When two people suffer the same injury, one might recover quickly while the other struggles with ongoing pain. Why does this happen? Experts say the way we emotionally respond to an injury can affect how much pain we feel.
A research team at a university in the United States conducted brain scans on volunteers who had been dealing with lower back pain for 1 to 4 months. They found that people who reacted more emotionally to their injury were more likely to continue feeling pain even after their injury had healed. The researchers explained that in some people, the part of the brain that controls emotions becomes more activated during injury, meaning that it’s not the injury itself causing prolonged pain, but the emotional response to it. In fact, these brain responses might even help predict who is more likely to suffer from chronic pain.
The takeaway? The more you focus on your pain, the worse it can feel. But if you shift your mindset, telling yourself, “I’m getting better,” or “I’m okay now,” you may find the pain starting to fade. Your attitude can help your body heal.