Understanding Chronic Pain: The Mind-Body Connection
Chronic pain can be a heavy burden, particularly for older adults. While medications and physical treatments can help, experts say that changing how we think about pain may offer significant relief.
Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist from California and the founder of Amen Clinics, has looked into how altering brain activity can combat chronic pain. His new book, Change Your Brain, Change Your Pain, dives into this idea.
In a recent interview, Dr. Amen highlighted that chronic pain does not only affect the joints, like the knees or back. “If you’ve felt pain for more than three weeks, it’s actually in your brain,” he explained. Our brain has circuits that process both physical and emotional pain.
Some antidepressants are actually approved to treat chronic pain, as they balance the same brain pathways, according to Dr. Amen. “The healthier your brain is, the less pain you will feel—both physical and emotional,” he noted. He clarified that this doesn’t mean people are imagining their pain; it is very real.
He also mentioned that when the brain is overactive in certain areas, it can lead to discomfort throughout the body. In his book, Dr. Amen describes a “doom loop,” where chronic pain triggers negative emotions, muscle tension, and harmful habits. “This creates a downward spiral,” he said. So, if you have back pain, the surrounding muscles might tense up further, increasing your discomfort.
Dr. Amen suggests that people struggling with chronic pain should first assess their brain health. He recommends asking, “What does this pain mean to me?” Many fear that pain will limit their freedom, which adds to the struggle.
He also shared insights from rehabilitation physician John Sarno, who believed that unresolved emotions could manifest as physical pain in the body.
To combat this, Dr. Amen recommends an exercise he calls “emotional freedom.” This involves journaling about different life phases, noting both joyful and painful experiences. “This helps identify where repressed feelings may reside,” he explained.
Fostering a positive mindset can help diminish anger and lessen pain, according to Amen. By working on your mental state alongside physical treatments, you can create a better environment for healing.
