Chronic Pain and DepressionWhy It Is So DifficultChronic pain and depression makes setting goals and transitions in your life much harder. Don't Be Discouraged. Things will get better!! While, I know all too well that the chronic pain is enough, then there is something else to deal with. Yes, depression goes along with everything else the chronic pain sufferer is going through. They think it is the end of the world, but in our case "What else can go wrong" syndrome. You have to reassure them it isn't the end of the world. One more medicine? Oh well, lets just get over this hurdle and move on.
But...sometimes this could be the hardest thing for the chronic pain patient to accept. They don't understand that the down feelings they are having has nothing to do with them mentally.Chronic pain and depression together adds to their coping with chronic pain. With the loss of their job, loss of income and the socializing that is so familiar to them has disappeared. They have idle time to sit and think of what used to be. It took quite a while for me to convince my husband that something had to be done. His temper was awful. He was quick to bite my head off or snap at the children and I'd had enough. He had to have someone to talk to, to iron his feelings out with. Obviously, I wasn't that person. The doctor set him up with a Psychologist just to understand what was happening to him and why he was so angry. He explained that the pain was wearing on his nerves. That it isn't his fault to feel the way he was feeling. The Psychologists told him, if he was interested in pulling himself back together, taking medication for the chronic pain and depression would help him cope better. He was tired of being so angry with everyone and everything. So he did it. He received the help he so desperately needed. That made a great improvement in his daily life. He was able to communicate and function with a much better and happier attitude. Taking up a few activities also improves your mood. They don't have to be big, small ones will do just as well. When a person feels productive they feel a sense of accomplishment. This is a transition they make from the depressed state. Some of the signs of Chronic Pain and Depression are:
Fatigue and irritability add to the situation because of the lack of sound sleep. Napping, when the pain is eased, is the best time to get some rest whether during the day or at night.
This is done with biofeedback (listening to soothing sounds) or in a group relaxation session. Being quiet and taking some time to escape (putting yourself on a beach or mountain top or wherever a comfortable setting is) will relax them. If this sounds silly, try it yourself. It really is relaxing. To help with the negative feelings they are having, they need to talk. Get it out of their system, so to speak. Talking to others in chronic pain also helps. They understand the feelings, the pain, family problems and everything they are talking about. Then there are support groups with only chronic pain patients involved. This is a tremendous bonus for support.
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Relaxation techniques help with the chronic pain and depression. They will help best, if the patient finds a way to integrate it into their daily lives. 
