Chronic Pain and Counseling
At some point, we all experience some form of aches and pains. We may stub our toe, have a long, tiring workout resulting in muscle pain the next day, or even sprain an ankle. Often, these forms of pain typically resolve within a few hours, days, or even a couple of weeks. However, chronic pain is a little different. Chronic pain keeps your body hurting for weeks, months, or years after an injury or due to living with a chronic illness or medical concern. Chronic pain is typically identified as pain lasting more than several months, averaging 3-6 months, and longer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2019 estimated that 20.4% of adults living with chronic pain and 7.4% of those adults had chronic pain that limited their daily living activities in the past three months.
Examples of conditions that can cause chronic pain:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Endometriosis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus or SLE)
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Stomach Ulcers
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Multiple Sclerosis
Fibromyalgia
Cancer-related pain
Migraines and Headaches
This list is based on the most common types of conditions individuals seek medical assistance for, but there are 100’s of conditions and factors that may cause an individual to live with chronic pain.
Mental Health & Chronic Pain
Living with chronic pain is exhausting. We are living with chronic pain and chronic illness physically draining. It can also play a significant impact on our mental health functioning. It is not uncommon for individuals living with chronic pain to report experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms. It may be even more challenging when living with the condition that impacts our pain levels, as often, our anxious and depressive feelings may manifest as somatic complaints. For instance, a person living with stomach ulcers experiencing stomach-related pain but also anxious feelings. The person may find it challenging to separate if they are “feeling anxious therefore causing stomach issues, or is it due to the underlying medical concern.” It is not uncommon for someone to develop Illness Anxiety Disorder as a result of these thoughts.
Four Common Types of Psychotherapy Used to Help Manage Individuals with Chronic Pain:
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Biofeedback
Mindfulness-Based Practices
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) :
Helps learn to recognize one’s distortions in thinking that may create problems and work on challenging them.
Use problem-solving skills to cope with difficult situations.
Learn to develop a greater self of confidence in your abilities.
Gain a better understanding and insight into one own behavior and the motivations of others.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT):
Increase psychological flexibility or enter the present more fully through mindfulness and to change or persist in behavior when doing so serves valued ends.
The Six Core Processes of ACT:
Acceptance
Cognitive Defusion
Being Present
Self-as-context
Values
Committed Action
Mindfulness-Based Practices:
The goal of mindfulness therapy is not concerned with relaxation (but it is a super bonus!). The focus is on increasing our awareness of the thoughts, feelings, and actions that slow or block our progress. When we can be more mindful, we can engage with those aspects of ourselves, learn to change our language, and choose how to respond.
Biofeedback:
Biofeedback is a type of therapy that uses sensors attached to your body to measure essential body functions. The goal of biofeedback is to assist you in learning more about how your body works.
The most common type of biofeedback methods:
Electromyography (EMG) – which measures your muscle tension as it changes over time.
Electroencephalography- measures your brain activity over time.
Temperature of Thermal- measure your body temperature as it changes over time.
Help is out there for you.
Whether you are newly diagnosed or have been dealing with chronic pain for many years, it is essential to consider your mental and emotional health impacts. Living with chronic pain is challenging. It’s completely okay to need some extra support when navigating life with a chronic condition that results in pain. Counseling can help you regain control over your life and help you cope with the stressor while also navigating your physical health concerns.
Start Therapy for Chronic Pain in Fayetteville, NC
Counseling can provide additional support while living with chronic illness and pain. Therapy for chronic pain can help you understand the brain-body connection, develop mindfulness, increase acceptance, and provide support, and normalize your feelings and thoughts.
To start Chronic pain counseling at The Virtual Couch in Fayetteville, NC , you only need to follow these 4 simple steps:
1. Click the button below to online schedule your free 15-minute consultation.
2. Meet Patricia, your chronic illness therapist.
3. Create the path toward emotional healing, and living your best life.
Other Counseling and Mental Health Services in Fayetteville, NC:
To learn more about me and my Fayetteville, NC counseling practice, let’s connect. Other focus areas and mental health services at The Virtual Couch include grief and loss therapy, anxiety counseling, depression therapy, and disability affirming care. All these services are available via online counseling in North Carolina and Colorado. I am excited to support and be a part of your journey.
