What is Therapy for Chronic Pain?
There are many ways to manage pain but what about addressing the original cause of the pain to eliminate it?
Eliminate??? Really? Yes, I know that is a strong word but it can be done.
How does chronic pain spread?
Pain signals originate in the brain and are sent to the body so that we can be protected from harm. This is fantastic in many scenarios- moving away from fire, indicating a broken bone, etc. Although sometimes, pain signals can be fired off when we are not in direct physical danger and can become a habitual pattern in our bodies. When this happens, we are reacting to perceived physical ailments that our mind sends pain signals too.
So, we really are experiencing pain in these moments (you aren’t making it up!) but the pain doesn’t actually need to be there because sometimes there isn't a physical origination.
Example: you have chronic physical pain that increases when you sit or stand for long periods of time when you are more stressed or are in certain situations. Your pain may not be consistent but happens at times that are most inconvenient. You may have had a diagnosis at one point (bulged disc, Sciatica, hypermobility) although evidence shows that not everyone with this diagnosis experiences pain - so that begs the question, then why do you?!
Traditional medicine doesn’t always help chronic pain
This example is just one of many that people experience with chronic pain, sensitivity, fibromyalgia, migraines, or any other chronic condition that doesn’t get better with traditional medical treatment. The whole reason behind this kind of pain is that our brain is perceiving something else in our unconscious like emotional or mental discomfort, old trauma or difficult experiences, and life stressors as too threatening so it perceives physical pain to be more manageable. And off the pain signals go! It is more accepted in this day of society to experience physical pain rather than emotional pain, so of course, that is what our brain is going to do- it’s adapting!
Chronic Pain is REAL and Treatable
To reiterate- I am not saying that your pain is all in your head- believe me, that statement is so incredibly dismissing because the pain is truly disheartening, confusing, and very real. What is happening is that the brain is sending off real signals of pain to places in the body where it sees a potential problem. Maybe you do have instability in your hips so your brain says - ok that's a good place to experience pain instead of really feeling the emotional pain or stress that is happening in your life. Maybe you have a sensitivity to a certain kind of food so your brain says ok, I’ll react by giving you a stomach ache or headache every time you have that food.
Retraining Your Brain Can Reduce the Pain
Our brain is trying to protect us, we are really smart humans! We just have to retrain it to say that we don’t need protection all the time and that we can handle what comes up in life. This is what you will learn in retraining your brain.
Neuro-imaging studies have shown that chronic pain can reduce gray matter in the brain. Decreased gray matter can lead to memory impairment, emotional problems, and decreased cognitive functioning. When we experience pain, our nervous system is in a state of stress all the time which just perpetuates the pain and causes a decrease in gray matter. We fear the pain and the fear creates more pain; it becomes a toxic cycle.
So, how do we actually work on this in therapy?
We start by understanding how the brain works in sending pain and recognizing that our physical pain is not actually coming from a physical place. We then find evidence to support this; for example- the inconsistency in the pain, the fact that not everyone with the same diagnosis experiences pain, etc.
We use mind and body-based practices to relax the nervous system, understand ourselves, and create an environment of safety-
Yoga for Pain: How does it work?
The practice of yoga can actually increase gray matter in the brain. If we can increase our gray matter, we increase our ability to handle pain. Using practices like mindfulness, meditation, & breathwork to calm our nervous system will enable our bodies to be more of a calm place.
When we calm the nervous system (see more about the nervous system in my previous post) we create an environment in our minds and bodies to promote healing and safety. When our nervous system is stuck in the stress response, we experience more pain, disease, and overall stress in our lives and do not have the ability to heal. At the core of brain training, we are calming the nervous system and providing a safe place in our bodies to promote healing without the need to invite pain.
Therapy is a combination of psychoeducation, learning tools, and being able to uncover and process the history of what got you here so that you can learn from it and move through it.
Get Started with Yoga Therapy for Chronic Pain in Austin, TX
As a trained yoga therapist, I have seen the reaped benefits of yoga therapy and yoga for chronic pain. I would be honored to do yoga therapy at my Austin, TX-based counseling practice with you. These sessions are available both in-person and online for your convenience. To begin yoga therapy in Texas and beyond, follow these steps:
Fill out a free consultation form.
Meet with Grace to see if we’re a good fit!
Start finding calm in your nervous system in response to stress.
Other Services at Elevate Therapy
At my Austin, TX-based therapy practice, I take pride in offering unique therapy services rooted in neuroscience. With a holistic approach to wellness, I understand and prioritize a strong connection between the mind, body, and soul. I am dedicated to helping individuals find healing from a variety of issues, including self-esteem, trauma, eating disorders, life transitions, and anxiety. If you aren’t yet sure about starting therapy with me, please explore my blog!
