Lesson learned from a slightly crazy guy

When I went to Austin to host a workshop at the Health Optimisation Summit, I met a ton of amazing people. I also met some crazies.

Somehow, I managed to get caught in a conversation with this man about the dangers of 5G and EMF. He was…passionate. He was talking super close to my face, and I seriously thought he was about to grab the collar of my shirt as he emphatically told me to not sleep with my phone plugged in next to my bed.

What I wanted to say was, “Yeah…I know. No one is on the other side of this argument.”

No one is saying, “man, I wish I had more EMF going into my body", you know?

(He also went on to tell me about some elaborate government conspiracies, so I did my best to “suddenly remember I had to be somewhere” and made my exit.)

As I walked away, slightly confused on how I had found myself in that conversation to begin with, I also found myself stressing about what other things I could be doing to mitigate EMFs. Was charging my phone 20 ft away at night far enough? Did I need a better EMF blocker for my phone? Should I be angry at my husband for all the new tech he insists on bringing into our house?

After a few minutes of spiraling, I was suddenly reminded of a truth that we all need to remember: There's a difference between caring about your health (or any aspect of life really) and getting yourself extremely up-regulated about it.

It’s easy to get hyper focused on what foods to avoid, mitigating toxins we’re exposed to (that’s me though for real ), what kind of workout we’re “supposed” to be doing, and how to optimize our sleep.

Now, combine those worries with other realities of life: There’s a 24 hr news cycle is determined to scare the s*#t out of us about every little thing. Your phone is constantly pinging with notifications. There’s 57 unread work emails that need your response, your to-do list only keeps getting longer, and the price of a small bag of coffee is $25. 

Is it any wonder so many of are suffering with pain?

Here’s another truth:

Worry and stress affects fascia. Prolonged stress has a significant impact on the nervous system as well. The bottom line is our communication systems (fascial and nervous) are always seeking safety. 

All the things I listed above? That’s certainly enough for us to feel unsafe.

Most of us don’t realize that chronic pain is not always about injury.

Sometimes, pain lingers not because there’s tissue damage…
…but because your brain has gotten really good at trying to protect you.

When your nervous system senses danger—physical, emotional, or even imagined—it can start sending out pain signals as a warning sign even if there’s nothing structurally wrong.

This is called neuroplastic pain.

(Just to be clear, I’m not saying your pain is made up. It’s very real. It’s just a signal originating in your brain, not your tissues/bones).

And one of the biggest things that keeps it going?

Fear.

Fear turns the volume up on pain.
Fear keeps your brain in protection mode.
Fear says: “Something’s wrong! Stay alert!”

It’s perfectly understandable with the state of the world and expectations of society to feel this way. But being stuck in a fear-pain cycle can prevent you from feeling relief and keep your nervous system on constant edge. While there’s a lot to unpack with this topic, know that you can begin to calm that fear and teach your brain that you’re actually safe.

Here’s how to begin the process:

1. Start focusing on what feels good.

If you're living with pain, it’s normal and understandable to constantly scan your body for what hurts.

But that habit of tracking pain (down to every little twinge) can actually reinforce the neural pathways creating the pain signal.

Why? Because every time you focus on pain, your brain gets the message: “This is dangerous.” And it keeps the pattern going.

Try this instead:

Start noticing what feels okay, or even good. Maybe it’s your breath moving with ease. Maybe your left foot feels grounded. Maybe just your ear resting on your pillow feels nice.

These small shifts in awareness help rewire your brain! They reinforce the feeling of safety—which is the first step in reducing neuroplastic pain. It will also divert your attention if your brain tends to focus on all the things going wrong, and you may find over time you generally have a more positive outlook (hooray!).

2. Do fascia release with movement—away from where you hurt.

Now, you know my whole schtick: Where you feel pain is rarely the problem. So exploring other areas of your fascial tissue is usually one of the best tactics for finding the real source of your pain. But, even though I know you know this:

I know it's soooo tempting to release the area that hurts just in case there’s temporary relief for even a few minutes. I encourage you to resist this urge and try releasing other parts of your body. (Yes, even if they feel fine!)

Here’s why it works:

• It activates your proprioceptors (they help your brain understand where everything is, how it’s moving, and create a sense of connection and awareness in that area)

• It shifts your focus to another area, giving your brain a break from obsessing over the pain

• It helps you practice breathing through sensation, instead of fearing it

As you move and release, become curious about what you feel:

“My quad feels warm.”
“There’s a little tingle in my foot.”
“My back tension feels like it’s spread out instead of it being sharp on the left side.”

By staying with sensation without judgment—and without the need to fix—it teaches your brain that you’re safe, even in discomfort.

Remember:
Pain is real. But that doesn’t always mean something’s physically wrong.

You’re not broken.
You’re not stuck.
Your brain just needs some new information.

Safety is how we change the story!

Are you suspicious your pain is neuroplastic? Let me know! I always love hearing from you so just hit reply 

You’ve got this.

• What is neuroplastic pain?

  Neuroplastic pain is pain that is created or sustained by the brain and nervous system rather than ongoing tissue damage. The pain is still very real, but the signal is being driven more by the brain’s protective patterns than by an active structural injury.

• Can stress and anxiety make chronic pain worse?

  Yes. Stress and anxiety can keep the nervous system in a heightened state of protection, which may increase muscle tension, fascial restriction, and pain sensitivity. Over time, that fear-stress cycle can make chronic pain feel more intense and harder to resolve.

• How do I know if my pain is neuroplastic or structural?

  Neuroplastic pain often has patterns that do not fully match a clear injury, such as pain that moves, lingers long after healing, increases with stress, or feels worse when you are hyper-focused on it. Structural pain is usually more directly tied to tissue damage, inflammation, or a specific mechanical issue.

• Can focusing on pain make pain worse?

  Yes. Constantly scanning the body for pain can reinforce the brain’s sense that something is wrong or dangerous. Shifting attention toward neutral or pleasant sensations can help support nervous system regulation and begin changing the pain response over time.

• Can fascia release help with neuroplastic pain?

  It can. Fascia release, especially when paired with gentle movement and body awareness, can give the brain new sensory input and help reduce protective patterns. Working away from the painful area can also help calm fear, improve proprioception, and support a greater sense of safety in the body.