Dr. Ingela Thuné-Boyle
Health Psychologist
Online Therapy

When someone develops a chronic illness, the challenge extends far beyond physical symptoms. It reaches into every layer of identity, daily functioning, and sense of safety in the world. This is true whether the condition is clearly diagnosable, has uncertain or unexplained causes, or is largely invisible to others.

Inner child wounds refer to the emotional and physiological imprints left by experiences of unmet needs, not being consistently seen or responded to, or chronic stress in early life. These experiences may include neglect, emotional unavailability, inconsistent caregiving, or environments in which a child had to adapt quickly to survive. Often, the most impactful wounds are not linked to overt abuse but to what was missing; reliable comfort, emotional safety, or permission to

I saw a post by a therapist on Threads recently about chronic pain that gave me real cause for concern. It had over 2.2k likes. In it, she argued that CBT for pain is “ridiculous,” that people with chronic pain simply need medical treatment, and that validation is what matters most. I found this framing extraordinary and troubling. Why? Because chronic pain is complex. Yes, validation is always necessary. Anyone living with persistent pain deserves to be believed, respected,

Autoimmune and immune-mediated inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease (including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), and psoriasis are often understood primarily in terms of immune dysfunction. In many of these conditions, the immune system becomes dysregulated and mounts a persistent inflammatory response, sometimes targeting the body’s own tissues directly, and in other cases reacting excessively to i

Living with chronic pain often means carrying more than physical discomfort. Alongside the persistent sensations in the body, many people also carry an invisible burden: self-blame. Thoughts such as “If I had taken better care of myself,” “If I were stronger,” or “I should be coping better than this” can quietly take root, turning pain into a moral failing rather than a human experience. Over time, this internalized blame can become as exhausting and harmful as the pain itsel

Perfectionism is often praised as a strength. It is associated with high standards, diligence, and responsibility, yet for many people living with chronic pain, perfectionism is not simply a personality trait; it is a nervous system strategy shaped by lived experience. Over time, this strategy can quietly contribute to the persistence and intensification of pain.

Living with a chronic illness means navigating challenges that reach far beyond physical symptoms. Fatigue, pain, unpredictability, and the ongoing need to adapt your lifestyle can create a heavy emotional and psychological burden. Over time, many people begin to feel isolated, anxious, or overwhelmed, not only by their symptoms, but by the constant impact their condition has on their routines, relationships, and quality of life.

There is a particular kind of suffering that arises not only from physical symptoms, but from the invalidation of those symptoms. Many people living with chronic illness or undiagnosed conditions find themselves in a distressing limbo: feeling profoundly unwell while repeatedly being told by doctors that they are fine because their test results fall within normal ranges. This experience of being caught between undeniable symptoms and an absence of medical validation can be de

Pain is rarely simple, and for many people living with chronic conditions, it is not confined to a single cause. Some experience both neuroplastic pain - pain that arises from the nervous system’s learned patterns of over-sensitization or misfiring - and structural pain, caused by identifiable damage or dysfunction in the body’s tissues, joints, or organs.

The mind-body connection refers to the link between our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, and our physical health. This relationship is bi