More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles
Living With a Chronic Health Condition
Millions of people in our society live with chronic pain (such as from cancer, headaches, back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other pain disorders). Pain that occurs with a short and predictable end (acute pain) differs from conditions that leave people in constant or intermittent pain over long periods of time.
With chronic pain, you must have a good diagnosis, a medical team you trust, be knowledgeable about your condition, and understand your treatment plan. There are many ways to help pain medically, such as pain medications, physical therapy, and, sometimes, surgical procedures.
However, it's well-known that pain is worsened by emotional stress and bodily tension. When dealing with long-lasting pain, lifestyle changes can augment treatment provided by your medical team. People with pain frequently have depression and anxiety and become discouraged about their future. Ensuring a well-balanced diet, adequate sleep, and exercise at whatever level you're able to manage are essential.
Talk therapy helps you explore how you understand and react to your pain and to find different ways to manage it. Additionally, there are other skills one can learn, such as meditation, guided imagery, and relaxation techniques that are also proven to help in pain management.
Pain may also present a challenge in relationships. People want to help but don't always know what to do. Sometimes people hesitate to ask for help, fearing they'll ask too much of others. Some who live with chronic pain feel that others around them forget that it's genuine and on-going and become impatient when they're doing the best they can. Resentment and tension can lead to stress, which can exacerbate pain and make its management difficult.
It's important to feel that you're comfortable with the treatment plan and medical team and that you're following recommendations to your best ability. Sometimes, patients don't agree with the treatment advised, lack motivation to stick with it, or don't know how to talk to the doctors with their questions and own ideas. This is a significant concern if the best possible pain management is going to occur.
Talk therapy, especially cognitive therapy, is effective in helping with pain management, especially when coupled with one or more of the relaxation, meditation, imagery, or stress reduction techniques. Learning to live a full life that doesn't always focus on pain is optimal for successful coping. Sometimes, family therapy can also be helpful so that everybody is working together to achieve positive relationships with healthy support.
