Pain Doctors frequently recommend cognitive behavioural therapy. – Also known as CBT, this is a potentially successful form of talk therapy “that helps people identify & develop skills to change negative thoughts & behaviours. CBT says that individuals — not outside situations & events — create their own experiences, pain included. And by changing their negative thoughts & behaviours, people can change their awareness of pain, & develop better coping skills, even if the actual level of pain stays the same” [1]
Did You Know?
Are you aware that cognitive behavioural therapy is most often recommended by Pain Specialists along with other forms of pain management?
So What Can CBT Do For Me?
When patients suffering from chronic pain, book an in-person or online consultation with a Pain Specialist, they may be surprised to find that the Pain Consultant devises a holistic Personalised Treatment Pain, that includes conventional medicine, cutting-edge treatments, and proven psychological therapies. The latter of which can include CBT. So now you may be asking yourself how CBT can ameliorate your pain and suffering.
“CBT can change our thoughts, emotions, & behaviours related to pain, improve our coping strategies, & put the discomfort in a better context. This way, sufferers recognise that the pain interferes less with their quality of life, & therefore they can function better. Moreover, CBT can even change the physical response in our brain that makes pain worse” [1]
The Stress Factor
When we experience pain of any kind, it generates stress. – And this negatively impacts our brain’s pain control chemicals (these include the happy hormone serotonin, and noradrenaline). – But there’s good news – research shows that cognitive behavioural therapy decreases the arousal which affects these chemicals. – So to that end, our body’s natural pain relief reaction can be made more powerful through CBT [1].
Getting the Most of of CBT
If your Pain Doctor refers you to a Cognitive Pain Specialist, there are several point that you should keep in mind:
• You should be mindful that your Pain Doctor understands that your pain is real, and that they are referring you to a CBD therapist to help you return optimum living
• You should be an active participant, keep an open mind, and know that the more effort you put in, the greater the outcome
• You should practice new skills, as recommended by the therapist
• You should aim to complete all the aspects of the CBD program, including the homework that will be given to you [1]
Reference
[1]. Bowers, E.S. (2011). “Managing Chronic Pain: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach.” WebMed.
