The Link between Chronic Pain and Mental Health - 5 Things to Know

Struggling with chronic pain will affect every single part of your life including your mental health. Some people are so consumed with trying to relieve their physical pain and struggles that they neglect the physiological aspect of their chronic struggles. Ignoring any type of pain is a major mistake because your mental state also depends on your physical wellbeing.

Back and Neck Pain are linked to your Mental Health

The most common back and neck pains are associated with a mild headache which usually happens because you have slept in a weird position, muscle strain, handling heavy objects or trauma. Even though it is not that common, back and neck pain can be a sign of an underlying issue such as cancer or meningitis. Some symptoms can even be a sign that there is a problem with your spinal cord or nerve root. Some of the symptoms that you should look out for are tingling, radiating pain, weakness, numbness in arms, hands or shoulders, neurological problems with coordination, bowel and bladder control, walking and balance. Some of these symptoms can be common signs of serious health issues like heart attacks, so if you are experiencing some of these symptoms you must visit a doctor. What most people are not aware of is that mental health issues are more common with people who have black and neck pain. Many studies have proven that people who suffer from chronic pain like neck and back pains also suffer from depression, anxiety, insomnia and fatigue. It has also been found that mental health issues will last much longer with those who suffer from chronic pains than those who don't. Because there is so much linked to chronic back and neck pains it is important that you consult with professionals to get popper care and help. For instance, in a place such as Brisbane physiotherapy, you will be able to get assessed and you will get a tailored treatment plan just for you instead of just getting pain medication and some exercises to do that they prescribe to everyone with the same issue.

Depression

People who struggle with depression have a hard time working, sleeping, socialising because they feel down and don't have the power or will to do anything. But people who are stuffing with chronic pain usually experience major depressive disorders. Amongst all the physical pain they are feeling they have the persistent feeling of sadness, inability to concentrate, self-isolation, low self-worth and more issues that are tough to battle. Long-term struggles with pain often trigger depressive episodes even for ones who never struggled with depression. Unfortunately, depression is the most common mental illness that people who struggle with chronic pain face.

Anxiety

Another mental struggle that is connected to your chronic pain is anxiety because they are constantly worrying and most of the worries are connected to the pain so it's all just one enchanted cycle. Although worries like why are you in so much pain, how will you pay all the medical bills or if the pain gets worse how will you work are expected to have, it can make everything worse. Not only will the pain keep you awake at night the worries will make you obsessed and upset. You will become scared and wonder if the pain will ever go away or what if this pain is an underlying illness. Anxiety will make your second guess yourself, wonder that you are overreacting or if they are more ill than you actually are. Because many more reasons chronic pains will cause bad anxiety and panic attacks.

Insomnia

Along with all the mental disorders, insomnia is something that comes hand in hand with chronic pains. As we all know we need good quality sleep to function. Even if you aren't struggling with mental and chronic illnesses getting seven to eight hours of sleep can be a struggle. Chronic pain makes your life hard and sleeping more difficult. It can be because of the pain itself or it can be because of medications, anxiety or many more things. But insomnia will make the mental aspect of the illness much worse.

Fatigue

What people don't really know is that fatigue is different from being tired. When you are feeling tired you can fix it by resting but feeling fatigued will not be solved by resting. In some cases, resting will make you feel worse. Something as simple as walking down the stairs will make you feel like you ran a marathon. When you are struggling with chronic pain you are so focused on appearing to be normal that you are mentally draining yourself.

Whether you are struggling with chronic pain and mental struggles or you know someone who is, it is important that you educate yourself in order to reduce the fear of the unknown. Do your best to practice meditation and exercise if you are able to. Also, consider seeing a therapist that will help you understand the psychological aspect of your chronic pain. In some cases, you will need to take medication for your mental pains too.