How do you deal with the emotional side of chronic pain?

Question:

I'm a teenager and have had chronic back pain for approx year and a half now. Sometimes I find the mental part of the pain to be worse than the physical. anyone have any ways to relieve the stress/anger towards chronic pain?

Answers:
I actually find that making things for other people takes the energy I would be spending on the stress and anger of chronic pain and re-directs it to something positive. Sometimes even if it isn't a holiday or someone's birthday, I make things to brighten their day. I agree that the mental part is worse than the physical because it is especially frustrating when your body just won't let you do what you want it to do when you want it to do it because it is just too painful. But, keeping my creative mind and my hands active when they can, lets me feel productive and somehow makes my mind feel more at ease. I also have to admit another big stress reliever for me is the joy of living with my pets (two adorable American Eskimos). They are a terrific anger difuser because their antics keep a smile on my face. It is hard to be angry when you are smiling!

Learn to meditate. Unity Church is one source for learning meditation. Meditation will help you separate the physical pain from your emotional upset. And help you ways to manage (reduce) both your physical and mental pain.

I have actually found shooting people to be a great stress/anger reliever. I hurt my ankle badly a while back and I was so angry all the time that I couldn't get on it. One day I started playing Counter Strike and that was it. Every time I'm really angry or in a bad mood, I sign in, join a team, and go on a legal killing spree. Halo is also good if you like to run people over with vehicles which can be way fun, if they are slow enough lol. I, of course, am speaking only virtual killing in the gaming world. I have never actually killed anyone in any manner (although there have been times when I gleefully imagined myself throttling any number of people). I also like to write down feelings and such in a journal, but there is always the risk of discovery with that method. Good Luck

You really give no details about the source of this pain, but the best I can do with what you give to work with is to tell you that you belong to a very big Club. People of all ages and for many many reasons have to deal with chronic pain. There ARE support groups for people dealing with both pain and other complications of the many medical conditions that they are caused by, and your local Hospital, Health Center, newspaper office, or your own doctor will have information for you on this. Ask your parents, or any other r esponsible older person you are acquainted with, to help you get in touch with a support source. Pain Management is a biiiiiig subject in the Medical Community these days, because it is such a big issue, and so many people are dealing with it. The help you need is out there, but they c annot help YOU if they don't know about you. That part is up to you.

Some holistic treatments-eg acupuncture, homeopathy,meditation.
Check out Alexander Technique, Feldenkreis, Qi Gong-all excellent panaceas,-BUT-these will only work if you practise them regularly.
best wishes

Music really helps me and talking with others who are in the same boat.
I admit pitty parties are held by me at times too, this is not good nor should anyone do this. I guess it does come with the territory at times. I do no how you feel! My pain started at age 13. I was in a accident and doctors told my mother I will never lead a pain free life..
There is a age discrimination, or there was one when I was young. You can't feel pain you are to young...this would make me so mad!
What I started doing when the anger takes over is scream as loud as I wanted to into my pillow. I still do this! It gets it out without yelling at people around you. Peeps wont tolerate this kind of abuse, and why should they?
I also do this when the pain is to much to bare and I do not want my kids seeing me this way.
Otherwise you really have to be some what selfish at times. You need your space to deal with what is going on. Specially when young! Not many people I could go to through my teenage years at my schools (middle school, high school).
Depression is one big issue to deal with when a teen. As a teen I did write down how I thought, another way to get it out..
Good luck!

How do you deal with the emotional side of chronic pain?

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