Does anxiety make pain worse and vice versa?

[Scaredhurt]

I have severe spinal injury and chronic long term back pain. I had anxiety to begin with. But now it makes a normal life impossible.

[Michdau1]

Yes, yes and yes!!! I can relate. Mental health and physical health are so interlinked. I have fibromyalgia and anxirty (amongst other things 🙈🙈🙈) and my pain is definitely worse when in feeling low, tired or anxious. The lack of sleep from pain causes anxiety and vice versa too I find xxx

[Scaredhurt in reply to Michdau1]

I so agree.

[Hidden]

Yes I agree. It’s a wicked dance pain does that stirs up issues with energy, mental outlook, fatigue. Im fighting an arthritic knee. Cannot take nonsteroidal meds, dont want to mess with controlled substances, just bought a bottle of CBD capsules, pricey but hoping they will help.

[Lyngray]

Some good research based strategies for anxiety can help relax your nervous system, which is what causes anxiety. Some of them are breathing thru your diaphragm, listening to guided meditation, and journaling your worries. It should reduce your pain.

[Scaredhurt in reply to Lyngray]

I've been working on breathing techniqe with my Psychologist. My anxiety egg came way before the pain chicken. The chronic pain will always be there. No matter what surgeries, procedures, rest, or any prescription will make go away. I've had enough of them all. Rather than go around complaining constantly, I try to walk as normal as I possibly can and keep as straight face in public. By now I have a very high pain tolerance. I just choose to stay away from people. Everyone seems to know how I feel and how to heal my spine disorder. Pain + eye rolling + jaw dropping = Anxiety