Which Came First, the Chronic Pain or the Depression?
Breaking down the relationship between negative feelings and chronic pain Many people suffering from invisible illnesses are initially misdiagnosed as having depression. Although this is concerning, it is understandable given the symptoms of these chronic illnesses overlap with conditions often associated with depression. Depression and anxiety have been reported to be more prevalent in chronic […]
The Top 3 Habits for Falling and Staying Asleep
If you feel like you’re not getting enough sleep or not sleeping as deeply as you’d like to, it might be time to reconsider your sleep habits. If you are having trouble falling or staying asleep, your thoughts and behaviors around sleep can certainly contribute to insomnia. Learning about good sleep habits can go a […]
Laughter might really be the best medicine: How rewiring your brain can help sufferers of chronic pain find relief
If you’ve been online recently, you’ve seen a new wave of positive thinking. It doesn’t sound too bad, right? But there is a point where being continuously told to put a positive spin on all your experiences can become toxic. A person telling you to just “think positive” and “change your attitude” doesn’t help the […]
Personality Traits That Can Lead to Chronic Pain
Most people don’t typically associate personality traits with pain. However, the two go hand-in-hand more than you might realize, especially when you’re dealing with chronic pain. While personality traits aren’t always predictors of pain, certain ones may trigger the “fight-or-flight” response in your brain more heavily than others. That results in the amygdala over-firing, causing […]
How to Get Out of an Anxiety Spiral and Take Back Control
Anxiety is the most common mental health issue in the world, yet it can impact everyone differently. For some, however, anxiety can often feel like it’s “in control,” causing your life to spiral and making you live in constant worry or fear. It can lead to chronic pain, insomnia, or even make symptoms of trauma […]
Breaking the Cycle of Insomnia and Chronic Pain
Chronic pain comes with so many more issues than most people realize. Aside from the pain itself, it can cause mental health problems, weakness, and even contribute to insomnia. In fact, 1 in 4 people with chronic pain also has a sleep disorder. Chronic pain and insomnia seem to go hand in hand. You may […]
Mental Habits that Make Anxiety Worse
If you’re one of the millions of people who deal with anxiety on a daily basis, you might think it’s just how your brain works. It’s common for people to assume they have anxiety and there’s nothing they can do about it. But that isn’t necessarily true. Anxiety is, in fact, a learned habit. Over […]
Why Worrying About Sleep Causes Sleep Problems
These days, it seems articles, commercials, and even social media posts about the importance of sleep are unavoidable. You’ve undoubtedly seen and heard them for yourself. You’ve also probably heard how important it is to get at least eight hours of sleep, or the negative effects sleep problems can have on your mind and body. […]
How to Practice Mindfulness in Your Daily Life
To say we’re living in uncertain, anxious times would be an understatement. You might feel on edge often, and that’s understandable considering the state of our society. Across the globe, cases of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and even chronic pain have been consistently on the rise. That’s why now, more than ever, we need mindfulness. Mindfulness […]
Tips to Sleep Better This Year
The year is still fresh and new. Whether you’ve set resolutions and goals for yourself or not, it’s never too late—especially when it comes to bettering your health. After the holiday season, you might need some help to get things back on track. One of the best ways to take care of your well-being this […]