The truth about chronic pain & Symptoms
What is mindbody pain?
You might be familiar with the term psychosomatic pain, which refers to emotional triggers (psycho) causing physical symptoms (somatic). Prominent pain specialist Dr. John Sarno also referred to it as Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS), alongside other names like Psychophysiological Disorder (PPD) and Neuroplastic Pain.
For simplicity, I refer to it as Mindbody Pain. It’s important to note that Mindbody Pain doesn’t imply that your pain is imagined or unreal. It’s a genuine mechanism initiated by the body, recognised by pain science for decades.
Mindbody Pain and its associated symptoms, manifesting as chronic discomfort in the body, stem from established neural pathways in the brain. These pathways often result from experiences of stress, trauma, and suppressed emotions. Relief from the painful or distressing symptoms is possible through the process of “unlearning” these neural pathways.
why mindbody symptoms happen?
Our brains continuously operate to survey our surroundings for potential threats and safeguard us from harm. Pain typically serves as a warning signal proceeding from the brain in response to perceived threats, although the majority of pain doesn’t signify ongoing tissue damage. In fact, structural causes of pain are exceedingly rare in the context of the chronic pain epidemic.
Modern neuroscience explains that our nervous systems can become stuck in a heightened state of fight or flight, triggering the activation of Mindbody Pain in our brains through distinct mechanisms.
Following an acute injury or physical trauma, such as a broken bone, initial pain is accompanied by intense emotions like fear, frustration, and fixation on the present discomfort. This mental focus reinforces the significance of the pain, leading the brain to securely wire the pain circuit. Even after the initial injury heals with no residual tissue damage, the pain persists and may worsen, becoming an ingrained mental pattern or habit in the hyper-vigilant brain. It’s important to recognize that all injuries heal, and lingering pain post-injury is indicative of Mindbody Pain.
Pain, though always a warning signal from the brain, is frequently a false alarm, triggered in response to non-physical threats, primarily emotional in nature. Due to a quirk in our primitive brains and nervous systems, emotions like anger, extreme stress, and grief are perceived as threats equivalent to physical damage, resulting in the manifestation of pain. This type of pain often emerges after prolonged stress (past or current), significant life changes, or emotional trauma. Mindbody Pain, like any pain, is a decision made by the brain, but it is not merely “all in your head.” Distinguishing between real and fake pain, or structural and Mindbody Pain, based on intensity is a mistaken and cruel notion.
Individuals exhibiting Mindbody personality traits often experience chronic dysregulation of the nervous system, leading to the suppression of certain emotions. Consequently, the brain responds by generating Mindbody pain. Personality traits such as perfectionism, people-pleasing tendencies, or a strong need for control and achievement can contribute to the repression of emotions. When emotions are consistently suppressed, they may manifest as physical symptoms, including chronic pain, as the body seeks alternative outlets for expression. This process occurs automatically in the brain, where habitual neural pathways transmit pain signals throughout the body. The brain perceives certain emotions as “dangerous” and attempts to divert attention from them by creating pain, effectively distracting individuals from experiencing these emotions.
HOW can i HELP YOU
Chronic Pain Coaching
Chronic pain is more than just a symptom – it’s a deeply personal experience, often woven with memories, emotions, and daily challenges. My approach to addressing chronic pain is deeply personal, informed by both lived experience and professional expertise. I recognise that each person’s path with pain is unique, and I am here to guide and empower you along this healing path.
As you embark on this journey, equipped with the right knowledge, tools, and guidance, you can begin to navigate life in a new, empowering manner where pain and your symptoms stop dictating the way your life needs to go. Together, we will delve into the intricacies of Mindbody pain, unraveling its sources and understanding its nuances.
My role is multifaceted, aimed at providing you with the tools and support needed to navigate the Mindbody pain healing journey.
Here’s a glimpse into what my approach can include:
Understanding Mindbody Pain: I will assist you in comprehending the complexities of Mindbody pain, helping you gain insight into its underlying mechanisms.
Addressing Anxiety Sources: Together, we will identify the sources of anxiety that perpetuate the pain cycle, enabling you to break free from its grip.
Cognitive Behavioural Techniques: By working with your reactions and thought patterns, we can reframe your relationship with pain, fear and anxiety, fostering resilience and growth.
Exploring Emotional Trauma: We will explore how current stress factors, past trauma or repressed emotions may contribute to chronic pain and anxiety, providing appropriate guidance and support.
Mindbody Techniques and Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT): I will teach you specialized techniques and therapies designed to help the brain “unlearn” chronic pain and symptoms.
Physical Activities: Together, we will cultivate the right mindset to approach or resume physical activities.
Nervous System Regulation: Through tailored practices, I will assist you in healing a dysregulated nervous system and help you to feel safe in your body again.
Preventing Flare-ups: I will empower you with strategies to avoid flare-ups and lay the foundation for a life free from chronic pain.
Your journey towards healing begins here. Get in touch!
main contributors of mindbody pain & symptoms
Personality Traits
Extreme People Pleasing
Perfectionism
High Achivers
Constant Self Criticism
Putting Everyone Else’s Needs Ahead of Your Own
Goodism
Catastrophizing
Past and Current Stressors
Work-related stress
Financial difficulties
Relationship problems
Health issues
Loss or grief
Major life changes
Academic pressure
Legal issues
Social stressors
Trauma
Unmet Needs in Childhood
Abuse & Neglet: physical, emotional and sexual
General Trauma in childhood or young adulthood
Powerlessness
Loss
Mental Ilness
Fear from old injury
Hipervigilance
Avoidance Behaviors
Catastrophizing
Central Sensitization
Altered Movement Patterns
Poor Coping Strategies
What do these experiences share in common? They all contribute to the development of a hyper-vigilant nervous system, one that remains perpetually on high alert in a state of fight or flight. Such a nervous system lacks the ability to effectively digest and process emotions and experiences, preventing it from returning to a balanced, homeostatic state. The result is the manifestation of chronic symptoms associated with a dysregulated nervous system.
COMMON DIAGNOSIS & SYMPTOMS
It’s crucial to undergo diagnostic testing to eliminate any serious concerns. Nevertheless, prominent research indicates that the presence of structural abnormalities or chemical imbalances does not necessarily account for the experience of pain.
Musculoskeletal pain
Fibromyalgia
Neck
Back
Hip
Shoulder
Knee and other aches and pains throughout the joints or limbs
Tension Headache
Sciatica
Whiplash
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
Complex Regional Pain Disorder (CRPD)
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
Chronic Tendonitis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Piriformis Syndrome
Iliotibial Band Syndrome
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Sacro-Iliac joint dysfunction
Gastrointestinal pain
IBS
Abdominal Pain
Ulcer Symptoms
Nausea
Vomiting
Colitis
Spastic Colon
Heartburn
Acid Reflux
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Mental Health
Mental Health
Obsessive Compulsive Thoughts
Eating Disorders
Depression
Anxiety
Panic Attacks
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
Self Mutilation
BLADDER AND GENITAL PAIN
Bladder And Genital Pain
Spastic Bladder
Bladder Frequency
Testicular Pain
Penile Pain
Interstitial Cystitis
Chronic Prostatitis
Undiagnosed Pelvic Pain
Erectile Dysfunction
Infertility
Impotence
Vaginitis
Vaginismus
Immune System
Allergies
Long Covid
Hay Fever
Food Intolerances
Frequent Infections – Ear, Chest, Bladder, Thrush, Cystitis
Verucas And Warts
Heart and lung pain
Repetitive Cough
Shortness Of Breath
Undiagnosed Chest
Palpitations
High Or Low Blood Pressure
Irregular Heartbeats
Arrhythmias
SKIN
Mental Health
Obsessive Compulsive Thoughts
Eating Disorders
Depression
Anxiety
Panic Attacks
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
Self Mutilation
OTHERS
Chronic Fatigue/Tiredness
Migraines
Insomnia / Poor sleep
Difficulty Swallowing Or Gagging
Bell’s Palsy
Facial Paralysis
Vertigo/Dizziness
Tinnitus
Changes In Voice,
Dental Pain
MISDIAGNOSIS
Numerous mindbody pain or stress-induced conditions often face misdiagnosis. It’s typical for these mindbody conditions to be wrongly attributed to other factors, such as:
Structural abnormalities have been extensively studied, revealing that they do not account for pain; instead, they are a natural aspect of the aging process. Numerous individuals experiencing pain lack structural abnormalities, while many pain-free individuals exhibit such abnormalities. If you’ve received a diagnosis attributing your pain to issues like a slipped disk, spinal degeneration, or scoliosis, it’s likely related to mindbody factors.
Under prolonged stress, the brain shuts down essential bodily systems and disrupts the hormones crucial for well-being, such as serotonin or gut flora. Stress can manifest in various forms: emotional, mental, spiritual, or physical. Additionally, chemical imbalances may stem from mind-body personality traits and adverse childhood experiences or unprocessed trauma.
Old injuries – Just like the outside of the body heals wounds on the skin, the inside of the body does the same. Any pain lasting longer than 6-12 months does not explain chronic pain. While physiotherapy or exercise are commonly recommended, focusing solely on physical approaches overlooks other contributing factors. Despite the importance of movement for physical well-being, treatments often neglect aspects beyond the physical, leading sufferers to cycle through various treatments without lasting relief.
Food Intolerances – Individuals experiencing digestive problems often find themselves caught in a cycle of trying various treatments in search of a remedy, often involving dietary restrictions. While improving dietary habits offers significant advantages, it constitutes only a portion of a comprehensive approach to wellness, focusing primarily on the physical aspect. Additionally, some individuals may inadvertently develop orthorexia, a fixation on healthy eating, as a consequence. This only leads strengthening of the symptoms neuralpathways and persisting systems.
Why didn’t doctors tell me this?
Most medical professionals are entrenched in an outdated paradigm that views degenerative changes detected in MRIs and other diagnostic imaging as the primary, if not sole, explanation for chronic pain.
Treatments solely targeting physical ailments prove ineffective for conditions now recognized as predominantly governed by neurological processes. When these interventions fail, as numerous studies indicate they often do, it leaves patients and healthcare providers alike feeling helpless and frustrated. Such scenarios induce profound anxiety and despair among chronic pain sufferers and healthcare practitioners worldwide.
Research examining MRIs of asymptomatic individuals reveals that virtually everyone aged 20 and above exhibits “normal abnormalities” such as disc herniations, joint degeneration, muscle tears, and arthritis throughout their lives. Remarkably, the vast majority of these individuals never experience any pain. Hence, observable degenerative changes represent a natural consequence of aging – akin to grey hairs on the inside – rather than indications of pain. Consequently, if back or neck pain is not attributable to conditions like disc herniation, surgical interventions aimed at rectifying these abnormalities are unlikely to alleviate the pain. This accounts for the notorious inefficacy of surgery in managing chronic pain conditions.
Furthermore, pain should typically dissipate following an injury as the body undergoes the healing process. Persistent pain lasting beyond a few months or recurring from previous injuries indicates a shift wherein the brain assumes control, declaring the initial injury obsolete as the primary cause. Without addressing the underlying factors contributing to chronic pain – namely, neurobiological mechanisms, fear-induced cognitive patterns, and emotional triggers – conventional treatments may offer temporary relief at best, but fail to eradicate the pain altogether.
Resources & Research
Eye opening podcast with one of the Mindbody syndrome pioneers
BOOKS
- Mind-Body Prescription by Dr Sarno
- The Way Out by Alan Gordon
- The Great Pain Deception by Steve Ozanich
- The Myth of Normal by Dr Gabor Mate
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
- Heal your Nervous System by Dr Linnea Passaler
Research
- Effect of Pain Reprocessing Therapy vs Placebo and Usual Care for Patients With Chronic Back Pain, October 2021 – The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subscribe to my Newsletter
Subscribe
To receive monthly meditations to support mind-body healing, and free written and recorded content that blends holistic approaches and science-based wellbeing practices. Stay updated about events, collaborations and discounts.
From Chronic Pain to Wellness
Rooted in a blend of personal experience and expert knowledge, I am dedicated to guiding you on a transformative journey towards mind and body harmony, merging age-old wisdom with contemporary insights.
English 
Portuguese