Understanding Pain: Why It’s More Than Just a Body Problem
We’ve all experienced pain — a sore back after a long day, a stiff neck from stress, or an old injury that flares up for “no reason.”
But what if pain isn’t always a sign of damage? What if it’s your body’s way of protecting you — sometimes a little too well?
Pain Is a Protective Response — Not Just Tissue Damage
Pain works like your brain’s alarm system, not simply as a signal from injured tissues. It’s your brain’s interpretation of threat. If the brain believes something might be unsafe, it can dial up the “volume” of pain — even when the tissues are healed or there’s little structural damage.
This concept is nicely illustrated in this short video by pain researcher Lorimer Moseley:
“Tame the Beast – Lorimer Moseley”
(It’s worth a watch — it brings the idea to life in a simple, clear way.)
That’s also why two people with the same injury can feel it very differently — pain isn’t just about what’s happening in the body, but how the brain and nervous system interpret it.
The Biopsychosocial Model: Looking Beyond the Body
Pain used to be seen as purely a physical issue — something to treat with rest, medication, or manual therapy.
Now, we know pain lives at the intersection of three key areas:
Bio (Body): muscles, joints, nerves, posture, and inflammation
Psycho (Mind): thoughts, emotions, fears, and beliefs about pain
Social (Life): work stress, relationships, financial pressures, and lifestyle habits
When we only treat the “bio,” we miss a huge part of the picture. A person under chronic stress, sleeping poorly, and worrying about their pain will likely experience it more intensely — even if there’s no new injury.
Modern Life: A Nervous System on Alert
In today’s world, our nervous systems rarely get a break. Constant notifications, long work hours, financial stress, and lack of downtime all keep our body in a low-level “fight or flight” mode.
This stress chemistry (think cortisol and adrenaline) can sensitise the nervous system — meaning pain signals get amplified.
So when you’re anxious, tired, or overwhelmed, your pain threshold drops. It’s not “all in your head” — it’s your body responding exactly how it’s designed to when it feels unsafe or overloaded.
Why Short-Term Fixes Only Go So Far
It’s common to look for quick fixes — painkillers, massage, or a “crack” that gives instant relief. And these can absolutely help in the short term by calming the system down.
But if we stop there, pain often returns.
Long-term change happens when we address the bigger picture — improving movement, managing stress, rebuilding confidence, and changing the way we interpret pain.
Education, movement, breathwork, and gradual exposure can all help retrain the nervous system to feel safe again.
Moving Forward
Understanding pain doesn’t mean ignoring it — it means seeing it for what it truly is: a complex, protective response that can change with the right inputs.
By addressing both body and mind, we can help calm the alarm system and get back to moving, working, and living with more confidence and less fear.
Takeaway Message
Pain isn’t your enemy. It’s your body’s way of protecting you — sometimes a little too enthusiastically.
With the right approach — movement, education, breathing, and lifestyle changes — you can teach your system that it’s safe to move again.
Ready to take the next step to reducing your pain?
Contact us today.
