Chronic pain impact on every aspect of your life, including your mental health.
Often individuals are so focused on alleviating their physical pain that they neglect to address the psychological effects of their chronic pain.Your mental state can exacerbate your physical pain, making it even more difficult to manage.
Chronic pain impact on every aspect of your life, including your mental health.
Often individuals are so focused on alleviating their physical pain that they neglect to address the psychological effects of their chronic pain.Your mental state can exacerbate your physical pain, making it even more difficult to manage.
In a 2006 study, 77% of people who suffered from chronic pain reported feeling depressed.
Over 85% of chronic pain patients said that they had difficulty sleeping.
Getting the balance right
Pain management is about recognising that getting the balance right between the biological cause, the environmental triggers and the psychological impact is key. The biopsychosocial model of pain management is a term well recognise in the literature but unfortunately the importance of getting the balance right is sometime lost in the recovery transit.
There are several therapy options including mindfulness, psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy just to name a few. Getting the correct input can make the difference and at Pain Relief Ireland we have the ability to support and guide you on your recovery.
Common psychological effects of chronic pain
Depresssion
This term is sometimes used loosely to describe low mood, feelings of sadness, loss of interest, inability to concentrate, self-isolation, or low self-worth. If you can’t sleep, you can’t socialize, you can’t work — of course you would feel down.
However, some people who endure chronic pain also experience major depressive disorder.
Pain issues also cause you to withdraw from activities, thus isolating yourself from your loved ones.
Depression is shockingly common among individuals suffering from chronic pain.
Insomnia
While a symptom of many mental and physical disorders, insomnia is also a separate diagnosis in its own right. You need quality sleep to function. Even though getting a good night’s sleep is sometimes inconvenient and often difficult in today’s hectic world, adults still require seven to nine hours of sleep every night.
Chronic pain makes sleeping difficult. This can be due in part to the pain itself, as well as any medication side effects you may need to cope with the pain. Insomnia adversely impacts every aspect of your life: concentration, digestion, memory, fitness, relationships, etc.
Worse, insomnia can exacerbate psychological disorders like depression or anxiety.
Guilt
Feelings of guilt may stem from everyday occurrences, such as being unable to play with your toddler, or work for more than a few hours a day. While not a disorder by itself, feelings of guilt can overwhelm a person. Chronic pain prevents you from participating in activities that most people take for granted like socializing, working and exercising. You might feel angry at yourself and blame yourself for no longer being able to engage with the world. Guilt is one of the most insidious mental side effects of chronic pain.
Anxiety
Feelings of guilt may stem from everyday occurrences, such as being unable to play with your toddler, or work for more than a few hours a day. While not a disorder by itself, feelings of guilt can overwhelm a person. Chronic pain prevents you from participating in activities that most people take for granted like socializing, working and exercising. You might feel angry at yourself and blame yourself for no longer being able to engage with the world. Guilt is one of the most insidious mental side effects of chronic pain.
Fatigue
Fatigue is different from simply being tired. Feeling tired can be fixed by resting; feeling fatigued can’t be relieved by resting and if anything, resting might worsen the feeling. Walking around the block feels like running a marathon. You are so focused on appearing “normal” that you mentally exhaust yourself.
7 Top Tips for Coping with the Mental Effects of Chronic Pain
Educate yourself about your condition to reduce fear of the unknown.
Practice meditation.
Some people might need medication to treat insomnia, depression, or anxiety.
Practice mindfulness: focus on the here and now.
Exercise (only as much as you are able, and with your pain medicine clinician’s permission!). Pilates / Yoga etc. are great options. Do something you like doing!
Talking to someone can help. A mental health counsellor / therapist can listen without making a judgement.
Do not fall into self-medication! Using substances might temporarily alleviate physical or emotional pain, but this is never a good long-term solution.