Chronic pain anxiety can be hard to deal with if you have no outlet or way to expel the excess emotional state that comes along. But chronic pain anxiety doesn’t have to defeat you. There are coping mechanisms and techniques available to help you keep up with your emotional health. With the increasing number of people with chronic pain, health providers are constantly looking for quicker and effective ways of helping patients out. Though, no general definition due to its dynamic nature, chronic pain refers to pains lasting beyond 3 to 6 months. Anxiety and depression are some of the most prevalent mental health issues people suffering from chronic illnesses face. Sometimes it complicates the treatment and medical condition of the patient.
Chronic pain does not affect a sufferer only physically but can also result in cognitive and emotional issues. Pain brings about an emotional response from every individual. When we are hurt anxiety and depression are bound to be experienced. Faced with these challenges the only thing in the mind of a patient suffering from chronic pain is how to overcome it. Being able to overcome the anxiety and depression that comes with chronic pains goes a long way in minimizing the effect of the pain on the patient. An efficient management of these two can help keep the pain under check.
Coping With Chronic Pain Anxiety
- The first step towards balancing anxiety and depression when you have chronic pain is deciding to make little and positive changes to your daily life.
- Be surrounded by things that give you joy- from a picture of good times hanging on the wall to the beautiful flowers in the bouquet. Anything that causes you to smile alters your personal chemistry. If you are a pet lover, this is the time to spend more time with them.
- Get support from family and friends- share your experience with your family and friends, they understand you better and will help you overcome to find a balance amidst your pains
- Go out- visit parks, see movies, beaches and other forms of recreational outings are things that make one happy. Due to the happiness, it brings it helps you relax, thus easing your anxiety and depression.
- Visit a professional- seeing a licensed psychotherapist or psychologist would be of great benefit to you. With the help of Skype and other media platforms, you might have a session online.
- Exercise well- some exercises are prescribed for pain reduction, keeping to the exercise routine will surely do wonders. The early morning walks out, or jogging is also beneficial.
- Eat well- nothing works well than a good meal when in pains. Increase your B vitamin intake minimizes refined carbohydrate and sugar consumption. Not eating well is bound to worsen your depression thus putting you in more pains.
- Lastly, take your medication strictly- your doctor after examining you and knowing the cause of your pain will prescribe some medication for you. It is very vital to make them as at when due because they help in killing the pain.