September 30, 2009 – The Role of Anxiety
I have realized during my time living chronic pain, that my mood can greatly affect the pain that I experience and my perception of the pain. When I first started seeing a Pain Specialist, he recommended that I see a therapist that specialized in therapy for chronic pain.
When I first started see the pain therapist I was a little skeptical that she could help me, but after a few sessions I was amazed. Her specialty was Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT. This type of therapy focuses on analyzing your thoughts and thought processes and stopping negative thoughts before they take over.
As a complement to sessions with her she recommended that I read Thoughts & Feelings: Taking Control of Your Moods and Your Life by Matthew McKay. I found this book so useful that I stopped seeing the therapist and just read the book. I would highly recommend it.
