Pain Is an Alarm System, Not a Damage Detector

Pain feels like a direct signal from the body—but it’s actually more like an alarm system.

Your nervous system gathers information—sensations, memories, emotions, beliefs—and decides whether or not to sound the alarm. That alarm is pain. Sometimes it rings loud when there’s serious damage. But sometimes it rings just because the system thinks you’re in danger—even if no harm is happening at all.

This is why pain can persist after an injury heals, or why you can feel pain in anticipation of movement you fear. The system isn’t broken—it’s protective. It’s just on high alert.

Think of it like a smoke detector: it’s better to overreact than underreact. So your brain might trigger pain even in low-threat situations, just to be safe (Melzack, 2001).

Understanding this helps reduce fear. It doesn’t mean the pain isn’t real—it means we need to retrain the alarm, not search endlessly for damage.

Your body’s not failing. It’s trying to protect you. We just have to teach it when it’s safe.

Reference:

Melzack R. (2001). Pain and the neuromatrix in the brain. Journal of Dental Education.