A few weeks ago, I talked about persistent pain that doesn't seem to have a clear explanation. The tests that show nothing, the doctors who sound increasingly skeptical... and us, wondering if we are not getting mad?

There's something else I'd like you to know about that.

We now know that pain isn't a direct readout of damage in our body, but a decision our brain makes.

Your brain is constantly gathering information. The state of your tissues, yes, but also your emotional state, your sense of safety, your past experiences, your expectations, the context you're in. It weighs all of it, estimates the level of threat, and produces pain accordingly. (This is called the biopsychosocial model of pain.)

This is why there's no reliable correlation between physical damage and pain intensity. Some people have significant disc herniations and feel nothing. And unfortunately, others are in severe pain with nothing visible on their scans. This is also why there are soldiers who don't feel their injuries while they're on the battlefield... and then feel everything once they're safe.

An incredible illustration of this process was shown in an experiment called "Snow World".

A scientist called Hoffman hooked severe burn patients to an immersive virtual reality game during their wound dressing. Before that, some patients actually refused treatment because of the immense pain it caused. But once they were immersed in "Snow World", their pain levels dropped significantly. From 10/10 to a 4/10 in some cases, without any change in their physical condition. What changed was the brain's attention, and its perceived level of threat.

Obviously, none of this means the pain is imaginary. What it means is that the pain is real, and it is also influenced by far more than just the tissue.

Take from this: calming the nervous system is a legitimate way of reducing the brain's threat response. Slow movement, gentle breathwork, feeling safe in your body again... they are not just nice to have (even though they do feel good!), they are part of how persistent pain actually resolves.

Something to try this week: next time you feel pain or tension somewhere, instead of bracing against it, try breathing into it slowly for 30 seconds. And notice whether the sensation shifts at all.

Om, peace 🧡

Clem