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[email protected] | 303-800-3458
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3000 Youngfield Street, Suite 302, Wheat Ridge, CO 80215
[email protected] | 303-800-3458

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    • What is Chronic Pain?

    Pain has an important function– it’s the natural way our bodies communicate with our brain to indicate something might be wrong. However, when the pain persists and becomes chronic, it begins to take a toll on you and your ability to enjoy life, both from a physical, mental, and emotional standpoint.

    Key Characteristics of Chronic Pain

    Chronic pain can happen anywhere in the body and can be identified by the following characteristics:

    • Duration: Chronic pain is primarily characterized by longevity that lasts longer than three months or longer than the usual recovery time. 

    • Persistence: Pain consistently impacts one’s quality of life. Pain can be continuous or can come and go. 

    • Different Causes: Chronic pain can stem from various factors, including previous injuries, chronic illness, nerve damage, other underlying health conditions, or even in the absence of a known cause.

    • Strongly Impacts Daily Life:  Chronic pain can affect your ability to work or complete specific tasks, get restful sleep, engage in social activities, or find joy in your everyday life. 

    Common Types of Chronic Pain

    While there is a wide range of conditions that involve chronic pain, some of the more common ones include:

    • Chronic Neck and Back Pain

    • Headaches and Migraines

    • Fibromyalgia 

    • Nerve Damage (Neuropathy)

    • Injuries or Accidents

    • Chronic Illnesses

    Acute Pain Vs. Chronic Pain

    In contrast to chronic pain, acute pain often comes on more suddenly, is short-lived, and serves as a warning signal. Some causes of acute pain include:

    • Surgery or Medical Procedures 

    • Injury or Broken Bones

    • Burns or Cuts

    • Tooth or Dental Pain

    While some acute pains can last longer than 3 months, making them feel as though they could fit in the chronic category, after the cause of the acute pain heals, pain subsides. Chronic pain, in comparison, may not often come with a distinct start and finish.

    Interdisciplinary Approach for Chronic Pain

    Chronic pain can affect every aspect of your life. Living with chronic pain can be draining emotionally, physically, and even socially. Since the pain affects so many areas of your life, it’s important to work with a team that can handle the full spectrum of your health needs.

    Medical Providers

    Medical providers are often the first stop in your chronic pain journey. They can help identify the causes of the pain as well as a path for healing. Your qualified medical team can provide insight on your condition and help you find the best ways to navigate treatment. 

    Physical Therapists

    For many chronic pain conditions, physical therapy may provide an approach to help heal or cope. Physical therapy helps repair and strengthen your muscles and helps you find a path to enjoying your life more. 

    Psychotherapy

    Chronic pain can affect your emotional and mental well-being. You might feel a range of anger and frustration, to sadness and hopelessness. Chronic pain can also be incredibly isolating. Psychotherapy can help you learn new insights into the brain’s role in chronic pain, learn new skills, and practice coping strategies for thriving with a chronic condition. 

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a form of treatment that helps people understand the interactions between situations, thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and sensations. For individuals experiencing chronic pain, CBT can help recognize the interaction between physical pain and the emotions it evokes. CBT can help recognize negative thought patterns, such as focusing on the limitations or catastrophizing the pain, to help you reframe your thinking.

    CBT can also help provide coping strategies for managing pain symptoms and your physical responses. By challenging limiting beliefs and focusing on engaging in life, individuals utilizing CBT can continue to find ways to enjoy and improve their lives, even with the effects chronic pain might bring. 

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, begins with building a new relationship with the difficult thoughts and challenges of your chronic pain, while also committing to moving in a direction that helps you find joy in your life. ACT focuses on understanding that challenges and distress will happen in your life and you are capable of developing the tools that can help you live a meaningful life. For those dealing with chronic pain, accepting the current circumstances as well as the negative thoughts can be an important first step to learning how to commit to a life working towards solutions that help you cope and manage the chronic pain you experience.

    Pain Reprocessing Therapy

    Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) is a novel approach for primary pain conditions and aims to help the brain unlearn chronic pain. PRT uses techniques designed to adjust the way the brain interprets pain signals. PRT provides techniques that help the brain learn to understand these pain signals as less threatening and through a lens of safety. PRT also provides tools for managing the emotions that may be exacerbating existing pain even further. It is important to consult with a medical provider prior to engaging in PRT to confirm that your chronic pain is not related to structural or tissue damage. 

    Hypnosis for Chronic Pain

    Many individuals experiencing chronic pain can benefit from hypnosis. It can be a helpful tool in managing chronic pain. Hypnosis can alter pain perception by influencing how the brain processes pain. Hypnosis highlights redirecting attention to help individuals manage the physical and emotional impacts of chronic pain. Hypnosis also encourages relaxation and helps you build useful techniques for pain management,  stress reduction, anxiety, muscle tension, and sleep difficulties, all of which can cause pain to worsen.

    Psychotherapy for Chronic Pain

    There are a variety of treatment approaches to help individuals experiencing chronic pain find support with a qualified therapist to guide the way to a better quality of life.

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    Psychotherapy for Chronic Pain

    Psychological Effects of Chronic Pain

    Chronic pain is a common condition; according to a study by the CDC, about 24% of US adults (over 50 million people) experience some form of chronic pain. While it is common, that does not make chronic pain easy to live with. Chronic pain can impact the things in your life that bring you joy, in some cases it may even prohibit you from taking part in your regular activities. As a result, those experiencing chronic pain are also dealing with many difficult emotions. Feelings of loss and grief for life before chronic pain, compounded with the frustration chronic pain can bring can make the emotional struggles sometimes as hard to handle as the physical ones.

    Psychotherapy for Chronic Pain in the Denver Area

    No matter the cause or the severity level, when your pain is persistent, you can benefit from building tools to help you thrive without your chronic pain placing mental or emotional limitations on your ability to live your life to the fullest.

    The psychologists at Shift Healing Health Psychology have the expertise and tools to provide support that will help you learn how to thrive in the face of challenges that come your way. At Shift Healing, we want to help you live your best life; if you are in Colorado, reach out today for a free consultation. 

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    303-800-3458
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    3000 Youngfield Street, Suite 302, Wheat Ridge, CO 80215

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