This is a first post in a 2-part series.

How might non-pharmacological approaches, such as positive psychology, offer tangible hope for those who experience chronic pain?

My research team has been tackling this question from multiple angles. I am grateful for two experts on the team, Drs. Joel Jin and Joel Wong, who provided valuable thoughts on the psychology of chronic pain and the role of gratitude. In part one of this blog post series, Dr. Jin will share responses about chronic pain and some psychological tools to cope with it. In part two, Dr. Wong will explain what gratitude is and articulate its role in helping people manage chronic pain.

Paul Youngbin Kim: What is chronic pain? What is a misunderstanding that people might have about chronic pain?

Joel Jin: Most of us think of pain as a temporary alarm system—a sharp sting when we touch a hot stove or the dull ache of a healing bruise.

But chronic pain is different. It is generally defined as pain that persists for three months or longer, outlasting........

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