Is it all in your head or is pain more complex than we’ve been led to believe? In this episode, Margaret and I dig into the psychological and biological factors that shape our experience of pain, including how the brain processes physical discomfort, the emotional toll it takes, and what role medications actually play. We also share stories from our own lives and clinical work that highlight how pain shows up in complicated, often misunderstood ways. If you've ever wondered why your body hurts when your heart is breaking, or why painkillers don’t always work, this one’s for you.
Takeaways:
Is pain really all in your head—or is that just part of the story?
How much of pain is physical, and how much is psychological?
Can we rewire the way we experience pain?
Why don’t medications always work the way we expect for pain relief?
What does it mean to treat pain with both compassion and science?
Citations:
Stanford and ACPA Chronic Pain guide 2024:
https://www.acpanow.com/uploads/9/9/8/3/99838302/acpa_stanford_resource_guide_2024.pdf
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Fantasy Exploration
00:52 Life Updates and Fellowship Beginnings
01:16 Outpatient Psychiatry and Patient Responsibility
02:06 Challenges in Residency and Patient Care
04:45 Onboarding Frustrations and Administrative Hurdles
07:57 Chronic Pain Discussion and True/False Quiz
13:30 Neurobio Education and Chronic Pain Management
32:25 Understanding Chronic Pain and Sensitization
34:26 Medication Approaches for Pain Management
35:25 Psychiatric Medications and Pain
38:07 Non-Opioid Pain Management Strategies
44:57 Muscle Relaxants and Their Impact
46:57 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Pain
55:25 Lifestyle Factors and Pain Management
01:04:20 Challenges in Pain Management and Patient-Doctor Relationships
01:08:24 Conclusion and Summary
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Watch on YouTube: @itspresro
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Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content
Get in Touch: howtobepatientpod.com
