Acute pain can become chronic pain when undertreated, especially when there is stress or underlying trauma life experiences. These experiences often make pain worse and prevent healing.

Complex PTSD is a serious health problem and often causes chronic pain. A more difficult childhood than usual, because of neglect (emotional or physical) or physical abuse can lower your life expectancy by 20 years.

Our environment is especially important in our childhood. Sometimes our mother or father may have stress, illness, or other issues that make their ability to meet all your needs impossible or very difficult. This is most often through no fault of their own. Usually struggling parents have had difficult childhoods themselves. The cycle of pain is transferred from generation to generation. Nadine Burke Harris has an excellent video on the effect of trauma on health. The same harmful effects can be seen on trauma in adulthood.