7 Effective Strategies for Coping With Life With Chronic Pain
Pain can be a devastating condition. It can be hard to cope with when you’re in the midst of it, but you can learn how to manage it.
Many people who live with chronic pain describe feeling neglected and not taken seriously by healthcare professionals. They may experience an endless cycle of pain, irritability, and depression.
1. Change Your Perspective
Changing your perspective involves thinking about pain in different ways. It can include identifying and avoiding negative thoughts that make pain worse, as well as learning to appreciate smaller things in life that may bring you joy or comfort. You can also talk with a mental health professional to learn how to cope and reduce pain-related depression.
For many people with chronic pain, the condition has a big impact on their lives. It can make it difficult to engage in regular activities and hobbies they once loved or even to imagine a fulfilling future. Getting help from a therapist who specializes in chronic pain can help you adjust to the challenges and limitations that pain may present.
In addition, it’s important to realize that pain isn’t always curable. Medical professionals don’t always have all the answers and, in some cases, a person may live with pain throughout their entire lifetime. This type of pain is called psychogenic pain, which is caused by psychological factors such as stress and anxiety. It can cause symptoms that are similar to migraines or headaches, for example. Those who are living with chronic pain often report feeling frustrated that they can’t find relief, and they can get trapped in an endless cycle of visiting doctors without finding a solution to their symptoms.
2. Take Care of Yourself
When living with chronic pain, it is important to take care of yourself and your emotional health. Many people who have a chronic condition like fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis or neck or back pain experience depression and anxiety in addition to the physical discomfort from their symptoms. These emotions can increase sensitivity to pain and make it feel even worse.
Talking with a psychologist can help alleviate these symptoms and teach you techniques for managing them. You can also use relaxation exercises, such as listening to music or practicing guided imagery to lower stress and boost your mood. A chronic pain support group can also provide a safe space to share your experiences with others and learn about the latest treatment options from physicians.
In addition, it is essential to have a good diet and get enough sleep. Exercise is also vital for maintaining health and can reduce the sensation of pain. Having supportive people around you is important as well, whether that means friends from your support group or family members who will help you run errands so you can go to yoga. Taking time to focus on your hobbies and interests can also distract you from the pain and highlight what’s going well in your life.
3. Change Your Diet
Living with chronic pain can make it seem like your life is over, but it’s important to find joy in something despite the pain. This may mean starting a new hobby, finding an exercise you love or just spending time with people who make you happy. It can also be helpful to find ways to distract yourself from the pain by reading, listening to music or talking to friends.
Changing your diet can help as well. Eating a balanced diet is essential for anyone, but it can be even more crucial for those who suffer from chronic pain. Make sure you’re eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Try to avoid foods that contain a lot of fat and sugar, as these can increase your pain levels.
It’s a good idea to keep track of your pain level on a daily basis, so you can see what triggers flares. This can help your doctor to determine the best treatment options for you. CBD for pain relief is worth considering since medicinal cannabis for chronic pain is becoming a popular choice. It’s also a good idea to join a support group so you can talk to others who understand the highs and lows of living with chronic pain.
4. Get Exercise
Millions of people live with chronic pain and it impacts their lives in a variety of ways. It can affect your work, relationships and mood. It can also leave you feeling guilty for not being able to do things that other people can. This guilt can be reduced by learning techniques for managing stress and through exercise.
Regular enjoyable exercise can help relieve pain and improve mood. It can also increase energy levels and maintain a healthy weight. It can also help you sleep better, reducing the need for pain medications. Exercise can reduce the intensity of your pain by releasing natural endorphins. It can also boost your self-esteem and give you a sense of accomplishment.
You can start small and gradually build up your fitness level. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist about a safe exercise program that fits your needs and health condition. Look for a program that includes stretching, strength training and aerobic activity. You can also find specialized programs that focus on low-impact exercises like swimming, yoga and tai chi. These classes have instructors who know how to modify activities for individuals with chronic pain. You can also join a group of others who are living with chronic pain to get support and encouragement.
5. Change Your Sleep Patterns
Many people with chronic pain have trouble getting restful sleep. It’s a vicious cycle: the pain leads to poor sleep, which makes the pain worse and so on. Fortunately, there are things you can try to break the cycle and get better sleep.
For example, if you have neck pain, you might want to try sleeping on your side instead of your back. Or you might need to try different pillows. If you are a chronic back sleeper, for instance, a pillow with extra depth might help to relieve the pressure on your spine. It’s also important to cut down on alcohol, which can make sleeping difficult and reduce the quality of your sleep.
Changing your sleep patterns is a good way to reduce stress, improve mood and increase energy levels. This can help to ease pain and improve your ability to function, especially if you suffer from depression or anxiety.
Some people with chronic pain are at risk of developing mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, that can exacerbate their pain and sleep problems. In these cases, cognitive behavioral therapy with a mental health professional can be helpful. This type of therapy can help you learn ways to deal with negative emotions and break the pain-sleep-pain-sleep-pain cycle.
6. Change Your Mindset
Pain isn’t just something that happens in your body — it also comes from how you think about it. Research shows that a negative mindset increases pain levels and can make the experience more debilitating. This includes fixating on the pain, catastrophizing about it, and seeing your identity as irrevocably linked to the pain. These thoughts cement neural pathways that can trigger pain in the future.
Positive thinking has been shown to decrease pain sensitivity, and neuroimaging studies show that it can actually override established pain signals. The key is to find healthy ways to change your mindset, such as by practicing relaxation techniques, engaging in regular enjoyable physical activity, and focusing on accomplishments – even small ones – instead of the pain itself.
Some of the people we spoke to described how they’d come to terms with their pain by finding support groups or getting information about chronic pain (see ‘Seek support’ and ‘Finding info’ above). One woman thought it had been easier for her to accept her condition when health professionals were honest with her, while another man recalls a particular moment that helped him to see that there was no cure for his pain and to live with it.
7. Seek Help
It’s important to find ways to cope with pain. Hobbies and activities that you used to enjoy might be harder to do when chronic pain is present, but slowly reintroducing them can help you to focus on something other than your pain. It’s also a good idea to seek advice on new coping strategies and skills from a healthcare professional such as a psychologist.
Managing chronic pain can be difficult and frustrating, and if it’s not treated properly, it can have serious effects on your quality of life and relationships with others. Changing your mindset and making some simple lifestyle changes can greatly improve your quality of life and allow you to live with pain effectively.
When you’re a patient suffering from chronic pain, it can be hard to communicate exactly how much pain you’re in because every person experiences pain differently. This is why it’s important to keep track of your pain levels each day so that you can be an effective advocate for yourself. In addition, it can be helpful to reach out to people who are living with pain and connect with them for support. You can also check online and in your community for groups that offer support for those suffering from a variety of conditions.