Co-authored by Nina Bakoyiannis, Ph.D., and Amy Vigliotti, Ph.D.

Chronic pain can feel like an overbearing presence. Some describe it as an unwanted guest that turns up unannounced to dinner parties. Others speak of it as an unrelenting shadow that follows them wherever they go. It is no secret that chronic pain influences daily life in physically and emotionally demanding ways.

Temporary pain is different—it is an evolutionary function that signals to the body that an injury needs to be tended to. While that pain eventually subsides as healing ensues, chronic pain due to disability or illness can persist for years, sometimes without a clear cause or resolution. Many are left grappling not only with the physical pain in their bodies, but the psychological suffering that accompanies it.

Chronic pain exists in cycles that impact the mind and body (Turk & Okifuji, 2002). When pain persists, enjoyable activities can become too physically demanding. Imagine a former tennis player who can’t be on the court due to an injury. Or perhaps a parent who can’t pick up their child due to chronic back pain. When engagement in life decreases, it is common to experience frustration, sadness, or anxiety.........

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