How Chronic Pain Can Affect Your Family, Friends and Relationships
Chronic pain affects many aspects of life. It can impact a person’s ability to work, be productive, and to function. In turn, it can affect them emotionally, physically, financially and socially. This can be stressful. Our body and mind are one and because of this, emotional stress directly affects out physical well-being and conversely physical stress directly affects our emotional well-being.
Living Healthy With Chronic Pain
Sometimes people with chronic pain withdraw from activities, friends and depression, and increased financial problems. Others continue to be involved with friends and family and continue working. The pain is still there, but the other issues may not be as significantly affected.
Focusing on pain can increase depression and take ones focus off all of the other important things going on in life. Focusing on pain uses up energy and does not do anything to diminish the pain. In addition, it increases stress for family members. It can harm personal relationships and decrease self-esteem. It is far more productive to focus on abilities rather than disabilities. This will help the mindset that a normal life can be led despite the pain.
Some people react to pain by severely restricting activity. They feel this is the only way they can control the pain. This results in reconditioning and increased weakness and ultimately decreased ability to perform regular daily activities. When stamina is lost, the thoughts of becoming active again can be very daunting.
Chronic pain can also affect the spouse or significant other. It is very difficult when a loved one is on pain. In addition to the emotional toll, the spouse sometimes takes on a more parenting-type role and assumes more of the household chores and responsibilities in an effort to decrease the burden on the person in pain. This can eventually cause resentment on the part of the spouse and the pain sufferer. As time goes on, the spouse’s patience may wear thin, causing frustration and anger. They may unintentionally direct their anger toward the pain sufferer. Then the spouse may feel guilty about being angry, which leads to increased attentiveness and caring for the chronic pain sufferer.
These emotions tend to cause the cycle to begin over and over. Furthermore, when chronic pain sufferer becomes depressed, interpersonal relationships become strained because communication, togetherness, intimacy, and everyday life can be such a challenge. People, who have caring family and friends, are usually better able to cope with chronic pain. They are less likely to experience depression and tend to be more independent. It is important for the pain sufferer and their spouse to be aware of hoe their actions are affecting the others. Open communication between the two can help to diffuse anger and resentment as well as fears.
If you are suffering from an injury or chronic pain….you need real relief. Chronic pain of any kind is often an unbearable weight to bear that can take over your every thought and eclipse any moment. But pain doesn’t have to be a part of your life. Call and schedule an appointment with your Minnesota Chiropractic today. They can help you relieve your chronic pain.
