Episode 2 — How the Autonomic Nervous System Drives Pain and Dizziness

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Episode 2 — How the Autonomic Nervous System Drives Pain and Dizziness

In this episode of What’s in Your Head?, Dr. Pete Schultz explains how the autonomic nervous system plays a powerful — and often overlooked — role in persistent pain, dizziness, headaches, and other unexplained symptoms.

The autonomic nervous system controls things like heart rate, breathing, blood flow, digestion, muscle tension, and sensory processing. Its job is to keep you safe. But when it begins to interpret normal life, stress, or past injury as danger, it can shift the body into a protective state that produces very real symptoms — even when no tissue damage is present.

Using clear, relatable examples and the latest neuroscience, Pete walks you through how this protective response can amplify pain signals, create dizziness and lightheadedness, tighten muscles, disrupt breathing, and heighten sensitivity throughout the body. You’ll learn why so many people feel stuck, fragile, or “on edge” — and why those sensations are not a sign that something is broken.

Most importantly, this episode introduces a simple, evidence-based way to start sending safety signals back to your nervous system so it can begin to calm down and allow symptoms to ease.

Using extended exhale breathing and physiologic sigh Pete shows how to start regulating the Autonomic Nervous System.

If you’ve been searching for answers to ongoing pain or dizziness that don’t show up on scans or tests, this episode will help you finally understand what your body is doing — and how to work with it instead of fighting it.

Why Pain Persists: Pain Is Protection

In the first episode of What’s In Your Head, Pete Schultz, PT, DPT, introduces a new way to understand pain — one that goes beyond tissues, scans, and diagnoses.

Pain is real. But it’s not always a sign of damage.

In this episode, Pete explains how pain is a protective output of the nervous system, not a direct measure of injury. Using simple, relatable examples — from stepping on a nail to real clinical stories — he breaks down how the brain and nervous system decide when pain is needed, and why pain can persist long after tissues have healed.

You’ll learn:

• How the nervous system processes pain signals
• Why the brain weighs danger vs safety before creating pain
• How thoughts, past experiences, stress, and life context influence pain
• Why more tissue damage doesn’t always mean more pain — and less damage doesn’t always mean less pain

Pete shares powerful stories, including The Tale of Two Nails and lessons learned from working with amputees experiencing phantom limb pain, to illustrate how pain is shaped by both the body and the brain.

The episode closes with your first practical tool: identifying your personal danger thoughts and safety thoughts — a starting point for helping the nervous system turn the alarm down.

Future episodes of What’s In Your Head will dive deeper into evidence-based tools such as somatic tracking, self-regulation strategies, breathing techniques, heart rate variability, movement, and other approaches designed to create more safety in the nervous system and reduce persistent pain and dizziness.

Episode Disclaimer

The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding your specific condition or health concerns.

https://painanddizzy.com/ To learn more information on Pain and Dizziness or email painanddizzy@gmail.com

https://www.dynamicsportspt.com/ To schedule a physical therapy appointment

Have you ever struggled with pain, dizziness, or headaches that "look normal" on medical tests but still feel debilitating? Many individuals suffer from symptoms that persist long after they should have resolved, leaving them feeling lost in the medical system.

The Science-Backed Approach:

With over 20 years of experience helping thousands of clients, Dr. Pete Schultz explores why symptoms persist within the nervous system. This podcast isn't about saying "it's all in your head"—it’s about understanding how your brain and body constantly interact.

What You’ll Gain:

Each episode provides practical, evidence-based tools that you can use to calm your nervous system and feel stable again, including:

• Pain Education, Pain reprocessing, somatic tracking, and neurofeedback.
• Physical Recovery: Vestibular rehabilitation, strength, and mobility training.
• Behavioral Health: Stress management, self-regulation, and mindfulness.

The Mission:

Whether you are a person experiencing pain, an athlete, clinician, or simply someone trying to feel better, this show provides the modern science needed to change your mindset and reclaim your health.

The information shared on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding your specific condition or health concerns.