We start today with a number, 20%.

That's the approximate number of adults in the United States living with chronic pain.

That's the kind of pain that can linger for months or even years.

And around 8% of adults live with what's called high-impact chronic pain.

That's the kind of pain that can make everyday tasks, like getting

out of bed, going to work, connecting with others, simply feel like monumental challenges.

Chronic pain is not like acute pain. You should think of these as totally different entities.

When you touch a hot pan, for example, and you learn to avoid it, that's acute pain that teaches you a lesson.

Chronic pain, that's more complicated.

Sometimes it comes out of nowhere.

Sometimes it lingers long after the original injury.

It can wear you down emotionally.

It's difficult to measure.

But at the same time, it's very real and very pervasive.

20%. I came across this number when researching my new book on pain, and it immediately jumped out at me.

That's one in five people, 50 million people in the United States alone.

That includes people that I know personally.

Maybe it includes many of you who are listening.

And at one point, it included a man named Eric Garland.

Did you ever deal with pain yourself?

I have.

I never talked about that in a public forum. but when I would wake up in the morning,

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