Dr. Ingela Thuné-Boyle
Health Psychologist
Online Therapy

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.

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