Mental Health and Pain
Being in pain is exhausting, and debilitating. This has impacts on our energy at home, with our families and on our ability to ‘get back to it’ through exercise.
How to recognise mental health deterioration?
There are many signs that your mental health is suffering. These include but are not limited to:
Lacking energy or feeling tired
Feeling exhausted all the time
Experiencing 'brain fog', find it hard to think clearly
Finding it hard to concentrate
Feeling restless and agitated
Feeling tearful, wanting to cry all the time
Not wanting to talk to or be with people
Not wanting to do things you usually enjoy
Using alcohol or drugs to cope with feelings
Finding it hard to cope with everyday things and tasks
Experiencing 'burn out'
An online self assessment tool is available from the NHS.
Where to go for support?
Your GP is a good place to start if you are feeling low or anxious.
To talk to others with this condition, try these online support groups
NHS Talking Therapies can be accessed through self referral
The NHS service icope is local to certain boroughs but has a wealth of online resources about persistent pain.
The Help Guide has information on the mental health impact of pain.
The Samaritans have online information as well as their 24/7 call line. Samaritans are here to listen. You can call us on 116 123, email us at jo@samaritans.org or write us a letter.