Anxiety and pain are two experiences that many people struggle with, but what if these two issues are more closely connected than we realize? Research has shown that anxiety and pain can often go hand-in-hand, with one potentially exacerbating the other. Whether it’s physical pain that triggers feelings of anxiety or chronic anxiety that increases sensitivity to pain, understanding this connection is crucial for finding effective ways to manage both. In this article, we’ll explore how anxiety and pain are linked, the science behind it, and strategies to help manage both simultaneously for a better quality of life.
Key Takeaways
- Anxiety can intensify physical pain by increasing muscle tension and sensitivity.
- Chronic pain and anxiety often go hand-in-hand, creating a cycle of discomfort and stress.
- Psychological factors, like fear and worry, can amplify the perception of pain.
- Addressing both anxiety and pain simultaneously can improve overall well-being and relief.
- Managing anxiety through therapy or relaxation techniques can help reduce the intensity of chronic pain.
CHRONIC PAIN FORMULA
Pain + Anxiety + PHH + Trauma = Chronic Pain
Warning: anxiety system connects to pain system over time in chronic pain
- Longer pain period =more anxiety wires to pain wires
- Longer poor health habits more chronic pain takes control your life
- Higher pain levels more anxiety & more connection
LEVELS UP REGULATION SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM
- Stressors - Demands-mild prolonged
- Pet Peeves - moderate
- Emotional hijacking - severe
- PTSD or Child Abuse - damage emotional brain
Similar: 1) Stress/Anxiety, 2) Fight or flight, 3) Protection system, 4) Sympathetic System, 5) Anxiety system
High Anxiety increases:
- Tension in muscles
- Rewiring anxiety system to pain system
- Grinding & clenching
High anxiety for long periods changes pain reporting system;
- Anxiety wires/couple to pain system
- Anxiety causes adaptations pain biochemistry/physiology
- Sympathetic system connects pain system
- Turns silent nerves into pain nerves
- Creation alpha 1 receptors (pain nerves rx to adrenalin)
- Creates a greater pain response to small stimuli
- Anxiety becomes gasoline on fire pain
Tale twin sisters:
- Sister A: has acute pain, stub toe, stressing her does not change pain
- Sister B: has chronic pain, headache, stressing her causes pain to increase
Manipulation of emotional brain:
- Worlds Manipulation (Politics, hate crime, violence, negative news)
- Self Manipulation (turn love into worry, turn effort to perfectionism)
If you have anxiety with chronic pain, therapy is essential to managing both—without it, the pain may persist. Raleigh Facial Pain offers expert care and tailored treatments to help you successfully navigate your chronic pain journey.
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