Central Sensitization: When the Nervous System Gets Stuck on High Alert

As a pain reprocessing coach, one of the most common patterns I see in clients is central sensitization. Many people arrive at my practice confused and frustrated because their pain feels very real, yet medical tests come back “normal.” They’re often told the pain is chronic, unexplained, or something they’ll have to manage forever. What’s usually missing from that conversation is an understanding of how the brain and nervous system can become sensitized—and how that process can be reversed.

Central sensitization occurs when the nervous system becomes stuck in a state of danger. Instead of accurately signaling injury, the brain begins to over-amplify sensations, interpreting neutral or safe signals as threatening. Pain, discomfort, and other symptoms persist not because of ongoing tissue damage, but because the brain has learned to expect danger.

The symptoms of central sensitization can be surprisingly broad. Chronic pain that moves around the body is common—neck one day, back the next, jaw or pelvic pain seemingly out of nowhere. Many people experience pain that feels out of proportion to what’s happening physically, or pain triggered by light touch, gentle movement, or even stress alone. Other frequent symptoms include burning, tingling, electric sensations, headaches, IBS, bladder discomfort, dizziness, fatigue, brain fog, and heightened sensitivity to light, sound, or temperature. Anxiety often accompanies these symptoms, not as a cause, but as part of a nervous system that’s constantly on high alert.

This is where Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) becomes so powerful. PRT works by helping the brain unlearn the false danger signals driving these symptoms. Instead of fighting pain or trying to manage it endlessly, we focus on changing the brain’s interpretation of sensation. Through education, somatic tracking, emotional awareness, and safety-based responses, the nervous system learns that it no longer needs to protect you with pain.

From my coaching experience, clients often feel relief simply understanding that their symptoms are reversible and not a sign of damage. As the brain receives repeated evidence of safety, symptoms soften, shorten, and often disappear altogether.

Central sensitization isn’t a life sentence. With the right approach, the nervous system can calm down, recalibrate, and return to doing what it was designed to do—keep you safe without keeping you stuck in pain.

If this resonates with you, know that change is possible. Your brain can learn safety again.