OUR PAIN IS REAL

When I first read about brain retraining, I found it very hard to accept. My pain was different. My symptoms are different. How could my brain make my eyes swell, make me vomit, my nose and eyes run, diminish my vision, make me dizzy?  I now know and understand that the brain can set in motion a series of biological processes that can make all of that happen. It is not just the brain but the brain is the maestro. Many systems including endocrine, lymphatic, autonomic nervous system can all be called into action if the brain believes there is cause for concern.  

Our brain learned these pathways in a misguided effort to protect.  Our autonomic nervous system fundamentally searches for signs of danger in our internal and external environments. Without conscious awareness and utilizing past experience, our nervous system will respond to signs of danger with pain to protect us and increase our chance of survival.

Can there be pain without a physical problem?  Yes. There is an often cited example of a man at a construction site who jumped down and landed on a nail that came through his boot. Screaming in agony the man was transported to the hospital. It was found that the nail had gone between his toes and not penetrated his body. The pain he felt was real however there was no tissue damage. The evidence clearly indicated that there should be pain and the brain responded accordingly. The pain response is to incite appropriate action.

I recently had a run in with a wasp. While chatting with friends a wasp was circling. I had already been stung three times that summer. I swatted and then ‘ouch’ - I had been stung on the leg. I hurried home to get some ice on it but once home I was surprised to find no swelling. I was certain I had been stung but the evidence suggested I had not. From a danger perspective, the pain response and the belief that I had been stung did remove me from the ‘wasp’/danger situation.

Can there be a physical problem without pain? Yes. Most can recall stories of incredibly heroic actions while the body is damaged. Phantom limb symptoms - pain, itching in limbs that no longer exist - are very real. When we understand that our perception of pain is from the brain, phantom limb symptoms can be understood.

The pain or other persistent symptoms you feel are real! Brain retraining respects that the pain and other symptoms are undeniably real.