy kids ages 0–12 ✅ The science behind why children read your eyes — and what that means for connection Dr. Eileen is also the co-author of Intentional Parenting: A Practical Guide Towards Awareness Integration Theory, and the creator of Gem Parenting Academy, a membership platform offering age-specific guidance, printable resources, and community support for parents. 🎁 SPECIAL OFFER: Get 20% off an annual Gem Parenting Academy membership — use code INNERVOICE at checkout. Offer expires July 1st. Visit gemparentingacademy.com to learn more. 📌 Topics: conscious parenting | emotional regulation for kids | child development | parenting toddlers | parenting young children | parent coaching | early childhood education | intentional parenting | GEM parenting | awareness integration theory | raising resilient children | emotionally healthy kids | parenting anxiety | attachment parenting | mindful parenting | parenting 0-12 | child behavior | developmental stages | parent self-regulation | multilingual education 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week. 📲 Connect with Dr. Eileen Manoukian: gemparentingacademy.kit.com 📲 Connect with Dr. Foojan: Website: Foojan Zeine.com Instagram: dr.foojanzeine #MentalHealth #Wellness #Relationship #PersonalGrowth #Self-Development