Pain is a complex and subjective experience. While physical injuries and medical conditions often account for most pain cases, there is another type...
Understanding Pain
Pain is a complex and subjective experience. While physical injuries and medical conditions often account for most pain cases, there is another type of pain which is rooted in emotional and psychological factors.
Individuals experiencing psychogenic pain perceive real and distressing sensations. The pain may manifest as chronic or acute, and it can affect any part of the body.
Distinguishing psychogenic pain from other types of pain can be challenging. Medical professionals can identify psychogenic pain through a comprehensive evaluation of the patient's medical history, psychological state, and the absence of physical damage or pathology.
Factors contributing to the development of psychogenic pain
The reasons behind experiencing pain without a clear physical source remain somewhat elusive. One theory revolves around "pain memory," a condition where the nervous system retains pain long after an injury has healed. Another perspective suggests that the brain may become confused with signals, leading to the perception of pain even without a direct physical cause.
Ordinarily, the sensation of pain and its location in the body are conveyed through nerve receptors, which transmit information to the spine, then being relayed to the brain. However, there are instances where messages can become muddled along this pathway, causing the brain to interpret emotional distress as physical pain.
Psychological factors also play a role in the experience of physical pain. Conditions such as anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, and stress can influence how pain is perceived in the body, blurring the line between emotional and physical discomfort. This complex interplay between the mind and body underscores the intricate nature of pain perception, leaving us with more questions than answers.
The Mind-Body Connection
Emotional experiences can profoundly impact the brain's neurochemistry and circuitry, leading to changes in pain perception. Stress and emotional distress trigger the release of stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can sensitize pain receptors and lower pain thresholds.
Chronic emotional stress can alter the brain's pain processing centers, enhancing the brain's perception of pain signals. Emotional healing through therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness can modulate the brain's response to pain. These approaches have been shown to reduce stress, calm the nervous system, and rewire neural circuits involved in pain processing.
Fibromyalgia & the impact of mindfulness
According to the World Health Organization, fibromyalgia is classed as a disorder of pain processing due to abnormalities in how pain signals are processed in the central nervous system. It is estimated to affect up to 8% of the global population and the specific causes for the condition continue to elude modern science. New research indicates a potential link between stress-related mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and fibromyalgia symptoms as trauma triggers neurobiological responses.
At Ananda, a 34-year-old man suffering from fibromyalgia sought help from Ayurvedic doctors and emotional healers to find relief for his multiple issues. Seven years ago, he began experiencing a tingling sensation around his scapular region, which quickly progressed into widespread pain over the following weeks. He was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and brain fog, and later developed mood swings, depression, allodynia or sensitivity to touch, and diabetes. Constant pain made him irritable and caused sleep deprivation. Despite trying various pharmaceutical drugs and movement therapies over the past eight years, his restless mind and tired body did not find an effective solution for managing the pain.
Researchers have studied the effectiveness of different mindfulness- and acceptance-based stress reduction interventions for fibromyalgia patients. The findings suggest that these approaches show mild to moderate improvements in symptoms. Meditation, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, and deep breathing are just a few examples of common mindfulness practices. Emotional healing and meditation played a big role in helping the man manage his ability to handle pain, while Ayurvedic treatments were used for cleansing to rebalance the bio-energies and pacify the vata, as fibromyalgia is considered a dysfunction of the air element.
The programme resulted in a FIQ score (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire) that showed a 14% reduction in pain and overall symptoms, 20% improvement in depression, 30% improvement in anxiety, and remarkable reductions in sensitivity to light and noises. For the first time in 8 years, the client experienced a 30% increase in energy levels. These positive changes motivated him to embrace Ayurveda, mindfulness, and emotional healing in his new lifestyle.
Healing the Emotional Wounds
Emotional healing is crucial in managing psychogenic pain because it targets the emotional roots of pain, reduces pain amplification, breaks the pain cycle, enhances coping mechanisms, and promotes overall well-being. Integrating emotional healing practices into pain management approaches can lead to more effective and sustainable relief for individuals experiencing psychogenic pain.
Psychotherapy and counselling
Psychotherapy and counselling are therapeutic approaches that play a crucial role in managing psychogenic pain by helping individuals identify emotional triggers and process past traumas, reducing their impact on pain perception. Coping strategies are taught to effectively manage stress and emotional distress, breaking the pain cycle. Encouraging emotional expression leads to relief, while mindfulness and relaxation techniques foster relaxation, reducing pain intensity. Emotional healing, when in collaboration with medical professionals, enhances resilience and improves pain management and overall well-being.
A 39-year-old banker and athlete visited Ananda from the UK. Our guest, like many others, was infected by coronavirus 3 years back and the road to recovery had been challenging. The prolonged long-covid effects included headaches, ear pain, vertigo and he had also experienced a severe episode of lower back pain that led to weeks-long bed rest.
While extensive intervention of physiotherapy helped him resume regular activities, he was never able to return to the sports of his choice- running and horse riding. His prior experience of back pain led to fear, and he suffered from palpitations, nervous attacks at night and lack of concentration which were further debilitating.
A customised Ayurvedic treatment protocol over 3 weeks at Ananda nourished his body constitution to facilitate the focused trainings of holistic physiotherapists. In addition, our emotional therapists worked on the mental patterns that had created the lasting impact from incidents of physical pain and suffering. The results were phenomenal- showing that emotional healing therapies offer comprehensive, sustainable pain relief, creating a safe space for emotional expression and improving overall quality of life.
To learn more about Ananda’s integrated approach towards chronic pain, click here.
Explore Ananda’s Chronic Pain Management Programme.