Have money worries ever kept you awake at night, triggered headaches, or left you feeling overwhelmed and stuck?

In this episode of the Pain Free Living Podcast, osteopath Bob Allen and therapy coach Clare Elsby explore the often overlooked connection between financial stress, mental wellbeing, and physical health.

Clare brings her unique perspective as both a former accountant and coach, sharing a powerful real-life story of a successful professional whose financial anxiety was quietly affecting every area of her life. Despite earning a good income, a cycle of stress, alcohol use, impulsive spending, and avoidance left her feeling trapped and ashamed. You'll find out how small changes, curiosity, and support helped her regain control of both her finances and her wellbeing.

Bob explains what happens to your body when stress becomes a constant companion. You'll learn how financial worries can contribute to muscle tension, headaches, migraines, digestive problems, poor sleep, increased pain sensitivity, and feelings of exhaustion. He also shares practical ways to help calm your nervous system and reduce the physical impact of long-term stress.

If money worries are affecting your confidence, health, or relationships, don't worry, you're not alone. In this day and age financial stress is a common experience, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty.

The good news is that support is available, and small steps can make a significant difference.

This episode highlights the important message that there is no shame in asking for help. Whether the challenge is financial, emotional, or physical, support and practical solutions exist.

• Financial stress can have a genuine impact on both your mental and physical health.
• Long-term stress may contribute to headaches, migraines, muscle tension, digestive issues, and increased pain sensitivity.
• Avoidance often makes financial worries feel bigger than they really are.
• Understanding where your money goes is the first step towards regaining control.
• Mindfulness, movement, creativity, and asking for help can all support recovery from stress.

Citizens Advice (financial guidance & debt support) - https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

StepChange Debt Charity - https://www.stepchange.org/

National Debtline - https://nationaldebtline.org/

Every Mind Matters (stress support) - https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/

Disclaimer: Please note that any tips or advice given in this podcast does not constitute medical, healthcare or any other form of professional advice. If you have health or other issues, please seek advice specific to your circumstances from a qualified healthcare, medical, or other relevant professional.

Bob Allen is an osteopath, patient educator, podcast host, and public speaker with over 17 years' experience helping people understand pain, movement, and recovery. Drawing on both healthcare and a previous 20-year career in IT project management, Bob specialises in translating complex health topics into practical advice that people can use in everyday life.

Clare Elsby is an experienced therapy coach who uses positive psychology together with a background in accountancy to give her a unique perspective on the relationship between mindset, behaviour, and life challenges.

📖 Bob's Story: https://bit.ly/BobsOsteoStory

🌱 Clare Elsby: https://www.clareelsby.com/

📧 Newsletter Sign-Up: https://bit.ly/PFL_newsletter_signup

🌐 Social Media & Podcast Platforms: https://linktr.ee/Painfreeliving

In this episode of the Pain Free Living Podcast, osteopath Bob Allen and positive psychology coach Clare revisit low back pain, but with a twist.

This time, we’re asking: can your boss, your job, or your workplace stress make your back pain feel worse?

You’ll find out why pain doesn’t happen in isolation. Stress, poor work relationships, long commutes, desk setups, pressure, anxiety and burnout can all affect your nervous system. When your nervous system is already on high alert, your body can become more sensitive to pain.

Bob explains how your sympathetic nervous system which is all about “fight, flight, freeze or fawn”, can lead to increased muscle tension, headaches, neck pain and low back pain.

Clare explores the psychological side of things covering workplace politics, poor management, feeling trapped, and the importance of support, boundaries and choice.

Don’t worry this episode isn’t saying you have to immediately quit your job and run off into the sunset. It's about making you aware of how your work can affect your physical and mental health.

You’ll learn small, practical ways to calm your nervous system by moving more during the day, asking for support, and recognising when your workplace may be affecting both your physical and mental health.

• Low back pain can be influenced by stress, not just injury.
• A difficult boss or toxic workplace can keep your nervous system on high alert.
• Movement doesn’t have to mean gym torture and even a short walk can make a difference to your stress levels.
• Workplace support in the form of HR, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) or trusted colleagues can make a difference.
• You may have more choice than you think, even if change feels scary.

• HSE guidance on workplace stress and employer responsibilities - https://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/
• Acas guidance on managing work-related stress - https://www.acas.org.uk/managing-work-related-stress
• NICE guideline on low back pain and sciatica - https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng59

This podcast provides general information for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not replace professional assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek qualified healthcare advice if you have pain, new or worsening symptoms, or any concerns about your health before starting exercise or self-care routines.

Bob Allen - Osteopath helping you understand and overcome pain with clear, practical advice 👉 https://bit.ly/BobsOsteoStory

Clare Elsby - Positive psychology coach and therapist specialising in mindset, behaviour, and neurodiversity 👉 https://www.clareelsby.com/

📩 Newsletter: https://bit.ly/PFL_newsletter_signup

🌐 More content & socials: https://linktr.ee/Painfreeliving

In this episode of the Pain Free Living Podcast, osteopath Bob Allen and positive psychology coach Clare Elsby explore a question many people notice but rarely understand:

Why does your pain often improve when you go on holiday?

If you live with persistent pain, you might recognise this pattern. Your back, neck, or joints feel worse during busy work periods, yet a few days away from the office and things suddenly start to ease.

In this episode, Bob explains how your nervous system plays a huge role in how pain is experienced. Your body constantly balances between two key systems: the sympathetic nervous system (your “fight-flight-freeze-fawn” response) and the parasympathetic nervous system (your “rest, digest and recover” state).

Modern life keeps many of us stuck in a constant state of alert, whether we are commuting, emailing, dealing with deadlines, phones, or doom-scrolling on social media.

Over time, this can increase nervous system sensitivity, which can make your current pain feel worse.

You’ll find out why stepping away from daily stress, even temporarily, allows your nervous system to settle. When that happens, your body often becomes less sensitive to pain signals, helping symptoms improve.

Clare also explores something many people struggle with: the guilt of resting. For some of us, doing nothing can actually feel uncomfortable. But learning to rest, whether that’s on a beach, walking in nature, or simply switching off your devices, can be an important part of de-stressing and recovery.

So if your pain improves when you take time off, don’t worry, you’re not imagining it.

Understanding how stress, rest, and the nervous system interact is often the first step toward managing your pain more effectively.

• Your nervous system plays a major role in how you experience pain

• Chronic stress can increase nervous system sensitivity and amplify your pain

• Holidays reduce stress and activate your body’s rest-and-recover systems

• Many people feel guilty about resting, but recovery requires it

• Finding the right balance between activity and rest helps improve long-term pain management

• Your beginner's guide to the nervous system – https://youtu.be/WUesY4Zx6oM

• Ideas to help regulate your nervous system – https://youtu.be/p74SikmjsZs

• The important benefits of breathing well – https://youtu.be/QV3l6HrkCY4

Bob Allen is an osteopath who has been helping people understand and manage their pain since 2008. Through the Pain Free Living podcast, he shares clear, practical insights to help you move better and live with less pain.

Clare Elsby is a therapist and positive psychology coach who helps people understand how mindset, emotions, and behaviour influence wellbeing and recovery.

Bob’s story: https://bit.ly/BobsOsteoStory

Clare Elsby: https://www.clareelsby.com/

Sign up for the Pain Free Living monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/PFL_newsletter_signup

Podcast & socials: https://linktr.ee/Painfreeliving

This podcast provides general information for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not replace professional assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek qualified healthcare advice if you are in pain, have new or worsening symptoms, or any concerns about your health before starting exercise or self-care routines.

If you’ve ever left an appointment feeling unheard, doubted, or dismissed, this episode is for you.

On this week’s Pain Free Living Podcast, Bob Allen, osteopath, and Clare Elsby, positive psychology coach and therapist, explore something that is rarely talked about, and that is the emotional and physical impact of not being believed when you’re in pain.

You’ll find out why feeling dismissed can affect your self-worth, trust in healthcare, and even your nervous system.

Clare explains how being doubted can create a deep sense of injustice, particularly for neurodivergent individuals, where fairness and being heard are core values.

From an osteopathic perspective, Bob shares what happens when your scans are “normal” but you are still in pain. He also explains why MRI findings don’t always correlate with symptoms, how the nocebo effect can amplify suffering, and why language in healthcare matters more than most people realise.

We also explore fascinating examples like phantom limb pain and mirror therapy, showing clearly that pain is always real, even when there’s no obvious tissue damage.

If you’ve been told “there’s nothing wrong” but you’re still in pain, keep pushing for an explanation and don't take no for an answer.

You know your body, and although pain is complex, it is never imaginary!

1. Pain is real even when scans are clear because imaging doesn’t always explain symptoms.
2. Feeling dismissed can impact your self-worth, trust, and stress levels.
3. The nocebo effect shows how negative language can worsen pain.
4. Your autonomic nervous system can become sensitised, amplifying pain signals.
5. Pain management works best when physical and psychological perspectives are addressed together.

How mirror therapy works https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_therapy

The rubber hand illusion using a mirror https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxwn1w7MJvk

Bob Allen has been treating people in pain since 2008, combining hands-on osteopathy with clear, jargon-free education to help you understand your body and move with confidence.

Clare Elsby brings the therapy and positive psychology lens, helping you explore how thoughts, beliefs, and values influence your health and wellbeing.

More Bob’s story: https://bit.ly/BobsOsteoStory

Clare’s profile: https://www.clareelsby.com/

Newsletter sign-up: https://bit.ly/PFL_newsletter_signup

Podcast & socials: https://linktr.ee/Painfreeliving

This podcast provides general information for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not replace professional assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek qualified healthcare advice if you are in pain, have new or worsening symptoms, or have any concerns about your health before starting exercise or self-care routines.

In this episode of the Pain Free Living podcast, Bob Allen (osteopath) and Clare Elsby (therapy coach) unpack one of the most misunderstood parts of recovery, looking at why the journey from pain to pain-free is rarely smooth or predictable.

As an osteopath involved in pain management for over 18 years, Bob manages client expectations on their recovery from pain every week. People often expect a neat, steady climb from pain to pain-free. but instead, recovery zigzags between feeling significantly better and feeling more pain. One good day leads to doing more… then a flare-up. And suddenly you’re thinking, “I’m back to square one.”

You’re not!

You’ll find out why recovery often feels inconsistent, how overdoing your rehab can temporarily stir things up, and why that doesn’t mean anything is wrong.

Bob explains why “movement is medicine,” how tailored exercises improve blood flow and speed up tissue healing, and why generic online “5 exercises to fix back pain” videos often miss the mark.

Clare brings the psychological lens. When progress isn’t linear, your belief system kicks in. If you think recovery should be smooth, any setback feels catastrophic. That stress response can increase muscle tension and anxiety, fuelling a self-fulfilling prophecy. But don’t worry, as understanding and awareness are the first steps to supporting your recovery.

Together, Bob and Clare discuss how managing your expectations, building trust in the process, and helping you understand the benefits of what you’re doing can dramatically improve your outcomes after an injury.

1. Recovery from back pain and other musculoskeletal injuries is rarely linear, and small setbacks to recovery are normal.
2. Doing slightly more when you feel better can temporarily increase symptoms, but it will only have a minor impact on your progress.
3. Tailored exercise supports your healing through improved circulation, oxygenation, and tissue repair.
4. Catastrophising thoughts (“What if I never get better?”) can amplify your pain via stress responses.
5. Clear explanation, education, and partnership dramatically improve exercise adherence and health outcomes.

1. A short, simple explanation of what pain is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhwEw6nXnOk
2. A great article on Pain Management: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21514-pain-management

🔹 Bob’s story: https://bit.ly/BobsOsteoStory

🔹 Clare Elsby’s profile: https://www.clareelsby.com/

🔹 Join the newsletter: https://bit.ly/PFL_newsletter_signup

🔹 Podcast & socials: https://linktr.ee/Painfreeliving

Disclaimer

This podcast provides general information for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not replace professional assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are in pain, and have new or worsening symptoms, or any concerns about your health before starting exercise or self-care routines, ALWAYS seek qualified healthcare advice.

Bob Allen, osteopath and co-host of the Pain Free Living podcast, and Clare Elsby, positive psychology coach and therapist, explore a subject most health professionals quietly notice — but rarely say out loud.

What happens when your pain becomes… comfortable?

In this episode, you’ll find out why long-term pain, whether physical or emotional, can quietly become part of your identity.

As Bob explains, pain starts as a warning signal. But when you’ve lived with back pain, joint pain, or unexplained symptoms for months or years, you often build routines around it.

Medication. Avoidance. “Safe” movements. Coping strategies. And over time, your pain stops feeling temporary; it starts feeling normal.

You’ll also hear how this shows up emotionally. Clare explores how negative self-talk, that relentless inner critic, can actually feel useful. You may believe it drives your productivity, your standards, and your motivation. But what if that “helpful” voice is also reinforcing stress, fear and vulnerability?

Don’t worry, awareness is the first step. If any of this resonates, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’ve adapted, and adaptation is clever. But staying there forever isn’t your only option.

This conversation is aimed at challenging the “devil you know” mindset and opens the door to something better: appropriate support, fresh assessment, and safe therapeutic space — whether that’s manual therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), or simply a new perspective.

1. Pain can shift from a warning signal into a lifestyle pattern.
2. Long-term back pain often has multiple contributing factors — not just one clear diagnosis.
3. Emotional pain and negative self-talk can become part of your identity.
4. Resistance to change often comes from fear and vulnerability.
5. With the right support, you can reduce pain — without losing who you are.

1. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) overview – NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/

Disclaimer - This podcast provides general information for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not replace professional assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek qualified healthcare advice if you are in pain, have new or worsening symptoms, or have any concerns about your health before starting exercise or self-care routines.

😎 Learn more about Bob’s story https://bit.ly/BobsOsteoStory

🤩 Find out more about Clare’s work https://www.clareelsby.com/

📰 Sign up for our Pain Free Living newsletter https://bit.ly/PFL_newsletter_signup

🎙️ Connect with us on socials & podcast platforms https://linktr.ee/Painfreeliving

In this short episode, Bob Allen, osteopath, and Clare Elsby, therapist and coach, pause to celebrate the Pain Free Living Podcast's first birthday.

What began as a small, slightly nerve-wracking project has grown into something global. Over the past year, the podcast has reached over 150 YouTube subscribers spread across the world, including listeners in Brazil, China, Laos, and Kazakhstan.

On the audio side, there have been more than 1,600 downloads, with listeners in the UK, United States, Australia, and Japan, to name just a few.

While the numbers aren't massive (yet), we looked at what those figures really represent to us and that is people like you looking for calm, jargon-free explanations about your body, particularly when pain or uncertainty feels overwhelming.

One interesting pattern we’ve noticed is how viewers and listeners engage the podcast differently.

On YouTube, the most popular episode has been Season 2, Episode 3 – Osteopathy and Therapy Coaching Demystified, while the most listened-to audio episode is Season 1, Episode 4 – Strength and Balance.

Same podcast, different formats, different preferences.

We would love to know why there is a difference, so if you are a committed audio or visual kind of person, our big question is why?

This episode is a short, heartfelt thank you to all and a commitment from us to keep the conversations clear, honest, and human.

Stay tuned as the first episode of Season 3 will be dropping next week, and we hope you like it.

HUGE THANKS to the team, you never see but make mine and Clare's podcasting lives much easier, namely Ash McKenzie (producer extraordinaire and much more) and Jennifer Herbert (VA Supreme).

If you need a producer email learngrow999@gmail.com and if you need an excellent VA, here ya go jen@jenorganisesthings.com