Chronic pain is very fertile soil for depression and anxiety to grow in. Not all with chronic pain have it, but many do, especially those who are new to chronic pain. Studies have shown that people who suddenly find themselves living with chronic pain suffer more mood disturbance than those who've had it for years and have come to accept it. There is a very specific process that happens in the minds of those who are newer to the pain. Distorted thoughts abound and there is a clear connection between cognitive distortions with depression and anxiety. For example: Lets say you have chronic back pain and you wake up with your back in spasm. Lets also imagine you are a young mother with small children, and you are trying to get your kids ready for school. Just bending over to put their shoes on causes unimaginable pain and you stop in the middle and begin to cry. These are some of the thoughts you might think: "I'm useless. I can't even put on my child's shoes", Or "I'm a terrible Mother. I cant do anything right."
All of these thoughts are distorted, impacted by specific tricks our minds play on us sometimes. For instance, having pain does not make a human (any human) useless. Having pain does not make a mother bad. And what child is better off without their mother?
A man in a similar situation may have thoughts that are impacting his perception of himself as a man. His chronic pain may have impacted his ability to work and now you have double trouble when it comes to the insidious cognitive distortions that will wreck havoc with his mind and his mood. For instance, lets say he wakes up in a pretty good mood, but when he tries to get out of bed his back goes into spasm. These are some of the distorted thoughts he may think:
"I can't work, I can't ski, I can't chop wood. Now I can't even get out of bed. I'm a useless excuse for a human being."
Or: "My neighbor is so successful. He has a nice car, a good job and plays tennis. I'm a fat slob who can't even exercise. I'm such an idiot"
Cognitive distortions don't have to make sense. They just have to be repeated enough and we willingly believe them. They are frequently responsible for a person's mood plummeting into anxiety and depression. If you are listening to these awful thoughts about yourself all day how could they not affect your mood?
Cognitive distortions are common in human thinking. We all have them to some extent. But when you are suffering from chronic pain it is likely an every day occurrence. How can you stop these evil thoughts? First of all, become willing to identify them for what they are. Most people have heard the same thought over so many times they have more faith in the thought than they do their religion.
But there is hope.The very best treatment is to find a Cognitive behavioral therapist who specializes in chronic pain. And if the cost of therapy is prohibitive, go out today and buy David Burns book: "Feeling Good, The New Mood Therapy". In it, you'll find simple writing exercises that will help you to become aware of when your mind is playing tricks on you and instructions on how to fix those thoughts. And once you do that, you'll have the mental energy to improve the quality of your life.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Deborah_J_Bernacchia
All of these thoughts are distorted, impacted by specific tricks our minds play on us sometimes. For instance, having pain does not make a human (any human) useless. Having pain does not make a mother bad. And what child is better off without their mother?
A man in a similar situation may have thoughts that are impacting his perception of himself as a man. His chronic pain may have impacted his ability to work and now you have double trouble when it comes to the insidious cognitive distortions that will wreck havoc with his mind and his mood. For instance, lets say he wakes up in a pretty good mood, but when he tries to get out of bed his back goes into spasm. These are some of the distorted thoughts he may think:
"I can't work, I can't ski, I can't chop wood. Now I can't even get out of bed. I'm a useless excuse for a human being."
Or: "My neighbor is so successful. He has a nice car, a good job and plays tennis. I'm a fat slob who can't even exercise. I'm such an idiot"
Cognitive distortions don't have to make sense. They just have to be repeated enough and we willingly believe them. They are frequently responsible for a person's mood plummeting into anxiety and depression. If you are listening to these awful thoughts about yourself all day how could they not affect your mood?
Cognitive distortions are common in human thinking. We all have them to some extent. But when you are suffering from chronic pain it is likely an every day occurrence. How can you stop these evil thoughts? First of all, become willing to identify them for what they are. Most people have heard the same thought over so many times they have more faith in the thought than they do their religion.
But there is hope.The very best treatment is to find a Cognitive behavioral therapist who specializes in chronic pain. And if the cost of therapy is prohibitive, go out today and buy David Burns book: "Feeling Good, The New Mood Therapy". In it, you'll find simple writing exercises that will help you to become aware of when your mind is playing tricks on you and instructions on how to fix those thoughts. And once you do that, you'll have the mental energy to improve the quality of your life.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Deborah_J_Bernacchia
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