When you have chronic pain, how it’s managed, how it affects your life, and how you see it affects how you feel mentally and emotionally. If you see your pain as unchanging, as unbeatable, you may tend to give in to it, believing that you have no control over your pain. Pain can affect your quality of life. It can keep you from going out and socializing. It can keep you from doing your favorite activities and hobbies. Pain can also keep you from sleeping so you become sleep-deprived and fatigued. You may not be able to prepare meals, so you may go hungry. You may not be able to care for yourself, so you may be unbathed – and so on.

So, given all these ways pain can affect a person, it’s no wonder that this can lead to depression and doctors have noticed that connection a long time ago. Not only are pain and depression two of the most common problems seen by doctors, the can occur at the same time, or co-occur, in 30 to 50% of cases.

The Journal of the American Medical Association just published an article about a study that looked at the self-management of pain and use of antidepressant. In the study, 123 patients were randomly assigned to receive 12 weeks of treatment for depression and then 6 sessions (over 12 weeks) that helped them learn a self-management program for pain. This program involved learning how to perform coping and distraction techniques, and do muscle relaxation and deep breathing exercises. They were then followed with more therapy for 6 months. A second group of 127 patients received what is called “usual care,” what their doctors would routinely prescribe for people in their situation.

What the researchers found was that the patients in the first group were two to three times more likely to say their depression had eased than those patients who received the usual care. Even better, they had a four times higher rate of seeing their depression disappear within a year and their pain was lessened too than the other group.

Perhaps with numbers showing this type of improvement, more doctors will become aware of the connection and approach management in a wider fashion.

~~~~

Image: iStock.com

Post from: Blisstree

Chronic Pain and Depression

Yipee! It’s the Health & Wellness Channel’s monthly theme day, and I’m super excited because not only am I finally hosting, but the theme is mental health in honor of May being Mental Health Month!

My fellow b5media bloggers have really pulled together and presented some great information this month, so grab a cup of coffee and settle in for some good readin’!

Over at Help My Hurt, Marijke Durning addresses Depression and Chronic Pain, and touches on the question of, “Which comes first, depression or chronic pain?”

Healthbolt gives us a first-hand look into depression via a Question and Answer session with a long-time sufferer. Diagnosis, triggers and treatments are all discussed in this exclusive interview.

At Alzheimer’s Notes, Mary Emma Allen discusses Depression – a Mental Health Concern for Caregivers and Alzheimer’s Patients. (Something I’ve experienced firsthand and can’t wait to read!)

With Stigma and Pride, Kristina Chew at Autism Vox reminds us that some of the past and present stigma cast upon autistic individuals is in part because of misconceptions not only of autism, but of mental illness.

Karen Lynch at Pink Ribbon Review points out that Breast Cancer Can Cause Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In her post she lists symptoms to watch for and links you to an assessment tool to see how far you’ve come in terms of personal growth and healing.

Weighting Line’s Hope Wilbanks gives us some insight on How To Deal With Depression And Weight Gain.

Over at Lively Women, Kristen King asks a very thought-provoking question – after she offers up some just as thought-provoking quotes – with In Honor Of Mental Health Awareness: Are You REALLY Happy?
Gabrielle Sedor at Fertility Notes nods in the direction of this year’s Mental Health Month theme, “Get Connected,” with Get Connected for Mental Health Month. Not only does she encourage us to get connected, but she offers resources to do so!

Gab is also now the blogger for Daily Tomorrow, and for that she offers up Is Going Green Good for Your Mental Health, or Just Making You Crazy? (You can bet I’ll be leaving a comment or two on that one!)

Grace Ibay reminds us of the importance of Building A Positive Self Image In Our Children at Kids Health Notes.

Health and Men’s Scott Wharton got a jump on all of us last week by rounding up FIVE of his mental health-related posts with Health And Men’s Best Of Mental Health.

Mark W. discusses Anger Turned Inwards at A Dozen Steps (something I’m really looking forward to reading, especially given that he explores mental health and alcoholism – over the past couple of years, I’ve become very interested and somewhat involved with mental health and addiction of any sort).

Angelique at Breaking the Mirror fills us in on mental health, medication, and eating disorders with Anorexia, Bulimia, Depression, Prozac – What You Should Know.

Breastfeeding 1-2-3’s Angela White takes a look at traditional anti-depressants and alternative treatments for depression in breastfeeding mothers with Breastfeeding, Mental Health, Anti-Depressants and Alternative Treatments.

Gloria Gamat over at Cancer Commentary talks about how mental health is a critical factor in the life of a cancer patient, thus it shouldn’t be ignored by healthcare professional and the patients and their families alike, with PTSD, Cancer Patients, Mental Health Month and Channel Theme Day.

And finally, at Diabetes Notes our very own Channel Editor Kendra James presents Depression Is An Independent Trigger For Type 2 Diabetes to inform us that depression is an independent factor for type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that depression alone, and not lifestyle factors like being overweight, can trigger Type 2 diabetes in adults 65 and older, a population with a high prevalence of diabetes and depression.

Kendra also writes A Hearty Life, and over there she tells us about Heart Disease And Depression/Anxiety: It Is Directly Related.

That’s all for now! Be sure to let each one of these awesome bloggers know how much you appreciate the time, effort, and research they dedicated to these posts!

Ken Jensen is currently rockin’ out in the This Is Why I ROCK! series here at Mental Health Notes. If you have a mental illness and are still living the life you love, head on over the the official announcement post and enter!

Post from: Blisstree

Join The Health & Wellness Channel In Recognizing Mental Health Month!