Worrying intensity predicts the number of somatic complaints
A lot of the people I work with have an increased tendency to worry, whether it's about their symptoms or about things in life. Worry by itself can cause more somatic symptoms. I've linked a study below…
Let it Be: Mindful Acceptance Reduces Pain and Emotion
This study from 2020 https://academic.oup.com/scan/article/14/11/1147/5716281 shows how the role of accepting pain and negative emotions reduces the intensity of both these things. One of the primary…
Stress Axis in Brain and Nervous System Induce Chronic Pain
A review study here highlighting how a stressed out brain and nervous system create chronification of pain. The HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal) axis in the brain (limbic brain) influences changes…
Sympathetic Nervous System Dysfunction in Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, & Interstitial Cystitis
Continuing on the theme that most chronic disease is caused by an overactive sympathetic (fight, flight, freeze) nervous system and an inability to turn on and keep on the parasympathetic (rest, digest,…
People with Chronic Pain Aren’t Activating the Rest, Digest, and Relax Nervous System
We have clear evidence from heart rate variability studies that people with chronic pain are in the fight, flight or freeze autonomic nervous system state (sympathetic state) and have a hard time activating…
Screening of New Film ‘This Might Hurt’
Wanted to share the new film called 'This Might Hurt'. My colleague and fellow PT Georgie Oldfield is showing a screening of this new film this weekend. I've included her invite below.
I’m reaching…
A Way to Turn down your Amydala to Turn down your Pain
One of the things that has consistently been popping up in the brain MRI research is the role of the amygdala in chronic pain and anxiety disorders. The amygdala is the center of negative emotions and…
Emotional Awareness & Expression Therapy for Chronic Pain
The definition of pain is: "A sensory and emotional experience..." as defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). Emotions are a part of pain. Not many healthcare practitioners…
The Role of the Prefrontal Cortex in Chronic Pain
The prefrontal cortex is a part of our brain that controls what's called 'higher executive functioning'. This is the cognitive area of the brain that houses our conscious perception and decision making…
The Need to Treat the Mind with the Body
As a PT (physio) I realized a long time ago that we are not just mechanical bodies cut off from the mind at the neck, but that in fact, our brains and nervous systems have a greater impact on our bodies…
