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Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a persistent and often misunderstood condition that can affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life. Beyond the physical discomfort, it can take a toll on emotional wellbeing, impacting mood, sleep, memory, relationships, and sense of self and identity. It’s not uncommon for individuals to feel isolated, frustrated, or disbelieved, which can worsen anxiety and depression. Unlike short-term pain, chronic pain doesn’t always have a clear cause or resolution, making it especially challenging to navigate. Psychologists can offer meaningful support by helping individuals understand the link between emotional and physical health, process the psychological effects of living with pain, and develop strategies to cope more effectively.

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Types of Pain​

 

Acute pain is your body’s natural alarm system—it alerts you to injury or illness and usually eases once the cause has been treated. It serves a protective purpose and is often short-term and easily linked to a clear physical cause, like a broken bone or infection.

In contrast, chronic pain:

  • Persists beyond normal healing time (usually over 3–6 months)

  • Can occur without ongoing injury or obvious cause

  • Is shaped by biological, psychological, and social factors

  • May affect how a person thinks, feels, and functions in everyday life

Chronic pain is real, even when scans or tests don’t provide clear answers. It often involves changes in the nervous system that affect how pain is processed and experienced. The nervous system is the communication system of the body.

 

The Brain and Chronic Pain

 

We now understand that the brain plays a major role in how chronic pain develops and persists. This includes:

  • Central sensitisation – when the brain and spinal cord become overly sensitive to pain signals, amplifying discomfort.

  • Neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to change over time, which can lead to ongoing pain even after tissues have healed.

  • Emotional and cognitive influences – stress, trauma, negative thinking patterns, or fear of pain can intensify how pain is felt.

  • Altered regulation of pain – the brain’s ability to calm pain signals can become disrupted in chronic conditions.

This doesn’t mean the pain is "all in your head"—it means that pain is a whole-person experience, influenced by the nervous system, mind, body, and environment, and the interactions between them all. 

 

A Holistic Approach: The Biopsychosocial Model

 

Contemporary research indicates that the biopsychosocial model recognises that chronic pain is shaped by more than just physical factors. Emotional wellbeing, thoughts and beliefs about pain, social support, past experiences, and even cultural factors can influence the intensity and impact of pain.

Because of this, treatment is most effective when it’s integrated and personalised. Many people benefit from a team approach, involving medical care, psychology, physiotherapy, and other supports that work together.

 

How Psychologists Can Help

 

Psychologists play a vital role in supporting people living with chronic pain. Therapy can help you:

  • Understand the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and physical symptoms

  • Process the emotional toll of pain, including grief, frustration, or feeling misunderstood

  • Develop tools to manage stress, anxiety, and low mood

  • Build new coping strategies to improve function and quality of life

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There are a range of evidence-based approaches for Chronic Pain, including:​

  • Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)

  • Emotional Awareness and Expressive Therapy (EAET)

  • Mindfulness and self-compassion practices

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

  • Online programs such as This Way Up and Mindspot

 

If you are living with chronic pain, you are not alone—and there is support available. While pain can feel overwhelming or even invisible to others, it is valid and deserves care.

With the right psychological support, it's possible to reduce distress, improve daily functioning, reduce pain and reclaim a sense of control and meaning in life.​​

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Ashley Rattenbury Psychology acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, the Wiradjuri people, and their enduring connection to land, water, and culture. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and First Nations communities across Australia.

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