Unpacking: The Psychology of Pain

Why does chronic pain spread from one area of your body to another? And why does it often feel worse at night when you're trying to sleep?

When pain persists for months or years, your nervous system doesn't just stay the same - it changes. Your nerves lose their protective coating, your spinal cord becomes more sensitized, and your brain actually develops structural changes that keep you locked in a cycle of protection and threat detection. Dr. Megan Steele walks you through the biological transformations happening in your body when pain becomes chronic, from peripheral nerve changes to decreased gray matter in areas responsible for memory and executive function.

But here's where it gets counterintuitive: the path forward might involve turning toward your pain rather than away from it. Dr. Steele explains why constantly trying to ignore or push through pain can actually make it worse, and introduces somatic tracking as a way to bring subconscious protective mechanisms into conscious awareness. You'll learn why women are 70% more likely to experience chronic pain, how hormones play a role, and why your nervous system is wired for sameness - even when that sameness includes dysfunction.

Holly shares her own experience of building an identity around pain and the fear that comes with imagining life without it. Together, they explore how life shrinks when pain takes over, and how it can expand again through small, graded steps that feel safe to your nervous system.

If you've ever felt like your pain has a mind of its own, this conversation will help you understand what's actually happening in your body and brain - and why there's still hope for change.