Pain, Stress and Emotions

Your pain is real. The way the nervous system processes pain is also influenced by stress, worry, mood and life circumstances.

Learning skills such as relaxation and helpful thinking can calm the system – and like any skill, they get easier with practice.

Recommended videos and resources

Pain and Thoughts
NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) – Pain Management Network · Australian · Video

What you’ll learn: How stress, anxiety, negative thoughts and difficult circumstances can influence the pain experience, and practical strategies such as relaxation, distraction and meditation.

Watch the video ↗

How Do Your Mood and Thoughts Affect Your Pain?
Northwest Pain Guidance – Patient Education Toolkit · International – USA · Toolkit

What you’ll learn: The relationship between mood, thoughts and pain, with related videos and handouts. Choose the “Mood” topic on the page.

Visit the resource ↗

Pain and Me – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Professor Tamar Pincus – listed by University College London Hospitals · International – UK · Video

What you’ll learn: Acceptance-based strategies for engaging with the things that matter to you while living with pain. Select the named video on the page.

Watch the video ↗

These resources are provided for general patient education and are not a substitute for an individual medical assessment or treatment plan. Persistent pain can have many causes, and the most appropriate management depends on the individual. If you have new, severe or changing symptoms, discuss them with your doctor or treating health professional. The videos and websites listed are produced by other organisations; links open on the external website.

Pain, Stress and Emotions