Health: Psychological Contributors to Back Pain

Relationships are more than sub-plots in 9 p.m. television dramas. They are the backbone of health. Literally!

Doctors acknowledge that back pain can be the result of stress, tension and emotional conflict that is held in the body or somatized as back pain. So, while it’s great to see the doctor, if the back pain is chronic, and the doctor has done everything he can for you, it may be time to consider the relationships in your life, as a source of your ailment.

– If you are having trouble with your spouse, it’s very likely that your unexpressed anger (and even if you think the two of you have been fighting until you’re both blue in the face, the reality is that you may STILL be holding your emotions in your body) is showing up as back pain.

– If you are having trouble at work, it’s very like that your tension from those relationships with your boss, clients, co-workers, or your own inability to do or express what needs to be done or expressed at work, are showing up as back pain.

– The same is true with in-laws, parents and children - if you’re having any kind of relationship issue with your in-laws, your parents or your children — you may be finding yourself with a chronic or on again, off again, back ache.

– Even dating can be a huge source of back ache. Anxiety about not having a date, not liking a date, a date not liking you, etc., can ALL be the cause of ongoing back pain.