The Mind-Body Connection of Pain

Dr. Jill Morris is a Neuromuscular Dentist with degrees in Clinical Hypnotherapy, Naturopathic Medicine and Dentistry

Over the years, I have seen different trends in my patients’ health maladies. In the 1990’s, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, temporomandibular joint pain syndrome (TMJ), migraines, and headaches were the buzz words. From 2000 to 2010, Osteoporosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Sleep Apnea, Gerd, Autism, ADD and ADHD rose rapidly. And today, cancer is the number one cause of death surpassing cardiovascular disease. Lyme’s disease has become an epidemic in America. In 1985 Pharmaceutical advertising on television began targeting the public directly with the lifting of certain FDA regulations.

John Sarno, M.D. Rehabilitative Medicine professor and pioneering author of The Mindbody Prescription and Healing Back Pain, reveals how many painful and chronic conditions are rooted in the everyday stressors of life and how the mind creates pain, immune dysfunction, and gut problems, to name a few. He calls this phenomenon Tension Myoneural Syndrome (TMS) which triggers the autonomic nervous system to decrease the oxygen to muscles, nerves, and tendons resulting in debilitating pain.

Patient’s that exhibit Tension Myoneural Syndrome (TMS) are people that take care of others and put everyone else first. They are the ‘do gooders’ in life. People that are perfectionists also have high incidences of TMS. These two groups of people put tremendous stress and expectations upon themselves.

Most people are living fast-paced lives. The political climate has helped create dis-ease and a lot of anger. The internet and twenty-four-hour news have put us constantly into the ‘flight or fight’ nervous system category where we are always on edge and feeling pressure. All of this causes the stress hormones and autonomic nervous system to divert oxygen away from the muscles, nerves, tendons and vital organs.

We suppress emotions everyday at work to be able to work harmoniously with our co-workers. We suppress emotions with our loved ones in order to live a peaceful life. Internalization and suppression of anger, fear, frustration and resentment causes TMS and pain. Many pain symptoms occur during or just after a period of high stress and then can periodically come and go.

We must do our best to put our mind at ease and believe in a cure. A great example of this is the placebo affect. When the mind is put at ease and believes in a cure, as in the placebo affect, the body heals. The placebo affect is well documented in the scientific literature in eliminating pain.

The answer, according to Dr. Sarno, is to begin to think psychologically and not about the physical symptoms. First see a doctor to make sure there is not an underlying malignancy or life threatening situation. Make a list of all of the things and people that create pressure in your life. Refer often to this list and begin to journal about your feelings. Get them out. Awareness is the first step in what is happening as most of this is happening on an unconscious level. Take the time to do this everyday. We must bring our emotions to the surface so we can regain our health and begin to find peace and well-being on this amazing planet.

Jill Morris, DMD

World Class Dentistry

3951 Swift Rd

Sarasota, FL 34231

941.923.6363

sarasotadentist.com