Understanding Acute and Chronic Pain

Your brain is the main center of your nervous system. Acute pain is when your body sends signals to your brain about immediate harm. However, chronic pain occurs when the brain forgets to turn off these pain signals, causing persistent discomfort even when there’s no real danger.

The Formula One vs. Honda Civic Analogy

Back when I was still sick, my doctor explained my condition using an analogy that made everything click. He compared a Formula One car to a Honda Civic. Before I got sick, I was like a Honda Civic—my body wasn’t overly sensitive. I could play a full football game and feel relaxed after just ten minutes.

But when I got sick, even walking a few meters to the washroom made my heart rate skyrocket and stay elevated for hours. My nervous system was hypersensitive, like a Formula One car—a high-performance vehicle not built for daily city driving. A Formula One car is excellent for racing but disastrous for navigating downtown traffic. Similarly, a hypersensitive nervous system is always on high alert, making daily activities feel overwhelming.

Finding Balance

When you’re constantly in a state of high sensitivity, it’s like driving a Formula One car through Vancouver’s busy streets. It’s exhausting and unsustainable. My doctor told me that my body had to transition from being a hypersensitive race car to a stable, reliable Honda Civic. This shift requires reducing sensitivity and responsiveness.

The Role of Brain Retraining

Achieving this balance doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a gradual process that involves brain retraining. When negative thoughts or symptoms arise, actively choosing to focus on something else is crucial. This isn’t about distracting yourself with a YouTube video—it’s about making a conscious decision to reject negativity and shift your focus.

Patience and Persistence

It’s important to recognize that recovery takes time. When I was at my worst, my baseline was incredibly low. My dad had to blend my food, and I couldn’t lift a spoon without feeling like my body was about to explode. If I could recover from that, so can you.

Conclusion

In summary, transitioning from a hypersensitive state to a balanced one is like changing from a Formula One car to a Honda Civic. It’s about reducing sensitivity and building a stable foundation through brain retraining and conscious effort.