Mark A. Hirshfeld, LCSW

Physical or emotional trauma may result from a natural (or human caused) disaster, an accident, abuse, a significant loss, or sometimes the accumulation of multiple “smaller” but painful or frightening experiences.  It may lead to recurring nightmares, “flashbacks” (when a person feels as though it is happening again), being unable to stop thinking about what happened. It may also result in avoiding places, people or activities that serve as reminders.  These symptoms, together with a range of emotions including fear, anger, guilt, shame and sadness may be enough to cause a person to feel as if they are going crazy.  It is important to understand that these are normal reactions to something that is very abnormal.  Most important, though, is to know that there is help for getting through this.

If you are suffering from physical pain, it is NOT "all in your head."  Mind and body, though, are certainly connected.  Anyone experiencing ongoing or recurring pain may easily develop anxious or depressive thoughts, e.g. "How bad will it get today?" or "It's never going to get better."  Many people blame themselves for their pain.  Has anyone told you they don't believe that you hurt?  No one asks to be in constant pain.  Such anxious, depressive states, as well as self-blame and doubt, are likely to add to one's pain.  So the physical, the cognitive and the emotional do have an impact on each other.  Managing one's moods and ways of thinking about pain, and about one's self, may well change the way pain is experienced.  Additionally, the mind contains powerful medicine to aid in the treatment of physical pain.

While each person's treatment needs are unique, the best approach to reducing or alleviating pain is likely a thorough medical evaluation together with some combination of methods coordinated by your doctor.  These might include physical therapy, chiropractic care, medication, acupuncture, specific forms of exercise or stretching, rest, hypnosis, EMDR, or other mind-body therapies to alter the of pain, or eliminate it all together.