Updated 2010 articles in this series:
- Why comprehensive treatment works better
- Benefits of a psychiatric evaluation
- Treatment of psychiatric symptoms
- Using psychiatric medications for pain
- Learning psychological skills
- Making positive behavioral changes
- Making positive psychological changes
- Benefits of supportive therapy
- Benefits of a pain support group
- New brain-based treatments
2 responses so far ↓
jeisea // May 20, 2009 at 7:10 am
The single thing that helped me the most and has continued to help over the years has been seeing a pain management psychiatrist. It was my psychiatrist who helped me understand what was happening to me. He explained about medications when I was taking them. He helped me deal with the changes in my life, to prioritize and let go of things I’d clung to because I wasn’t prepared to admit I could no longer manage. He recognized my need to feel in control and empowered me to do something to help myself.
Psychiatrists have extensive training beginning with general medical training and going well beyond that. They need to understand drugs and their affect on the individual (individual because we all respond uniquely). They are trained to understand how people think and behave. When something as significant as chronic pain affects and changes our lives we need someone knowledgeable to allow us to take the time to come to terms. We also need help to modify what we do and how we react to reduce the stress which ramps up pain.
This does not mean that “our pain is in our head”. In fact it’s the opposite. It does mean that because our pain is real we need help in dealing with it and its consequences. I encourage others not to walk this path alone.
Kelly Brown // Jun 12, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Hi, very nice post. I have been wonder’n bout this issue, so thanks for posting.
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