Anger
Anger, like sadness, is a common emotion associated with chronic pain. In acute pain, anger is often part of the obvious reaction to the pain, but in patients with chronic pain, anger can take many forms. It can be expressed as violent frustration about a life with many limitations, or as irritation, where you become hot-tempered and lash out.
Most people find that anger is an emotion that is not socially acceptable to express, which is why many people try to hide it. However, this often results in acidic feelings that come out and affect the people closest to you. Over time, this can become a real problem when it comes to maintaining good relationships with loved ones.
The problem with anger is often that you do not know where to direct it. Some direct it towards those closest to them, some direct it towards their practitioners and the treatment system, while others direct it towards themselves. Reacting with self-blame is just as destructive as blaming the innocent, but this type of anger is often seen in depression.
Self-blame and self-directed anger are common in chronic pain and may be another reason for the close link between chronic pain and depression. It is important for pain sufferers to acknowledge their anger and try to understand it to avoid misdirecting it. This is because anger can be used positively and help provide motivation and energy to deal with the pain and its negative consequences with the means at one’s disposal.
