Dr. Rachel Zoffness
@drzoffness.bsky.social
Pain scientist. Asst Clinical prof @ UCSF, lecture @ Stanford. Psychologist. Disruptor. Author📚 The Pain Management Workbook. Neuroscience nerd 🧠 #medsky #medtwitter #SciComm #neuroskyence
zoffness.com
zoffness.com
Pinned
❌ There is no "pain center" in the brain.
🧠 Rather, pain is a diffuse neurological process involving MANY brain sites, including PFC (attention), cerebral cortex (thoughts) + limbic system, critical parts of our emotion circuitry💥
📣 Pain is *both* physical and emotional ALWAYS 👏🏼
#MedSky #psyscisky
🧠 Rather, pain is a diffuse neurological process involving MANY brain sites, including PFC (attention), cerebral cortex (thoughts) + limbic system, critical parts of our emotion circuitry💥
📣 Pain is *both* physical and emotional ALWAYS 👏🏼
#MedSky #psyscisky
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
Who’s putting it at risk, @sfn.org ?
This passive voice stuff has got to stop. We have to name the people destroying US leadership in science.
(Hint: Trump. Vought. Bhattacharya. RFK. Say their names.)
This passive voice stuff has got to stop. We have to name the people destroying US leadership in science.
(Hint: Trump. Vought. Bhattacharya. RFK. Say their names.)
"The U.S. has been a world leader in research for decades, and that leadership position is now at risk," said SfN President John H. Morrison in a new NPR article.
Read more SfN member perspectives: vist.ly/4eqvy
#neurosky #neuroskyence
Read more SfN member perspectives: vist.ly/4eqvy
#neurosky #neuroskyence
As funding falters, young brain scientists rethink careers in research
Research on brain disorders may slow as young neuroscientists struggle to find jobs and research grants.
www.npr.org
November 16, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Who’s putting it at risk, @sfn.org ?
This passive voice stuff has got to stop. We have to name the people destroying US leadership in science.
(Hint: Trump. Vought. Bhattacharya. RFK. Say their names.)
This passive voice stuff has got to stop. We have to name the people destroying US leadership in science.
(Hint: Trump. Vought. Bhattacharya. RFK. Say their names.)
📚Been writing a book for the past 3 years about the science of pain & how to heal. I'm nervous AF but also know that the time has come for change-
ESPECIALLY with all the pain in the world right now.
Please spread the word & share with anyone who might need it 🙏🏼💥
www.amazon.com/Tell-Me-Wher...
ESPECIALLY with all the pain in the world right now.
Please spread the word & share with anyone who might need it 🙏🏼💥
www.amazon.com/Tell-Me-Wher...
Tell Me Where It Hurts: The New Science of Pain and How to Heal
Tell Me Where It Hurts: The New Science of Pain and How to Heal [Zoffness Ph.D, Dr. Rachel] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Tell Me Where It Hurts: The New Science of Pain and How to Heal
www.amazon.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:58 AM
📚Been writing a book for the past 3 years about the science of pain & how to heal. I'm nervous AF but also know that the time has come for change-
ESPECIALLY with all the pain in the world right now.
Please spread the word & share with anyone who might need it 🙏🏼💥
www.amazon.com/Tell-Me-Wher...
ESPECIALLY with all the pain in the world right now.
Please spread the word & share with anyone who might need it 🙏🏼💥
www.amazon.com/Tell-Me-Wher...
Upcoming talk for the disability & chronic pain community on the science of pain and how to heal with @birdability.bsky.social - talk is free & accessible to all 💥💥💥
When: Mon 10/20 @ 7pm ET/4pm PT
Where: birdability.org
Join us!! 🙏🏼
#medsky #neuroskyence #disability #scisky 🧪
When: Mon 10/20 @ 7pm ET/4pm PT
Where: birdability.org
Join us!! 🙏🏼
#medsky #neuroskyence #disability #scisky 🧪
October 14, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Upcoming talk for the disability & chronic pain community on the science of pain and how to heal with @birdability.bsky.social - talk is free & accessible to all 💥💥💥
When: Mon 10/20 @ 7pm ET/4pm PT
Where: birdability.org
Join us!! 🙏🏼
#medsky #neuroskyence #disability #scisky 🧪
When: Mon 10/20 @ 7pm ET/4pm PT
Where: birdability.org
Join us!! 🙏🏼
#medsky #neuroskyence #disability #scisky 🧪
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
Birdability Week starts in ONE WEEK! Join us a week from today to kick off Birdability Week 2025 with an insightful conversation w/ @drzoffness.bsky.social, pain scientist & thought-leader who is reshaping how the world understands and treats pain. Also PRIZES!
www.birdability.org/birdability-...
www.birdability.org/birdability-...
October 13, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Birdability Week starts in ONE WEEK! Join us a week from today to kick off Birdability Week 2025 with an insightful conversation w/ @drzoffness.bsky.social, pain scientist & thought-leader who is reshaping how the world understands and treats pain. Also PRIZES!
www.birdability.org/birdability-...
www.birdability.org/birdability-...
Jane Goodall was one of the reasons I decided to study animal behavior, biology & neuroscience. She was living proof that women DO and *WILL ALWAYS* belong in science. RIP Dear Dr. Goodall 🙏🏼♥️
www.latimes.com/obituaries/s...
www.latimes.com/obituaries/s...
Jane Goodall, trailblazing naturalist whose intimate observations of chimpanzees transformed our understanding of humankind, has died
Jane Goodall, the trailblazing naturalist whose intimate observations of chimpanzees in the African wild produced powerful insights that transformed basic conceptions of humankind, has died. She was 9...
www.latimes.com
October 2, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Jane Goodall was one of the reasons I decided to study animal behavior, biology & neuroscience. She was living proof that women DO and *WILL ALWAYS* belong in science. RIP Dear Dr. Goodall 🙏🏼♥️
www.latimes.com/obituaries/s...
www.latimes.com/obituaries/s...
The secret to pain management?
👉🏼 Reduce fear, stress & anxiety.
👉🏼Engage the BRAIN & all 5 senses, including touch 🧠
👉🏼Distract.
👉🏼Help patients feel safe. Soothe.
👉🏼Lower the brain's danger alarm. 🚨
Kudos to doctors who employ strategies like therapy dogs to lower pain volume 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙌🏼
👉🏼 Reduce fear, stress & anxiety.
👉🏼Engage the BRAIN & all 5 senses, including touch 🧠
👉🏼Distract.
👉🏼Help patients feel safe. Soothe.
👉🏼Lower the brain's danger alarm. 🚨
Kudos to doctors who employ strategies like therapy dogs to lower pain volume 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙌🏼
This is Annie. She is a dental therapy dog. Her job is to help patients experiencing anxiety by providing emotional support. While dentists go through years of schooling to treat patients Annie is able to lower their blood pressure and reduce anxiety just by being there. 14/10 (TT: funny.bunny9215)
September 26, 2025 at 2:11 AM
The secret to pain management?
👉🏼 Reduce fear, stress & anxiety.
👉🏼Engage the BRAIN & all 5 senses, including touch 🧠
👉🏼Distract.
👉🏼Help patients feel safe. Soothe.
👉🏼Lower the brain's danger alarm. 🚨
Kudos to doctors who employ strategies like therapy dogs to lower pain volume 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙌🏼
👉🏼 Reduce fear, stress & anxiety.
👉🏼Engage the BRAIN & all 5 senses, including touch 🧠
👉🏼Distract.
👉🏼Help patients feel safe. Soothe.
👉🏼Lower the brain's danger alarm. 🚨
Kudos to doctors who employ strategies like therapy dogs to lower pain volume 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙌🏼
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
It is crazy that in America your lifetime risk of death from a firearm is higher than a car accident
Odds of Dying (2023 Data) - Injury Facts
Knowing the odds of dying is the first step in beating them. New 2023 data shows the risks from plane crashes, guns, falls and more.
injuryfacts.nsc.org
September 23, 2025 at 11:56 PM
It is crazy that in America your lifetime risk of death from a firearm is higher than a car accident
Saving Normal by Dr. Allen Frances is the most important book I've read in a decade, hands down. Covers the definitions of "normal" & "abnormal" mental health, & the over-medicalization/over-medicating of society.
5 stars. Recommend to everyone you know ⭐️ #medsky #psychsky #neuroskyence 🧪
5 stars. Recommend to everyone you know ⭐️ #medsky #psychsky #neuroskyence 🧪
September 19, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Saving Normal by Dr. Allen Frances is the most important book I've read in a decade, hands down. Covers the definitions of "normal" & "abnormal" mental health, & the over-medicalization/over-medicating of society.
5 stars. Recommend to everyone you know ⭐️ #medsky #psychsky #neuroskyence 🧪
5 stars. Recommend to everyone you know ⭐️ #medsky #psychsky #neuroskyence 🧪
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
Younger daughter and I have been working on prototypes for the small portable museums that will be in my Etsy shop soon. We’ll be making a wooden grid in each tin for the finds & a booklet about the neuroscience of how collecting & arranging your finds alleviates anxiety & lifts mood #mentalhealth
September 14, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Younger daughter and I have been working on prototypes for the small portable museums that will be in my Etsy shop soon. We’ll be making a wooden grid in each tin for the finds & a booklet about the neuroscience of how collecting & arranging your finds alleviates anxiety & lifts mood #mentalhealth
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
Just a reminder to check for your name in this list of books that OpenAI trained from. If your name is there, they probably owe you several thousand dollars.
OpenAI cried that if everyone eligible author files, the company will go bankrupt, so I'm alerting every author I have ever spoken to.
OpenAI cried that if everyone eligible author files, the company will go bankrupt, so I'm alerting every author I have ever spoken to.
Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI
Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.
www.theatlantic.com
September 6, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Just a reminder to check for your name in this list of books that OpenAI trained from. If your name is there, they probably owe you several thousand dollars.
OpenAI cried that if everyone eligible author files, the company will go bankrupt, so I'm alerting every author I have ever spoken to.
OpenAI cried that if everyone eligible author files, the company will go bankrupt, so I'm alerting every author I have ever spoken to.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
I’ve resurrected my monthly newsletter, Notes on Pain eepurl.com/jh0VaM
Notes on Pain Aug 2025
eepurl.com
August 21, 2025 at 3:04 AM
I’ve resurrected my monthly newsletter, Notes on Pain eepurl.com/jh0VaM
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
3 chronic #lowbackpain treatments have promising long-term results based on curent body of research:
🤾 Exercise
👩⚕️ Psychological treatments (e.g. CBT, ACT)
🤝 Self-management programs
A highlight of myths and what mostly works for cLBP.
#painscience #pain
massagefitnessmag.com/massage/chro...
🤾 Exercise
👩⚕️ Psychological treatments (e.g. CBT, ACT)
🤝 Self-management programs
A highlight of myths and what mostly works for cLBP.
#painscience #pain
massagefitnessmag.com/massage/chro...
Chronic low back pain: What sciences supports vs. what it doesn’t - Massage & Fitness Magazine
Key takeaways Chronic low back pain stems from multiple causes, including biological, psychological, societal, and environmental factors. The current body of research points out that a multidisciplin...
massagefitnessmag.com
August 17, 2025 at 11:24 PM
3 chronic #lowbackpain treatments have promising long-term results based on curent body of research:
🤾 Exercise
👩⚕️ Psychological treatments (e.g. CBT, ACT)
🤝 Self-management programs
A highlight of myths and what mostly works for cLBP.
#painscience #pain
massagefitnessmag.com/massage/chro...
🤾 Exercise
👩⚕️ Psychological treatments (e.g. CBT, ACT)
🤝 Self-management programs
A highlight of myths and what mostly works for cLBP.
#painscience #pain
massagefitnessmag.com/massage/chro...
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
Yesterday marked 11 years since we lost #RobinWilliams to suicide. A reminder that the brightest smiles can sometimes hide the deepest struggles. He was misdiagnosed with Parkinson's when he had Lewy body dementia (confirmed on autopsy). Check your friends 🖤 #MentalHealthMatters
August 13, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Yesterday marked 11 years since we lost #RobinWilliams to suicide. A reminder that the brightest smiles can sometimes hide the deepest struggles. He was misdiagnosed with Parkinson's when he had Lewy body dementia (confirmed on autopsy). Check your friends 🖤 #MentalHealthMatters
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
👋 medical toxicologist here and I am begging people to not take this gas station “wellness” drink
want to know why?? 🧵
want to know why?? 🧵
August 7, 2025 at 9:13 PM
👋 medical toxicologist here and I am begging people to not take this gas station “wellness” drink
want to know why?? 🧵
want to know why?? 🧵
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
📚Calling all science book lovers!
Join the SciFri Book Club, an online community to connect with fellow readers, dive into science books, and attend events like author talks. This month, we’re reading “Our Moon” by Rebecca Boyle.
buff.ly/TMeMqL8
Join the SciFri Book Club, an online community to connect with fellow readers, dive into science books, and attend events like author talks. This month, we’re reading “Our Moon” by Rebecca Boyle.
buff.ly/TMeMqL8
August 5, 2025 at 11:44 PM
📚Calling all science book lovers!
Join the SciFri Book Club, an online community to connect with fellow readers, dive into science books, and attend events like author talks. This month, we’re reading “Our Moon” by Rebecca Boyle.
buff.ly/TMeMqL8
Join the SciFri Book Club, an online community to connect with fellow readers, dive into science books, and attend events like author talks. This month, we’re reading “Our Moon” by Rebecca Boyle.
buff.ly/TMeMqL8
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
The mind/body revolution: how the division between ‘mental’ and ‘physical’ illness fails us all www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
The mind/body revolution: how the division between ‘mental’ and ‘physical’ illness fails us all
New research shows western medicine’s traditional split between brain and body is, in fact, far from clear cut – and could provide a breakthrough for many complex conditions
www.theguardian.com
January 26, 2025 at 4:17 PM
The mind/body revolution: how the division between ‘mental’ and ‘physical’ illness fails us all www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
A good reminder that THE BRAIN 👏🏼 IS CONNECTED 👏🏼 TO THE BODY 👏🏼 100% OF THE TIME 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
(please repeat loudly for the people in the back)
#medsky #neuroskyence 🧠🧪
(please repeat loudly for the people in the back)
#medsky #neuroskyence 🧠🧪
Early Improvement of Mental Health is Associated with Long-term Disease Remission in Ulcerative Colitis
Zheng & Huang, et al.
📕 doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000003638
Zheng & Huang, et al.
📕 doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000003638
August 1, 2025 at 5:36 AM
A good reminder that THE BRAIN 👏🏼 IS CONNECTED 👏🏼 TO THE BODY 👏🏼 100% OF THE TIME 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
(please repeat loudly for the people in the back)
#medsky #neuroskyence 🧠🧪
(please repeat loudly for the people in the back)
#medsky #neuroskyence 🧠🧪
🛑 SIGNS A PROVIDER HASNT BEEN TRAINED IN PAIN
❌ blames it just on tissue damage & skips the 🧠
❌ recommends only 💊 or 🔪
❌ fails to target diet, sleep, trauma, movement, mental health
❌ targets only a body part, not a WHOLE PERSON
📣 Pain is biopsychosocial ALWAYS 👏🏼👏🏼
#neuroskyence #medsky #psychsky 🧪
❌ blames it just on tissue damage & skips the 🧠
❌ recommends only 💊 or 🔪
❌ fails to target diet, sleep, trauma, movement, mental health
❌ targets only a body part, not a WHOLE PERSON
📣 Pain is biopsychosocial ALWAYS 👏🏼👏🏼
#neuroskyence #medsky #psychsky 🧪
July 13, 2025 at 11:16 PM
🛑 SIGNS A PROVIDER HASNT BEEN TRAINED IN PAIN
❌ blames it just on tissue damage & skips the 🧠
❌ recommends only 💊 or 🔪
❌ fails to target diet, sleep, trauma, movement, mental health
❌ targets only a body part, not a WHOLE PERSON
📣 Pain is biopsychosocial ALWAYS 👏🏼👏🏼
#neuroskyence #medsky #psychsky 🧪
❌ blames it just on tissue damage & skips the 🧠
❌ recommends only 💊 or 🔪
❌ fails to target diet, sleep, trauma, movement, mental health
❌ targets only a body part, not a WHOLE PERSON
📣 Pain is biopsychosocial ALWAYS 👏🏼👏🏼
#neuroskyence #medsky #psychsky 🧪
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
Whether or not anyone from your family of origin understands, likes, approves of, or loves the identity you've carved out for yourself as you've healed, I want you to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that you are absolutely worth being proud of, affirming, & celebrating.
June 16, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Whether or not anyone from your family of origin understands, likes, approves of, or loves the identity you've carved out for yourself as you've healed, I want you to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that you are absolutely worth being proud of, affirming, & celebrating.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
“Women are asked more questions during a seminar and the questions asked of women presenters are more likely to be patronizing or hostile. These effects are not due to women presenting in different fields, different seminar series, or different topics…”
www.nber.org/papers/w28494
www.nber.org/papers/w28494
Gender and the Dynamics of Economics Seminars
Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...
www.nber.org
December 24, 2024 at 2:36 PM
“Women are asked more questions during a seminar and the questions asked of women presenters are more likely to be patronizing or hostile. These effects are not due to women presenting in different fields, different seminar series, or different topics…”
www.nber.org/papers/w28494
www.nber.org/papers/w28494
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
One of the most important day to day-- minute to minute!-- tasks of trauma recovery is watching for your abusers' & bullies' words coming from your mouth or going through your head.
Don't let that sh*t slide. Scratch the record every single time you notice it happening.
Don't let that sh*t slide. Scratch the record every single time you notice it happening.
June 3, 2025 at 3:08 AM
One of the most important day to day-- minute to minute!-- tasks of trauma recovery is watching for your abusers' & bullies' words coming from your mouth or going through your head.
Don't let that sh*t slide. Scratch the record every single time you notice it happening.
Don't let that sh*t slide. Scratch the record every single time you notice it happening.
🔥 Most important paper I've read all year🔥
👉 Injury/disease doesn't reliably predict pain
👉 Biomarkers alone can't explain pain
👉 PSYCHOSOCIAL factors reliably determine chronic pain
👉 Painful conditions can be predicted from the SYNERGY btwn bio + psychosocial factors
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
👉 Injury/disease doesn't reliably predict pain
👉 Biomarkers alone can't explain pain
👉 PSYCHOSOCIAL factors reliably determine chronic pain
👉 Painful conditions can be predicted from the SYNERGY btwn bio + psychosocial factors
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Biological markers and psychosocial factors predict chronic pain conditions - Nature Human Behaviour
Fillingim et al. show that biological and psychosocial factors jointly predict conditions associated with chronic pain.
www.nature.com
May 14, 2025 at 3:18 AM
🔥 Most important paper I've read all year🔥
👉 Injury/disease doesn't reliably predict pain
👉 Biomarkers alone can't explain pain
👉 PSYCHOSOCIAL factors reliably determine chronic pain
👉 Painful conditions can be predicted from the SYNERGY btwn bio + psychosocial factors
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
👉 Injury/disease doesn't reliably predict pain
👉 Biomarkers alone can't explain pain
👉 PSYCHOSOCIAL factors reliably determine chronic pain
👉 Painful conditions can be predicted from the SYNERGY btwn bio + psychosocial factors
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
I just learned that there's a national graduate student crisis line - gradresources.org. Might be worth spreading the word as I'm pretty sure exactly *checks notes* zero grad students are doing well emotionally right now.
Grad Resources
Encouraging and equipping graduate students for impact.
gradresources.org
April 3, 2025 at 4:19 AM
I just learned that there's a national graduate student crisis line - gradresources.org. Might be worth spreading the word as I'm pretty sure exactly *checks notes* zero grad students are doing well emotionally right now.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Zoffness
It was not that long ago that clinical trials enrolled mainly (or all) men, or that animal studies only used male mice. It was not that long ago that the NIH determined the need to focus research on women.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
NIH guts its first and largest study centered on women
The Women’s Health Initiative has produced numerous influential findings
www.science.org
April 24, 2025 at 2:30 AM
It was not that long ago that clinical trials enrolled mainly (or all) men, or that animal studies only used male mice. It was not that long ago that the NIH determined the need to focus research on women.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...