Pain, Chronic Illness & the Brain: A New Lens on Healing

Over the years—both through my personal health journey and in practice—I have come to see just how interconnected the brain, nervous system, and body really are. For those living with long-term illness, chronic fatigue, or persistent pain, this understanding can be a game-changer.

While we often focus on physical causes—like infections, toxins, or inflammation—there’s another key player in the picture: the brain’s protective response. And in many chronic conditions, this response gets stuck in overdrive.

What Is Neuroplasticity?

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s incredible ability to adapt, change, and rewire itself based on experience. This is how we learn new things, form habits, and recover from trauma.

But here’s where it gets really interesting: if we are constantly living in a state of stress or fear—physically or emotionally—our brain can start reinforcing those states. It learns to stay on “high alert.” Pain becomes louder. Fatigue deepens. Healing slows down.

The beautiful flip side? We can retrain the brain to create new patterns. We can shift it from a fear-based, protective mode into a state where healing becomes possible again.

The Cell Danger Response (CDR)

A concept I often come back to is the Cell Danger Response, developed by Dr. Robert Naviaux. It explains how, when faced with threats like infections, toxins, or trauma, our cells go into a protective “lockdown” mode. The body stops focusing on repair and instead prioritises survival.

This is helpful in the short term—but for many with chronic illness, the body gets stuck in this state. Even when the original threat is gone, the nervous system continues sending “danger” signals.

This can show up as:

• Chronic pain and fatigue

• Brain fog

• Digestive issues and food sensitivities

• Hormonal imbalance

• Anxiety, depression, or overwhelm

It’s not all in your head—but the brain is part of the feedback loop. And it needs help to shift.

Brain Retraining: A New Approach

In the past few months, I’ve been exploring a program called Primal Trust, which focuses on this very thing—teaching the brain and nervous system how to feel safe again. It’s been a powerful piece in my own healing journey.

Other similar programs include DNRS (Dynamic Neural Retraining System) and the Gupta Program. They all focus on calming the nervous system, interrupting old stress loops, and helping the body shift from "protect" mode into "repair and restore" mode.

These programs use:

• Awareness training: Noticing when you're triggered or in a fear loop

• Breathwork and somatic tools: To ground the body and calm the mind

• Visualisation and emotional recall: To create new associations with safety

• Inner child/parts work: To connect with and rewire unconscious beliefs

What the Research Says

We are seeing promising results in studies and real-world outcomes:

• DNRS participants have reported significant improvements in conditions like chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivities.

• The Gupta Program has been shown to reduce pain, inflammation, and anxiety, with positive shifts in overall health and wellbeing.

• While Primal Trust is still newer in terms of published research, anecdotal reports from the community—myself included—are incredibly encouraging.

Practical Tools to Try

You do not need to dive into a full program right away. Here are a few small practices that can gently support your nervous system:

• Take 3–5 deep breaths through the nose, slowly, several times a day

• Practice noticing when your body tenses or your thoughts race—then pause

• Recall a safe or joyful memory and fully feel it in your body

• Gently move your body—stretch, sway, shake, or walk outside

• Start a simple daily “check-in” where you notice how safe or supported you feel

These might sound small, but over time, they signal to the brain: It is safe now. You can let go.

Final Thoughts

If you have been feeling stuck—physically, emotionally, or energetically—know that your body is not failing you. It is trying to protect you the only way it knows how.

The science of neuroplasticity and nervous system regulation gives us a hopeful message: with patience and the right tools, we can shift the patterns that keep us unwell.

One of the key insights I have taken from the Primal Trust work is the importance of shifting away from constantly trying to “fix” myself. That mindset—of feeling like something is wrong and I need to figure it all out—actually keeps the nervous system in a stress response. Instead, choosing self-compassion and being present with what is, even when things feel hard, helps send a message of safety to the body. And that’s when true healing can begin.