by Frances Simon

Created on: January 13, 2008

No one wants to believe they could end up in a bad situation they cannot overcome. Thinking about this or acknowledging its possibility can be a terrifying thought. Thus, people tend to prefer to think of chronic pain in other people as something someone can control with the right mindset.

While most doctors will tell you that chronic pain can be caused by a medical problem, they also know there are many cases where it can be difficult to tell the difference between a physical and a mental problem. This problem is not limited to chronic pain; there are many diseases and ailments that may be influenced by mental issues. There are also physical diseases that can be caused by mental issues. For example, it is known that ulcers can be caused by anxiety and stress.

Unfortunately there is no way to measure the amount of pain an individual is experiencing. And, not all neurological systems are the same, so that something that might cause extreme pain for one person might cause less pain in another. While there are many times when a condition can be pinpointed with tests or x-rays, it is also quite possible this will not be the case.

When a person's pain cannot be explained by medical exams or tests, does this mean it isn't real? While we like to think that modern medicine is highly sophisticated, there are still many things that it has yet to understand. So, it is possible for a person to have chronic pain without doctors being able to explain why.

How can you tell if someone's severe pain is actually physical, and not something that can be treated by the right attitude? How can you tell if their pain is real or if they are complaining of chronic pain for mental reasons? The answer to this question is you can't. Psychiatrists tend to think chronic pain that cannot be explained is a mental health issue. The reality is that there is so much that modern medicine cannot explain that it can be difficult to differentiate between pain that is cause by physical factors, mental issues or both.

Since chronic pain tends to create mental issues of its own, there can be a chicken-and-an-egg factor. While the chronic pain may not have been caused by mental issues, it in itself may have caused some. As a result, most people with chronic pain can benefit from counseling.

If you have a friend, family member or coworker who suffers from chronic pain, think twice before assuming that it is all in their head. By examining your own fears about being in a bad situation you can't control, you may find that the reason you doubt them is all in YOUR head.

Learn more about this author, Frances Simon.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.