David Hanscom, MD, is author of, Back in Control: A Surgeon’s Roadmap Out of Chronic Pain and Do You Really Need Spine Surgery?: Take Control with a Spine Surgeon’s Advice. Dr. Hanscom is an orthopedic complex spinal deformity surgeon who quit his surgical practice in 2019 to focus on teaching people how to break loose from the grip of chronic mental and physical pain – with and without surgery. His insights arose out of escaping from his own 15-year ordeal of suffering with severe chronic pain. As he began to share his approaches with his patients, a predictable sequence of learning evolved. It is reflected in the self-directed action plan that he created, The DOC (Direct your Own Care) Journey. His website is backincontrol.com.

David explores how our responses to others’ suffering influence both physical and psychological pain. He describes how schadenfreude — taking pleasure in another person’s suffering — can bring temporary relief, while compassion toward oneself and others may have longer-term effects. Helping others and experiencing connection can support healing, suggesting that altruism may contribute to lasting changes in consciousness and well-being.

00:00 Introduction

02:42 Unwanted thoughts

08:41 Dynamic Healing Model

17:47 Mental rigidity and belief systems

18:57 Schadenfreude, pain relief, and ego

27:49 Altruism and compassion

30:54 Authoritarianism and chaos

37:24 Awareness and connection

43:01 Transgressions, safety, and transformation

50:10 Conclusion

New Thinking Allowed CoHost, Emmy Vadnais, OTR/L, is a licensed occupational therapist, intuitive healer and coach, and spiritual guide based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Emmy is the founder of the Intuitive Connections and Holistic OT communities. She is the author of Intuitive Development: How to Trust Your Inner Knowing for Guidance With Relationships, Health, and Spirituality. Her website is https://emmyvadnais.com

(Recorded on January 12, 2026)

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Published on February 18, 2026