Does Freedom From Pain Ease Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy that is based on talking about one’s life and problems, sometimes referred to as talk therapy, requires that the patient be reasonably alert and lucid. But people suffering from chronic pain may be either distracted by the pain or drowsy or muddled by the effects of prescription painkillers. That could make therapy more difficult in some cases.

If the pain can be eased without prescription drugs, people are likely to be more clear-headed, which can be especially important in some forms of therapy. Since inflammation has been found to be a major source of pain and other medical conditions, reducing inflammation could not only make life easier, it could also facilitate psychotherapy.