If you struggle with chronic pain—that is, pain lasting more than three months—your risk of also having mental health problems is high.
Some studies estimate that 30%-50% of people living with chronic pain also have depression or anxiety. Other research puts the estimate as high as 85%.
Why is this happening? The reasons are sort of obvious. Being in pain raises your stress levels, and chronic stress can cause or worsen anxiety and depression.
Also if pain keeps you from participating in work or social activities, that isolation can be depressing. Being unable to do the things you used to be able to do can lead to low self-esteem. Pain can also interfere with sleep, and fatigue can worsen depression and pain symptoms.
The neurological link
Researchers say there’s another reason depression and pain are linked. Some of the same neurotransmitters (brain chemicals that transmit signals between nerves) are associated with both pain and depression. And the same nerve pathways in the spinal cord and brain are shared by pain and depression.
Treating pain-related depression
Depression sometimes gets ignored when patients go to the doctor for chronic pain. That’s because doctors may be so focused on alleviating the pain that they don’t asking about depression or anxiety symptoms.
The good news is that some of the same therapies that help relieve pain can also treat depression and anxiety. Two types of antidepressants—tricyclic antidepressants, such as nortriptyline and desipramine, and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as Effexor and Cymbalta—have been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms of both depression and pain, especially neuropathic pain. That makes sense when you consider that some of the same neurotransmitters are involved in both conditions.
Other approaches can also help with both pain and depression, including:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy, which trains you to recognize and counter automatic negative thoughts.
- Physical therapy and exercise. Exercise can help build self-esteem and release feel-good chemicals in your brain. If a physical disability makes exercise hard, a physical therapist may be able to help you adapt an activity to work for you.
- Stress-reduction and coping techniques, such as meditation, visualization, progressive muscle relaxation, hypnosis, and journaling can help some patients.
If you’re struggling with pain combined with mental health issues, we can help.
Tulsa Pain is a pain management practice in Oklahoma that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain. We are dedicated to helping those who are suffering find the relief they deserve. Our team uses a balanced approach by incorporating minimally invasive, outpatient procedures, complementary and alternative medicine, and medication to help patients take control of their pain. Call 918-742-7030 or Request An Appointment to meet with one of our talented pain management specialists today!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.
