Did you know that chronic pain has a direct impact on a person’s mental health? As some of the area’s leading pain doctors in Benbrook TX, (locations also in Bedford and Lewisville) we see this to be true on a regular basis. That’s why today we’re sharing more information on the connection between mental and physical health. If you or someone you love is living with chronic pain, this is a must-read!
What is the Connection Between Chronic Pain & Mental Health?
It’s been said that pain does not exist in a vacuum. Unfortunately, this is especially true of chronic pain; it impacts a person’s mental and emotional health as well. In fact, there is evidence that physical health and mental health can impact each other equally. This means that conditions such as depression and anxiety can make chronic pain worse (and vice versa).
Chronic pain can leave a person feeling powerless over their condition. Left untreated, these feelings of powerlessness can have a significant impact on mental health. When a patient experiences stress, we also see evidence of the bidirectional relationship between mental health and chronic pain. Experts agree that stress and anxiety can dramatically increase chronic pain symptoms.
Common Psychological Effects
The top two mental health conditions that we see most often in patients with chronic pain are anxiety and depression. However, there are several other psychological effects that can be seen in the mind-body connection between chronic pain and mental health. These include the following:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Guilt
- Altered/decreased cognitive function
- Lack of interest in social engagements or hobbies
How Your Pain Specialist Can Help
If you or someone you love is living with chronic pain and showing signs of additional mental or emotional stress, don’t stay quiet. There are many treatments, therapies and tests that can be done to help! At CPI we feel that it’s critical to offer comprehensive treatment options that treat the whole person, not just one area of pain. Some of the services we offer that specifically target the mental health component of pain include:
- Psychological evaluation and monitoring
- Optimizing hormone levels
- Medication management
- Referral to a counselor or pain psychologist
Get in touch with a member of your care team and schedule a time to talk about what you’re experiencing. We currently have Benbrook doctors accepting new patients (locations also in Bedford and Lewisville) who would be honored to help you find new ways to treat your pain.
Self-Care Tips
There are also several strategies patients can implement on their own that may help with the mental strain of chronic pain. Most of these strategies (and more) fall in the category of self-care. The idea of self-care is to treat yourself as well as you would treat a person you are offering care to. Consider trying one or two of the following:
- Find & join a support network
- Be open with your family and friends about your limitations
- Talk with your doctor
- Start a healthy exercise routine
- Cut back on alcohol and caffeine
Another area worth focusing time and energy on is sleep hygiene. To learn more about the impact of insomnia on chronic pain (as well as ways to better manage insomnia) visit our blog.
Pain Doctors in Benbrook TX
Your chronic pain should not stop you from living life! At CPI, we provide a 360-degree treatment approach to pain management, including chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, medical grade CBD, as well as conventional interventional pain procedures and regenerative medicine. Call today to schedule your initial consultation and learn more about how we can help!
