About the Host

About Melissa Adams

Melissa Adams has lived with moderate to severe pain for over 20+ years. At 19, she was diagnosed with Arnold Chiari Brain Malformation, a structural defect in her brain causing pressure headaches and limb weakness.

The three neurosurgeries to correct this issue triggered massive headaches and neck pain. Forced to leave college behind and move back home with her parents, she began the task of navigating through the tricky healthcare system, never-ending judgements and trying to manage her daily, persistent pain. With the failure of close to fifty conventional and holistic treatments, her hope soon turned into hopelessness.  Her life became the pain.

Twelve years into her pain journey, she was traveling to see her grandfather in Detroit, Michigan when her mom mentioned meeting the founder of MATIO, Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg, or Rabbi G for short. MATIO utilizes karate with breathing and meditation to ease the pain and trauma of very sick children while empowering them to heal physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Melissa reluctantly agreed and wondered how meditation for kids could possibly touch her pain. Rabbi G explained the process of how pain is processed in the brain and with chronic pain, your brain will amplify and repeat the pain message over and over again; always stuck in the “flight or fight” response. The pain is 100% REAL! But you can help to stop the pain message using breath and visualization. Sheer desperation for any relief Melissa gave it try with no expectations. Over time and with practice, Melissa discovered she could lower her pain just by meditating- no extra pills, just meditating! Melissa started volunteering for MATIO, teaching the children the MATIO Method. Working with these courageous heroes and continuing her meditation practices, she began to recognize that she was not her pain!

This revelation changed her life. Today, Melissa is not totally pain free, but the pain is more manageable, and she has gained her life back! Now her purpose is clear- to connect the extraordinary children of MATIO and their Method to the pain community!

The first step in this journey is to hear from individuals living with pain and illness and to establish the issues they face day to day from finding a diagnosis, the negative impact on everyday life and relationships, the toll on mental health, etc. Therefore, “I Am Not My Pain” podcast was created. We hope this now archived podcast will support your journey and remind you that you are NOT alone, and that you are NOT your pain! You are so much more!