Chronic Pain & Stress: Why They’re Secretly Best Friends
If you’ve been dealing with chronic pain, you’ve probably been told a lot of things.
“Strengthen your core.”
“Fix your posture.”
“Stretch more.”
“Foam roll harder.”
And maybe you’ve done all of that… yet the pain keeps coming back like an annoying ex.
Here’s the thing:
Pain that doesn’t resolve is rarely just physical.
Let’s talk about the missing piece — stress — and why Chinese Medicine sees chronic pain very differently.
The Western View of Chronic Pain
In the Western model, chronic pain is often blamed on things like:
An old injury that never healed properly
Weak or imbalanced muscles
Poor posture or biomechanics
And while these factors can matter, they don’t explain why:
Pain moves around
Pain flares during stressful times
Pain returns even when scans look “normal”
This is where Chinese Medicine steps in and says, “Okay… but what’s actually happening inside the body?”
What Chinese Medicine Says About Pain
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, pain has a very simple explanation:
““If there is free flow, there is no pain. If there is pain, there is not free flow.””
Pain means something is stuck.
That “something” might be:
Qi
Blood
Nervous system signals
Or all of the above
And one of the biggest things that causes things to get stuck?
You guessed it. Stress.
Stress = Tight, Stuck Energy
When stress becomes chronic (hello modern life 👋), the body tightens. In TCM, stress most strongly affects the Liver system, which is responsible for:
Smooth flow of Qi
Adaptability
Emotional regulation
Muscle and tendon flexibility
When this system gets overloaded, tension often shows up in very familiar places:
Neck and shoulders
Jaw and face
Chest and diaphragm (that “can’t take a full breath” feeling)
Hips and lower back
Sound familiar?
What Happens When Things Stay Stuck
When Qi doesn’t move properly for a long time, the body adapts — but not in a helpful way. Over time, stagnation can lead to:
Muscle guarding (your body bracing without you realising)
Reduced circulation
Inflammation
Heightened pain sensitivity
Your nervous system stays switched on, like a smoke alarm that won’t stop chirping.
At this point, pain isn’t just about tissues — it’s about protection.
The Pain–Stress Loop (AKA the Exhausting Bit)
Here’s where things really spiral:
Pain creates stress
Stress creates more tension
More tension creates more pain
Round and round it goes.
This is why chronic pain often feels:
Stuck
Frustrating
Draining
Emotionally heavy
It’s not weakness.
It’s a nervous system that hasn’t felt safe enough to let go.
Why Stretching Isn’t Always the Answer
If stress is driving the tension:
Muscles don’t easily relax
Foam rolling can feel awful
Stretching gives only short-lived relief
The body isn’t resisting because it’s stubborn — it’s resisting because it thinks it needs to protect you.
Force doesn’t create safety. Regulation does.
How Acupuncture Helps Chronic Pain
Acupuncture works on a few important levels at once:
Calms and regulates the nervous system
Moves stagnant Qi and Blood
Releases deep holding patterns
Signals to the body that it’s safe again
When the body feels safe, it naturally softens. And when things soften, flow returns.
Pain doesn’t have to be fought — it can be unwound.
Healing Happens in Layers
With chronic pain, we’re rarely just treating a sore muscle. We’re often working with:
The physical pain
The stress response
The emotional load the body has been carrying
True healing happens when all layers are acknowledged, not ignored.
The Takeaway
Chronic pain is not all in your head.
But your stress system is involved.
If your body feels tight, reactive, or stuck —
it may not need more pushing…
it may need help restoring flow.
Take action today: Book an acupuncture session at Wild Heart Acupuncture and start helping your body feel safe, relaxed, and flowing again.