Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain comes in a variety of forms and can be fueled by a host of physical problems. Generally defined, chronic pain is any pain that extends beyond the expected period of healing. Dealing with extended chronic pain can be an emotionally draining trial that can lead to long term psychological effects if not carefully dealt with. On GoMentor you can find therapists who can help you develop coping mechanisms to abate the many psychological stresses that sufferers of chronic pain face.

Kinds of Chronic Pain

The two types of chronic pain are usually divided into nociceptive and neuropathic, referring to their causes. In the case of the former, stimulation of nociceptors in the body creates a dull ache that is generally localized but sometimes difficult to pinpoint exactly. This pain can be very serious as the constant stimulation of the nociceptors in the body can actually cause them to lower the threshold for pain signals and make it easier for pain to be noticed by the body. Neuropathic pain, on the other hand, tends toward feeling more like burning, stabbing, or intense pins and needles.

Dangers of Chronic Pain

Sufferers of chronic pain are easily susceptible to emotional issues like anxiety disorders and depression. They will likely be reluctant to participate in any kind of physical activity for fear that it will cause pain. Often, sufferers have a much harder time dealing with tasks that require a lot of attention, which can negatively impact their work and social lives significantly. Studies even suggest that chronic pain can impede working memory. As chronic pain is a disorder that rarely goes into remission, the prospect of a life of pain can be extremely difficult for people to emotionally cope with. Chronic pain sufferers can easily fall into addictive behaviors, as they often have access to pain medications and will seek to kill the pain however they can.

Dealing with Chronic Pain

While no therapist can take pain away from those who suffer from chronic pain, we hope that you can find one who is able to help deal with the emotional fallout associated with it.  The therapist on GoMentor can help teach you ways to better cope with your pain to lead an ultimately more fulfilling life. They can help decrease pain behaviors so that you can be functional around your pain.

Definition of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is any pain that extends beyond the expected healing time, or a persistent pain that is present for more than six months.

Symptoms of / Reasons for Chronic Pain

• Pain with no visible and discernible cause
• Depression and anxiety
• Reluctance to participate in social events
• Drug abuse
• A lack of ability to focus