The emotional truth behind mid-back pain

In Western culture, we’re often encouraged to push away or ignore emotions that are considered negative. It’s so common, in fact, that we can genuinely believe certain feelings, such as shame, humiliation or defeat, don’t apply to us at all. I’ve seen this time and again, both in my work and in my own life.

I remember the first time I listened to Brené Brown talk about shame. Like many people, I assumed shame wasn’t something I struggled with. But as she spoke, I began to notice a quiet, uncomfortable feeling rising up inside – a sense that perhaps shame had played a part in my story too. It was a humbling and ultimately liberating realisation.

 

How denial shows up in our lives

This habit of denying difficult feelings isn’t just a personal quirk; it’s woven into our culture. Clients will often say, “That’s not me,” or “I don’t feel that way,” when we touch on themes such as humiliation or defeat. Yet our bodies sometimes tell a different story.

One of the clinical frameworks that has helped me make sense of persistent musculoskeletal symptoms suggests that patterns of pain in different parts of the body may be associated with particular emotional conflicts. Within that framework, symptoms affecting the mid-back (thoracic spine) are often linked with experiences of feeling put down, humiliated or defeated.

What I have found particularly interesting is that, within this model, musculoskeletal symptoms often arise not during the conflict itself, but during the resolution phase, when the body is finally able to begin repairing and restoring itself.

Imagine this: you’ve spent days, weeks or even years feeling belittled or “put down”. Then, one day, you find the strength to do something about it. Your body begins the work of repair, increasing blood flow and inflammatory activity in the affected tissues as part of the healing process.

The challenge comes when we move in and out of resolution. One day you feel empowered; the next, it’s all too much. Your body receives mixed messages, and the process of repair repeatedly starts and stops. Within this framework, this is one possible explanation for why some people experience persistent or recurring symptoms that don’t seem to have a clear physical cause alone.

 

Why validating all emotions matters

Through years of working with myself and others, I’ve learned that every emotion is part of the human experience. The willingness to acknowledge blame, shame and other difficult emotions without judgement is often the turning point that allows us to understand what our bodies may be trying to communicate.

As I’ve come to understand, you can’t change what you don’t feel. Healing often begins when we’re willing to become curious about feelings we’ve spent years trying not to notice.

This isn’t about dwelling on the past or blaming ourselves. It’s about honouring every part of our experience, knowing that our bodies are always communicating with us, and approaching that conversation with self-compassion, curiosity and awareness.

 

Looking ahead: from awareness to healing

In my next post, I’ll share the gentle process I use to help clients explore whether unresolved emotional experiences may be contributing to persistent symptoms, and how this understanding can become part of their journey towards better spine health.

If you’re curious about Brené Brown’s work, I found her book Daring Greatly especially insightful.

If this perspective on the emotional aspects of persistent mid-back pain has resonated with you, I hope you’ll continue following this series as we explore the many factors that can influence our spine health and overall well-being.