{"id":802,"date":"2015-03-18T12:01:34","date_gmt":"2015-03-18T12:01:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centerforpainfargo.com\/?page_id=802"},"modified":"2017-07-28T14:25:59","modified_gmt":"2017-07-28T14:25:59","slug":"the-relationship-between-chronic-pain-and-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/centerforpainfargo.com\/education\/the-relationship-between-chronic-pain-and-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"The Relationship Between Chronic Pain and Anxiety"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”on” allow_player_pause=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”||10px|”][et_pb_fullwidth_header admin_label=”Fullwidth Header” title=”CHRONIC PAIN AND ANXIETY” background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”center” header_fullscreen=”off” header_scroll_down=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” content_orientation=”center” image_orientation=”center” title_font_size=”35″ custom_button_one=”off” button_one_letter_spacing=”0″ button_one_use_icon=”default” button_one_icon_placement=”right” button_one_on_hover=”on” button_one_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ custom_button_two=”off” button_two_letter_spacing=”0″ button_two_use_icon=”default” button_two_icon_placement=”right” button_two_on_hover=”on” button_two_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ background_color=”#0083c0″ \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#0083c0″ inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_divider admin_label=”Divider” color=”#ffffff” show_divider=”off” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”Blurb” url=”https:\/\/centerforpainfargo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Relationship-between-pain-and-anxiety-.pdf” url_new_window=”on” use_icon=”off” icon_color=”#0083c0″ use_circle=”off” circle_color=”#0083c0″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#0083c0″ image=”https:\/\/centerforpainfargo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/print-pdf-icon.png” alt=”Print PDF” icon_placement=”left” animation=”top” background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left”]<\/p>\n

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[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#0083c0″ inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”https:\/\/centerforpainfargo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/pain-anxiety.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” alt=”pain-anxiety” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left” module_class=”article_text”] Anxiety is a normal emotion that everyone has during moments preceding or moments of performance or conflict. Anxiety can trigger our fight or flight response to save us from a dangerous situation. When anxiety persists, however, or appears without a concrete rationale, it can be considered a disorder.<\/p>\n

The Relationship Between Chronic Pain and Anxiety<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone understands the burning pain of a hot plate, the stinging pain of a paper cut and the stabbing pain of a headache. These pains come and go relatively quickly, and our bodies resist and relax respectively. Chronic pain, however, is unlike these examples of acute pain. Chronic pain may be burning or stinging or stabbing; the difference is chronic pain does not climax and disperse, but rather it remains a relentless presence in our bodies and minds.<\/p>\n

Likewise, anxiety is a normal emotion that everyone has during moments preceding or moments of performance or conflict. Anxiety can trigger our fight or flight response to save us from a dangerous situation. When anxiety persists, however, or appears without a concrete rationale, it can be considered a disorder.<\/p>\n

Pain is generated as nerves in muscles, joints or other tissue send a message to the brain that attention must be paid: \u201cDon\u2019t bend that way!\u201d \u201cStop moving!\u201d or \u201cDon\u2019t lift and twist!\u201d may all be among those messages. Pain is an indication of danger \u2013 danger that a body part has been or is about to be abused or pushed beyond capacity.<\/p>\n

In the pattern of chronic pain, anxiety can be both a cause and effect \u2013 hence the phrase \u201cpain cycle.\u201d Unlike pain, anxiety is not a message of danger, it is an anticipation or fear of danger. The relationship can begin when we have pain, which in turn may cause anxiety, perhaps from the fear of continued pain, the fear of not recovering, or perhaps the fear of not meeting responsibilities. On the other hand, the relationship can begin when we have anxiety, perhaps from relationships, from work, or from finances, and this anxiety manifests itself in the form of tight muscles, upset stomach or backache \u2013 or more simply \u2013 pain.<\/p>\n

What may happen to our bodies during the cycle of pain and anxiety?<\/p>\n