Chronic Pain & Health Concerns

Chronic Pain

Pain is common issue, and often the main reason people seek out medical care. While pain serves a purpose - alerting us to injuries or areas of our body that might need care and attention - chronic pain is often more complicated. 

While the first awareness of pain may be physical, pain has biological, psychological and emotional factors. Chronic pain can also cause feelings such as anger, hopelessness, sadness and anxiety. To treat pain effectively, you must address the physical, emotional and psychological aspects.

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Medical treatments, including medication, surgery, rehabilitation and physical therapy, may be helpful for treating chronic pain. Psychological treatments are also an important part of pain management. Understanding and managing the thoughts, emotions and behaviors that accompany the discomfort can help you cope more effectively with your pain—and can actually reduce the intensity of your pain.

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A therapist can help cope with the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that may come with long-lasting, chronic pain. 

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Ongoing Stress & Medical Conditions

Having a painful or chronic condition is stressful. Stress, if untreated, can cause a range of health issues- including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, depression and anxiety. In addition, stress can trigger muscle tension or muscle spasms that may increase pain. Managing your emotions can directly affect the intensity of your pain.  If you or a loved one are experiencing pain or stress due to a health issue such as a cancer diagnosis, autoimmune disease, chronic back pain or migraines, psychotherapy can help. 

The therapists at River Grove Therapy have experience working with chronic pain & health conditions, including cancer diagnoses for the individual or loved ones, autoimmune diseases, endometriosis, arthritis, back pain, migraines, and other health issues & concerns. 
We'd love to help manage your stress and pain levels by addressing the psychological and emotional aspects of the pain- often offering a reframe of the experience of pain and tools to help.