My approach
Your pain doesn't have to be permanent
Neuroscientists are now discovering the importance of psychological and social factors in causing pain to become chronic long after injuries have healed. My approach uses the latest research to empower you to become free from chronic pain.
‘We were unable to help a patient with chronic pain any further. No procedure was appropriate so I therefore suggested she came to you. She messaged me today to say how useful your course was and she was grateful for the suggestion. Such a service is essential for patients with chronic pain. I am sure I will recommend you again to patients who are struggling’
Practice Manager, Cheltenham Spine Clinic 2021
How does stress cause pain?
If we are living in a state of chronic stress or have experienced trauma, our brain becomes over-protective and hyper-vigilant. When this happens, it reacts in more extreme ways to sensations or activities which are normal, rather like a leaf setting off a car alarm.
One way it does this is through causing pain, even when there is nothing physically wrong.
These thought patterns (called neural pathways) can become learned and habitual, so even if the physical injury or stressful situation which caused the symptoms is resolved, the pain can persist.
Research shows that a person’s ability to manage stress or experiences of trauma are the major factors which determine whether pain becomes chronic, not the severity of the original injury.
The good news is that with the right knowledge and tools, we can help our brains to un-learn these neural pathways and form new ones which enable us to thrive.
When the brain no longer believes that we are under threat, it stops sending unnecessary pain signals. Moreover, as we learn how to manage stress better and deal with our emotions more healthily, we can break the cycles of internal stress and emotional pain which contribute to our chronic symptoms.
How can my approach help?
If you have been fully checked out by your doctor and they have ruled out any medical explanation such as structural or tissue damage, then your pain might be caused by neural pathways which the brain has developed to protect you from perceived threat or danger, including stress. This is called ‘neuroplastic pain‘, and it is reversible. My approach can help you recover.
1
Understand that your pain is neuroplastic
Understanding what is going on physically and psychologically, has been shown to make a big difference to a person’s recovery from chronic pain. I will teach you more about how neuroplastic pain works, and help you understand how recovery is possible.
2
Learn how to rewire unhelpful thought patterns
Our brains are ‘neuroplastic’, meaning that our thought patterns can change in ways which help or hinder us. I will show you how to harness this incredible aspect of our physiology to overcome chronic pain.
3
Learn strategies for managing stress and emotions
Unresolved emotions, past trauma and perpetual stress can contribute to chronic pain. My approach is gentle, empowering you with tools to help you navigate your own emotions in safe and healing ways.
“I went to work this morning for the first time in a year with no back or pelvis support on and I managed the pain through breathing and it made such a difference. I couldn’t believe it”
What are the practicalities?
Our calls together are one hour long. The average time that we would work together is 6 to 8 sessions, as we focus on understanding your pain and develop a toolkit of techniques and strategies to help resolve your symptoms.
My approach is tailored to what you need, and I will spend time listening and making sure you feel safe. There is no need to revisit past trauma if you don’t want to.
I work fully online via Zoom. You can book a free 30 minute discovery call with me where we can meet each other and decide together whether the Mind Body approach is right for you.
My values
I am empathetic
I believe in you
I am conscientious
I value authenticity
I aim to empower you
I will help you to take back control of your life and offer you all the guidance and tools to make that possible.
“I quickly realised that Zélie was someone I could talk to in depth to try to work through some major sources of stress and uncertainty in my life. She was simply fantastic at getting exactly to the point, saying exactly the right thing at any given moment, and instilling in me a source of comfort whilst boosting my confidence immeasurably as we looked at the deep-rooted sources of my emotions and problems and found new ways to approach them.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of pain can be neuroplastic?
There are many types of pain which can be Neuroplastic pain. The NHS reports that up to 45% of visits to GP surgeries are for ‘medically unexplained’ symptoms. These are often symptoms caused by the brain trying to protect us from things it perceives as threats. Some of the most common kinds of neuroplastic pain include:
- Back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Knee pain
- Neck pain
- Jaw pain
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain
- Pelvic pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
What kinds of stress can cause chronic pain?
Many kinds of stress, past or present, can contribute to chronic pain. These often come from external pressures, which can go on to become internal stressors through the thought patterns we develop in response. For example:
- Unresolved emotions from the past
- Personality traits, such as people-pleasing, perfectionism or being overly self-critical
- Financial, job or relationship stress
- Fear about the future
- Fear of being in pain, having a relapse, causing further injury etc.
How long does recovery take?
Some people find that once their underlying stress is understood and addressed, and they’ve begun to practise the recovery techniques I teach them, they can experience recovery within weeks.
For others, the work they do may take significantly longer, depending on their experience of trauma and chronic stress.
The good news is that research based on patient outcomes suggests there is no correlation between the length of time spent in chronic pain, and the time it takes for it to reduce or disappear.
Doesn’t pain mean there is structural damage?
Our brain receives signals from the body through our nervous system when it senses a stimulus.
For example, if you pinch your earlobe, the nerves will signal to your brain that something is happening. If the brain perceives this to be a threat, it will send pain signals to tell you to stop. However, no structural damage has been caused.
The pain is there to prevent structural damage from taking place. So there is not a straightforward link between pain and structural damage already existing.
In chronic pain, what often happens is our brains have developed a lower threshold for sending these pain signals, perhaps because we are more afraid of experiencing a relapse, or because our body is in a state of chronic stress.
Part of what I help my clients to do is to raise this threshold, so that normal movements which have no risk of structural damage no longer cause pain.
Are you saying the pain is all in my head?
No! Your pain is real, and it is unpleasant and distressing. You are not making that up. Just like when someone with an amputated limb experiences phantom limb pain, the pain is fully felt.
Chronic pain is caused by the brain in response to its mistaken perception of threat or danger, without any structural or tissue problem being present.
But by working to develop new neural pathways in the brain, we can help our brain to stop over-reacting to sensations or activities which pose no threat.
I’ve had a scan which shows an abnormality. Can this pain be neuroplastic?
More and more research studies are showing that there is very little connection between structural problems such as slipped discs and pain.
These studies take functional MRI scans of people without pain as well as those with pain, and show that the same levels of structural abnormality are present in people who are not experiencing pain.
Many of these structural changes are ‘normal abnormalities’, and part of ageing. They are not necessarily the cause of pain. Rather, stress, unresolved emotions and fear of pain are better predictors of chronic pain.
“I want to say a huge thank you to you. Your teachings are a wonderful gift and made a real difference. I am able at last to start doing things again”
Get in touch
To book a 30 minute discovery call or ask me any questions you might have, use this form or email me at zeliecleaver@gmail.com.