Chronic pain may be invisible but it has a huge presence in the life of the pain patient. There is no doubt pain also affects the lives of everyone around the patient. Figuring out the best way to deal with the presence of chronic pain can be tricky. Here’s more information about Buy Suboxone online have a look at our web site.
Often patients and their loved ones deal with it by ignoring it-they treat it like the elephant in the room. Everyone knows it’s there but no one talks about it. Although this coping strategy may work in the short-term, it is not a long-term solution.
Part of the reason both the patient and his/her family and friends ignore the pain is because they don’t know how to talk about it. After all, chronic pain is different. It is not as simple as a broken bone that will heal. It is complicated and unpredictable. Usually there is no “one cure” that will make the pain go away completely. When the patient experiences a flare-up or increase in pain, family and friends may feel helpless because there’s not much they can do to decrease the patient’s pain. Family and friends don’t know what to do or say to help a loved one who is dealing with an issue that compromises the patient’s quality of life on an ongoing basis. Patients get tired of answering the question, “How are you doing?” Both parties may feel resentment about the negative impact this condition has had upon their lives.
You must learn how to deal with the chronic pain elephant in the room to live with it successfully (this applies to both patients and family members). When the elephant in the room is ignored a whole new problem emerges-pain-related emotional distress. If left unchecked, the emotional stress related to the elephant can take over. The room gets cluttered with a mix of feelings that can include; unexpressed guilt, anger, sadness, anxiety and depression. As emotions build, the chronic pain elephant gets bigger, relationships are strained and everyone involved suffers unnecessarily.
The following tips from your Arizona pain specialists are provided to help you identify emotional distress risk factors and develop new ways to deal with chronic pain, whether; a) you are the pain patient or b) you are a family member or friend of a chronic pain patient.
What Makes the Elephant Grow Bigger?
Patient Risk Factors
Uncertainty about how to deal with and/or talk about the pain
Overdoing it because you don’t want to disappoint others or feel like a failure
Feeling resentment or anger about what you are no longer able to do
A history of poor self-esteem, or being the “go-to” person for family and friends
Not talking about your pain because you want to protect your family and not be a burden
Using isolation, sleep or medication to avoid the reality of what your life has become
Focusing only on the physical part of chronic pain and ignoring the emotional part
Trying to handle the chronic pain on your own-the stiff upper lip approach
Uncertainty about how much pain reduction to expect
Family/Friends Risk Factors
Uncertainty about how to deal with and/or talk about the pain
Protecting the patient from negative thoughts or feelings by not talking about them
Overdoing it to help the pain patient and neglecting yourself
Estimating the patient’s pain level based upon how they look
Taking over and doing things for the patient he/she is capable of doing
Expecting the patient to make scheduled activities
Expecting the patient to be able to control his/her pain level
Focusing mostly on finding a “cure” for the problem
Focusing only on the physical part of chronic pain and ignoring the emotional part
Coping Strategies: How to Kick the Elephant out of the Room
Talk about it: The emotions related to chronic pain are as complicated as the condition itself. A great starting point is sharing how you feel about the chronic pain. The purpose is to open up communication-no one should feel guilty or blamed
Pick the right time to talk: It’s better to talk when the patient is in less pain and hasn’t just taken his/her pain medication. Minimize distractions and take a break if either person becomes too emotional
Don’t wait: Start talking now. The longer you wait, the more emotions build up and make it harder to communicate
Become a team: Commit to fighting the pain, not each other
Be mentally prepared: Accept that chronic pain is long-term. There will be good days and bad days
Confront the elephant: Keep tabs on how much emotional stress you feel and use it as your guide to determine how well you are handling the chronic pain
Don’t underestimate the elephant: It may seem easier to ignore the elephant, but doing so puts you at risk for unnecessary emotional suffering
Use moderation: Avoidance, denial, isolation and overdoing it sometimes work, but using them most or all the time doesn’t
Speak up: Tell family and friends how they can be supportive and helpful. Be an active participant in your doctor’s appointments and educate yourself about your diagnosis. Be a part of figuring out what works best for you
Know when to seek help: As stated earlier, successfully dealing with chronic pain is complicated. If you have tried to banish the elephant from the room and you are still struggling it may be helpful to seek treatment with a health psychologist to assist you.
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