Pain and Depression
Pain and depression are closely related. Depression can cause pain and pain can cause depression. Depression is thought to be 3 to 4 times more common in people with chronic pain than in the general population. Sometimes pain and depression create a vicious cycle in which pain worsens symptoms of depression, and then the resulting depression worsens feelings of pain.
People with chronic pain and depression suffer dramatic changes in their physical, mental, and social well-being. Chronic pain causes a number of problems that can lead to depression, such as trouble sleeping and stress. Depression doesn’t just occur with pain resulting from an injury. It’s also common in people who have pain linked to a health condition such as diabetes or migraines.
If you have pain and depression, get help before your symptoms worsen. Chronic pain and depression can affect a person’s entire life. Consequently, an ideal treatment approach addresses all the areas of your life that are affected by chronic pain and depression. Following are some treatments that you can follow:
- Antidepressant medicationsmay relieve both pain and depression because they both involve same neurotransmitters. Antidepressants work on the brain to reduce the perception of pain
- Talk therapy,also called psychological counseling (psychotherapy, hypnotherapy), can be effective in treating both conditions.
- Stress-reduction techniques,physical activity, meditation, journaling and other strategies also may help.
- Consult with a physician to design anexercise plan that’s safe and effective for you. Exercise also helps ease depression by releasing the same kind of brain chemicals that antidepressant medications release.
- Homeopathy – It is worldwide popular as safe natural and effective pain management remedy. There are a number of medicines for both acute and chronic pain and are used depending on the type of painful condition. It is very suitable for long term management.
