By Bart Pawlik, Clinical Psychologist and Jana Le, Clinical & Health Psychologist
Chronic pain is one of the most misunderstood health conditions, affecting millions of people worldwide. Unlike acute pain, which serves as a warning signal for injury or illness, chronic pain persists for months or even years—sometimes without a clear medical cause.
As Psychologists, we often don’t come to mind when people are experiencing pain – as the general public, and even other health professionals, often think pain from the perspective of the medical model. However, there are a lot of people who have tried surgeries, procedures and medications without a clear end to their experience of pain.
A modern understanding of pain look includes the bio-psycho-social model, which looks how biological, individual and environmental factors all play a role in someone’s experience of health or illness.
Unfortunately, despite advances in common scientific understanding, misconceptions about chronic pain still shape how people perceive and manage it. Updating these beliefs can play a role in people’s journey towards flourishing and wellness.
Now, let’s clear up some of the biggest myths and shed light on what science really tells us.
Myth #1: “Chronic Pain Is Just in Your Head.”
The Reality: Chronic pain is real and deeply complex.
If you’ve ever been told your pain is “all in your head,” you’re not alone. Many people with chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, migraines, or neuropathic pain face scepticism, even though research has shown that these conditions are accompanied by biological and neurological markers.
Pain isn’t just about tissue damage—it involves a complex interaction between the brain, nervous system, and immune system. The signals your brain processes may not always match what’s happening physically, but that doesn’t make the pain any less real.
One of the authors, Bart, was lucky to have a good education in pain science in his Clinical Psychology education at Flinders University, Adelaide. He can remember the lecturer saying:
“People can imagine lots of things – why on Earth would anyone want to imagine pain?”
Myth #2: “If There’s No Injury, There Shouldn’t Be Pain.”
The Reality: Pain can persist even without visible damage.
Unlike acute pain, which is usually linked to an identifiable injury, chronic pain can continue long after the original issue has healed. In some cases, it develops without an obvious cause at all.
In fact – as surprising as it might sound – some research has found that abnormalities in medical imaging don’t clearly correlate with pain or dysfunction.
A key reason for the maintenance of pain is central sensitisation, where the nervous system becomes overly sensitive, sending pain signals even when no new injury has occurred. It’s like an alarm system that keeps going off, even when there’s no fire.
Myth #3: “Pain Medication Is the Only Solution.”
The Reality: Long-term pain management requires a whole-person approach.
Medication can be helpful, but it’s rarely a complete solution. Many pain medications come with side effects and risks like dependency, and they don’t address the underlying factors that contribute to chronic pain.
A ‘whole-person’ approach might include:
- Physical therapy and exercise
- Psychological support, like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Relaxation training and techniques, such as hypnosis, mindfulness or biofeedback
- Lifestyle changes, including nutrition, sleep and stress management
Pain isn’t just physical—it’s emotional and psychological, too. That’s why a holistic approach is key.
Myth #4: “Exercise Will Make Chronic Pain Worse.”
The Reality: The right kind of movement can actually help.
If you live with chronic pain, you might feel like moving will only make things worse. And in some cases, overexertion can lead to flare-ups. But avoiding movement altogether often leads to muscle weakness, stiffness, and even greater sensitivity to pain.
Low-impact activities like yoga, swimming, or graded exercise therapy (where movement is increased gradually) can help retrain the nervous system and reduce pain over time. The key is finding the right balance and listening to your body.
Working with a good physiotherapist and/or exercise physiological can help you find the line between overexertion and healthy capacity building. An appropriate trained Health or Clinical Psychologist may also be able to help you work through some of negative beliefs that might prevent you from moving again.
Myth #5: “You Just Have to Live with Chronic Pain.”
The Reality: There are effective ways to regain control and improve your quality of life.
While chronic pain may not always have a “cure,” that doesn’t mean you’re powerless against it. Advances in pain science have shown that pain can be managed and reduced, even when it feels overwhelming.
By working with a skilled Health Psychologist, you can learn how to rewire your brain’s response to pain, improve emotional resilience, and adopt evidence-based strategies that put you back in control.
Understanding the Brain-Body Connection
Think of your body as a computer. Your hardware consists of your muscles, joints, and tissues, while your software is your brain and nervous system, processing signals and sensations.
For people with chronic pain, it’s as if the software is glitching, sending pain signals even when there’s no new injury. This miscommunication makes pain management challenging—but not impossible.
The good news? With the right resources, techniques and support, you can “retrain” the software, reducing pain sensitivity and improving overall well-being.
You Don’t Have to Face Chronic Pain Alone.
If you or someone you love is struggling with chronic pain, help is available. At Mind to Mind Psychology, our experienced Health and Clinical Psychologists can use evidence-based approaches to help you better understand, manage, and reduce your pain. Click here to learn more about our psychologists.
We offer a range of approaches, including Clinical Hypnosis, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness.
We also common for people with chronic pain to have experienced trauma, stress, anxiety and insomnia: all problems that can be worked with effectively with the right psychologist.
Book a consultation today, or reach out to us to take the first step toward relief and reclaiming your quality of life. Our team is available to make your journey as comfortable as possible.
