Pain and physical health
These pages offer lists of recommended resources on various themes, including books, websites, apps and more. They have been put together by members of the counselling service team: we hope they offer some useful suggestions. We have included a range of resources and, inevitably, you may find that some things are more helpful than others. Feedback is always welcome; the pages are updated on a regular basis.
A note on language: Sections are organised by theme to help you find your way to resources relevant to you. We recognise that there are many ways to describe and categorise mental health and emotional difficulties, identity and lived experience. As such, these themes are by no means definitive or exhaustive. We encourage you to explore the material here in order to find out what fits for you.
The University is not responsible for the content displayed on external links. We recommend that you seek advice from your GP if you have concerns about your mental health, or if you are experiencing a crisis please refer to our student help page for urgent support.
Read
Books
The Explain Pain Handbook: Protectometer - GL Mosely and DS Butler
Outsmart Your Pain: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion to Help You Leave Chronic Pain Behind - Christiane Wolf
Mindfulness for Health: A practical guide to relieving pain, reducing stress and restoring wellbeing - Vidyamala Burch and Danny Penman
Websites
Understanding your pain - Tame the Beast
Flippin' Pain (flippinpain.co.uk) - Website providing free information, videos, personal accounts of navigating persistent pain and fatigue, resources, courses and workbooks.
Watch
Tame The Beast — It's time to rethink persistent pain - YouTube
TEDxAdelaide - Lorimer Moseley - Why Things Hurt - YouTube
Pain, the brain and your amazing protectometer - Lorimer Moseley - YouTube
Listen
Tell Me About Your Pain Podcast - Curable Health
Like Mind, Like Body Podcast - Curable Health
Podcast: Feel better, live more with Dr Rangan Chatterjee: How to heal chronic pain with Dr Howard Schubiner Howard Schubiner (apple.com)
The Orchid Room and Cancer - with Hannah Fry
Our Mental Wellness Series organised by the Experimental Psychology Department at Oxford University
A series of talks and presentations developed by the Oxford University Counselling Service
Learn
Workshops and Groups
Workshops and Groups - University of Oxford
- Navigating Persistent Pain and Illness
Relaxation and mindfulness - Live Well with Pain
Short self-guided course: Methods for Living Well with Pain and Illness | Breathworks (breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk)
Apps
Curable: A Different Approach to Chronic Pain (curablehealth.com) - Diverse resources for times when body sensations and /or emotions are overwhelming.
Breathworks Community of Practice | Breathworks (breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk) - Free access to courses, guided meditation practices and teachings and other resources