The Personality of Chronic Pain

According to the US CDC, up to 50 million adult Americans live with chronic pain. Chronic pain impacts all areas of your life, including your relationships with others and the ability to carry out normal daily activities that you enjoy. Unlike acute pain caused by recent ailments or surgical procedures, chronic pain extends beyond the expected healing time of the injury.

What Is the Personality of Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain can seriously affect your daily activities and quality of life, leading to a pain-prone personality. Some of the adverse effects of chronic pain that alters your character and personality include:

Limited Activities

Chronic pain limits a person’s mobility while reducing their flexibility, strength, and endurance. As a result, they may find it more challenging to perform the day-to-day activities that they enjoy. This ultimately leads to dependency, institutionalization, and increased healthcare costs.

Sense of Isolation

Studies reveal that persons who live with chronic pain are at a higher risk of feeling lonely and socially isolated. The limited mobility severely curtails social interaction, and a sense of isolation sets in. Isolation often leads to depression, mental and physical health issues, and even early mortality.

Anxiety, Anger, and Resentment

Family dynamics considerably change when chronic pain comes into play. Chronic pain can trigger feelings of anger, anxiety, resentment, and despondency in other family members. In some cases, even when loved ones are supportive, the fact that they haven’t gone through the condition themselves makes the people living with chronic pain feel alone, angry, and misunderstood. When patients do not feel supported by their family members, they may feel even more alone. The combination of misunderstanding and isolation can deteriorate healthy family connections and coping strategies become challenging to maintain.

Dependency on Drugs

Dependency on pain-relieving medications such as opioids is another primary issue caused by chronic pain. Unfortunately, drug dependency is linked with an increased risk of mental health issues, including addiction. Opioids such as OxyContin, Percocet, and Vicodin affect the parts of the brain that perceive pain by flooding your brain with massive amounts of feel-good neurotransmitters. Opioids typically belong to the same class as hard drugs such as heroin and morphine. When the medication is taken, patients develop a tolerance to it which may lead to full-scale addiction.

Let MAPS Help with Your Chronic Pain

If you need interventional medicine as an alternative to avoid the pitfalls of standard chronic pain medications, go with MAPS. MAPS is the trusted name in Interventional Pain Medicine in the Chicagoland area! We care deeply and are compassionate and dedicated to ending unnecessary suffering with non-surgical, FDA-approved treatments. Our Chicago pain doctors are double board-certified and fellowship-trained. Our team is ready to help you take your first step towards a pain-free life. Schedule your consultation now.