Understanding the Signals & Recognizing Chronic Pain
Your body is constantly sending you messages. From the moment you wake up to the time you go to sleep, your nervous system is processing signals—some pleasant, some neutral, and some uncomfortable. But when pain becomes persistent, it’s no longer just a signal; it’s a conversation your body is having with your brain, one that demands your attention.
As a Somatic Practitioner and Myofascial Release Therapist, I’ve worked with countless individuals struggling with chronic pain. Many don’t realize that pain isn’t just a physical sensation—it’s a complex interaction between your brain, nervous system, and body. Learning to understand these signals can be the key to breaking free from chronic pain cycles.
I too have deeply suffered from severe chronic pain. I was at the point of not wanting to wake up in the morning because I was in so much pain. I chose to go deep, do the research and heal myself. I want to share this knowledge and practice with everyone because I know what chronic pain suffering feels like.
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How the Brain & Body Communicate Pain
Pain is the body’s warning system—an alarm designed to protect you from harm. When you touch something hot, nerve receptors send an immediate signal to your brain, triggering a quick reaction (pulling your hand away). This is acute pain, a necessary survival mechanism.
But chronic pain is different. It’s when pain persists beyond the initial injury or stressor, lasting weeks, months, or even years. This happens because the nervous system remains in a state of heightened sensitivity, continuing to send pain signals even when no actual danger is present.
This is where the brain and body get stuck in a feedback loop—a pattern that can lead to inflammation, tension, emotional distress, and even more pain.
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Signs You’re Experiencing Chronic Pain Signals
Unlike a sudden injury, chronic pain can be subtle and tricky to recognize at first. Here are key signs that your nervous system may be trapped in a chronic pain loop:
1. Pain That Moves or Changes
Chronic pain isn’t always localized. It can shift from one area to another, creating sensations of stiffness, burning, aching, or even numbness. If your pain seems unpredictable or moves around, it may be a sign that your nervous system is on high alert rather than responding to a specific injury.
2. Pain Without an Obvious Cause
If you experience ongoing discomfort but can’t pinpoint a specific injury or reason, your brain may be over-amplifying pain signals. Stress, past trauma, or unprocessed emotions can contribute to this response.
3. Sensitivity to Touch, Temperature, or Movement
When the nervous system is in a heightened pain state, it can cause hypersensitivity to touch, pressure, or even temperature changes. A simple touch might feel painful, or a cold breeze could trigger discomfort.
4. Fatigue, Brain Fog, or Emotional Changes
Pain isn’t just physical—it drains your energy. Chronic pain is often linked to fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, anxiety, or depression because the brain is working overtime to process the persistent signals.
5. A Feeling of Being “Stuck” in Pain
Do you feel like no amount of rest, stretching, or medication fully relieves your pain? Chronic pain often creates a loop of tension, stress, and frustration, making it difficult for the body to reset and heal.
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How to Interrupt the Chronic Pain Cycle
Understanding that chronic pain is a nervous system issue (not just a physical one) is the first step toward healing. Here are some ways to start shifting out of the pain loop:
1. Practice Somatic Awareness
Somatic practices help reconnect the brain and body, allowing you to tune into pain signals without fear or resistance. Techniques like body scanning, breathwork, or gentle movement can help calm the nervous system and reduce pain sensitivity.
2. Release Fascial Tension
Tight fascia (the body’s connective tissue) can trap pain and keep the nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight mode. Myofascial release therapy helps soften these restrictions, allowing pain signals to reset and dissipate naturally.
3. Retrain Your Brain’s Pain Perception
Techniques like mindfulness, visualization, and cognitive reframing can help train the brain to stop overreacting to pain. Instead of resisting pain, try acknowledging it with curiosity—this shift in perspective can reduce its intensity.
4. Support Your Nervous System
Chronic pain often means the nervous system is overloaded. Simple self-care practices like deep breathing, grounding exercises, gentle stretching, or even time in nature can signal to your brain that it’s safe to relax.
5. Address Underlying Emotional Triggers
Pain and emotions are deeply linked. Unresolved trauma, grief, or stress can manifest as physical pain. Therapy, journaling, or working with a Somatic Practitioner can help uncover and release emotional blocks that may be contributing to pain.
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Final Thoughts: Pain Is a Messenger, Not the Enemy! (Fuck-is this true!)
Chronic pain isn’t something to fight against—it’s a signal asking for attention, care, and healing. By learning how your brain and body communicate pain, you can begin to shift out of survival mode and into a place of freedom, movement, and ease.
If you’re tired of feeling trapped in pain, know that you are not broken, and healing is possible. Your body has an incredible ability to reset and restore—sometimes, it just needs the right tools and support.
The book that I highly recommend for learning about how our bodies are the messengers is: “THE BODY KEEPS SCORE”- https://a.co/d/bIhRAZM
Want to explore how somatic work (body work) or myofascial release can help you break free from chronic pain? Let’s connect. Email me anytime!
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