Unpacking: Pain

Why does a system designed to protect us sometimes keep the alarm blaring long after the danger has passed?

Chronic pain isn’t just about damaged tissue. Dr. Megan and Holly break down how the body’s warning system can stay on high alert and why understanding the biopsychosocial model - biology, psychology, and social context - can change the way you navigate persistent pain. You’ll hear clear examples, practical strategies, and a framework you can use to make progress without chasing quick fixes.

What you’ll learn:

1. The critical difference between acute and persistent pain
2. Why “pain ≠ damage” and how threat detection shapes your experience
3. How beliefs, fear, sleep, stress, and support systems influence pain levels
4. When to seek medical evaluation and when to focus on nervous system regulation
5. First steps that actually help: pacing, breath work, visualization, and gentle exposure

Helpful reframes:

1. Clean imaging is a green light to work, not a dead end
2. Doing the right things in the right order matters more than doing more
3. You can reduce flares by training your response, not just treating your tissues

You’re not alone in this. There’s a path forward that treats you as a whole person - and it’s learnable.