Emotional Disorders Specialist

What are emotional disorders? 

Emotions refer to your feelings. While that sounds simple, emotions don't exist on their own, making them complex and challenging. Your feelings occur in response to your thoughts and physical health and your life experiences and behaviors. 

You develop an emotional disorder when your emotions get so intense, out of control, or overwhelming that they disrupt your ability to function and live a normal daily life. For example, you may stop seeing friends, call in sick instead of going to work, or rearrange your days to avoid places, events, or people. 

How are chronic pain and emotional disorders connected? 

Chronic pain has a close relationship with emotional disorders. This is because they share the same nerve pathways in your brain, and over time, chronic pain changes the nerves that control pain sensations and regulate your emotional and mental health.   

Chronic pain’s effect on your emotional health leads to giving up activities and becoming socially isolated. Ongoing pain robs you of joy and the motivation to enjoy life. Pain also makes it hard to get restorative sleep. Before long, your professional, social, and family life suffers, which further adds to emotional problems. 

What are the different types of emotional disorders?

An emotional disorder is an umbrella term that includes several mental health problems. For example, nearly every mental health disorder has its unique emotional component.

However, the emotional disorders most often caused by chronic pain include stress, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and mood dysregulation disorder. 

How are emotional disorders treated? 

The team at Johnston Pain Management, P.A., takes a holistic approach to treating emotional disorders. Their pain management physicians work together with their clinical psychologists to ease your pain and provide the therapy and medications you need to improve your emotional and mental health. 

Your psychologist helps you learn to manage challenges caused by pain and emotional disorders, including:

• Loss of your job and financial stress
• Loss of social support from friends
• Changes in your ability to cope with stress and problems
• Changes in relationships with loved ones, including intimacy
• Changes in your ability to participate in hobbies and pleasurable activities

You may receive nutritional counseling to support the health of your brain and body. Your provider may also recommend complementary therapies such as massage, acupuncture, and physical therapy.

If you need help and support for emotional disorders, call Johnston Pain Management, P.A., or book an appointment online today.