What are some of the mental reations to being in pain long term?

What happens for people in pains thought processes?

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by Supanova

What are some of the mental reations to being in pain long term?

What happens for people in pains thought processes?

It is very easy to become depressed. My doc and I talk about the fact that if you took an otherwise healthy person and made them be in pain day in, day out they would become depressed.

I go through periods of anger about my pain. I'm mad at the pain. I'm mad at the limitations it places on me. I'm mad about the things I can no longer do because I hurt. I'm mad at people who make thoughtless or ignorant comments. Some times I'm just plain mad.

It's easy to climb up on the pity pot due to chronic pain. To keep myself from climbing up there permanently I give myself permission to climb on the pot for a set period of time, then I have to climb off and get on with life.

On days when the pain is maxed, or close to maxed, it overwhelms my thought process. All my attention is devoted to dealing with the pain.

[~Christina]

Yes What Liz said

Agree. I am having a bit of respite from pain at the moment. Thank God. But I have been exercising and getting massages.

I wonder how much anxiety is triggered by pain too.

I find if i am in pain my body tightens as if anxious. I though the vomiting and stomach upsets were anxiety but they improved with improvement is pain levels.

It s all very intertwined

[Random]

I know my pain can trigger anxiety as I ponder and worry about how long its going to last and if Im going to have to go to the hospital or not and again when Im about to do anything that will make it hurt worse even if its for the greater good.

Lizardlady's post couldnt be more spot on, especially the last part that when its bad, theres nothing else that can even be thought of. I cant follow television even cause all my focus is inward dealing with pain.

It's an interesting topic, Im newerish to chronic pain, only since about january. I wish I had thought to come back here sooner as its a great resource to be able to read other peoples thoughts who deal with similar things.

I only just discovered i was in chronic pain. Over 7 yrs of them telling me my pain was mental....

Now the pain has moment of relief, i feel like a real person again.

My actions words and abilites are mine when im not in pain, not on autopiolet to get through.

Pdocs say psyc meds are causing more pain but they palmed me off as a whinger. Now with scan results they are falling over themselfs to help and relieve my pain.

Bastard doctots

[Thor0298]

I'm going on about 5-6 years total. I can tell you it's most likely different for everyone. For me, tired, depressed, anxiety, panic attacks. My whole mentality has changed used to be happy go lucky. Now mostly just angry with a short fuse. Again some of mine is a product of how things played out for me. Many days I hardly see the woods from the trees anymore. But it wears on you after awhile affecting everything. Relationships. Your job. Family. Everything. Not to be a downer but you asked.

[continuosly blue]

Originally Posted by Thor0298

I'm going on about 5-6 years total. I can tell you it's most likely different for everyone. For me, tired, depressed, anxiety, panic attacks. My whole mentality has changed used to be happy go lucky. Now mostly just angry with a short fuse. Again some of mine is a product of how things played out for me. Many days I hardly see the woods from the trees anymore. But it wears on you after awhile affecting everything. Relationships. Your job. Family. Everything. Not to be a downer but you asked.

This pretty much sums it up for me too. I've been in some kind of pain for the last 15 yrs. or so , chronically. It changes everything. I got injured at work and wound up having back surgery. Because of the pain I lost my job , then because of the meds I lost my active life.
Then I lost my family. It pretty much took everything away from me . I don't like to whine about it but facts are facts. It just plainly ***** you up.

[Thor0298]

15 years. Wow sorry to hear that. I thought 5-6 years was awful. Not that this is any consolation but it makes me feel a little more sane to hear it isn't just me. Sometimes I feel like maybe I'm losing my mind a bit. Been a ridiculously bad stretch lately. Lots of pain. Also anxiety and depression.

My husband has had RSD for 30 years. Besides the extreme pain, he deals with chronic sleep problems, depression, anxiety, and lots of hopelessness. Chronic pain is a daily challenge, physically, mentally, and emotionally. He's a strong man though, and I admire his ability to keep going and find the positives in life despite it all.

[continuosly blue]

Originally Posted by lolagrace

My husband has had RSD for 30 years. Besides the extreme pain, he deals with chronic sleep problems, depression, anxiety, and lots of hopelessness. Chronic pain is a daily challenge, physically, mentally, and emotionally. He's a strong man though, and I admire his ability to keep going and find the positives in life despite it all.

I admire the fact that you stay by his side.
My wife and family abandoned me because I was of no use to them anymore.
I have all the pain , and everything else that goes with it , like your husband.
But I've been abandoned . Not many people understand .
You are probably what keeps him going.
I feel so shaken right now. Alone
Wishing I had someone like you, and your husbands courage.
I'm sure you guys have your rough patches but I admire both of you greatly.

[Thor0298]

Hey continuously
I haven't been abandoned but I understand the pain depression etc. I have run into a bunch of sleep and mental issues and it's hard for my family to understand but they do stick with me. I really hope you don't lose the courage to keep on keeping on. Especially now around the holidays can be tough. The reason I came to find a site was to find others that understood what in going through and help keep my head right. Just keep writing here. I know it's made me feel a bit better to see in not alone (or nuts ) about how I've been feeling.

[continuosly blue]

Thor : You really said it all when you said you hope " I find the courage to keep keeping on ".To me that's what it all boils down to. Through all the pain and everything else that goes with it comes the big question every morning when I wake up. Why ? Why should I fight through another day ? I'm tired. I'm sick and tired. Why do I seem to have a moral obligation, it seems ,to live this out until I die in a way not of my own hand ?

You said the main word , courage. I have to find the courage to carry on . It takes courage to meet something head on , and not be the opposite which is to be afraid and scared and just give up. But I'm not a martyr and I don't think that sucking up pain makes me any more of a man. Then I have to hear well you'll just have to Live with it , or there are plenty of people who have it worse than you. Well is that supposed to make me feel better ? It doesn't.

Even Jesus on the cross was in so much agony that He thought His Father abandoned Him.
I think I have this sick subconscious thinking that tells me pain is good to endure. Enduring pain till the end is Christ like. Is that sick or what ? If man can cure all pain don't you think he would ? Would I be one of those who reject the cure ?

I apologize for the rant and going off topic. These are all just questions that I tortuously ask myself all the time. Sometimes I think I'm losing my mind.

[random_emotion]

I think that the pain makes me more fatigued, hopeless, depressed and less social than I used to be pain sucks but it is what I've been given so I try not to let it drag me down much but it usually does anyway

Originally Posted by continuosly blue

I admire the fact that you stay by his side.
My wife and family abandoned me because I was of no use to them anymore.
I have all the pain , and everything else that goes with it , like your husband.
But I've been abandoned . Not many people understand .
You are probably what keeps him going.
I feel so shaken right now. Alone
Wishing I had someone like you, and your husbands courage.
I'm sure you guys have your rough patches but I admire both of you greatly.

I didn't see your response until now. Sorry for not replying sooner.

I'm sorry your family was not supportive. I never considered not being supportive; it is just part of marriage -- you support each other through thick and thin, and we've had a great deal of both I guess.

My husband's own family was not supportive at all and they are very much estranged and have been for years. But my own family loves my husband very much and would do anything for him. He's a special man.

[Thor0298]

Hey continuously
I think those are the same questions that many of us have. At least I know I do. I know I have issues many times when I wake up wondering what the point is. That is the exact reason I sought out this site. To find others I can talk to when it's a bit overwhelming. So I don't think you were ranting. I think it's stuff we all need to get out.

I've also heard the comment about think about others worse off. I completely agree it doesn't help at all. It's a very belittling statement that I hate hearing people say.

All I can say is I have the greatest appreciation for people living through constant pain. And it may sound odd but knowing that there are others going through it gives me a bit of strength to keep on.

[Random]

I also agree with this "I've also heard the comment about think about others worse off. I completely agree it doesn't help at all.". I might not have the worst pain ever felt in the history of the earth but its enough where I dont need to add shame to my suffering too.

I also agree that though I wouldnt wish chronic pain on my worst enemy it is helpful to hear others in similar situations.

[continuosly blue]

You guys have been great inspiration for me. You all are right. Your pain is your pain. You're the one who has to live with it day after day. It's hard to stay positive. I've also been having a hard time talking about it with " normals" who think your just complaining too much. Personally the thing that broke my heart in two was when my wife accused me of faking it. She can't see my pain ,( failed back syndrome and major depression ) , so she doesn't understand. She's not the only one I get funny looks from. I'm so pissed. This thing has taken away everything from me. My job , my marriage , my self esteem etc.....
Sometimes I feel like ripping my heart out of my chest and showing it to them saying , " is this painful enough to see " . I'm just being dramatic but the anger that I also have to deal with is pretty bad. Thank you all for being here.

[Thor0298]

Originally Posted by continuosly blue

You guys have been great inspiration for me. You all are right. Your pain is your pain. You're the one who has to live with it day after day. It's hard to stay positive. I've also been having a hard time talking about it with " normals" who think your just complaining too much. Personally the thing that broke my heart in two was when my wife accused me of faking it. She can't see my pain ,( failed back syndrome and major depression ) , so she doesn't understand. She's not the only one I get funny looks from. I'm so pissed. This thing has taken away everything from me. My job , my marriage , my self esteem etc.....
Sometimes I feel like ripping my heart out of my chest and showing it to them saying , " is this painful enough to see " . I'm just being dramatic but the anger that I also have to deal with is pretty bad. Thank you all for being here.

You also are an inspiration. I'm 36 and have been dealing with this for a few years and the pain which feeds my anxiety and panic attacks is unrelenting. When I try to think of the future I can't. Because I can't see pushing through this long term. Things have been pretty bad lately. Lots of panic attacks and bad pain. But being able to talk to people that understand gives me a small piece of hope that maybe one way or another I get through it. I guess time will tell.

[continuosly blue]

Originally Posted by Thor0298

You also are an inspiration. I'm 36 and have been dealing with this for a few years and the pain which feeds my anxiety and panic attacks is unrelenting. When I try to think of the future I can't. Because I can't see pushing through this long term. Things have been pretty bad lately. Lots of panic attacks and bad pain. But being able to talk to people that understand gives me a small piece of hope that maybe one way or another I get through it. I guess time will tell.

Hey man , I just want to say try not to give up or think about the future.
The first and foremost thing you have to do is get some kind of relief for the pain. I would search the globe if I had to. Because if I don't ease the pain somehow I won't make it another 24 hrs.
After you get your pain under some kind of control you can go from there.
Your life can get better. Your are too young to give up hope.
hang in there and it will get better.

[Thor0298]

I'm trying just s bit fed up and hopeless at the moment. Psychiatrist decided to put me on cymbalta. Yeah more side effects and crazy bad withdrawals. I told her I really can't keep on this way. She told me to call for stronger pain Meds. So left a message there too. How you do it. I have no idea. I hate taking antidepressants I get so many bad side effects

[continuosly blue]

Originally Posted by Thor0298

I'm trying just s bit fed up and hopeless at the moment. Psychiatrist decided to put me on cymbalta. Yeah more side effects and crazy bad withdrawals. I told her I really can't keep on this way. She told me to call for stronger pain Meds. So left a message there too. How you do it. I have no idea. I hate taking antidepressants I get so many bad side effects

I know how you feel. I tried Cymbalta once and stopped after 2 days. I slept for 12 hrs. And then couldn't actually "wake up" during the day ! Now I just couldn't deal with that. The only good thing about it was I didn't feel pain while I was sleeping. But I didn't want to use it as a pain med.

I just recently had a really bad experience with Effexor. Holy s*** ! I was shaking , sweating , and had felt and heard the neurons in my brain firing away.
Electrical zaps. I am not kidding or crazy. I have heard of people who have felt a similar feeling. Now , even a month after stopping it I got this perpetual ringing in my ears. And I can hear my blood flowing past my ear to my brain.
I was really close to either a bad ending or admitting myself.

Ok. Now back to the pain issue. You have a dr. who can up your pain meds ?
Hopefully he'll come through for you. If not , I don't know. If worse came to worse I probably would have to get what I need on the street. Something I really don't want to do. The other option would be to try and get admitted to a Psych ward and tell the shrink your at the edge of the cliff. Maybe he'll put you on Thorazine or something strong that may zombie you out but I doubt you'll feel any pain.

Good luck , keep posting.

[Nammu]

Continuous pain makes me irritatable and snappy.

[Thor0298]

Yeah the cymbalta made me all weird. Vision and hearing changes and severe nausea. So I was taken off it. But my psychiatrist told me to ask for a different pain med that might be more effective. I go in Monday. I graduated my medx PT program yesterday in absolutely excruciating pain. The doc said my strength really went up and once the recovery catches up the should get better. My mobility and flexibility has gotten way better that I can say. I can walk more normal now. Been having a really hard time staying positive lately but I promised myself to try very hard in the new year to be positive and do whatever is in my power to at least feel a little better. Thank you everyone for your strength and support. I've had some pretty dark times lately and your words have really helped me to get through my struggles. So thank you very much it is much appreciated.