Chronic Stress and Chronic Pain

Understanding the Relationship Between Chronic Stress and Chronic Pain

Living with chronic pain is not just defined by doctor visits, restless nights, and medication management. It is a lifelong journey marked by emotional and mental ebbs and flows. It is crucial that the medical professionals you trust grasp the intricate relationship between chronic stress, pain, and mental health.

Stress and Chronic Pain have an extremely negative relationship and develop into a harmful cycle with stress aggravating pain and vice versa. Research studies looking at the impact of stress and pain, have discovered that feelings of significant stress, intensify chronic pain, and their symptoms. Understanding that the interplay between chronic pain and stress is complex, I work with clients to disrupt the stress-pain cycle by recognizing your triggers, mitigating the persistent stress you are experiencing, and developing techniques individualized to your needs.

Periods of intense stress result in notable cognitive shifts and changes in the brain. The body, under chronic stress, constantly engages its “fight or flight” mode, activating the sympathetic nervous system. This activation causes the release of stress hormones, notably cortisol and adrenaline, which prime the body to react to imminent threats by raising heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. Chronic stress induces sustained inflammation due to the continuous release of stress hormones which then stimulate the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Symptoms other than pain include but are not limited to heart diseases, cancers, arthritis, and neurodegenerative disorders. Moreover, chronic stress weakens the immune system, elevating the body’s vulnerability to infections and decreasing its disease-fighting capability.

In collaboration with clients, I strive to work with clients to reclaim control over their situations and enhance their overall quality of life.