Many, many times over my years working with folks in pain (going wayyy back to 2008 now!), I've had clients come into sessions and pepper me with questions about a pain episode they've experienced since our last meeting. For a long time I tried to figure those things out, there must be something going on! But time and again, based on my own experience with my body and by working with hundreds and hundreds of people over the years, I've come to learn this simple truth: Bodies just do weird shit sometimes. And most of the time, it's not a big deal. Read on to learn more and discover some simple tools you can use to reduce the uncertainty that goes with random pain episodes.

Your brain is constantly trying to make life easier for you. It does this by predicting what’s about to happen -- what you'll feel (including pain!), see, hear, and need -- so you don’t have to consciously process everything in real time. This creates efficiency in the nervous system, which our brains really like as a way to get through our day-to-day lives. Sometimes though, the brain gets these predictions wrong, especially when it comes to chronic neuroplastic pain. So how can you help your brain overcome this largely subconscious process? Read on to learn six key ways to rewire your brain’s pain predictions.

Working to create more space & ease from pain or challenging emotions? Slow down, tune into your body & mind, and get to know the little details about what you’re experiencing in the moment. When you slow down in mindfulness and get into the granular details of your experience, the activity of two important neural networks shifts significantly, helping your nervous system move from “fight or flight” to “rest & digest.” Learn more here about how a specific mindfulness practice can turn down the volume on intense feelings, and the neuroscience behind why it works so well.