In this clip, Dan describes the insidious and complex co-occurring disorders of addiction and chronic pain.

He has extensive knowledge of this topic—having worked for twenty years as a therapist, clinical supervisor, and clinical director in a variety of behavioural health and addiction treatment settings. He is also a person in long-term recovery from both addiction and chronic pain. His highly-regarded book, “Some Assembly Required: A Balanced Approach to Recovery From Addiction and Chronic Pain” is unique in addressing the twin challenges of addiction and chronic pain from both a personal and professional perspective.

Dan starts by describing what is usually meant by the term ‘chronic pain’. Chronic pain is physical discomfort/pain that endures for at least three months, but often for many years. It is very different from the acute pain that follows an injury such as broken limb and is time-limited. Sometimes chronic pain is linked to degenerative disorders such as arthritis, but equally, it can follow on from nerve damage or skeletal injury for many years, even after the apparent cause has been resolved. Dan memorably likens this to a fire alarm that continues to sound long after the fire has been extinguished.

While some of the mechanisms underlying chronic pain have yet to be illuminated, what is absolutely clear is that living with chronic pain is deeply and profoundly wearying. Since the 1990s, the most common medical response to chronic pain is to prescribe highly addictive opioid painkilling medications.

Some people in chronic pain become addicted to their medication. Physical dependence and tolerance can be drivers for more frequent and every higher doses, along with psychological reliance on medication. For those already addicted who subsequently experience chronic pain, the two conditions will invariably exacerbate each other.

Another group of people who are especially vulnerable to becoming addicted to their pain medication are those in recovery from addiction who experience chronic pain. Often, recovering addicts enter recovery having experienced physical trauma or with co-morbid physical illnesses. As they age and undergo degenerative processes, they face the challenge of dealing with ongoing pain while maintaining their equilibrium as recovering addicts.

If you, or someone you love, is dealing with these issues, please keep watching—the rest of this playlist is recorded for you. It shares some of Dan’s most effective ways to deal with chronic pain without falling into the trap of addiction.

If you wish to purchase Dan’s book, Some Assembly Required: A Balanced Approach to Recovery from Addiction and Chronic Pain, please visit either of the links below.

Amazon
[ Ссылка ]

Central Recovery Press
[ Ссылка ]


SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE VIDEOS
[ Ссылка ]

FIND LIFE THE BASIC MANUAL HERE
[ Ссылка ]
[ Ссылка ]
[ Ссылка ]
[ Ссылка ]

свернуть