Chronic pain is a very real problem that affects millions of people every year. It can be caused by many different reasons but the pain itself is often debilitating and makes it difficult to perform everyday tasks.
If you are suffering from chronic pain, you may notice that your mental health is also being affected. Many patients who suffer from chronic pain also experience depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. This can make it even harder to cope with their condition.
While chronic pain is nothing to be ashamed of, there are some signs that your mental health may be affected because of it. People with chronic pain deal with more than just the physical symptoms. It can have a significant effect on your mental health too.
Signs That Chronic Pain Is Affecting Your Mental Health
- It’s common for people with chronic pain to have trouble concentrating and remembering things due to chronic fatigue (lack of energy). It may feel like your brain isn’t working as well as it used to because it’s simply not getting enough rest at night — which can lead to feelings of depression and frustration.
- In addition, if you feel like you’re having difficulty managing your emotions or controlling your impulses, this could be another sign that chronic pain is affecting your mental health.
- You’re having trouble sleeping or concentrating. Chronic pain can interfere with sleep and concentration, which can then cause anxiety and irritability. If you’re having trouble sleeping because of your physical discomfort, this can affect your mood and make it harder for you to concentrate.
- You feel isolated from others or frustrated by their lack of understanding. Pain often makes people want to withdraw from friends and family, but this can make them feel even more isolated than they already do — especially if they don’t know how to explain their symptoms or what they need from others in order to help them cope with their illness. If you find yourself feeling frustrated with the way others react to your condition or if they ignore what you’re going through, this could be an indication that chronic pain is taking a toll on your mental health as well.
Here are some ways to manage mental health related to chronic pain:
Get active: Exercise is one of the best ways to improve both your physical and mental health. It can relieve stress and relax tense muscles, which can help ease physical pain. If you’ve been inactive for a long time, start slowly with walking or swimming and work up to more intense workouts over time.
Try mindfulness meditation: This involves focusing on the present moment through breathing exercises and other techniques such as yoga or tai chi. It’s possible that this practice could bring about positive changes in both brain chemistry and behavior patterns associated with anxiety and depression symptoms.
Consider therapy or counseling sessions: Talking about your feelings in a supportive environment can help you understand them better so you know how to manage them better — including any emotional responses related to chronic pain conditions.
Some people with chronic pain are able to deflect the effects through following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and/or learning stress management techniques. However, a lot of chronic pain sufferers may still find themselves struggling with various aspects of their mental health. If you think your mental health is being affected by chronic pain, it’s best to speak with a professional about resources that can help address those concerns.
Center for Spine and Pain Medicine offers state of the art chronic pain care treatments and therapies. If you would like to learn more, contact us today at (706) 279-2635 or
(678) 450-1222