REVIEWS & ENDORSEMENTS

The Pain Companion:
Everyday Wisdom for Living With
and Moving Beyond Chronic Pain
by Sarah Anne Shockley
177 pages, New World Library, 2018

Starred Review: "Invaluable primer on making lifelong healing choices"

Shockley writes the companion text she wishes she had when diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome. By focusing on emotional, as opposed to physical, states of pain–loss, grief, shame, terror–she provides an invaluable primer on making lifelong healing choices.
​-Stephanie Sendaula & Kiera Parrott, Library Journal

"Remarkable book...written from the heart of pain...profound"

In this remarkable book, Sarah Anne Shockley recounts her journey into the world of chronic pain and shares the survival tools she developed once she realized that pain was there to stay...It is a book about embracing the changes and the lessons which that kind of pain brings and understanding that they contain a gift which you would not have received in any other form. It is written from the heart of pain itself and it is profound.
- Anna Jedrziewski, Retailing Insight Magazine

"Uplifting advice...invaluable insight"

​In this book, Sarah Anne Shockley offers a compassionate approach to managing pain. Her uplifting advice teaches us how to bring more ease into our lives by reducing the negative effects that persistent pain can cause in our relationships and self-image. Shockley provides invaluable insight for anyone dealing with their own pain or for anyone who cares for another person who experiences daily pain. -Kayla Hancock, Conscious Community Magazine

"I loved this book...beautifully written!"

I loved this book by Sarah, which looks at pain in a very different light. We often believe that we’re failures, unless we fight against pain and defeat it. Yet in this book she talks about ways to live with it, respect it, and even partner up with it for the good of your long-term well being. I used some of the methods in this book while in pain, and I must say that it did help to calm me down...While nobody wants to suffer no matter the amount of insight it brings, we might as well learn from these experiences that we don’t have a choice but to endure.
- Sheryl Chan, A Chronic Voice

"Eye-opening...highly recommended"

Sarah takes her readers on a journey of exploring various ways to managing pain from meditative approaches, listening to the body and other multi-level approaches to chronic pain readers can find valuable in the long-term. This is an eye-opening and valuable resource. Highly recommended as a fellow chronic pain sufferer myself. - Effie Kouliopolos, Rising Above RA

"An excellent resource...fantastic read"

The Pain Companion is such an excellent resource and companion for those with pain. Learning how to become empowered through one’s pain journey is incredibly important. Sarah Anne Shockley shares valuable insight and approaches to living with and managing chronic pain. This is a fantastic read.
- ​Nicole Hemmenway, Vice President, U.S. Pain Foundation

"A refreshing, non judgmental read"

I find her attitude refreshing...If you’re searching for help in adjusting to the new reality—needing new ideas, support, or just vindication that you’re not alone and your feelings are real—I would recommend you read The Pain Companion.
​- Cecilia Baldwin, Living as A Mystery

"Helpful coping strategies and meditative exercises"

​This book reminded me and showed me that rather than an enemy, I can use my pain to my advantage—take the time to listen and thrive regardless of what it throws my way.
- Natalie Hayden, Lights Camera Crohn's

"Practicality for facing the pain"

Many times I wrote in the margins, "Yeah, me too."...​Especially if you are just beginning your journey with pain, pick up a copy of this book. Read it slowly and thoughtfully. Try the exercises and this book with indeed be your Pain Companion, a true friend.
- Mandy Farmer, Mandy and Michele

"A useful work that anyone living with chronic pain should read"

Sharing remedies for chronic pain is no easy feat, as we all have different stories, albeit with some similar threads. I was delighted to recognize some strategies she shared that have been helpful to me in my own journey...It offers a potent, but often overlooked way of coming to terms with pain.
- Alisha Nurse, The Invisible F

"I just wish I'd had this book forty years ago, at the start of my journey"

Most of what Sarah recommends, I had to learn by trial and error. Her ideas do work. She presents non-drug methods to hopefully lessen your pain. I recommend her book.
- Carole Griffitts, Navigating the Storms

"The hope, perseverance, and honesty offered in this book is quite potent"

I highly recommend this book to health and wellness professionals who have NOT experienced chronic pain to have a better sense of understanding and gentleness towards those who do. As for people experiencing ongoing pain in this moment? I honestly can't think of a better and more empowering book for you to read!
- Kelli Hess, A Blog About Books

"A sensitive, beautiful book"

Usually I devour books, but this one I savoured. I read it in sections and really absorbed what she was saying. This is not a guidepost for curing chronic pain, or even how to overcome it, but more about how one woman managed to coexist with it in a way that ultimately reduced her suffering.
- Melissa Reynolds, Melissa Vs. Fibromyalgia

"She introduced me to new ways of managing chronic pain"

All in all I appreciated learning new ways to manage chronic pain. I am learning to not fight it, but to welcome what it has to tell me. Surprisingly doing this helped me to relax and ease some of the pain. The past three weeks have been hard for me. I’ve been in increased pain and exhaustion from insomnia and stress. This book was helpful to deal with that. I recommend if you deal with chronic pain or know someone who does get a copy of this book.
-Tanya Fierro, My Fruitful Home

"Fantastic book"

Sarah provides an honest view into dealing and living with pain in a way that many others don’t...Throughout my reading I made so many notes of agreement or simply wrote YES in the margins...because what she said was so true and so valid. By reading this book, it made me stop and look at the way I deal with, and live with my chronic pain...I can't honestly say enough good things about this book...I will be highly recommending this to all the people I know who deal with chronic pain, as well as anyone who lives with people who have chronic pain.
- Amber Blackburn, The World Sees Normal

"An empathetic, powerful, and thought provoking read"

In my opinion this book should be read by anyone who suffers chronic pain, their partners, families and friends as it is the closest thing I have ever found to being able to explain my day to day reality. Furthermore it should be a required reading for anyone within the medical profession, to help them understand and to be able to empathize with any patient who has chronic pain, no matter what the cause.
- Laura Morningstar, Loving Life Everyday

"I identified a lot with what she went through"

Another thing I really appreciated about Sarah Anne's book is her persistence in making sure the reader knows that they are not alone in their suffering...I would recommend this book to anyone living in pain, loving someone in pain, or has lost someone due to their pain. I think this book is written to address people living in different stages of pain as well. Kudos to Sarah Anne for sharing her own experiences and life lessons to help others!
- Kate Straus, Spoons to Share

"Many nuggets of wisdom and insight"

This is one of the most important books I’ve read since I began my chronic illness journey. It will occupy a place on my nightstand because I know I’m going to refer back to it again and again as I navigate the complexities of living with two major chronic illness conditions...The Pain Companion is an excellent book for both the newly diagnosed chronic pain patient and for those who’ve been on the journey for a long time.
- Marya Mesa, Chronic Mom Life

"Wonderful book"

If you live with the challenge of chronic pain or if you are closely involved with someone who
does, this wonderful book meets both those needs in a sensitive, understanding and
practical manner...Personally and professionally, this book has indeed become my trusted companion.
- Arjan Bogaer, RN, Heart and Soul Counseling

"Clearly presents a method that works for self healing...a great read"

Sarah explores pain, meditation, techniques for dealing with frustration and anger at having injury and most importantly, she shares the joy of regaining control of her life and clearly presents a method that works for self healing and learning to live with injury...she gives her readers the benefit of learning the techniques that worked well for her and no doubt will help others achieve her success in returning to life. Sarah’s words and ideas are a great read and tool for anyone who faces the difficult challenge of nerve injury, be it TOS, Carpal Tunnel or RSD. 
- Scott Fried, MD, Doctor In The House

"I strongly recommend this book"

Sarah addresses the pain head-on. She strips the pain down to its core and addresses it for what it is, and then confronts each of the negative feelings separately, in its own way. This technique removes power from the pain and negativity while allowing the body to fully absorb and process each feeling...By the end of the chapter, I had learned techniques to face my fear and overcome it. I’m still practicing it each time I start to become fearful, but my stress and anxiety levels are much lower than they once were...If you or someone you know is dealing with pain, I strongly recommend this book.
- Brandi Clevinger, Being Fibro Mom

"A thoughtful and eye-opening book"

A thoughtful and eye-opening book for anyone suffering with chronic pain. I found many of her insights equally relevant for those of us suffering from other chronic illnesses as well...Her focus is one of changing the way we relate to our pain, and being kind to ourselves and our bodies...In fact, it’s so good that I will be adding this book to my list of Pain Resources.
- Kathy Forsyth, Upbeat Living

"She described exactly how I have felt"

Sarah Anne Shockley does an amazing job of describing the struggles of living with chronic pain. At times, for me it was emotional to read because she described exactly how I have felt. It allowed me to acknowledge my feelings and gave me ways to address and overcome them...I recommend this book to not only those living with chronic pain but to their friends & family who want to understand what it is like to live a life in chronic pain.
- Melissa Swanson, Fibro Warriors ~ Living Life

"A beneficial exploration into what we call pain acceptance"

Whether your pain is recent or a long, long mode of being, such as with me, there is a lot of value in exploring how we relate to pain and how we could relate to it. The Pain Companion is a great way to nudge you into that exploration, listen to the author’s perspective. It is worthwhile to engage with our pain, mentally, physically, and emotionally to determine how best to relate to it and have acceptance through it.
- Nikki Albert, Brainless Blogger

"A phenomenal tool"
I wholeheartedly recommend The Pain Companion to anyone experiencing chronic pain. It is a phenomenal tool for anyone looking for ways to help ease the pain. It offers natural and holistic approaches that are meant to be combined with ongoing medical or therapeutic healing programs. And yes, this can certainly include pain medications. It does not promise a cure. It simply offers what many individuals with chronic pain are looking for: compassion and support from someone who knows what it’s like to be on the inside of chronic pain. 5 Stars.
- Laura Tietz, Ribbonrx Blog

"Everyone with chronic pain must read this book"

The Pain Companion: Everyday Wisdom for Living with and Moving Beyond Chronic Pain by Sarah Anne Shockley is definitely in my top 10 self-care books, and I will certainly be reading it again. I recommend everyone with chronic pain has this book on their shelf or in their Kindle reading list to refer back to and keep as a companion to help cope with their pain...I give this book 5 stars: I absolutely loved it! Will read it again! Everyone should read it! 5 Stars
- Alice, Notebooks and Glasses Chronic Pain Blog

"Excellent descriptions and steps to help alleviate pain"

A guide to not just to help you cope with pain, but to understand it as well...The chapters are broken down into sections which have excellent descriptions and steps to use in order to help alleviate the pain and at the end of each chapter a summary of the key points which can be used as reminders to move forward.
- ​Beck Valley Books Review


"A place where hope and possibilities live"

The Pain Companion is a practical, insightful, and compassionate guide into and through the lives of chronic pain sufferers. It is beautifully written and sensitive. For those who have searched to make sense of chronic pain, here is a packet of understanding - a place where hope and possibilities live.
​- Amber Wolf, PhD, Holistic Science and Alternative Therapies

"The 'go to book' when nothing else works"

What if there was some wisdom and help from someone who has gone through what you are going through with chronic pain, would you like to listen to it? I would call this the "go to book" when nothing else works when you have chronic pain. The intuition, wisdom, exercises and meditations offered by Sarah are helpful beyond measure and can assist you in your journey to find your true self beyond anything you can imagine. This is a must read book for anyone. Pain is the way through to healing. - Michael A. DeFino, DC

"Valuable advice and ideas that can only come from someone who has lived through it"

This is a very important book. It offers valuable advice and ideas for making living with pain easier that can only come from someone who has lived through it. I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone experiencing chronic pain, and suggest that practitioners read it to gain a greater understanding of the challenges their patients in pain must live with. - Tracy A. Newkirk, MD, Neurology

"A wise, thoughtful, heartfelt manual"

Until blindsided by devastating pain and immobility, Sarah, accomplished and active, was immersed in life.  Making lemonade from lemons, she has produced a wise, thoughtful, heartfelt autobiography and manual in which she details practices that have helped her recover.  Providing context, she beautifully lays out the negative emotions and limiting habits that so often accompany pain; she then offers strategies for coping and healing.  Given the prevalence of pain and the usefulness of this book, it may easily become a best seller. - Carol Banquer, MD

"A comprehensive and profound look at the meaning within the experience of pain"

The Pain Companion is a long awaited book that offers important insights into the world of chronic pain. Shockley shares beautifully written prose about her personal journey of living with a severe injury that forces her into a life she had never imagined. Through the letters she writes to Pain, her encouragement to follow one's own healing path, and her presentation of  exercises that anyone can follow, she gives a comprehensive and profound look at the meaning within the experience of pain.  I highly recommend this book for anyone, especially for people living with pain, caregivers and medical and rehabilitation professionals.
​- Thaïs Mazur, OTR, PhD, Integrative Medicine

"A real service for those in pain"

Sarah Anne Shockley has hit on something very important when working with people in chronic pain. It is necessary to address the emotional and psychological aspects as well as the physical. The Pain Companion offers a great deal of clarity. It makes sense psychologically and is a real service for those in pain.
​- Jerry Rosser, MA, MFT

"I highly recommend this book for anyone living with pain or working with people in pain"

As someone who has lived with chronic pain, and as an Occupational Therapist working with people in pain, I highly recommend The Pain Companion for clients and practitioners both. The insights and exercises are truly supportive of anyone living with pain and moving through to the other side. It is so valuable to hear directly from someone who has lived through it themselves and developed an approach to pain management that addresses all aspects of living in pain. I highly recommend this book for anyone living with pain or working with people in pain.
​- Pam Dent, OTR

"Practical, deep, insightful ways of living with constant 24 hours a day pain"

Sarah Anne Shockley's book, The Pain Companion, is a must-have for both pain sufferers and therapeutic practitioners practicing pain relief. Taking from her own life experience, Sarah offers practical, deep, insightful ways of living with constant 24 hours a day pain, allowing the reader ways to shift their mental, emotional and physical approach to pain management. I recommend The Pain Companion to all my chronic pain clients.
​- Dr. Celestine Star, DD, AH CH, BCI LC