Pain & anxiety - when the body sounds the alarm
"I'm in constant pain - but all the examinations are normal."
"My heart is racing, my chest is constricting, I can't breathe - and nobody can find anything."
"I wake up at night, completely cramped. Everything hurts. And I'm terrified."
We hear statements like this again and again in therapeutic practice. And they show that pain is not just a physical event. It is a warning signal - and often part of a much larger, inner state of alarm.
Generalized anxiety disorder & panic attacks - the vegetative system in constant arousal
Anxiety is a physiological reaction. However, in people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAS) or recurring panic attacks, the nervous system remains permanently on heightened alert. This means that
The sympathetic nervous system is chronically active
Muscles remain tense
Breathing becomes shallow and hectic
Digestion, sleep, recovery - everything becomes secondary
What remains is a body in a state of emergency. And this state is painful - on many levels.
Pain as the physical language of fear
The patients report on:
Tension headaches and migraines
Neck pain, teeth grinding, CMD
Back pain with muscular imbalances
Chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations
Gastrointestinal complaints through to irritable bowel syndrome or chronic constipation
All of this is real - even if no structural cause is found.
What can therapy achieve?
In physiotherapy and occupational therapy, we have no direct influence on anxiety - but we do have an influence on the system in which it operates. And this is exactly where our leverage comes in.
Therapeutic goals can be
Regulation instead of control
Trust instead of reinsurance
Perception instead of avoidance
Safety instead of speed
What helps?
Gentle breathing work to regulate the vegetative system
Touch-based therapy that conveys safety
Body awareness training to recognize anxiety earlier
Movement at the client's pace, not to the beat of the therapy plan
Educational approach to pain and anxiety patterns - without pathologizing them
Attitude instead of technology
For people with anxiety and panic disorders, our therapeutic approach is often more effective than any method. A safe space, a reliable rhythm, a calm tone of voice - these are all interventions that cannot be mapped in techniques, but have a profound effect.
Conclusion:
Anxiety and pain are close relatives. If you understand the nervous system, you can deal with both - with respect, clarity and a deep understanding that the body is not crazy. It protects.
📅 Webinar tip:
"Pain & anxiety - when panic controls the body"
A 60-minute webinar on autonomic regulation, physical safety and therapeutic support for anxiety disorders and panic attacks.
To register: www.hockenholz.com/webinare