While some of us may have no experience of chronic pain ourselves there are thousands of people world wide who struggle with pain on a daily basis. Still others live with someone, or have a friend, or relative who suffers from chronic pain. It is a condition that can deeply affect or even transform a person psychologically. This condition extends to simply living with pain of some sort on a daily basis to being partially disabled because of a pain condition.  In general, chronic pain is defined by most medical professionals as any pain that lasts for more than six months versus acute pain, which is pain that last for less than thirty days. On the surface pain may seem to only affect the body, however, it also has psychological and sociological dimensions.

Often the most anxious moments for the pain sufferer may be the road to diagnosis and establishing what the cause of the pain is. Whether there is a treatment or way to manage their particular form of pain; and anxiety regarding whether their pain condition could become worse. When the diagnosis is complicated some may even doubt their own sanity as doctors seem to become skeptical and even question the tangible existence of the pain.

Some of the conditions which can account for chronic pain may be one or more of the following:

• Arthritis
• Back Pain
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Clinical Depression
• Fibromyalgia
• Migraines and Headaches
• Sciatica
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Myofacial Pain Syndrome

There are, however, ways to cope with chronic pain and there are many who learn to manage their pain and live productive, full lives. There are a number of multidisciplinary options, besides finding the right medication, when managing pain - this article will specifically focus on the psychological dimension, specifically counselling.

Most of us do not anticipate chronic pain in the course of our lives, it is therefore a non-normative life event. Counselling offers a forum for the pain sufferer to explore and deal with their difficult emotions related to their diagnosis and actual experience of pain.  They may be battling depression or just feeling low; feeling frustrated because of limited physical abilities; venting their anger; grieving; struggling with the way others now see them and the way they now perceive themselves, even battling with their changing moods. Depending on the cause of the pain they may possibly be dealing with recovery from a traumatic event.

Pain causes emotional distress affecting a person's sleep patterns in turn affecting mood, memory and ability to concentrate. If you know someone living with chronic pain you may notice irritability, anger and depression. It affects how a person thinks and feels about life in general.  Medication to treat the pain may also impact the aforementioned conditions. The psychological side effects of living with chronic pain can be as debilitating as the pain itself. 

All of the above issues can be worked through in counselling, both by the person suffering from the pain and even those supporting the pain sufferer. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is often an effective form of therapy used to equip the person in terms of the psychological aspects of pain management. During counselling the issues of exercise, relaxation (stress management) and people support should also be addressed and possible referrals made to the relevant medical professionals if needs be.