As a chronic pain sufferer, like many of you I have felt the broad spectrum of emotions that goes along with a life of dealing with pain. The pain cycle we go through varies among us but the emotions that go with those cycles are similar. Most all of us with chronic pain feel anxiety, depression, helplessness and hopelessness at some point. The chronic pain we feel disrupts are ability to function within the family unit and often with in our professions. The impact can have huge impacts on a personal and social lives.
If there is strength in numbers then the numbers should make us incredibly strong as a group. It is estimated that 100 million US adults suffer with chronic pain. The cost to the country is between-$560-635 billion/yr. While the cost is high, it is ironic that some do not recognize pain as a disease in itself.
The fact is poor pain management affects all facets of life. At Lakeside Counseling and Wellness Center, we use a cognitive approach to retrain the mind and body to cope with pain and to reduce the muscle tension and neurological response that intensifies pain. Individuals learn how to relax and adopt a mindset that allows them to reduce feelings of stress, depression and anxiety. The key is breaking the pain-stress-pain cycle through utilizing tools.
The tools include:
- Coping skills training
- Group and individual cognitive behavioral therapy
- Individual and group therapy to reduce depression, anxiety, anger and other emotions that result from pain and make it worse
- Innovative relaxation therapy and other mind-body exercises
- Guided imagery
- Addiction education
- Educational classes about chronic pain and its treatment
At Lakeside Counseling and Wellness Center we help our clients move from sickness to wellness and from not coping to coping. If you’ve been dealing with chronic pain give our office a call and schedule an appointment with Roger Corbin.
Written by Roger Corbin