Pain has both a physical and emotional component. Emotions, such as feeling anxious, stressed or depressed, can make pain feel worse and decrease your ability to cope.
Anxiety, for example, can actually increase the volume of pain signals and make the discomfort worse.
The flip side of the myth that emotions have no effect on pain is the misconception that pain is all in your head. Many causes of chronic pain are invisible to the naked eye, but this doesn't mean that it's not there -- even if a specific reason for it can't be determined. Scientists say there is data that when people are in pain, brain scanning images or fMRIs show the brain is actually involved.
Some patients also mistakenly view a doctor's attempt to put them on antidepressants for their pain or a referral to a psychologist as proof that their physician doesn't believe their pain is real. Dr. Carol Warfield, who is in the department of anesthesia, critical care and pain medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, said pain is often treated with antidepressants.
"They are real painkillers. It doesn't mean people think you're crazy," Warfield said.
Even so, working with a mental health professional can help to reframe chronic pain so you regain more control over it and can function better.
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