How does chronic pain affect emotions?

Experiencing depression, mood fluctuations, anxiety, altered perceptions and cognition, and emotional instability, are all commonly associated with chronic pain. This is a result of the perceived stress that impacts the body on a physical and chemical level.

Can chronic pain change your personality?

“The study shows people with chronic pain experience disruptions in the communication between brain cells. This could lead to a change in personality through a reduction of their ability to effectively process emotions.

What are the long term effects of chronic pain?

Chronic pain can interfere with your daily activities, such as working, having a social life and taking care of yourself or others. It can lead to depression, anxiety and trouble sleeping, which can make your pain worse. This response creates a cycle that’s difficult to break.

What happens when there is a lack of empathy?

A lack of empathy makes it hard to engage in a meaningful relationship with a person. Being empathetic is an innate human quality, whereby we can appreciate the feelings of other people, regardless of whether those feelings also affect us.

What does it mean to be empathetic?

Being empathetic is an innate human quality, whereby we can appreciate the feelings of other people, regardless of whether those feelings also affect us. What about those who lack empathy? Why do some people lack empathy? Being unable to show empathy is often linked to low emotional intelligence.

What is chronic pain?

Summary Chronic pain is a common, complex, and distressing problem that has a profound impact on individuals and society. It frequently presents as a result of a disease or an injury; however, it is not merely an accompanying symptom, but rather a separate condition in its own right, with its own medical definition and taxonomy.

What percentage of adults in the UK have chronic pain?

Research suggests that chronic pain affects 13–50\% of adults in the UK.1, 11Of those who live with chronic pain, 10.4–14.3\% were found to have moderate-to-severe disabling chronic pain.1 Incidence is the number of new cases of a disease developing during a particular time period in a population at risk of developing the disease.