About this episode

The episode explores the emotional and psychological aspects of chronic pain and offers practical strategies for managing it.

What if the pain you feel long after an injury has “healed” isn’t a sign that your body is broken, but that your nervous system is stuck in protection mode? Dr. Megan and Holly break down what’s happening in the brain and body when pain lingers, scans look “normal,” and daily life starts to shrink. They explore how chronic pain and emotions are tightly linked, and why anxiety, depression, shame, and even hyper-empathy so often travel with long-term pain. You’ll hear about the shift from acute to chronic pain, how the brain’s “pain map” can smudge and spread, and why pain can move around the body even when there’s no clear structural damage. They unpack the boom-and-bust cycle of pushing hard on “good” days and crashing afterward, the heavy toll of masking and “performing okay” for others, and how shame and hopelessness can quietly take root alongside physical symptoms. Most importantly, Dr. Megan offers practical, science-backed ways to begin lightening the emotional load of chronic pain: Understanding functional vs. structural pain and why that distinction matters for your recovery Recognizing how anxiety and depression can amplify pain - without blaming yourself Using small…

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• Unpacking: How Your Brain Can Change Your Pain · March 2, 2026 · 1h 1m
• Unpacking: Gender Differences and the Impact of Hormones on Pain · February 23, 2026 · 49 min

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