Massagethepainaway

21/11/2025

19/11/2025

When You Feel....

18/11/2025

A "trauma-focused" medical doctor promotes the idea of “letting go of your victim story,” which overlooks the neurobiological and relational realities of trauma. ☣️

When people have been profoundly hurt, the “story” isn’t just a set of beliefs to be questioned; it’s the brain and body’s record of what happened. It’s carried in implicit memory, physiology, and attachment patterns, not just in thoughts that can be reframed. It's a biological effect. 🧬

When someone is still hurting, their nervous system is trying to complete unfinished processes of protection and connection. Shame or self-blame for “staying in the story” can deepen dysregulation and isolation. The idea that “no one can hurt you unless you believe they can” dismisses the fundamental truth that human beings are biologically vulnerable to one another. We are shaped in relationship, and injury in relationship leaves real physiological marks. ‼️

From an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, healing isn’t about transcending pain or denying impact; it’s about integrating experience: bringing implicit bodily memories into awareness safely and with attuned connection. That often requires the presence of trustworthy others who can co-regulate, not just cognitive inquiry into beliefs. 👥

There’s wisdom in noticing when we’re looping in old narratives, but true transformation arises not from disowning the story, but from being compassionately witnessed in it until the body and mind can settle into coherence again. The story then naturally changes, not because we forced it to, but because integration has occurred. And that is genuine liberation! ⛓️‍💥

19/10/2025

Science has confirmed what many of us intuitively feel: social rejection hurts, and not just emotionally, but physically. Researchers have discovered that being excluded or rejected activates the same neural circuits in the brain as a physical injury, showing that emotional pain and bodily pain are closely linked.

When someone experiences social exclusion, whether through a breakup, bullying, or even subtle rejection in a group setting, the brain processes these experiences using the anterior cingulate cortex and other pain-related regions. These are the same areas activated when we feel a burn, cut, or other physical trauma. This explains why emotional hurt can feel so real and intense, often triggering stress responses, increased heart rate, and even inflammation in the body.

Understanding this connection has important implications for mental health. Recognising that emotional pain is “real” pain validates the experiences of those struggling with loneliness, grief, or social anxiety. It also highlights the importance of social support, connection, and community in promoting overall well-being.

Experts believe that interventions targeting both emotional and physical aspects of pain could help people cope better with rejection and improve mental resilience. So the next time someone feels hurt by social exclusion, it’s not just in their head, their brain and body are truly feeling the impact.

06/10/2025

Understanding Cervical Nerve Root Pain (C4-C8)

When a nerve root in the cervical spine (neck region) becomes compressed or irritated, it can lead to a condition known as cervical radiculopathy. This often occurs due to a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or degenerative changes in the spine.

Each nerve root corresponds to specific muscles, joints, and skin areas. When affected, it can cause pain, weakness, tingling, or numbness that radiates along predictable patterns, known as dermatomes:

◆ C4 Nerve Root - Affects shoulder strength, particularly trapezius and rhomboids.

C5 Nerve Root - Causes pain/weakness in shoulder and arm (deltoid, biceps, brachioradialis).

C6 Nerve Root - Impacts shoulder, arm, and wrist (including supinator and wrist extensors).

C7 Nerve Root - Pain radiates from neck to middle finger, affecting triceps and forearm extensors.

C8 Nerve Root - Weakness and pain in hands/fingers, often impairing grip strength.

Identifying the specific nerve root involved helps clinicians design targeted treatment plans, which may include:

Physical therapy & posture correction

Anti-inflammatory medications

Nerve mobilization exercises