As neuroscience continues to help us leap forwards in our understanding of the true underlying causes of chronic pain - specifically its deep connection with subconscious emotional turmoil, fear & the stress response of the brain - research is also confirming how we can address & release these factors to finally resolve the pain.
So, if you're wondering whether your persisting symptoms could be from a mindbody source too and therefore, with the right knowledge & strategies, also resolvable, here's some helpful guidance...
Typical Patterns
Symptoms from a mindbody (aka neuroplastic) source tend to follow certain patterns. In a previous blog articles I shared the caveats to rule out, together with the common circumstances in which such symptoms often first arise, and here, I’d like to share some other typical patterns to help guide you in your self-assessment.
When you realise that your symptoms do have a similar pattern to one or several of the following, that's likely great news. Because if your chronic symptoms are indeed from a neuroplastic source, then you have a good chance of finally gaining significant relief or even full recovery.
So, do any of the following patterns and signs match the way your symptoms behave?:
i) Symptoms occur when you feel more stressed, or you think about stressful situations,
eg prior to & facing the stress at work, or traveling to visit a difficult relative.
ii) Symptoms lessen or settle when you’re engaged in joyful or fun activities, or when you’re distracted,
eg on vacation or when enjoying time with friends.
iii) Symptoms vary in intensity even though you’re doing the same activity,
eg sometimes it’s a 2/10, sometimes an 8/10, whilst walking the same route.
iv) Symptoms vary depending on the day or the time of day,
eg only weekdays or always first thing in the morning.
v) Symptoms occur after, but not during, an activity or exercise.
vi) Symptoms are triggered by merely thinking about doing a known provocative movement or activity,
eg sitting, or bending, or walking.
I remember a competitive dinghy sailor saying his hand had already started hurting at just the thought of going back out to compete again following just "surviving" really challenging conditions in the previous 2 back-to-back races!
vii) Symptoms occur when you think about them, or someone asks you about them.
viii) Symptoms move from one location in the body to another over time,
eg my recurring back pain resolved, but soon after my feet began to hurt for no apparent reason.
ix) Symptoms improve after some form of physical therapy but return after a few hours or days.
eg massage
x) Symptoms spread over time into more parts of the body, or move from one side to the other, or occur symmetrically.
xi) Symptoms have a quality of tingling, burning, slow pulsing similar to adjusting a dimmer switch on a light bulb, or feeling hot or cold.
xii) Symptoms are triggered by an aroma, a particular sound or perhaps a change in the weather.
eg everytime you walk past a certain bakery, or hear the sound of a helicopter (These are real examples that are correlated to previous traumas that happened to occur whilst the bakery aroma was also present / the helicopter was also present).
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This list of pain patterns, together with the circumstances around which symptoms first started as described in my earlier blog article, might seem quite long, but it's a very helpful one to guide you forwards to the right help & support.
This variety of patterns of chronic pain also demonstrates how unique we all are & that the way we feel pain is a complex process, involving thoughts, beliefs, emotions, knowledge & past experiences. Mindbody (neuroplastic) symptoms present in many different ways.
So, if you’ve realised that your symptoms do have a similar pattern to one or more of the above, then great! Because if your chronic symptoms are indeed from a mindbody (neuroplastic) source, then you have a good chance of finally gaining significant relief or even full recovery.
Many thousands with often years of chronic symptoms have already recovered with this approach and are now enjoying wonderful, fully active and fulfilling lives, both at work and at home, free from their symptoms.
If you'd like to find out more, please watch my free & helpful introductory webinar on the mindbody approach.
If you watch through to the end you'll also be invited to book a free Discovery Call with me to share your story and discuss whether my comprehensive & supportive 10-Step online Freedom From Pain programme, which is both live and interactive, would be the right choice for you.
I’d be honoured to guide and support you towards your recovery.
References:
The PPDAssociation.org with its new name, The Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms - ATNS - with a new branding, "Symptomatic".
SIRPA.org: SIRPATM - the Stress Illness Recovery Practitioners' Association, UK
"A Diagnostic Guide for Psychophysiologic Disorders" by D Clarke MD, D Schechter MD & H Schubiner MD, 2022
#mindbody #freedom #emotionalwellbeing #repressedemotions #painrelief #stressrelief #chronicpainrelief #neuroscience #neuroplasticity #workplacewellbeing #chronicpain #stress #burnout
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