Chronic pain and anxiety go hand in hand. Initially, it was thought that the experience of pain was responsible for increased worry. But now, research has revealed that pain and anxiety share similar brain pathways and, thus, an intimate relationship, one affecting the other and vice versa.
Pain is not only a physical experience but also an emotional one. This is due to the involvement of key brain structures, including the amygdala and the anterior cingulate gyrus, that regulate emotions and the stress response. These same regions contribute to anxiety as well.
Furthermore, brain messenger molecules like serotonin and norepinephrine contribute to pain signalling in the brain and nervous system. Two messenger molecules that are also involved in anxiety.
Does pain cause anxiety, or does stress cause pain?
The answer is both.
Like pain is not purely a physical experience, anxiety isn't a purely mental one. Anxiety has well-known physical impacts, including digestive upsets, pain, changes in heart rate, etc.
Anxiety doesn't make us feel safe and amplifies the danger-alarm circuit responsible for experiencing pain. It amplifies pain perception. This can create a negative feedback loop, where pain makes anxiety worse, and anxiety makes pain worse.
People with chronic pain are three times more likely to develop anxiety symptoms. While people who suffer from general anxiety disorder are more likely to develop chronic pain.
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