Pain, Intuition & The Nervous System: Why Your Body Might Be Holding On to More Than You Think
Ever notice how pain has a way of hijacking your entire reality? One moment, you’re fine. The next, your shoulder, back, or jaw is screaming at you, and suddenly, everything feels harder—making decisions, feeling joy, even trusting yourself.
But here’s the thing: Pain isn’t always a sign of injury. Sometimes, it’s a signal.
And if we don’t listen, it can cut us off from the very thing we need most—our intuition, inner wisdom, and connection to something bigger than ourselves.
Let’s talk about how this happens—and what you can do about it.
When Pain Pulls You Away from Yourself
Pain—especially chronic pain—keeps the nervous system on high alert. And when your system is stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn mode, it’s almost impossible to tap into your gut feelings, your inner knowing, or that sense of peace that helps you make aligned choices.
Think about it:
When you’re in pain, do you feel open and connected? Or do you feel defensive, scattered, or withdrawn?
When your body is hurting, is it easier or harder to trust yourself and others?
Pain creates a disconnect—from your body, your emotions, and even your spirit. And that’s because your nervous system is prioritizing survival over connection.
Pain Can Be Trauma Talking
Not all pain means you pulled a muscle or need a chiropractor (though, hey, sometimes that’s the case!). Some pain is unresolved emotional trauma stored in the body.
Ever get a lump in your throat when you’re about to cry?
Or feel a tight chest when you’re anxious?
Or notice your jaw clenching when you’re angry but don’t say anything?
That’s your body holding onto unprocessed emotion. And when those emotions don’t get expressed, they can turn into chronic pain.
💡 Nervous System Tip: Name what you’re feeling when pain flares up. Instead of “My back hurts,” try:
“I feel unsupported.”
“I’m holding in a lot.”
“I feel stuck in my life.”
This simple act of naming can start the process of unwinding stuck energy.
How Pain Blocks Intuition
Intuition isn’t loud. It’s a whisper, a nudge, a subtle knowing. But when your nervous system is overwhelmed by pain, that whisper gets drowned out by the alarm bells of discomfort.
Here’s what happens:
🔹 You dissociate from your body. If pain is too much, you might check out—disconnecting from sensations and, in turn, your intuitive signals.
🔹 Your body becomes a “danger zone.” When pain is chronic, your body no longer feels like a safe place. And when you can’t feel safe in your own skin, it’s hard to trust your inner guidance.
🔹 You get stuck in overthinking. Instead of feeling your way through life, you get caught in loops of doubt, fear, and second-guessing.
💡 Nervous System Tip: Ground back into your body with simple, safe movement. Try:
Slow rocking side to side (this soothes the vagus nerve)
Placing one hand on your heart, one on your belly
Shaking out your hands or bouncing on your toes
Movement helps signal to your nervous system that your body is safe, making it easier to feel and trust your intuition.
Pain as a Portal (Not a Prison)
What if, instead of seeing pain as the enemy, we saw it as a messenger?
A doorway into what’s unresolved, what needs tending to, what’s asking for healing?
Because pain is often pointing us toward something deeper. Maybe it’s:
✨ A boundary you need to set.
✨ Grief you haven’t fully processed.
✨ A pattern of over-giving that’s draining you.
✨ A version of yourself you’ve outgrown.
💡 Nervous System Tip: Ask your pain what it wants to tell you.
Instead of resisting it, take a deep breath, put a hand where it hurts, and ask:
“What do you need?”
“What are you trying to show me?”
“What would make you feel safe?”
You’d be amazed at what arises when you stop fighting pain and start listening to it.
Reclaiming Your Connection to Yourself
Pain doesn’t have to keep you stuck. It can be an opportunity to reconnect—with your body, your emotions, and your inner knowing.
And it starts with small, gentle practices:
🌿 Regulate your nervous system (breathwork, touch, movement)
🌿 Feel your emotions instead of suppressing them
🌿 Rebuild trust with your body (treat it with curiosity, not frustration)
🌿 Listen to the messages within the discomfort
Pain doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means there’s something ready to be healed.
And when you create the space to listen, your intuition will come back online, stronger than ever.