Psychosomatic Pain Symptoms | Can Your Mind Make You Feel Pain?

Can pain be in your head? In this video I’ll explain the neurology of the mind-body connection and how to deal with physical pain that’s considered “made up” or “imaginary.”
Note: this content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, or as a substitute for the medical advice of a physician.
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-- Can Pain Be Imagined? | Psychosomatic Pain Symptoms --
Can pain be in your head?
If you’ve had your pain evaluated by a medical doctor who found no real cause, you might have been told that your pain is “psychosomatic” or “made up.”
And that’s pretty frustrating, because most of the clients I’ve seen who are in this predicament feel like they’re fairly sane. It’s disconcerting to hear that you might be imagining your pain!
In my experience, a psychosomatic pain diagnosis can also bring about a lot of shame and embarrassment because most people don’t really want to be in pain, and they’re wondering what’s wrong with them that they would do this to themselves.
Trust me, though -- you’re not cracking up.
And your pain?
Is completely REAL.
The reason that cases of non-specific pain -- or pain that has no apparent cause -- are treated the way that they are is because our medical culture is based on a faulty model that sees our minds and bodies as separate.
But when you comprehend how your mind and body work together to produce pain signals, then you can understand the neurological basis for psychosomatic pain -- and how to fix it (without going through years of therapy).
Watch this video on psychosomatic pain symptoms for the final answer to the question: can pain be in your mind?
Be sure and leave me a comment to let me know if this helped you to get a clearer understanding of how pain works.
#PsychosomaticPain #MindBodyConnection #Neuroplasticity #SukieBaxter
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MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: This content (the video, description, links, and comments) cannot and does not contain medical/health advice. The medical/health information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS CONTENT IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK. Read our full KZbin Disclaimer at: bit.ly/3nry9Z5

[@SukieBaxter]

Did this explanation of pain help you to understand how your mind and body process pain signals? Let me know here in the comments!

[@goertzpsychiatry9340]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZTMoHaggqqkqK8

[@almawolf4192]

thank you so much for your work and for you sharing this. you inspired me to check out Mr Porges, Deb Dana and the Rosenberg book. I feel like I am on a path now, that helps me adress deeper levels of understanding and healing. your exercises are a great resource, thank you so much

[@ann-sofienetzell6321]

Yes me

[@Emre-ky6hw]

@@almawolf4192 how are u now?

[@samp739]

I had pain all over every part of my body all day long when I was ill... No pain killer or antidepressants helped with the pain....I was told it was treatment resistant atypical depression and anxiety

[@texaspuppetgal]

I hope you come out with even more videos, all of them so far are so helpful. Thank you

[@ellikhosousi8148]

I truly appreciate all the resources Dr. Baxter provides, they are priceless and really have helped me learn a lot. Thank you so much Dr. Baxter for going through all the efforts of making these videos and resources.

[@reset_wellness]

You hit a Nerve, Thanks for your compassionate relating

[@MrDiscopunkk]

Dr. Claire Weekes talked a lot about the same things you're discussing here decades ago. It's sad that the medical community never paid attention to her teachings on a mainstream level. However it's nice to see her teachings and techniques not only popping up again but being evolved and built upon.

[@christinalozier6962]

I love that you work with the evidence of the issue, and a person doesn't have to remember a specific thing to be healed. Awesome!!!! Gives me such hope for myself! Thank you, Sukie :)

[@goertzpsychiatry9340]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZTMoHaggqqkqK8

[@cara1982]

interesting topic, explained so effectively! i absolutely love your channel!

[@ChrisSaenz13]

This is a very helpful video... I just found your channel yesterday. I'm currently experiencing another flare up of back pain the first flare up since I learned about Dr Sarno's Healing Back Pain. I've felt I was missing key knowledge ... and I'm so glad I found you!!! The only thing that helped me last time my back flared was splatting ink (fountain pen ink) and enjoying the beauty of the unique ink patterns and attributes. I found it do odd that that was the activity that I could enjoy and it felt healing... a very morning I took a different ink sample and splatter med the ink with an ink syringe plus painted with the ink and when I was able to I wrote with the ink too. Very close to art journaling! Makes sense now!!! Thank you for offering all of this knowledge about the brain. I'm going to learn how to create a sense of safety!!! I'm convinced that my brain sends pain and muscle spasms to my back when ? I guess when it feels overloaded or threatened ... with no bad underlying cause physically ... I've had the scans and medical exams!!!!

[@SybilNix]

Hi again lmao, your content has just been great. I actually started doing expressive writing this past week after an emotional flashback, and the words that were pushing at the front of my consciousness were some of the worst of the negative self-talk that I used to experience constantly. It’s been most useful when I’m experiencing a blockage that’s distracting me or causing me to procrastinate. I’ll just let the words flow out no matter what they are, and then once all the gas is used up I finish and then tear it up into tiny pieces. If I use a specific purple pen, I can place the torn paper into a dish of water and see the words literally dissolve. It’s kind of a mental/emotional/spiritual cleanse

[@SukieBaxter]

Hey Sybil, I love the idea of letting the words dissolve in water. That sounds really therapeutic. And I’m glad you’re enjoying the content! Thank you for all of your beautiful comments!

[@goertzpsychiatry9340]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZTMoHaggqqkqK8

[@michelle-mickeyleaman-lebl2236]

NERVE!! And I'm reading the book back in control by David hanscom. It is the best book I've ever read on chronic pain!

[@SimpLeeBeth]

Raise your hand if your pain is "all in your head." 🤚🙄

[@tomsale5142]

Sycosomatic means pain from the brain causing tension in the body hysteria is in the head but still doesn't mean they don't feal pain but no tension in the body that's why Dr Sarno called TMS for sycosomatic because if syco in the word

[@susantompkins4254]

Thank you for this,very interesting 👍

[@argent-kestrel90]

I had unexplained pain in my joints and I had ultrasounds done on them and found out that they were in good order. It turns out that I have deeply buried trauma, anger and long-term stress.

[@undertaker343]

How are you now friend? I got joint pain aswell :( knees , even fingers and toes sometimes . Been to a doctor said im fine . How long did u have joint pain ? Were did u hurt? Gives me so much anexiety

[@tomsale5142]

Are you any better

[@undertaker343]

@@tomsale5142 hey . Ok i do have news . So i started Medication (i was done fighting 2 years resisting then out of fear) and my anexiety 80% of it went away . It has given my life back . I do have body pains still of corse and i do have jaw pain but my body has started to relax with all that anexiety and overthinking gone , so my pains are better . Have u tried medication ? Do u have anexiety ? Ive been on medication only for 1,5 months and ive seen HUGE improvement on my anexiety and that helps my pains too . I realised no matter how much u try some stuff its also brain chemistry, and the SSRI pills help alot but u need to find the correct medication for you , its a try and error kinda thing in the beginning.

[@undertaker343]

@@tomsale5142 You ok bro ?

[@tomsale5142]

@@undertaker343 still struggling constant shoulder pain bad how are you

[@suzyswain402]

Ok cant wait to art journal. Good idea

[@jackraves7363]

I am, since 2012, aware of Dr John Sarno, mr Steve Ozanich plus a few more, all about pain......so the same field, that you perfectly describe in your message.🙏🙏🙏 ❤️

[@khs6491]

Nerve … I have Dr Hanscombs book. Thank you

[@izzyg2439]

Nerve. Please post more stuff!

[@catlady4765]

I went to a new fitness place today..this trainer said my pain was in my head..I have fibromyagia and am having an issue with my left hip. It really upset me as honestly i wouldn't wish my pain on anyone..plus dude you really don't know me! It was good it was free as I'm not going back!

[@midi510]

The idea that 'it's all in your mind" makes me laugh, because our entire experience of ourselves, God, and the universe is in our minds. I go a lot further than that, though, and assert that the entire universe is a feed or stream created by consciousness. Most scientists and people who think about it, consider consciousness to be emergent from brains and nervous systems; that brains and nervous systems generate consciousness. It's really the other way around. Consciousness is fundamental to the universe and everything else, even spacetime comes from it. So, Consciousness has produced brains and nervous systems as mechanisms to express itself, just as it has created the entire universe to express itself. I'm excited by the work of Donald Hoffman, who is working out a mathematical model of how consciousness is the fundamental reality behind the existence of the universe. This is ancient knowledge, but it's exciting that it will become scientifically acknowledged at some point; it has to be eventually, because it's true.

[@familiebakx5380]

Verry curious about art journalling!

[@whitneyrayles8339]

Please do a video on art journalling!

[@victoriamuir8988]

Nerve. Physical pain can cause emotional pain and the opposite equation is also true. Emotional pain can cause physical pain. Our mind prefers physical pain and will create it by means of mild oxygen deprivation to any given area in order to avoid emotional pain. We are prone to concentrating on physical pain, it’s a great distraction from emotional pain.

[@lakshyagoswami1314]

What's the cure?

[@gabriellemorellisinger1608]

Can you do a video on your most influential books???

[@nunyabidness6045]

Went to ER for random vomiting, blood looked good they said, said I didn't have a "slam dunk" UTI, but that my urine was a tiny bit whatever they look for, so they diagnosed as uti. But the doctor had said "sometimes appendicitis can manifest with just vomiting" at one point. Well he pressed my abdomen and there was no pain. Gave me antibiotics and sent me on my way. Well I have 1 antibiotic left, I've not thrown up anymore, but now there's a weird feeling on my right side. It's not really a pain, but it's just weird feeling and it's ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT! I can't stop worrying about my appendix!! 😭 so I'm like wondering is this psychosomatic? Idk wtf to do. I REALLY don't want to go to the ER and sound like a crazy person.

[@HealthyMindProject]

Great video. I have suffered from C-PTSD for many years (although only diagnosed 18 months ago). 3 years ago, I experienced a terrifying event, which sent my PTSD into overload, and ever since then I have had great difficulty getting my nervous system to calm down. It has been exhausting, and therapy has only helped me to raise my awareness of some of the inner turmoil, and IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapy has helped me to contact some of my 'inner characters' that are also contrubuting to my stress. I used to draw and write a lot, but for the past 3 years have found it hard to calm down enough to just relax and be with the creative process. The way I explain it to people, is that feel that I am more often than not 'plugged in' to an electric socket, and full of nervous energy most of the time, which as resulted in numerous phsyical symptoms, as well as high blood pressure. I am grateful for the information and advice that you give in this video, Sukie. I have now put a reminder in my phone, to make time for expressive writing and drawing. One creative outlet that I have been able to do, is making music. I make electronic music, which does somehow let some of the stress be released, but not much. I will take some deep breaths, and give the writing and drawing a try again Wishing you well.

[@Catsalive]

IFS was effective for me too with art. Since doing those I've been able to stay online and although it's painful to stay, it's easing off when around kind people out of toxic environments, I'm now not slipping back into disassociation. Finally able to salvage and rebuild my life.

[@marybethgutierrez155]

What about people with intense health anxiety and focusing on a minor symptom that seems to get worse with the more there is focus on that symptom? Can a symptom worsen with focus, obsession, and constant worry?

[@SukieBaxter]

Hey Mary Beth, yes, that's a great question. When you focus on a painful, uncomfortable or concerning symptom to the exclusion of all else, that symptom will expand to fill your entire window of awareness until it becomes a self perpetuating cycle of worry, fear, stress and anxiety. The solution then is to widen a person's experiential lens to include more sensory data that is non-nociceptive -- meaning not painful or otherwise "dangerous." This breaks the cycle, allows the nervous system to regulate and decreases physiological stress. I talk more about this in my somatic meditation for chronic pain video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2bYcoCdmKypmsk

[@marybethgutierrez155]

@@SukieBaxter Thank you, that makes sense. I will be sure to check out that video. Thank you for your response.

[@kseniyamalevich7548]

It happens to me! I have health anxiety and more I worry, more symptoms and problems with health I have! I’m 24 and always was healthy and I’ve seen many many doctors for my problem and it’s not getting better at all, all scans/X-rays/ tests are good

[@tomsale5142]

Have you got pain

[@nidhisindhwani9871]

@@kseniyamalevich7548same with me plz help me I’m constant pain in my legs ..

[@thebigoaktree8401]

My fevers present as a near infinite room with varying sized pointy extrusions jetting up from the floor. I always enter this room through the same door on one side of the room as long whenever I get a fever, as I can remember. Though it was far more vivid as a kid. Not so much any more, I’m old now.

[@janinejones3046]

How do I stop thinking and worrying about my health? I have ocd, ptsd , health anxiety and driving myself mad. I'm currently awaiting counselling. xx

[@RoseHappiness2005]

Watching you ma'am, all the way from philippines

[@ladynessuv]

Same 🙋‍♀️

[@paulgeorge9228]

absolutely, research tms and mindbody syndrome, dr john sarno, and dr howard schubiner too

[@rishisingh7608]

Love the way you think, you sound like elon musk very smart person it's so deep the way you possess info....

[@SukieBaxter]

Thanks, Rishi! Glad you're liking the videos!

[@rishisingh7608]

@@SukieBaxter Yea of course I learn lots we look forward to the next would be a pleasure to come to your office to bad it's driffrent country thanks much...

[@SukieBaxter]

I don't have a physical office any longer, all of my services and products are completely virtual so being in a different country is not an issue 🙂

[@goertzpsychiatry9340]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZTMoHaggqqkqK8

[@destrystarwiebelhaus4871]

I am so glad I found this video. I didnt come out of my abusive home until I was 17. I am 23 now, my doctor recently informed me that my fibromylgia, neuropathy and going through menopause at 16 was caused from years of my CPTSD. They said constantly having a high level of cortisol in your brain every day for days/years can cause physical damage to your nerves and change your hormones. Especially on a developing brain. Maybe my pain isn't all from fibromylgia, but is psychosomatic?

[@valentinav9571]

You’re a survivor, your pain is real. Indeed all that stress for years takes a toll. im 25 and have endometriosis, PCOS, and most recently discovered Graves auto immune disease). .In trying to figure things out beyond the standard medical treatment/definitions, I recently learned the term “ACES” and downloaded a book called “The body keeps the score,” they helped me understand how my life experiences may be intertwined with my chronic conditions. Besides being eye opening, it helped me release a lot of shame and guilt because I thought that it was my fault i was this way, that i did something wrong, or reacted to things wrong, had bad habits, etc. but it is so much more than that. I hope you find them helpful and wish u the best on your journey to peace and healthfulness.

[@tomsale5142]

Fybromyalgia is sycosomatic look at Dr schubiner he has told me it's subconscious anxiety and anxiety causes autoimmune he his curing so many drs don't no what talking about in general practice

[@paulgeorge9228]

look up tms john sarno and howard schubiner, they have books on how to rewire this chronic pain neural networks

[@woodfloorsjohnny]

TMS...Dr Sarno

[@tasha_labelle]

Nerve! 🤯

[@robinelliott5561]

Can you or any of your programs help someone who is tapering off a prescribed benzodiazapine and going through sometimes debilitating fight/flight/freeze which then causes multiple stress related health issues. I’m currently in EMDR therapy and TMS work, but so far nothing seems to be helping to regulate the damaged nervous system that happens during benzo withdrawal (benzos cause the gaba receptors to downregulate and glutamate neurotransmitters “work harder”, hence chronic fight or flight. It’s terrifying and debilitating. Thank you

[@SukieBaxter]

Hey Robin, it’s possible that this work could help support you through the process of tapering your meds but I would recommend applying it with the help of a therapist or doctor who can monitor your progress. You might consider seeking out one on one help from a Somatic Experiencing practitioner or somatic psychotherapist who has experience working with people in conjunction with prescription drugs. This work can be potent so you want to ensure you are well supported.

[@goertzpsychiatry9340]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZTMoHaggqqkqK8

[@chrisbenj3819]

Sometimes there’s no injury and it’s fear of something

[@dhruvmohan9893]

diagonsed psychosomatic help to overcome it give me some suggestions

[@stephb1221]

Nerve!

[@jfp3earth357]

What happens with psychosomatic symptoms leading to Suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Is my question I've had this all my life and I don't know if it's either my autism or if it's really psychosomatic because I'm wondering if my psychosomatic problems were caused by trauma from my early childhood

[@beatbox11000]

Thank you I am a retired Dancer recently my Partner passed away and my feet and arthritis often flair up So I know the difference between pain and ache climate and temperature emotion hurt and sorrow I know trauma I cry at the sight of wrong ! in human behavior. I also look like a pro bodybuilder and I dont work out at a gym. proving that the Possible is possible, Not Impossible! and I have photographs that Prove to date.. 57 yrs of Not following the norm now I know what cripples me and Dr.'s do not want to hear anything I have to say or Physiotherapy wants to ask if I understand alignment or muscle condition and repair.. I know dance I know human behavior I study People and tell human stories while living in dysfunction.

[@rachellondonsyogastudio1354]

Wow!!!

[@katjagorter953]

after recovery from orthorexia, I've been having gut pain that's unexplainable, and I have been given the diagnosis IBS, but nothing that works to help that works for me, and I honestly think that its something else. its been two years with daily pain, that's sometimes unbearable, and im starting to think that im making it in my head because of anxiety or something but I don't know, and I don't know how to fix it. its also never the same pain its weirdly different every time it has no like clear reason, no food I eat or way I move changes it always hurts no matter what and its just really hard to deal with. maybe you might have an idea of if its real or not.

[@tomsale5142]

It's stress in your subconscious what pain have you had years ago have you got OCD?I've had pain for 25 years with some going over the years but with one main symptom above others you have classic tms

[@neuroplasticcare8249]

Ma'am i have psychosomatic pain plz help me

[@ferberina]

Where is the box bellow?

[@yasinv3743]

I have head n face tingling n ringing ear did mri normal and facial pain too which comes n goes , anyone with same problems n told its sycophantic

[@texaspuppetgal]

Nerve.

[@tomsale5142]

Most of us will of had OCD before

[@ConsciousEmaNation]

Nerve

[@lorenakang9776]

What about tongue pain ?

[@roderickchancesmith7427]

I have been in pain for years, disabling pain, I have had various medication in the past, yet I have had days ware I take loads of medication as well, just recently I took the medication Ibuprofen yesterday everything for the first time was the same pain level, I have had days ware I can feel the pain and move about almost normal yet hours later can't move. I am puzzled and need good help and advice.

[@tomsale5142]

Where is your pain it's subconscious fear have you got ocd

[@jackharrison5646]

Can you tell me how I can work out my psychosomatic abdomen pain? Please don't say stuff like: don't eat this, don't eat that coz it's too darn obvious to me after so many trial and error that my pain got absolutely nothing to do with what I eat. Mine is a 100% triggered by stress and ONLY stress. I have the best proof for that right here. I haven't had the slightest pain for past 15 months when I've been sitting at home and watching TV the whole damn time. In three months I'll be back in college and I'm pretty sure the pain will be back, coz even the slightest thought of getting active makes me feel the cramps.

[@diehardpatriot3]

Read the book “unlearn your pain” by dr Howard schubiner.

[@manjusajeev2582]

how is it now? same thing here. having lower abdomen pain and every test i did came out normal and still dont know where this is coming from

[@jackharrison5646]

@@manjusajeev2582 The only thing which worked for me was avoiding all the stress which were responsible for my condition. Stress management is the key.

[@manjusajeev2582]

@@jackharrison5646 do you still have pain?

[@jackharrison5646]

@@manjusajeev2582 I haven't since December 2019 but I will when my offline classes begin in next year January. I just need to learn to handle it. I believe I will this time. Or it's also possible that it may never come if I somehow manage my stress.

[@MrApplewine]

It makes me so angry when doctors or insurance companies say it is psychosomatic or anxiety or something. This is truly evil and there is no excuse for that.

[@SukieBaxter]

100% agree. It perpetuates shame and feeling broken/inadequate on the part of the client when doctors or insurance companies do this. The medical community needs to do better.

[@tomsale5142]

It is sycosomatic isn't it?

[@MrApplewine]

@@tomsale5142 Psychosomatics is pseudoscience.

[@tomsale5142]

@@MrApplewine they are seeing it on brain MRIs now though aren't they what do you think it's best called

[@gpearls]

nerve

[@ashrafaliya]

Nerve Nerve Nerve!

[@samp739]

Pain is pain . Wether it is due to a problem with chemicals or nerves in brain or coming from a place in your body it's still pain

[@rhondalee-wilken998]

NERVE 👍

[@sparkely1122]

Severe chronic tooth ache. Zero evidence there's anything wrong. Teeth are healthy. I keep removing my teeth as I'm desperate for relief but after each tooth gets removed, the pain goes to the next one etc etc. They have given up on me :( 😞 kill me

[@jenniferpinson2593]

NERVE!

[@kerrmonique3891]

NERVE 🙃

[@Xassaw]

I have no doubt that these people have actual pain. It frustrates me beyond all reason why people cannot understand how powerful our brain is in these circumstances. People believe Covid actually exists, for example, against all facts & evidence.

[@mselbit]

NERVE

[@JosiahSCooper]

No you're not "making it up". The pain is pain regardless of whether a medical clinician can find a "causation". Ultimately, all pain is pain.... regardless of a diagnosis. It's "real". There are some _theories_ about what makes psychosomatic pain, particularly, emotions transferring into physical manifestation - such as - bodily pain.

[@MrApplewine]

It isn't a a problem of mind and body being one either here. The body can hurt when there is no structural problem because not all medical problems are structural. Auto-immune disease, allergies, infectious disease. These are all non-structural diseases. They are not psychosomatic. Psychosomatic doesn't mean you are "making it up". It means something that is also bad, because it is pseudoscience at least in many cases the way it is used.

[@diehardpatriot3]

If one has auto immune disease, that would mean “structural” in the context of this video. Something is only psychosomatic of there is no PATHOLOGY. Autoimmune disease and infectious disease have a pathology and therefore are not psychosomatic. In the absence of a pathology or purely metabolic process, pain can entirely be caused by psychosomatic processes.

[@ShaneLogan1]

Nerve

[@arneely65]

nerve

[@gabriellemorellisinger1608]

NERVE

[@aj2954]

What r your symptoms

[@ambernicoleharris5687]

Nerve

[@cassandratarentino3150]

Nerve

[@fredrosen3531]

Nerve

[@carolbenson1268]

Nerve

[@valentinav9571]

Nerve

[@gabrielglenn1714]

Nerve

[@yanitam1297]

Nerve

[@janetclarke4297]

Nerve

[@gaylepaul2976]

Nerve

[@JayCorbito]

Nerve

[@angelicadial7513]

Nerve

[@kate4biglittlevoices]

Nerve

[@ellikhosousi8148]

Nerve

[@nishakuttan4248]

Nerve

[@susanw2872]

Nerve

[@aj2954]

What are your symptoms

[@carrerichardson7911]

Nerve

[@aj2954]

What are your symptoms

[@christieaye371]

Nerve

[@aj2954]

What are your symptoms