How Chronic Threat Leads to Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness

In this episode, Dr. David Hanscom continues his discussion with physiatrist and pain management specialist David Clawsen, MD.  He discusses how the immune response works and the toll it can take on the body over long periods of time. He explores the physiologic, genetic and emotional factors that govern the threat response. He explains how chronic threat in our lives, which continually activates our immune response, can lead to chronic illness and auto-immune disorders. Ultimately, he believes, healing is about not just defending against threats, but getting to a place of safety.

Dr. David Clawsen is a Physiatrist, based in Seattle, with backgrounds in neurologic, cancer, spine and sports rehabilitation, and pain management. He is interested in the different physiologic states that underpin illness and disease versus wellness and health, as determined by whether we are in threat versus safety.