For someone with a chronic condition, going to the doctor can increase pain because the body is already in a heightened state of sensitivity. When pain persists over time, the nervous system adapts by becoming more responsive to potential threats, making even small stressors feel overwhelming.
A doctor’s visit often involves factors that amplify this response: unpredictability, unfamiliar environments, and interactions that may not feel attuned or responsive.
If a doctor dismisses or downplays symptoms, it can reinforce a sense of being misunderstood or unsafe. This lack of attunement can increase distress, deepening pain by activating protective responses. Even well-meaning medical professionals can inadvertently contribute to discomfort if their approach does not take into account how relational safety and emotional regulation affect physical experience.
Additionally, the effort required to explain symptoms, advocate for oneself, and navigate medical systems can be exhausting, depleting the body’s already limited capacity for balance and ease.
When a person does not feel supported, their system remains in a state of heightened vigilance, making pain more intense and recovery more difficult.
This is why we need practitioners who understand the importance of the sense of safety and the integrated doctor-patient relationship in shaping health outcomes. When a patient feels heard, understood, and supported, their system can shift away from a defensive state, reducing pain and making treatment more effective.
A practitioner who fosters this kind of environment not only improves patient outcomes but also experiences less frustration and burnout, as care becomes a collaborative process rather than a struggle.
This approach also benefits the healthcare system as a whole. When patients feel safer and more regulated, they require fewer emergency interventions, adhere better to treatment plans, and experience improved long-term health, ultimately reducing costs and improving efficiency.
