The Link Between Chronic Pain and Mental Health
April 25, 2024
Pain has a way of stopping us in our tracks. Whether you have an injury, headache or sore throat, pain can make it hard — or even impossible — to complete daily activities.
Fortunately, most pain is temporary and subsides as our bodies heal. But what if you have chronic pain and you don’t know when — or if — it will go away? How can this type of pain impact your well-being?
What Is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than three months. While acute (short-term) pain usually has an “end date,” chronic pain can go on indefinitely. Arthritis, back injuries, fibromyalgia and nerve damage are just a few examples of conditions that can cause chronic pain.
Chronic pain is a major issue: studies show that more than 50 million U.S. adults experience it. When you have ongoing pain, it can harm your well-being and mental health in ways that short-term pain doesn’t.
How Chronic Pain Leads to Mental Health Conditions
Pain is a protective mechanism that tells you something is wrong and usually goes away as you heal or recover. But if you are coping with pain day after day, it’s difficult to manage life’s demands and responsibilities.
Over time, chronic pain can cause or worsen mental health conditions. People with chronic pain are more likely to experience:
Depression
Up to 45% of people with chronic pain experience depression. Chronic pain can:
- Trigger a sense of hopelessness
- Make it hard to sleep
- Increase your stress levels
All these factors have a strong link to clinical depression.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal response to pain. But when pain affects you every day, you can develop an overwhelming sense of anxiety about facing daily challenges. Over time, this ongoing worry and stress can lead to an anxiety disorder.
Substance Use Disorders
When you are in pain, you want it to go away. But if over-the-counter pain relievers don’t help, people with chronic pain may look for other options.
Opioid pain relievers can help with temporary pain but taking them long-term can lead to dependence. Many people with opioid use disorder began taking opioids to treat chronic pain and became unable to quit.
Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors
Depression, substance abuse or extreme stress are risk factors for suicide attempts and deaths. People who have chronic pain are more likely to have one or more of these factors.
How Mental Health Conditions Cause Physical Pain
We know that chronic pain can cause mental health issues, but it also works the other way around. If you have a mental health condition, it could be affecting you in physical ways because:
- Depression, anxiety and other mood disorders can change how you feel pain and make existing pain feel worse.
- The stress of having a mental health issue can cause muscle tension, leading to pain in your head, back, neck and legs.
- People with mental health conditions may have trouble sleeping. Lack of sleep can make it harder to cope with pain.
Don’t Let Chronic Pain Harm Your Mental Health
If you’re dealing with chronic pain and you feel overwhelmed, you’re not alone. And there is hope. With the right health care team on your side, you can start to feel better.
Trinity Health Michigan offers a range of treatment options for people affected by chronic pain and mental health issues. You have access to a complete team of specialists that provides customized treatment based on your unique needs. Our services include:
- Compassionate primary care providers who can connect you with counselors, psychologists and community resources like support groups
- Comprehensive neurosciences program, which focuses on neurological conditions like back pain, migraine, multiple sclerosis and sleep disorders
- Expert pain management program, which treats chronic pain with a combination of medical specialists and psychosocial support
- Outpatient and inpatient mental health and behavioral health services to treat the full range of psychological conditions
No matter what type of pain or mental health condition you’re facing, you don’t have to “tough it out.”
Talk with your primary care provider about chronic pain or mental health concerns so they can help you find support or treatment.
If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide, help is always available. Seek emergency medical care or dial 988 to speak to someone from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also use the 988 online chat feature.