CBT is effective in treating chronic pain by helping change the negative thoughts and behaviours that fuel pain as well as helping reduce stress that hampers the release of the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals.
There are various benefits to considering CBT as an additional intervention for treating chronic pain along with medications and other treatment options. CBT encourages a problem-solving attitude which allows people to feel more in control and able to positively impact their experience of pain, helps the person learn strategies that help them cope with their pain and other emotional issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, etc. that fuel their pain, and helps people to change their thoughts and behaviours to more constructive, positive ones that can significantly enhance their quality of life.
The number of sessions depends on the individual’s severity of condition, presence and intensity of other emotional issues, as well as how responsive the individual is to CBT sessions.
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