((((hugs to all)))

All pain is subjective.
There is no dividing mind and body. There is no such thing (unless you are discussing something like munchausen's) as "just" the emotions, depression, and PTSD - pain.

Fear of pain causes more pain.

How we address our pain (the actual words we use to define it, think it etc) helps form it. Be very careful, MINDFUL, of how you think about your pain and the words you use. A positive attitude will help train/retrain the brain in how it addresses this.

It's very difficult to help those with chronic pain in this respect: the pain patient, having to fight for validity, is so on the defensive often can't hear wise words regarding real help in "managing" his/her pain. Some things are just facts, not negative, not invalidating. The more information the pain patient has, the better equipped he/she is to win over the pain.

"Winning" doesn't mean total anihilation of pain. It means being able to have some quality of life while living with chronic pain.

The idea that you can use your mind, retrain your brain and how it interprets your pain, and suffer less is really a good thing. That each person has such a strong tool is positive. It's not invalidating at all. It gives hope that once you are able to fathom and learn the tools, the system, the methods to doing this, you will have more control over your pain responses.

Using hypnosis, for instance, can allow at least a limited time of "no pain." Well, of course your body still has cause for feeling pain, but if you are able to block it, or say through using a TENS unit..mixed up the pain message so the brain never gets it to "realize" it... isn't that ok? I mean, you don't have to feel your pain all the time, right? Just because you can gain some relief from the pain doesn't mean you are faking it...

Just thoughts...

from a chronic pain patient.