How to Manage Chronic Pain for Improved Mental Health

Close

Key TakeawaysChronic pain can be difficult to manage—everybody’s experience of it is different.In a new study, researchers have examined how psychological therapies can form part of a treatment program.Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and biofeedback are two of the most effective non-medical treatments for chronic pain.

Key Takeaways

Chronic pain can be difficult to manage—everybody’s experience of it is different.In a new study, researchers have examined how psychological therapies can form part of a treatment program.Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and biofeedback are two of the most effective non-medical treatments for chronic pain.

In the medical world, pain—the body’s way of telling us that something may be wrong—is classified as either acute or chronic. While acute pain tends to be severe but temporary, chronic pain can vary in intensity and persists for long periods of time. Sometimes, chronic pain is a symptom of long-term disease, but in some cases, it’s difficult to identify a specific cause.

Chronic pain can be treated with prescription and over-the-counter medications, but the latest issue ofPsychological Science in the Public Interest(PSPI) looks at howpsychological interventionscan be part of the treatment plan.

“For the last 16 years I have never found a case of chronic pain that was only physical,” says Los Angeles, California-based holistic health consultantPeter Bedard, who has an MA in consciousness studies and extensive training in hypnotherapy and alternative health. In Bedard’s experience, every wound has a mental, physical, and spiritual/energetic component.

Psychological Therapies for Pain Management

Western medicine has long been in the habit of treating the mind and the body as separate entities, says therapistSusan Epstein, LCSW, who runs chronic pain workshops for her clients.

“Medical doctors often look for mechanical/physical explanations of and fixes for pain, when the real answers lie in misfiring messages from the brain due to psychological, emotional, environmental, and even nutritional factors,” Epstein explains. “There is more and more recognition that the mind-body is a complex interconnected organism and that holistic approaches may offer relief where surgeries or pharmaceuticals have failed.”

ThePSPIresearch highlights many effective non-medical treatments for chronic pain, and describe psychological therapies as among the strongest options in terms of reduction in pain and improvements in both physical health and emotional well-being, includingcognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) and biofeedback.

Peter Bedard, MAFor the last 16 years I have never found a case of chronic pain that was only physical.

Peter Bedard, MA

For the last 16 years I have never found a case of chronic pain that was only physical.

“CBT is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on a person’s thoughts (cognition) and behaviors (actions) that are the source of their problem,” explains psychologistSheila Forman, PhD. For example, someone may say, “This pain will never go away—what’s the point of seeing the doctor again?”

In this case, the CBT therapist would help this person identifypatterns of negativityembedded in these thoughts with the goal of changing them in a way that would lead to a healthier way to think about and respond to pain.For example, they may change the narrative to something like, “This pain comes and goes and when I see my doctor; she helps me get some relief.”

Biofeedbackinvolves using sensors to monitor patients’ physiological responses to stress and pain, such as increased heart rate and muscle tension, then teaching them how to gain control over these responses.“This form of therapy is useful because stress exacerbates pain, so learning tomanage stresscan help manage pain,” says Forman.

Clients also can use scales to assign objective measures to what is a very subjective experience. “If you ask someone to rate their pain on a scale of 1 to 10, it gives them some sense of perspective on the pain and may help them tolerate the experience because they know the intensity does change,” Epstein says.

How to Manage Chronic Pain for Improved Mental Health

Chronic Pain vs Grief

The experts agree that chronic pain is comparable to grief. “Like grief, chronic pain is asking us to grow, forgive, expand, and learn,” says Bedard. “Chronic pain—any pain really—is a calling to evolve and become your greatest self. Radical acceptance and taking responsibility for the pain allows acceptance to happen.”

Forman adds that chronic pain itself can lead to a type of grief.“People who suffer with chronic pain experience a sense of loss,” she explains. “It can lead to an inability to participate in activities, do meaningful work, and maintain relationships. All of these are losses—and losses need to be grieved.”

Sheila Forman, PhDWhen we focus on pain, we make it worse. By building a life that is enjoyable you can distract yourself from your pain.

Sheila Forman, PhD

When we focus on pain, we make it worse. By building a life that is enjoyable you can distract yourself from your pain.

When we grieve, we go throughvarious phases, ending with acceptance. “We don’t like that we have lost something or someone but we accept the loss and learn to live with it,” says Forman. “Pain clients don’t want to be in pain, they don’t want the losses that are causing their pain. But when they allow themselves to grieve the loss pain brings, they create the possibility of a happier and satisfying future.”

When Forman works with clients with chronic pain, she typically suggests a few different coping strategies. The first is mindfulness meditation, to teach the person to use their breath to have a different relationship with their pain. Forman is also an advocate of support groups for people with chronic pain. “Being able to talk with others who are in the same situation can be very helpful,” she says.

What This Means For YouExercise, physical therapy, and different medications can all help with chronic pain. If you’d like to try psychological-based strategies, ask your physician to recommend a psychologist or therapist who specializes in this field.Online chronic pain support groups, likeThe MightyandMyChronicPainTeam, are great ways to connect with others who live with chronic pain and understand the various challenges that come with it.

What This Means For You

Exercise, physical therapy, and different medications can all help with chronic pain. If you’d like to try psychological-based strategies, ask your physician to recommend a psychologist or therapist who specializes in this field.Online chronic pain support groups, likeThe MightyandMyChronicPainTeam, are great ways to connect with others who live with chronic pain and understand the various challenges that come with it.

Exercise, physical therapy, and different medications can all help with chronic pain. If you’d like to try psychological-based strategies, ask your physician to recommend a psychologist or therapist who specializes in this field.

Online chronic pain support groups, likeThe MightyandMyChronicPainTeam, are great ways to connect with others who live with chronic pain and understand the various challenges that come with it.

5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Treede R-D, Rief W, Barke A, et al.A classification of chronic pain for ICD-11.PAIN. 2015;156(6). doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000160Driscoll, M et al.Psychological interventions for the treatment of chronic pain in adults.Psychological Science in the Public Interest.2021 Sept. doi:10.1177/15291006211008157Wilson IR.Management of chronic pain through pain management programmes.British Medical Bulletin. 2017;124(1). doi:10.1093/bmb/ldx032Neblett R.Surface electromyographic (SEMG) biofeedback for chronic low back pain.Healthcare. 2016;4(2). doi:10.3390/healthcare4020027Hardcastle VG.Pain, Chronic Pain, and Suffering. In:The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Medicine. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group; 2017. doi:10.4324/9781315720739

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Treede R-D, Rief W, Barke A, et al.A classification of chronic pain for ICD-11.PAIN. 2015;156(6). doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000160Driscoll, M et al.Psychological interventions for the treatment of chronic pain in adults.Psychological Science in the Public Interest.2021 Sept. doi:10.1177/15291006211008157Wilson IR.Management of chronic pain through pain management programmes.British Medical Bulletin. 2017;124(1). doi:10.1093/bmb/ldx032Neblett R.Surface electromyographic (SEMG) biofeedback for chronic low back pain.Healthcare. 2016;4(2). doi:10.3390/healthcare4020027Hardcastle VG.Pain, Chronic Pain, and Suffering. In:The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Medicine. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group; 2017. doi:10.4324/9781315720739

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Treede R-D, Rief W, Barke A, et al.A classification of chronic pain for ICD-11.PAIN. 2015;156(6). doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000160Driscoll, M et al.Psychological interventions for the treatment of chronic pain in adults.Psychological Science in the Public Interest.2021 Sept. doi:10.1177/15291006211008157Wilson IR.Management of chronic pain through pain management programmes.British Medical Bulletin. 2017;124(1). doi:10.1093/bmb/ldx032Neblett R.Surface electromyographic (SEMG) biofeedback for chronic low back pain.Healthcare. 2016;4(2). doi:10.3390/healthcare4020027Hardcastle VG.Pain, Chronic Pain, and Suffering. In:The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Medicine. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group; 2017. doi:10.4324/9781315720739

Treede R-D, Rief W, Barke A, et al.A classification of chronic pain for ICD-11.PAIN. 2015;156(6). doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000160

Driscoll, M et al.Psychological interventions for the treatment of chronic pain in adults.Psychological Science in the Public Interest.2021 Sept. doi:10.1177/15291006211008157

Wilson IR.Management of chronic pain through pain management programmes.British Medical Bulletin. 2017;124(1). doi:10.1093/bmb/ldx032

Neblett R.Surface electromyographic (SEMG) biofeedback for chronic low back pain.Healthcare. 2016;4(2). doi:10.3390/healthcare4020027

Hardcastle VG.Pain, Chronic Pain, and Suffering. In:The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Medicine. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group; 2017. doi:10.4324/9781315720739

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?