Healing Lab

Research suggests ~28-35% of people with chronic pain use alcohol to find relief.

So if you've ever been in this cycle, please know you're not alone, and there's no reason to feel shame. 💚

When pain is relentless, it's natural to look for anything that can help you get through the day. At first, alcohol can do a pretty good job — taking the edge off, helping you fall asleep, and quieting the stress for a little while.

The problem is what happens over time. ⏳

Regular alcohol use begins to work against the very things it originally seemed to help:

→ It disrupts deep, restorative sleep (the kind your body needs to recover + manage pain)
→ It increases inflammation, often worsening pain
→ It can quietly worsen anxiety and depression
→ It heightens pain sensitivity over time, meaning you need more to feel the same relief

So in honor of Alcohol Awareness Month, we wanted to share a gentle message that you are not alone if you’ve used alcohol to help get through the pain. 💚

And if you’re looking for support to lessen your alcohol intake, SAMHSA's free, confidential helpline is available 24/7: 📞 1-800-662-4357

You might not be able to undo all the physiological stress your body is under. But small moments of feeling relief, calm, and control? They absolutely matter. 💚

These activities help signal safety to your nervous system,
giving your body windows to shift out of high-alert mode.

Just 5-10 minutes of intentional self-care can often make a
difference. Even if pain doesn't disappear — the relief you
feel is still very real. 💫

📌 Save this as inspiration for days when you need a quick
stress-reliever.

→ What’s your go-to way to relax after a long day?

“My thumb was frozen straight. Every now and then, I'd knock it out of joint, which hurt like hell." 🤕

→ This had been Jill's reality for the past three months with trigger finger.
By the time she reached out to us, simple daily tasks had become
excruciating. 😰

💉 Kaiser had recommended a cortisone injection, but Jill was hesitant.
She wanted to explore other options first.

That's when she reached out to us at Healing Lab.

During her session, Healing Lab founder Mike Sententia examined the affected area
and, with her consent, began working on the locked joint.

💤After her session, Jill went home to take a nap. When she woke up an hour later,
she was shocked:

"That thumb had the same range of motion as my other healthy thumb!" she shared.

The pain was gone.
The stiffness had disappeared.
"It's been a complete recovery, no relapse, and no cortisone necessary after all." 🙌

🙏💚We're so grateful to Jill for trusting us in her healing journey.

Explore more stories like Jill's (link in bio)