CHRONIC PAIN: A CYCLE OF STRESS AND PAIN

NEUROSCIENCE EXPLAINS HOW STRESS CAN FUEL PERSISTENT PAIN

WHAT THE BRAIN TELLS THE BODY WHAT’S AFFECTED?

STRESSES TO DO WHEN IT’S STRESSED
Muscles
Past injuries,
accidents or Blood flow shifts from the frontal lobes (conscious way of
Blood flow
health conditions thinking) into the limbic system (emotional, reacting, "fight or
flight" part of the brain – the amygdala & ANS) Nervous system
Relationships
(family, romantic) Heart
Work Gastrointestinal system
Anxiety Genito-urinary system
4
Sadness or Grief
YOU MAY FEEL:
Anger
3 Pain almost anywhere
Childhood adversity in the body
2
Tingling
Unresolved
painful memories Numbness
1 Burning
PTSD
IBS & bladder symptoms
Social isolation
Palpitations
or rejection
Rapid heart rate
Discrimination
Headaches & migraines
and many more HOW STRESSES ARE PROCESSED AND
STORED IN THE “PAIN PARTS” OF THE BRAIN
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
AMYGDALA Sends signals to activate the ANS; activating CAN "LEARN" TO FEEL
STRESSES 1
fight or flight signals
(FROM PAIN) THESE SENSATIONS
ANS (Autonomic Nervous System) Can cause acute spasms As this cycle repeats, the
Sensitized
2
and other physiological changes anywhere in the body brain and central nervous
nervous system
ACC (Anterior Cingulate Cortex) Emotional factors light up system can become wired
3
Fear, worry & this area; when activated, DLPFC turns off to make the body feel
anticipation of pain continuous pain...
4 DLPFC (Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex) An area of the often times even in the
Associating brain that helps to decrease pain absence of structural or
the pain with tissue damage
some catastrophic
health issue
PAIN & LEARNING BY THE NERVOUS SYSTEM RETURN AS STRESSES

L E A R N H O W T O B R E A K T H E PA I N C Y C L E W I T H T H E C U R A B L E A P P