DeepSummary
The podcast episode features an interview with Dr. Howard Schubiner, Director of the Mind Body Medicine Center in Michigan and author of "Unlearn Your Pain". He discusses how chronic pain, such as headaches, migraines, back or neck pain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and fibromyalgia, is often not caused by structural problems in the body. Instead, the brain creates a neural pathway that remembers the pain and keeps one trapped in a vicious cycle.
Dr. Schubiner explains that the brain decides whether to turn on pain or not, based on predictive processing. Emotional stress and life situations can activate the same parts of the brain as physical injury, leading to real and severe pain. He emphasizes that the pain is not imaginary or "in one's head", but rather created by the brain as a protective mechanism.
The episode explores techniques like pain reprocessing, mindfulness meditation, and emotional awareness to interrupt the pain cycle and retrain the brain. Dr. Schubiner encourages patients to understand their symptoms as a "blessing in disguise", pointing to something that needs attention in their lives.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Chronic pain conditions like headaches, back pain, and fibromyalgia are often caused by neural pathways in the brain rather than structural problems in the body.
- The brain generates pain as a protective mechanism, and emotional stress can activate the same brain regions as physical injury.
- The pain experienced in chronic conditions is real and not imaginary or "all in one's head".
- Techniques like pain reprocessing, mindfulness meditation, and emotional awareness can help interrupt the pain cycle and retrain the brain.
- Exploring underlying emotional causes and life stressors is crucial for addressing chronic pain conditions.
- Chronic pain can be a "blessing in disguise", signaling something that needs attention in one's life.
- Understanding how the brain creates pain can help patients feel less alone and validated in their experiences.
- A multidisciplinary approach that addresses both physical and emotional factors is often necessary for healing chronic pain.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “The brain decides whether to actually turn on pain or not, and it's there to protect you.“ by Dr Howard Schubiner
- “Neuroscience research shows that emotions and stress activate the exact same parts of the brain as does a physical injury.“ by Dr Howard Schubiner
- “The pain they experience is real, it's not imaginary, it's not in their head, but it is in their brain because of neural circuits in their brain.“ by Dr Howard Schubiner
- “The symptoms they're getting in their body sometimes, and this is really hard for some people to hear, they're a blessing in disguise. They're pointing us towards something that we need to do or we need to take care of.“ by Dr Howard Schubiner
- “So when we interrupt that cycle by giving the danger signal in the brain these calming and safe messages, and that's what pain reprocessing is at its core.“ by Dr Howard Schubiner
Entities
Product
Podcast
Person
Organization
Book
Episode Information
Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
Dr Rangan Chatterjee
4/25/24
CAUTION: This podcast episode contains swearing.
Headaches, migraine, back, neck or joint pain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fibromyalgia – they’re just some of the common causes of chronic pain, which is estimated to affect between a third to half of all UK adults, or just under 28 million of us.
Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests.
Today’s clip is from episode 310 of the podcast with Director of the Mind Body Medicine Center in Michigan and author of Unlearn Your Pain, Dr Howard Schubiner.
Emerging neuroscience tells us our brains actually create what we experience in our bodies, through a process called predictive processing. Pain doesn’t come from the body part where it’s felt, it’s created by our brain, signalling that something needs attention.
Howard believes that in many cases of chronic pain your brain has created a neural pathway which remembers the pain and keeps you trapped in a vicious cycle.
In this clip he explains why it’s not ‘all in your head’, your pain is real. And there is something you can do about it.
Thanks to our sponsor https://www.drinkag1.com/livemore
Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.
Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/310
DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.