Pain, Fatigue & Bodily Distress
You may wonder how psychology can help with pain and other physical symptoms. Research has shown that intensity of all physical symptoms, including pain, is influenced by a range of factors. We have specialists with experience working with chronic fatigue, chronic pain, and medically unexplained symptoms/bodily distress.
How do psychologists help with pain?
Pain is processed in the brain. This does not mean that pain is ‘in the mind’ or not real, we know that the pain is very real, but it can change based on what we think, how we feel and what we do. For example, brain scans have shown that more activity occurs in pain areas of the brain when people are feeling sad or anxious or have experienced a trauma. This happens because the brain uses a range of information to decide how much pain we need to experience. The information the brain uses to determine this might be related to a physical injury but also our thoughts and feelings, or even our general sense of safety in the world. When we feel threatened our brain is more likely to interpret signals in the body as pain or other symptoms. It can also affect pain intensity and influence our behaviour and activity levels, which in turn will affect the success of any recovery or physiotherapy treatments. When we are stressed or distressed we are therefore more likely to experience pain, fatigue or other bodily symptoms, and may struggle more with managing them.
It is not easy to change our relationship with pain, but there are numerous psychological interventions and techniques that can help individuals to cope with pain better and so manage or recover more effectively. These include:
- Adapting beliefs and behaviour patterns in order to be able to pace and minimise pain flare-ups
- Managing pain differently in different settings, including work and education
- Having support to achieve goals which you find valuable and meaningful
- Relaxation strategies and mindfulness (a form of meditation, which neuroimaging research shows reduces pain intensity and improves ability to cope)
- Learning how to communicate assertively to others about the pain
- Sleep management
- Learning strategies to manage worries and stress, anxiety and low mood, as these may increase pain intensity
- Increasing compassion towards yourself and your body
- Exploring how pain impacts your family or other important relationships
- Extra support in appointments or when liaising with medical professionals
Some people find longer-term psychotherapy and/or trauma work is the most helpful approach for them in managing or resolving the physical symptoms.
With a specialist clinical psychologist you can form a safe and trusting relationship within which you can consider what techniques to try that might work best for you. We can support you from diagnosis to discharge.
Please note that we do not prescribe pain medication.
