Pain Disorder

Addressing persistent pain usually requires professionals who study it from different angles: the psychologist and the psychoanalyst address the emotional and behavioral component, while the general practitioner or the surgeon evaluate possible physical causes. Pain disorder is a condition in which the physical discomfort is real and significant, but its intensity or duration is importantly related to psychological factors.

How it shows up: continuous or recurrent pain that interferes with sleep, work, or relationships, and that is sometimes not fully explained by physical findings.

Factors that play a role: stress, anxiety, previous experiences, and the way the person perceives and copes with the discomfort.

If pain affects your daily life, discussing it with a professional allows both the physical and the emotional aspects to be explored in a comprehensive way.