Pathology Culture is Making Us Sick

Your body isn't failing you - your beliefs might be. Throughout history, healers and scientists have observed how powerful beliefs can create real physical symptoms — from the "voodoo deaths" documented in 1942 to modern medical misdiagnoses that trigger health declines despite no actual disease. That same power of belief has created what we call a "pathology culture" that's making millions chronically ill.

This episode dives into fascinating research that challenges everything we think we know about chronic pain. Studies from Lithuania reveal that car accident victims rarely develop chronic whiplash syndromes compared to Western countries—simply because they don't expect to. Even more striking, German researchers found that people in simulated car accidents (with no actual impact) developed whiplash symptoms at the same rate as those in real accidents. Meanwhile, demolition derby drivers who regularly experience multiple collisions report almost no neck pain.

Why? Because what we believe about our bodies fundamentally shapes our physical experience.

We explore the misconception that structural "abnormalities" seen on medical imaging are the cause of pain. Research consistently shows these findings—bulging discs, tears, degeneration—are incredibly common in pain-free individuals. When you're told your spine has "damage," your brain interprets that as danger, amplifying pain even when your body is structurally sound.

Most chronic conditions—from fibromyalgia and back pain to IBS, headaches, and chronic fatigue—can be fully or partly neuroplastic, meaning they're generated by the brain's danger signals rather than actual damage. Understanding this opens up powerful healing pathways through belief change, brain retraining, and nervous system regulation.

Ready to challenge your beliefs about your body and take healing back into your own hands? This episode gives you the scientific foundation to start that journey. If you've been frustrated by treatments that only address your physical symptoms, this perspective could change everything.

Tanner Murtagh and Anne Hampson are therapists who treat neuroplastic pain and mind-body symptoms. They are also married! In his 20s, Tanner overcame chronic pain and a fibromyalgia diagnosis by learning his symptoms were occurring due to learned brain pathways and nervous system dysregulation. Post-healing, Tanner and Anne have dedicated their lives to developing effective treatment and education for neuroplastic pain and symptoms. Listen and learn how to assess your own chronic pain and symptoms, gain tools to retrain the brain and nervous system, and make gradual changes in your life and health!

The Mind-Body Couple podcast is owned by Pain Psychotherapy Canada Inc. This podcast is produced by Alex Klassen, who is one of the wonderful therapists at our agency in Calgary, Alberta. https://www.painpsychotherapy.ca/

Tanner, Anne, and Alex also run the MBody Community, which is an in-depth online course that provides step-by-step guidance for assessing, treating, and resolving mind-body pain and symptoms. https://www.mbodycommunity.com

Also check out Tanner's YouTube channel for more free education and practices: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Fl6WaFHnh4ponuexaMbFQ

And follow us for daily education posts on Instagram: @painpsychotherapy

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