by Suzy kew

Created on: March 13, 2011

How Chronic Pain Can Lead to Depression:

Perhaps the question should be “How could chronic pain not lead to depression?”  Those people who live with chronic pain have to deal with many issues that lead to depression. It is not only physical pain they suffer from but also losses, grief, frustration and loneliness. Who wouldn’t feel depressed?

Losses:

Persons who unexpectedly suffer with chronic pain after developing a pain syndrome, illness or after sustaining injuries from a car accident will suffer many losses in their new life with chronic pain. If they used to be active or athletic people they may lose that ability because of their pain. It is common to lose friendships as well. You might be up to socializing as much as you used to. Fighting constant pain makes you tired. Without a supportive spouse or partner you may also suffer the loss of your marriage or at least complications in it.

Grief:

Following the loss of many abilities and also the loss of friendship, a person with chronic pain goes through the stage of grief. You may be sad that you are not able to do the things you could before your life changed so dramatically. You might feel overwhelmed with simple tasks and that you are unable to keep up with your life. If you have children, this could even make things harder. Children are busy. They are usually active and, perhaps, enrolled in many activities. Activities that you used to be able to drive them to and enjoy watching them. Living in a state of chronic pain makes it difficult to meet all of the expectations that are laid on you.

Frustration:

You become frustrated when you can’t keep up. It is difficult to be positive and keep your chin up when you feel like the world around you is coming down upon you. If you are in treatment for your pain, you may become frustrated when you seem to get different opinions about what is causing your pain and how to manage it. Finding a treatment that actually eases your pain can be extremely frustrating. The fact that, quite often, people around you don’t believe you have pain because they can’t see it will also leave you frustrated.

Loneliness:

Because relationships can suffer, you may become lonely when you lose them. Even long time friends might get tired of hearing your complaints and get angry when you keep cancelling plans because you are in too much pain. You might feel like you are the only one who has this much pain and that no one else understands what you are going through.

All of these things can cause depression. It is important that, when you seek help, you seek physical and mental help. Who wouldn’t get depressed dealing with all of the losses, grief, frustration and loneliness? Depression hurts and feeling tense from your depression can make your pain even worse. Not dealing with all of these things is dangerous. Be sure to get help and you can deal with all of the pieces you need to deal with when you live with chronic pain.

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