The Missing Ingredient in Pain Relief: Joy
How Play and the 8 Play Personalities Can Help Calm Your Nervous System
Living with chronic pain or persistent symptoms often feels like an endless cycle of appointments, treatments, and “trying everything.” While medical care and mind-body tools are important, there’s one healing ingredient most people overlook: joy.
Research shows that when your nervous system feels safe, your brain can reduce pain signals and shift out of “protection mode.” Joy is one of the fastest ways to build that sense of safety. The problem? Many people dealing with pain symptoms have forgotten what joy even feels like.
That’s where understanding your Play Personality can help.
Why Joy Matters in Healing
Chronic pain isn’t just about the body, it’s also about how the nervous system processes danger and safety.
Joyful activities signal to your brain: “I’m safe, I can relax.”
This reduces the background stress that keeps symptoms firing.
Joy is not the “end result” after healing. It can be the pathway that helps you heal.
Even tiny moments of joy can begin to rewire the brain toward lightness instead of pain.
The 8 Play Personalities (and How to Use Them for Joy)
Psychiatrist Dr. Stuart Brown identified 8 different ways people naturally experience play. By finding your play style, you can rediscover joy in a way that feels natural to you. Have a look at the list below and see what resonates for you.
1. The Joker – Finds joy in humor and laughter.
Try this: Watch a comedy clip, exchange jokes with a friend, or spend time with people who make you laugh.
2. The Kinesthete – Loves movement and physical play.
Try this: Gentle yoga, dance around your living room, or a short walk outdoors. Even small movement can lift your mood.
3. The Explorer – Thrives on discovery and curiosity.
Try this: Visit a new park, try a new recipe, or read about a topic that excites you.
4. The Competitor – Enjoys games, challenges, and friendly rivalry.
Try this: Play cards, board games, or track a personal goal (like steps walked).
5. The Director – Gets joy from planning and organizing experiences.
Try this: Host a small dinner, organize a coffee meet-up, or plan a family outing.
6. The Collector – Loves gathering or curating.
Try this: Collect shells, take photos, or keep a joy journal of small daily wins.
7. The Artist/Creator – Finds joy in making and expressing.
Try this: Paint, cook, garden, or try a creative hobby that absorbs your attention.
8. The Storyteller – Plays through imagination, narrative, or performance.
Try this: Journal a memory, tell a bedtime story, or join a creative writing group.
Start Small: Joy as a Healing Practice
Joy doesn’t have to be a big event. It can be a cup of tea with a friend, lighting a candle in the morning, or humming along to music in the car. What matters is practising joy intentionally and regularly.
By discovering your Play Personality and experimenting with small joy-filled moments, you’re not just distracting yourself from symptoms. You’re training your nervous system to feel safe, flexible, and open to healing.
Ready to Go Deeper?
Check out my conversation with Simone Holderback on the Beyond the Pelvis Podcast.
We talk about why joy is such a powerful piece of healing from chronic pain, how the nervous system responds to play, and Simone’s unique approach to building a community around “chronic joy.”
Discover the Pelvic Healing Circle
If you’d like guided support in reconnecting with joy while managing chronic pain, join the Pelvic Healing Circle.
It’s a supportive space with live calls, somatic tools, breathwork, and gentle practices that help you bring more safety, and joy, into your healing journey.
