# PNIE & Final Thoughts ##### Untangling Pain ---  --- ## tl;dr - Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology, or PNIE, looks at how mind, nervous system, immunity, and hormones connect. - Pain is a jigsaw puzzle, and these systems influence one another rather than acting alone. - Women’s changing hormones can affect the rest of that picture, which helps explain why pain may be different for women. - There is no single fix, and that can be fucking frustrating. - But complexity also means options: we can zoom out, stay curious and compassionate, and remember we are not broken. > [!abstract]- Transcript > > Now in the previous training I covered the biopsychosocial-spiritual model of pain. That helped to give us this broad holistic perspective. And to help us see that pain is not just physical. I think that this model is so important when dealing with pain because it helps us to realise that it's a massive jigsaw puzzle and that we need to put these jigsaw pieces together. It's not just one thing that is causing pain. > > When I was writing that original training, there was a part of me that kept wanting to explain how it's different for women, and that's pretty much what this part three, training was all about. > > I wanted to be able to summarise this training in one word. Or even a sentence would have done. But I did managed to summarise this part in one word. And in one word, it is psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology. > > Okay, that's one word. But let me break this down for you because it is one hell of a word. > > So psycho meaning of the mind. Neuro meaning the nervous system. Immuno meaning the immune system. Endocrine meaning hormones. And ology meaning the study of. > > So what we're looking at here is the study of how our psyche and our emotions are connected to the nervous system. And how they're both connected to the immune system. And how they're also connected to our hormones. > > So we're looking at our body as a whole and how everything is connected. We cannot just focus on one thing. > > Whereas the biopsychosocial-spiritual model can be thought of as a framework or a map, this P N I E, or the psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology, it is the scientific explanation behind the journey. > > And P N I E plays a huge role in understanding why pain is experienced differently for women compared to men. Now, obviously, I'm not saying that this is not relevant to men. It absolutely is. But for women, it has a more unique significance, especially because of the hormones and how they change throughout our lives. > > So for men, their hormonal landscape is much more stable. But the ebbs and flows that women experience and how this connects to all the other systems in our body makes this science of psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology, and it is a science, so much more important. > > Now, if I'm honest, this science is literally just starting but we are realising again that everything is connected. > > Right, so where does this leave us? > > We have covered a lot over the last three trainings. > > In part one, we looked at pain science. In part two, we looked at the biopsychosocial spiritual model. And in this part, we focused on psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology. This tangled web of hormones, nervous system response, immune function, and emotions, that make pain so complex, especially for women. > > In part four, there is going to be a part four, we're going to look at putting all these aspects together and look at practical strategies and tools. Ones that may be a piece of your jigsaw puzzle and help you figure out a plan of action. > > But I think the biggest reason for me wanting to write this training in particular was because I've worked with so many women over the years in pain who are looking for that one thing. That one solution that will fix it all. > > I used to say that when I worked with men in pain, that they were so much easier to solve the problem, but for women, we are complex. And I'm hoping from this training, you can see why we are so complex. And it sucks. It fucking sucks. It really does. You know, pain is messy. > > It's a jigsaw with multiple pieces, that for women, these pieces are shifting all the time. So I wish there was one answer for you that I could give you. I wish there was one thing, the one solution that would change everything. But there isn't. And what works for one person might not work for another. > > But the fact that this is so complex, > > that there are so many different factors, > > is also our greatest advantage. Because it means we're not stuck. It means we have options. It means we're not just trying to find a needle in a haystack. You know, that magic single cure all. We're not just looking for that one thing. > > We get to look at all these different factors that contribute to pain. And we get to zoom out, > > to look at the bigger picture, > > to look at ourselves as a whole, as a person, > > and we get to stop blaming ourselves for not fixing things fast enough. Or to stop feeling like we're broken, because that one solution didn't work for us. We get to shift the way we approach pain altogether. Because the truth is, pain isn't just something to be fought against. > > Quite often, it's something that needs to be understood, to be listened to, to be worked with. We need to get curious, we need to be compassionate, and we need to connect with ourselves and our body. > > This doesn't mean that we just accept pain and suffering. It's not what I'm on about. But it means that we get to explore what actually does help for us. > > Because I have said it so many times, it's different for women. > > Now I want to thank you so much for getting to the end of this training and I look forward to sharing part four with you. So the biggest hugs take care. Bye bye. Next lesson → [[Untangling Pain – Module 4 Lesson 01 – Welcome, Goal & Caveat|Module 4 – Welcome, Goal & Caveat]] %% ## Extra ## Version 1: Full The Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Model of Pain That helped to give us this broad holistic perspective Helps us see that pain is not just physical It helps us to realise that it’s a massive jigsaw puzzle We need to put these jigsaw pieces together It’s not just one thing that is causing pain Why This Training Focuses on Women When I was writing that original training, there was a part of me that kept wanting to explain how it’s different for women That’s pretty much what this part three training was all about One Word Summary: Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology I wanted to be able to summarise this training in one word And in one word, it is psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology Okay, that’s one word Let me break this down for you because it is one hell of a word Psycho meaning of the mind Neuro meaning the nervous system Immuno meaning the immune system Endocrine meaning hormones Ology meaning the study of Everything Is Connected What we’re looking at here is the study of how our psyche and our emotions are connected to the nervous system How they’re both connected to the immune system How they’re also connected to our hormones We’re looking at our body as a whole and how everything is connected We cannot just focus on one thing PNIE as the Science Behind the Journey The biopsychosocial-spiritual model can be thought of as a framework or a map This PNIE, or psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology, is the scientific explanation behind the journey Why Pain Is Experienced Differently for Women PNIE plays a huge role in understanding why pain is experienced differently for women compared to men I’m not saying that this is not relevant to men — it absolutely is But for women, it has a more unique significance Especially because of the hormones and how they change throughout our lives For men, their hormonal landscape is much more stable But the ebbs and flows that women experience and how this connects to all the other systems in our body makes this science of psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology so much more important The Emerging Science If I’m honest, this science is literally just starting But we are realising again that everything is connected Recap of the Three Trainings So Far We have covered a lot over the last three trainings In part one, we looked at pain science In part two, we looked at the biopsychosocial-spiritual model In this part, we focused on psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology This tangled web of hormones, nervous system response, immune function, and emotions that make pain so complex, especially for women What’s Coming in Part Four In part four, we’re going to look at putting all these aspects together We’ll look at practical strategies and tools Ones that may be a piece of your jigsaw puzzle and help you figure out a plan of action Why I Wrote This Training The biggest reason for me wanting to write this training in particular was because I’ve worked with so many women over the years in pain Women who are looking for that one thing That one solution that will fix it all I used to say that when I worked with men in pain, they were so much easier to solve the problem But for women, we are complex I’m hoping from this training, you can see why we are so complex And it sucks It fucking sucks It really does Pain is messy It’s a jigsaw with multiple pieces For women, these pieces are shifting all the time I wish there was one answer for you that I could give you I wish there was one thing, the one solution that would change everything But there isn’t What works for one person might not work for another Complexity as an Advantage The fact that this is so complex That there are so many different factors Is also our greatest advantage Because it means we’re not stuck It means we have options It means we’re not just trying to find a needle in a haystack That magic single cure-all We’re not just looking for that one thing We get to look at all these different factors that contribute to pain We get to zoom out To look at the bigger picture To look at ourselves as a whole, as a person We get to stop blaming ourselves for not fixing things fast enough To stop feeling like we’re broken because that one solution didn’t work for us We get to shift the way we approach pain altogether A New Approach to Pain Pain isn’t just something to be fought against Quite often, it’s something that needs to be understood To be listened to To be worked with We need to get curious We need to be compassionate We need to connect with ourselves and our body This doesn’t mean that we just accept pain and suffering It’s not what I’m on about But it means that we get to explore what actually does help for us A Reminder I have said it so many times It’s different for women Closing I want to thank you so much for getting to the end of this training I look forward to sharing part four with you So the biggest hugs Take care 💋 bye bye ⸻ ## ![[Meta/01 Attachments/Calm Shit down - build shit up BLOG.assets/Image (18).png|Image.png]] ![[Meta/01 Attachments/Calm Shit down - build shit up BLOG.assets/Image (19).png|Image.png]] ![[Meta/01 Attachments/Untangling Pain Attachments/Image (20).png|Image.png]] --- ## Watch the lesson %%