CAN YOU RELATE?
If you’re like most practitioners, many of your patients experience pain or illness with no clear injury or disease to explain it. Or sometimes a diagnostic abnormality is found, but treatment is much less effective than expected.
For these patients with chronic primary pain or functional syndromes, recent studies show that the brain generates the symptoms. We call these Neuroplastic Symptoms because they can change.
Randomized trials have shown successful outcomes when hidden psychosocial stress is identified and treated.
This site and its resources can help you guide patients to relief. As one Family Medicine physician said, “These concepts put the joy back into my work.
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Do you see your patients in these stories?
Male, Age 45, Married with Children
He is a middle-aged man, married with two teenage children. He strives to provide for his family. The constant pressure to meet their financial obligations is overwhelming. He often wonders if he is doing enough for his children and is a good father. He pushes himself to the limit. He has started to experiencechronic back pain, which has no apparent physical cause.
Male, Age 28, High-Stress Job
He is a man in his late twenties, working in a high-stress job in finance. The demands are relentless, with constant pressure to perform. He feels like he’s always on edge, unable to relax even when he’s off work. Recently, he’s developed severe neck and shoulder pain, which intensifies during particularly stressful periods. Despite various treatments, the pain persists, leaving him frustrated and exhausted.
Female, Age 22, College Student
She is a young woman in her early twenties, currently attending college with high pressure to excel academically. She is also dealing with social anxiety, constantly worrying about fitting in and making friends. The stress of balancing studies, part-time work, and social life has led to recurring tension headaches. Numerous tests show no physical causes for the headaches.
Male, Age 30, Single, Entrepreneur
He is a single man in his early thirties, running his own startup. He’s poured everything into his business, working long hours and sacrificing personal time. The pressure to succeed weighs heavily on him, struggling with self-doubt. His friends and family worry about him, but he feels he cannot stop pushing. Recently, he developed severe stomach pains that doctors cannot explain, leaving him more stressed.
Female, Age 48, Empty Nest Syndrome
She is a woman in her late forties, and her youngest child has just left for college. She misses the daily responsibilities of raising children and feels a deep loss. The emotional strain has led to chronic fatigue and unexplained joint pain, which doctors have been unable to diagnose conclusively.
Male, Age 60, Caring for Elderly Parent
He is a retired man in his sixties, now taking on the role of caregiver for his elderly mother. Watching her health decline has been emotionally draining, and he feels guilty about the resentment he sometimes feels. He has begun to experience unexplained chest pain that doctors have attributed to stress rather than any heart condition. He worries about what will happen when his mother is no longer here.
Female, Age 40, Divorced, Single Mother
She is a woman in her forties, recently divorced, and raising two young children. The divorce was emotionally taxing. She worries about providing a stable environment for her children and second-guesses her decisions. Chronic shoulder pain intensifies during particularly challenging times, yet no physical cause can be found.
Female, Age 32, Career and Caregiving
She is a woman in her early thirties, balancing a demanding career with the responsibility of caring for her ailing father, leaving her with little time for herself. She constantly worries about her father’s health and whether she’s doing enough at work. The stress has started to manifest as persistent jaw pain, which often flares up when she is feeling particularly stretched thin. Despite dental visits and treatments, the pain continues.
Female, Age 55, Recently Retired
She is a recently retired woman in her mid-fifties, after decades of a demanding career. She thought retirement would bring relaxation, but instead, a sense of loss and uncertainty. She misses the structure and social interactions her. The change has left her feeling aimless. She is now experiencing persistent migraines that seem triggered by thoughts of what to do next.
Male, Age 70, Recently Widowed
He is a man in his seventies, recently widowed after fifty years of marriage. The loss of his spouse has left him with profound grief and loneliness. He finds it difficult to adjust to life without his partner. New debilitating lower back pain seems to worsen when he is alone. Despite various medical tests, no physical cause for the pain has been found, leaving him feeling even more isolated and helpless.
Male, Age 50, Recently Laid Off
He is a man in his early fifties, recently laid off from a job he held for over twenty years. The sudden loss of income and purpose has thrown him into deep anxiety. He worries about finding a new job at his age and the financial impact. Persistent severe lower back pain flares up when he thinks about his uncertain future.
Female, Age 35, Experiencing Infertility
She is a woman in her mid-thirties, married and desperately trying to start a family. After years of unsuccessful attempts and multiple treatments, the emotional toll has been immense. She worries about how this is affecting her marriage. The stress and emotional pain have started to manifest physically as pelvic pain and digestive issues. Despite numerous tests, doctors cannot find a clear cause for these symptoms.