Anxiety in relation to chronic pain

With so many factors contributing to the onset of chronic pain, there are some that many don’t realize are the cause. Anxiety has been discovered to be a common factor in why you may have chronic pain issues, and the worst part of all is that chronic pain can also cause anxiety. This bad cycle of worry and pain can make your life seem unbearable, and it is important to understand how these two problems correlate.

If you are dealing with chronic pain then it is no secret that stress comes along with it. Whether you are stressed from never feeling relief, or because those around you aren’t understanding your pain, having stress is a common lead into anxiety. Try to eliminate your daily stress to prevent anxiety taking over.

For those who already have anxiety, it can make symptoms of chronic pain even worse. Anxiety is known to make sufferers hypersensitive to pain, which makes them focus on the pain even more. This combination only leads to more problems because focusing on pain only makes it feel worse.

Anxiety also can create its own kind of pain that can soon contribute into chronic pain problems. Chest pains from panic attacks, headaches from stress, and even muscle pain from constant tension.

If you are dealing with this combination, try and discover the best techniques to reduce anxiety and stress. Coping with anxiety is the first step to ensuring you break the cycle of chronic pain and anxiety.

This blog is written for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for actual medical treatment. Please contact the APM Augusta office to schedule an appointment if you are in need of medical care.