How Stress Affects Pain

With all that has gone on in the world over the past 6 months, it’s not surprising that people have been experiencing more stress than they’re used to. In fact according to studies, more than one third of Americans have suffered clinical signs of anxiety or depression since the pandemic began and nearly one in five have had a physical reaction while thinking about it.

Read more mental health stats by clicking here- 10 Eye Opening Statistics on the Mental Health Impacts of Coronavirus

What many people don’t realize is that the stress leading to anxiety and depression will not only cause mental troubles, but it will exacerbate physical ailments as well. In fact, it’s been well established for over 50 years through the work of Dr. Ronald Melzack and Dr. Pat Wall that psychological factors heavily influence physiological pain sensations.

Dr. Melzack died this past December, but you can read about the pioneering work of “Gate Theory” that he and Dr. Wall established by clicking here- The Men Behind Our Current Understanding of How Pain Works

On a practical note, I read a good article today about how stress affects pain and in it there are some tips for decreasing stress so that you can reduce pain. It’s definitely worth checking out if you have pain in your body on a regular basis despite doing other things to try and reduce it.

Check it out by clicking here- Eliminating Stress Brings Pain Relief

Please share these with your friends and family who will benefit.

God bless you!

Chris