ANXIETY & PAIN THE LINK BETWEEN ANXIETY AND PAIN
By Dr. Webster
A
number of studies have shown strong ties between anxiety and pain. This is because pain and anxiety share a reciprocal relationship.
Symptoms of anxiety can trigger pain and symptoms of pain can trigger anxiety. While dealing with this double dose of frustrating conditions can get overwhelming for pain/anxiety patients, knowing the causes and treatments for each can help you get a better handle on the symptoms. To help you find a more complete understanding of each condition, I’ve provided the brief descriptions below:
Anxiety: This condition is best described as a state of panic. Individuals experiencing anxiety typically find that their muscles begin to tense, their palms become sweaty and their hearts race. These symptoms of anxiety occur because the condition triggers a response from the sympathetic nervous system (the “fight or flight” system).
Chronic Pain: Chronic pain is typically classified as pain that lasts longer than six months. The severity of chronic pain varies greatly, including all levels from mild to excruciating. Some of the most common causes of chronic pain include headaches, joint pain, injury and backaches. These are, of course, only some of the many types of chronic pain.
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