Can the Brain Create Real Pain? The Science of Chronic Pain

Research has found yes stress can affect pain, but this is often misunderstood. Saying that thoughts, emotions or stress can influence pain does not mean:  “It's all in your head.”  Pain is real.

The nervous system is constantly integrating information from inside and outside the body.  If your brain interprets something as threatening, the body's protective systems can become more alert. What you expect to happen, what you pay attention to and how threatening a sensation feels can all influence the pain experience.

This is one reason fear of movement can sometimes keep pain going.  And it is a reason that changing the meaning we give sensations and other techniques can be useful.