Medical and Chronic Pain Issues

MEDICAL and CHRONIC PAIN RELATED ISSUES

Do you suffer from chronic pain or medical ailments that interfere with your daily life?

Do you have a physical illness that has altered your ability or independence?

Have you suffered from an injury that has changed your way of living?

Do you feel anxious or depressed or even suffer from low self-esteem due to your medical issues?

Do you miss hobbies or activities you once enjoyed because you can no longer participate as you once could?

Do you have trouble sleeping, eating, concentrating or focusing because of your pain or illness?

If you answered yes or can relate to any of the above you’re not alone!

Studies by the CDC have shown that about 20% of Americans suffer with chronic pain.

Other studies have shown that more than 50% of people suffer from chronic medical ailments

and over 25% have multiple ailments that affect their daily life.

Studies also show more than 50% of those who suffer with chronic pain experience anxiety and depression.

We all experience pain at some point in our lives due to illness, injury, or even traumatic events we may face. We may suffer from physical pain, emotional pain or a combination of both as a result of these. Some types of pain can actually serve us in positive ways, such as when you feel muscles starting to ache after doing a strenuous task that alert you to stop and rest before causing more serious damage. This is a protective purpose of pain, which we can all benefit from.

However, pain should not last for extended periods of time. When pain lasts for more than a few months, it becomes an acute issue. Many of us have experienced acute pain in our lives and have been able to move on despite the discomfort we feel. However, many people suffer with pain for longer than this duration and it can become persistent causing difficulty in daily functioning which is called chronic pain. When this happens it can affect a person on a daily basis mentally and emotionally as well as physically.

For some chronic pain or illness can cause trouble sleeping, eating, concentrating, or focusing, which can increase the pain you are already experiencing. It can cause difficulties in your functioning at work, school, or home. It can also cause you difficulty in your ability to actively participate in hobbies or activities you once enjoyed. When your life is altered this way, it can also lead to decreases in your self-esteem.

For many people suffering with chronic illness or pain, quality of life diminishes causing an array of emotional symptoms along with their physical ones. Furthermore, those who do live with chronic pain are more susceptible to developing anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress, as well as substance abuse disorders in some cases. Living with chronic pain can be very stressful for both the individual and their loved ones.

Additionally, Physical and Emotional Stress is brought on by chronic pain, which becomes Chronic Stress that alters the levels of stress hormones and neurochemicals in your brain and nervous system. When these become altered they can affect your mood, thinking and behavior, causing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

The use of CBT and psychotherapy together have been proven to be highly effective for treating emotional, interpersonal, and behavioral issues, as well as the most effective treatment for depression, anxiety and related stresses. When faced with chronic pain or illness in life you are likely to be dealing with some, if not all of these. As mentioned on previous pages I use CBT as the basis for my psychotherapy practice along with other helpful approaches, strategies, and methods tailored to you as a unique individual to help you gain as much as you need from your journey in therapy.

Think about the pain or illness you are suffering with, where you are and where you’d like to be, whether or not your choices and decisions have been helping you, and how you’re feeling. If you feel as if you’re having difficulty handling the emotions related to your pain or illness, making decisions related to the pain or illness; or if you, your daily functioning, or your relationships are struggling as a result, consider engaging in psychotherapy to help you adjust, cope, accept or simply support you and help you find the peace you deserve.