What Actually IS Pain?
Hello, friends!
I recently heard a podcast that blew me away -- even though I already knew a lot about the topic -- and I'm super excited to share it with you!
So here's the question -- do you ACTUALLY know what pain is? Perhaps you think it's a feeling created by tissue damage in your body. Or perhaps you know that pain sensations are generated in the brain. But did you know that there are three aspects to pain?
The leading theory about pain is that it is always:
Biological -- influenced by factors such as tissue damage, sleep deprivation, immune functioning, dietary imbalances, exercise habits, genetics, and more;
Psychological -- affected by your thoughts, emotions, traumas, and memories; and
Social -- modulated by race, ethnicity, access to health care, depth of family and friend support networks, etc.
AKA, pain is biopsychosocial.
For example, you might have noticed that if you're running late, stressed about work, and can't pay rent this month and you stub your toe, you can barely handle the pain! And yet if you're on your fourth date with someone you're falling in love with and you stub the toe while you run to open the door for them, you barely feel that pain. That's the psychological aspect! And if you're dealing with chronic pain and trying to keep your mood up, but you have no interpersonal support network and limited access to health care, can you imagine how your pain would feel?
Why Is This Important?
If you ONLY treat the biological aspect of pain using something like pain medication it will not address the psychological and social aspects of pain. This is why many cases of long-term pain go unresolved, and why even acute pains can take too long to reverse.
The good news is that holistic health care is a great way to address the psychological as well as the biological aspects of pain. Whether for kids or adults, I recommend:
Acupuncture and herbs (of course!) -- to reset your nervous system, assist with processing emotions, and create pain relief through endorphin release and muscle tissue relaxation
Chiropractic care -- to address bone, muscle, and alignment issues, and decrease nervous system tension (my daughter and I love working with Dr. Melissa Crago)
Massage -- to release muscle tension and for many of us, also release nervous system tension (I have several practitioners I can recommend, reach out to me if you'd like a referral!)
Pain Psychology -- yes, this is a thing! using cognitive behavioral therapy to systematically address chronic pain.
Z-Health -- primarily focused on the biological rather than psychological aspects of pain but still very powerful! (Drew Van Zee is my favorite pain and movement coach)
If you'd like to take a deeper, scientific dive into all things pain in a conversational, lighthearted, and sometimes comical exchange, take a listen to local pain psychologist Dr. Rachel Zoffness on the Ologies podcast. (Warning -- listen without your kids in the room/car unless you don't mind the swearing!)
Tell Me More!
I'd love to know -- does this resonate with you? Have you experienced that you needed to fix two or three of the aspects of pain in order to resolve the pain?
Next up in future newsletters -- more science around all things digestion. From mindset to microbiome to overall digestive functioning, we'll dive deeper into this fundamental aspect of our physical and mental health. Stick with me!
With love,
Janet
