Posted on Jun 09, 2010 | Tags: chronic pain, treatments, pain management, depression
Gain Control of Your Pain Management
When considering the link between depression and chronic pain, it’s important to understand that sometimes it’s just out of your control. Depression, in many cases, is not something you can just wish away with happy thoughts. Depression and chronic pain actually share some of the same brain chemicals that act as messengers traveling between nerves. They also share some of the same nerve pathways. So when you’re feeling down don’t beat yourself up even more by assuming you can think your way out of it. When it comes to depression and chronic pain, unfortunately it’s a bit more complicated than just happy thoughts.Before your chronic pain, you might have been able to do exercise to release endorphins and relieve some of you depression symptoms. But living with chronic pain makes it very difficult to exercise, however it’s recommended that you continue to do so, especially if you’re dealing with depression. Even light exercise will release the same kind of brain chemicals that antidepressant medications release, so do what you can to remain somewhat active.
Depression can reduce your pain management and coping skills and can cause you to actually feel more pain than someone who doesn’t have depression. Depression can also lead to unhealthy coping strategies to manage chronic pain.
Chronic pain, as with depression, affects all aspects of your life, which is why it’s imperative to treat both conditions simultaneously. Because chronic pain and depression involve the same nerves and neurotransmitters, antidepressants are often used to treat both by working on the brain to reduce the perception of pain, according to WebMD.
The perception of pain is extremely important, but the perception of control is also just as important. If you feel that you are not in control of your pain and ultimately your lifestyle, than your depression will worsen as you feel less and less stable. Taking control of your situation, your life and your chronic pain will ultimately help you to take control of your depression as well.
When speaking to your pain specialist about your depression symptoms, talk to them about what it is that you miss in your life. What do you feel you have control of, and what do you not have control of? Your pain specialist might want to consider cognitive therapy as a treatment option, so talk with him or her about the different strategies for both relieving chronic pain and depression.
