Sukie Baxter

Have you ever heard of psychosomatic pain? It’s a condition where your symptoms are caused by your mind alone — there is no physical injury.

And unfortunately, a lot of people who experience pain without any specific diagnosable cause are often told that they have psychosomatic pain.

Which is taken to mean that they’re “making it all up.”

While it’s true that your brain can get tricked into feeling pain that’s not really there, that doesn’t necessarily mean your symptoms aren’t real.

So if you’re experiencing frustrating pain and are only being given vague diagnostics that describe symptoms but don’t tell you anything about the root cause, you might be wondering: can this pain be all in my head?

But here are three reasons why psychosomatic pain isn’t just made up:

Related:

• The Important Thing No One Is Telling You About Pain
• How Can I Keep My Diagnosis From Creeping Into My Belief System?
• What the heck is going on in there?! 3 Reasons Your Body Holds onto Tension

Your Brain Makes Pain

Do you know how pain sensations actually work? While you feel pain at the site of an injury, that’s not where the sensation comes from.

Pain is your brain’s interpretation of data sent in by the body.

When you hold your hand over a hot stove, for example, sensory nerves convey info to your spinal cord and brain where the sensation of pain is registered and perceived.

Your brain interprets the data “tissue is burning” and produces the sensation of pain to motivate you away from the threat — in this case a hot stove.

This is pretty simple in this basic case of cause and effect.

But electrical signals can get scrambled for many reasons. Your brain can get confused about what it’s “hearing” from your sensory nerves and think you’re in danger when you’re not — thus making you feel pain.

This is what happens in cases “psychosomatic pain.” It’s not that you’re crazy or making things up. The part of your brain that interprets sensory input from your body is just off kilter.

Chronic stress can contribute to an increase in perception of pain, so if you’ve been up against it for a while, that’s definitely a factor.

Pain Can Become Your Brain’s Habit

Once your body experiences pain, it’s more sensitive to the sensation.

Meaning:

You’ll start to hurt more easily and from seemingly minor incidents that wouldn’t cause other people much pain at all.

This phenomenon is called “central sensitization” and it’s far from being psychosomatic pain.

Since as stated above pain is a sensation generated by the brain and not stemming from your muscles, tendons and bones at all, a lot of pain can get wonky when your nervous system is out of balance.

This seems to be the case in central sensitization where your brain almost starts to hallucinate pain symptoms as a result of normal touch and pressure.

Again, while this is happening in your brain, it’s a physiological result of crossed wires between mind and body — NOT a sign that you’ve lost your marbles.

Your Brain Uses Pain to Self-Locate

Amputees often experience phantom pain in missing limbs. Since there are no nerves to convey sensation to the person’s brain, this is most definitely an example of “psychosomatic pain.”

But there’s a catch…

Amputees aren’t making it up. Imaging shows that their brains still maintain sensory-motor maps of the missing limbs which activate when a person “moves” their phantom limb.

Crazy, right?

What causes this phantom limb pain? Scientists aren’t totally certain. But what they conclude is that a missing limb can’t send data to the brain.

In the absence of data, your brain realizes that something is wrong and produces pain signals…for a limb that’s no longer there.

It gets weirder…

Using a mirror to visually simulate the lost limb, a person can trick their brain into perceiving the missing body part — and the phantom pain stops.

So it seems that when body parts are “lost” to your brain — as in, your brain stops perceiving sensory input — it generates pain almost as a “map” of the missing area.

Here’s why this is important for you, a non-amputee…

Psychosomatic Pain And Dissociation

Many people are dissociated from their physical selves, meaning they’ve cut off feeling in their bodies. This happens for many reasons — trauma, body image issues, accidents and injuries, charged emotional experiences, etc.

And, of course, my favorite: you’ve been domesticated by our culture to ignore your body.

In our society, it’s the intellect that gets all the shine. Your body is just a dumb meat suit that’s constantly malfunctioning in inconvenient and embarrassing ways.

That means that physical sensations get ignored, dismissed and disregarded.

You turn down the volume until you can’t feel yourself.

You might do this to a particular area of your body — a shoulder, say, or a hip — or you may just shut down physical sensation altogether.

In any case, when you “turn off” the signals from your body, your brain senses that something is wrong…and it sounds the alarm with pain.

Which you try to stretch, massage and possibly even medicate away.

What actually seems to work, though — at least in my clinical experience — is reconnecting the brain to the body and restoring sensory input.

Basically, hooking up the data flow again between mind and body — getting the brain to perceive your physical sensations again.

If this sounds complicated, it’s not. Anyone can do it, and the results are pretty quick, too.

As a bonus, I’ve also found that emotional symptoms such as anxiety and depression tend to dissipate along with the pain and tension — although everyone is different and your mileage may vary.

These are the practices I cover in my Posture Rehab program.

It’s not just another how-to-stretch system, but rather a road map back to yourself. It helps you hook your brain back up to your body so your nervous system can stop freaking out about pain…and you can rest easy knowing you’re not losing your mind and making up symptoms that aren’t there.

Trust me. I believe you. The pain is real.

But the cause isn’t.

Posture Rehab can help.

Click here to learn more >>

By far the most common advice that my clients have received for back pain is to focus on core strength.

Everyone from doctors and physical therapists to Pilates instructors, personal trainers, yoga teachers and Nancy who sits three cubicles down at work recommends strengthening your core to support your spine.

Core strength exercises are those that target the muscles around your abdomen, back and pelvis — more or less what a corset would cover. Strong core muscles support your spine, making it easier to do physical activities without injuring yourself. Or so the theory goes.

But interestingly…

A lot of people don’t get any back pain relief from doing core strengthening exercises. I have clients who have tried all the usual suspects — planks, side planks, dead bugs, you name it — with no results.

But it’s a basic law of physics that core strength provides support for your back. So if getting a stronger core isn’t helping your back pain, what’s going on? And should you keep doing the core strength exercises or try something else completely?

Here are three reasons that strengthening your core isn’t helping your back pain:

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• If You Must Sit at a Computer, At Least Do This…
• What is Perfect Posture and How Do I Get It?

Your Core is Too Rigid

Core strength has become the darling of the fitness industry in the past few years. And for good reason. A lot of people lack integrity in their midsection, leading to spinal instability.

However, core strength has a dark side. It seems that most fitness professionals follow the axiom that if a little is good, a lot must be better.

And that’s where we run into huge problems…

Because your core is supposed to MOVE. In fact, a lot of our problems with back pain arise from a faulty model of the spine. Even our language talks about the spinal “column,” as though it’s a stiff strut.

Actually, your spine is made up of 33 bones, most of which have multiple joints to allow movement. Your spine functions more like a spring or a slinky than a strut.

In fact, Serge Gracovetsky, author of The Spinal Engine, studied the spine extensively and found that your spine actually initiates gait. Meaning: your legs aren’t the only thing doing the walking. It starts in your spine.

So when people crank down on their cores with too many tension-generating exercises, all that ensuing rigidity results in a spine that can’t move.

And that means that the impact of your foot on the ground when you walk doesn’t translate up through the core the way it’s supposed to — it gets jammed somewhere, ultimately resulting in wear and tear on your back muscles which take up the slack.

You’re Only Doing Static Core Strength Exercises

So many core strength exercises don’t translate into real life. Planks are one of those things. I’m not opposed to the occasional plank, and side planks do have some benefit (especially for scoliosis).

But, as in all things relating to the body, your core isn’t a single entity. It connects and relates to the rest of your body.

Exercises that teach your body how to engage core muscles while still maintaining movement are preferable to those that only hold one isometric position. An isometric contraction is helpful for “turning on” a muscle — basically, helping the brain to find it.

It doesn’t necessarily help the body to engage the muscle while doing everyday tasks, though, like hefting groceries and toddlers. Or bales of hay and water buckets, if that’s more your thing.

Core Strength Goes Against Your Beliefs

This one is probably my favorite, and the one that’s most likely going to require you to keep an open mind.

Did you know that the tension in your body is the physical manifestation of your thoughts? Some people even say that the body is the subconscious mind. While your body doesn’t “store” emotions per se, it experiences them alongside your thoughts.

In fact, your physical experience is inseparable from your mental and emotional experience. You cannot have a thought without having a corresponding physical reaction.

And interestingly, your body will be unable to do something that doesn’t align with your beliefs.

For example, if I ask you to hold your arm out straight and say, “My name is _____” inserting your name in the blank space, your arm will hold strong if I press it firmly but gently downward.

If, however, I ask you to say, “My name is Sukie,” your arm will become weak when I press down on it lightly. You’ll be unable to hold it up.

Presuming your name is not Sukie, of course.

We all carry subconscious programming about our identity. These are subconscious thoughts and ideas that we picked up from our experiences in early life or from strongly charged emotional events — things like car accidents, a terrifying medical diagnosis, emotional shock, and even severe trauma.

All of these experiences write a sort of operating code on your brain that you integrate into your sense of self. And then that shapes how you move through the world — physically and metaphorically.

So, what does all of this have to do with core strength?

If strong, whole, healthy and functional do not align with your beliefs about yourself, you will not achieve that state no matter how much you try to affect your physical body through stretching, strengthening and whatever other means of exercise.

If your belief about yourself — your self identity — aligns with “I’m broken,” which is a paradigm perpetuated by the western medical system, then it becomes impossible to align with “I’m strong and healthy and whole.”

And the western medical model does a bang-up job of focusing our attention on the areas where we’re broken. That is essentially the western medical model in a nutshell: find out where you are broken, and if you are in pain, you must be broken.

The notion of brokenness comes in many forms. Some people may feel that they’re not fully whole, or that they are/have been shattered. I’m not good enough is another version of I’m broken. When you align your identity with not enough, you put yourself into a position of having to become something else, to fix things about yourself in order to be loved, to be deserving of love, of attention, of affection, all these things.

And a lot of us have that tape playing on some level in our heads. Even if it’s not the totality of your identity, it might be your self-identity in an area of your life, like I’m not a good athlete, I’m not good at food, I can handle this area of my life but I can’t handle my diet.

So let’s just sum all these various beliefs up as “I’m broken.”

If “I’m broken” is your identity on a deep, deep level — we’re talking sub-sub-conscious, cellular biology level stuff — and then you try to fix yourself by strengthening your abdominals, your muscles will resist getting stronger. Or you’ll constantly injure yourself at the gym.

Ever met that person who just gets one workout-sabotaging injury after another sometimes in the weirdest and wackiest of ways?

If strong and whole are concepts that are out of alignment with your self identity, you have to shift the identity for the core strength exercises to take effect.

(Umm, you still have to do the exercises, by the way. You can’t just sit on your couch and think “I’m so strong” while popping back donut holes. I wish. But alas, it doesn’t work that way.)

Ack, So How Do I Fix This?

If your core is rigid, static and you’re starting to become aware that you’ve got a few less than ideal beliefs about yourself, don’t panic.

Also, keep your towel close by. (#nerdreference)

Here’s the good news:

It’s relatively easy to restore dynamic movement to your spine and core. My clients often feel results after just a single session with me.

And because spinal mobility is so freaking vital for a pain-free life, I’ve included several spinal twisting practices in my Posture Rehab program.

These will defrost your frozen spine so that it moves naturally again.

From the belief angle…

You probably already know that your mind affects your body. But did you know that your body also affects your brain?

Moving differently causes you to think differently. That’s because, as I said, the body is your subconscious mind. When you shift the physical, your thoughts and feelings follow suit.

But just going to the gym won’t do it. Nor will yoga in front of the tv.

To really get results, you have to show up with your mind and body. You’ve got to move slowly and intentionally. You’ve got to feel the movements, not just go through the motions.

And that’s why Posture Rehab is unlike anything else you’re going to find out there. It’s not just another list of how to sit in a chair and what height to set your computer monitor at.

It uses investigative movement practices to dig underneath years of accumulated tension to basically hit the neural reset button on your body and brain.

Want to try it out?

Go here >>

Are your muscles tight all the time?

Maybe it feels like your spine is frozen in place. Or your hips tighten up no matter how much you stretch.

From chronically tight hamstrings to neck stiffness and pain, clients often ask me what causes muscles to tense up in the first place.

While there are many possible answers…

To get to the root of this issue, it’s important to first understand where muscle tension comes from.

Where Does Muscle Tension Come From?

If you Google “what causes muscle tension” you’re going to come up with a list of things like poor posture, overuse, exercise, or injuries.

While all of these can absolutely influence muscle tension, they’re really more of a symptom than a cause.

The reality is…

Muscle tension comes from your nervous system, a.k.a. your brain.

That’s it.

Muscles don’t just get randomly tight all over. They’re not out to get you.

Without some sort of animating force, a muscle is just a lump of tissue. I’ve never seen a steak jump off the plate and run for the door, and you probably haven’t either.

That’s because dead meat has no neural activity.

Cadavers don’t come to get you unless they’re in zombie movies because their brains are dead. There is no signal to tell the muscle to contract.

Which brings me to…

Your Muscle Tension Isn’t Happening To You

Clients often ask me why “it’s” so tight — a neck, a back, a hamstring, a hip.

This is a little bit of an odd question because, well, “it” is…YOU.

And you are not separate from your body.

(You are also not your body, but that’s a different discussion for a different day.)

Your body is an integral aspect of your lived experience. Basically, if you’re alive, you have a body. Period. End of story.

When you say “it just feels so tight,” you’re separating your tension from yourself. You’re giving away your power to influence the state of your body.

Words matter. They simultaneously convey and influence how you see yourself.

Because muscle tension begins in your nervous system, it’s within your power to release the tight muscles, too.

Muscle Tension Isn’t Your Fault

This conversation can be a tricky one. When I first bring a person’s attention to the fact that tension comes from you rather than happening to you, I often encounter resistance.

It’s easy to jump to the conclusion that I’m blaming you for your tension — but I’m not. Promise.

Just like you aren’t consciously carrying around limiting beliefs about yourself, you’re also not waking up and thinking, “Gee, what a beautiful day. I think a little neck tension and pain is in order this morning.”

If you were to work with a therapist and uncover that you’ve been holding onto a belief that you’re a terrible, no-good, unloveable person, your therapist (hopefully) isn’t going to leap out of her chair, point a finger at you and shout, “YOU IDIOT! YOU’RE SO STUPID FOR BELIEVING SUCH A RIDICULOUS THOUGHT!”

Silly, right?

Similarly, the reasons behind why we hold tension in our nervous system are subconscious. They could be related to an accident or injury, or even to an emotional trauma. Some muscle tension is learned and adapted from our caregivers and communities — we move like the people around us to signal belonging.

And, often, muscle tension is related to your thoughts and beliefs.

Sound crazy?

Just try saying these words out loud and pay attention to what happens to your neck, shoulders and breathing: I’m not good enough. I don’t have what it takes. Nobody loves me.

Yuck, right? It doesn’t feel so great.

Well, if you have these thoughts running on some level (and let’s face it, we all have some version of this going on in our heads or imposter syndrome wouldn’t be a thing), your muscles are GOING TO RESPOND.

Muscle tension is the physical manifestation of a thought or belief.

How to Let Go of Tight Muscles

The important thing to realize is that you have the power to release muscle tension — even if you’ve been holding onto it for decades.

How do you do this, you ask?

Great question. The answer is simple: move differently.

When you move in new and varied ways, you rewire your neural pathways. You send more data to your brain telling it that you need to be able to bend and twist in these ways.

And movement can even influence your thoughts – bonus!

The mind-body connection is a two-way street. When you release muscle tension, your body signals your brain to relax, too.

And then you not only move more comfortably with less pain, but you also feel calmer, happier and more centered.

Of course, shaking off habitual movement patterns is easier said than done. While it’s not complicated, it does take practice.

That’s why I created the Posture Rehab system to teach you how to reset your nervous system using intentional movement.

It’s not exercise. It’s not yoga. It’s an entirely new take on life.

Check it out here >>

Arthritis pain is a common diagnosis that you might hear as you age. And with over 100 different types of arthritis and associated conditions, you certainly aren’t suffering alone.

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms and involves the breakdown of protective joint cartilage. But there are also autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis that cause painful symptoms.

Whatever form of arthritis pain you have, it probably limits your activities and enjoyment of life — which is just a no-go if you ask me. Of course, popping an endless stream of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) comes with its own terrifying risks.

Even short term use of ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. Taking an NSAID for just a couple of weeks will elevate your risk. Longer periods of time and higher doses are worse, though.

While short-term use of NSAIDs at low doses for people who do not have known cardiovascular disease is probably safe, there are a few easy and natural things you can do to relieve arthritis pain if you’d rather skip the meds.

Here are three natural remedies for arthritis pain:

Reduce Inflammation

Systemic inflammation is common among people who eat a diet high in processed foods, refined grains, white sugar and alcohol. All of these will increase inflammation in the body.

And the first place you’ll feel the pain of inflammation is in your arthritic joints.

Reduce common inflammatory foods such as processed meats, sugary drinks, white bread and pasta. To crowd them out, increase your intake of green vegetables, omega-3 containing deep water fish and grass-fed meats.

For more tips on reducing systemic inflammation, click here to check out my ebook Perfect Posture for Life. I go into much greater depth on foods and herbs that lower systemic inflammation and arthritis pain.

Take Magnesium

Magnesium is a naturally occurring mineral found in many healthy foods such as nuts and seeds, green vegetables and dark chocolate. Your body requires it to support over 300 chemical reactions that keep you alive. Magnesium has a natural anti-inflammatory effect on cells.

Unfortunately, most people are deficient in this vital mineral. This is due to diets high in refined grains and the increasing depletion of magnesium in crop soil. Taking magnesium can have a nearly instant calming effect on inflammation, reducing tight muscles and arthritis pain.

For more on how magnesium benefits your body and why I believe it’s the one critical supplement everyone suffering from aches and pains must take, click here to download my FREE No More Tight Muscles Guide.

Move Every Day

Movement benefits arthritis pain by increasing the flow of synovial fluid in joints, which acts like the body’s own WD-40. It also stimulates sensory perception in cells called mechanoreceptors that surround joints.

Mechanoreceptors sense movement and then communicate with the brain, sending signals to your brain that are stronger and faster than those sent by pain-sensing cells, called nociceptors.

Basically, movement “crowds out” sensations of pain and makes your body feel less achy overall. It simultaneously improves joint health by lubricating joint capsules with synovial fluid.

Of course, not just any movement will do. If your joints are stiff and locked up, you need to get them moving again using dynamic mobility practices like those in my Posture Rehab program.

Posture Rehab enables you to fix your posture and move more comfortably so you can continue to do the things you love without pain or restriction for as long as you’re alive.

Unlike other programs that just teach you how to stretch or strengthen your body, the practices inside Posture Rehab go underneath stored tension to dissolve old, bad habits so you can finally stop slouching, heal your body and move with ease — despite old injuries.

Click here for more info on the Posture Rehab program >>