Many people do not associate chronic pain with depression, but the truth is that they come hand in hand for many patients. If you suffer from both chronic pain and depression, you may struggle to convey the level of physical and emotional pain you are in. After all, most people do not contend with these conditions and may not understand how the two are linked.
What Is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is pain that lasts months, but the pain is not just physical. Chronic pain can lead to emotional pain that affects more than your physical body. Individuals with chronic pain may develop depression symptoms. Chronic pain can also lead to difficulty sleeping, increased stress, guilt, and other issues that impact one's ability to live a "normal" life.
How Are Chronic Pain and Depression Linked?
Many people also experience chronic pain that results from depression. For example, individuals with depression experience headaches, back pain, and even pain they are unable to explain any other way. For individuals already suffering with chronic pain, the depression can be further debilitating.
The symptoms of depression that may accompany chronic pain include lack of interest, irritability, changes in sleep patterns, feelings of despair, low energy, suicidal thoughts, and difficulty concentrating.
Can Depression & Chronic Pain Be Treated?
While depression and chronic pain may both be treated, the conditions are difficult to address with just any medication. Unfortunately, the difficulty of treating depression is exacerbated by the fact that many people are unable to recognize the symptoms of depression and how they relate to chronic pain.
The best way to deal with chronic pain and depression is to build a team of professionals you feel comfortable with. You need to trust your doctors, which might include a mental health professional and a pain management specialist. You might also work with a physical therapist to help your body recover from an injury.
Methods for addressing depression that coincides with chronic pain include talk therapy, stress-reduction techniques, group support, and medication. While you are trying to address the chronic pain contributing to your emotional distress, you may rely on these techniques to help make some changes.
If you believe you have chronic pain and depression at the same time, do not hesitate to contact a chronic pain service. You may have access to medications and other therapeutic techniques that help you relieve the symptoms and live your best life again.