Anxiety and its Relationship to Chronic Pain

Which comes first, pain or anxiety? These two co-occurring disorders are so frequently linked that it can be difficult to untangle them because they create a vicious cycle.  Anxiety is a mental illness with many physical symptoms, including muscle soreness, digestive issues, TMJ, and headaches, making a correlation between pain and anxiety clear and difficult to separate.

Anxiety arises from not knowing where the pain is coming from, how long it will last, or if it will get worse. If we continue to suffer from the pain, anxiety could also come from other people not understanding or believing the depths of our pain. This is common as both anxiety and chronic pain are invisible illnesses that are frequently diminished by others.

On this week's episode of A Wise Mind, presented by Sabino Recovery, your host Sam Zimmer is joined by Dr. Andrea Elkon. She practices in Atlanta, GA, and specializes in working with athletes and active adults who are struggling with the emotional and physical effects of injury and illness. She also deals with anxiety, performance issues, perfectionism, and eating concerns. Sam and Dr. Elkon discuss the relationship between pain and anxiety and how the two can be brought on by the other. 

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