Chronic pain is, by definition, a type of pain that lasts for more than six months. Unfortunately, it doesn’t only affect your physical health but also your psychological and emotional states. The inability and difficulty to manage one’s daily activities, go places, or work can lead to frustration. It may eventually result in stress and anxiety, affecting your mental health. And while there are medications and physical therapies for pain management, they’re only pieces to the puzzle of coping with chronic pain.

Because pain affects your psychological and emotional health, you may also notice that you become more irritable or angry as the days pass by. This is because the effects of chronic pain on your psychology are as draining as the physical pain itself. Dealing with chronic pain, in this case, can be complex and needs a lot of self-will to overcome and cope with it.

Luckily, there are actionable steps you can follow to possibly help you control and manage chronic pain better. Look at these five tips you can try to incorporate in your daily life to make chronic pain more manageable.

1. Reduce Stress

Stress is said to be an indispensable part of life. It’s easy to get stressed by different life issues such as family, work, education, and other everyday problems. As much as stress may affect a person’s emotional and psychological health, it also has an impact on physical wellbeing. Medical specialists have often linked stress to pain. So, if you want to manage pain, the initial step is to try and manage stress.

Start by acknowledging that you’re in pain and accept that you’re suffering from something that’s out of your control. Avoid negative thoughts and feelings because your body will respond in the same way as a consequence. You’re more likely to aggravate the pain when you’re feeling negative and defeated. 

Find things that can possibly boost your mood to keep your thoughts positive such as uplifting music, podcasts, visualization, or meditation.

2. Seek Alternative Therapy

Some chronic pain issues can be treated by non-conventional means such as chiropractic therapy. Chiropractors treat conditions related to the body’s structure to help relieve pain and improve bodily functions. You can visit a chiropractor if you’re experiencing the following:

  • Neck pain, including whiplash or neck pain from impact in car accidents;
  • Tension headaches and migraines; 
  • Shoulder pain;
  • Knee pain; and,
  • Sacroiliac or lower back pain. 

They work by manipulating and adjusting the spine to improve its range of motion. Always consult your doctor before starting any alternative therapies if you aren’t a good candidate for them. Other alternative treatments range from massage and acupuncture sessions, mindfulness, to magnetic therapy among others.

3. Take On Physical Exercise

As difficult as it may sound, exercising is believed to be good for you as one of the ways to cope with chronic pain. Not moving can lead to more pain and the inability to do regular tasks. You don’t need to get into high-intensity workouts right away. Instead, you can start with exercises that’ll keep you mobile. This helps your joints to stay flexible and your muscles in top condition. Ensure you talk to your health care professional before starting on any kind of workout. 

Here are a few tips to help you stay active when you are suffering from chronic pain.

  • Start with slow shorter durations and increase intensity as you get used to the routine, gain strength and flexibility.
  • Don’t try to keep up with others. 
  • Exercise daily if possible.
  • Try to balance your routine to cover strength training, stretching, and cardiovascular exercises.
  • Don’t exhaust yourself. Be patient with your journey.

4. Find Support

Going through pain is challenging, but it can make it even worse when you’re dealing with it alone. Look for people whom you can share and get encouragement from. You can ask your doctor to connect you with a support group or you can also search online for such groups in your local area.

If you join with people trying to cope with the same issue as you’re, you may lessen the feeling of loneliness. You also get to share and receive tips for dealing with pain. The best thing about joining support groups is that you don’t need to explain your predicament and why you can’t do this or that. They understand your challenges and pain. 

Besides, seeing people in worse situations than yours or those who have overcome a lot can be an encouragement to keep fighting. It’s also where you can get referrals to other doctors or therapies you can use to help better manage your pain.

5. Ensure Enough Rest

Getting enough sleep and rest is good to help your body recover and re-energize. You can try creating a good nighttime routine and sleep free of distractions from technology and noise. If you’re having trouble sleeping with self-management ways, talk to your doctor. They may recommend over-the-counter sleep medication or prescription drugs.  

Conclusion

Chronic pain can alter your life in so many ways. Accepting the condition and finding simple everyday ways to cope with it can help its management. Keep in mind to eat a well-balanced diet and to avoid poor coping habits including smoking and alcohol consumption.