A person with an acute illness or injury will likely experience pain. It is when the pain lasts longer than six months that they have chronic pain syndrome. Going through this level of pain causes complications that make the pain worse. This vicious cycle of pain-causing pain leads to secondary complications that a person feels lost to overcoming. The persistence of chronic pain limits physical activity that leads to other psychological and emotional issues. Treatment offers hope.
Secondary Complications from Chronic Pain Syndrome
Over time, a person with chronic pain can develop other problems. One example is having intense pain that makes sleeping difficult. The snowball effect is tiredness that can lead to irritability. The chronic pain engulfs their life and gets harder to endure.
This person finds that coping is so hard that they may stop working. A job loss can create financial problems, which leads to stress. Their problems exacerbate and make it even harder to sleep because they spend their nights worrying instead of sleeping.
Guilt becomes a struggle as a person dealing with severe pain opts out of family activities. They miss out on their children’s lives and lose interest in family functions. Losing a sense of direction can make a person feel stuck. Getting treatment can redirect their path before it leads to substance abuse.
Connection Between Chronic Pain Syndrome and Substance Abuse
Life can be miserable and cause some people to turn to substance abuse in hopes of relieving the pain. This sparks the question: What are chronic pain syndrome and its connection to substance abuse?
Not every person who suffers from severe pain turns to drugs or alcohol. Yet, there is a connection between the two, especially when a person has a history of addiction. Dealing with long-term pain has a profound effect on a person’s life. All the things they once did comfortably becomes a constant struggle.
Living in this unending state can generate negative feelings. Frustration increases when family and friends seem blind to what is happening. They do not see the limitations of being saddled with chronic pain.
The constant weight of helplessness or anger increases the person’s risk of depression. This can become enough for addiction. They may start depending on the drugs used to treat their pain. Other risk factors include post-traumatic stress disorder and a family history of substance abuse.
The Mind-Body Connection of Dealing with Pain
Previous assumptions that mental pain and physical pain were separate conditions hindered the effectiveness of treatments. These myths were dispelled by the idea of psychosomatic pain treatment. This disorder acknowledges that anxiety or stress can also cause physical symptoms.
Better treatment outcomes can occur with an improved understanding of the connection between the mind and body. Chronic pain has a close association with emotional disturbances.
Treating Chronic Pain Syndrome and Addiction
Ardu Recovery Center offers treatment and counseling to help you understand what is chronic pain syndrome and addiction.
We offer programs such as:
Contact Ardu Recovery Center at 801-810-1234 if you believe chronic pain has led to an addiction. Let us help. Healing can begin so you can reclaim your life.
