Anxiety is real! We all have felt it. From our first job interview to the first kiss as a teenager, remember those sweaty armpits, right guys. LOL But anxiety is never more real than for those suffering chronic illnesses. CRPS and anxiety go hand in hand, like a dysfunctional marriage. Anxiety can be defined as the body's reaction to stressful, dangerous or unfamiliar situations.

CRPS, chronic pain is nothing but a stressful situation 24/ 7. The pain alone qualifies. Then you have the ancillary products of the chronic pain i.e., family issues, work issues, marriage issues, mental health issues. All of them pile up on you and suffocate you until you don't want to live anymore, no matter how strong you are in dealing with the pain.

Anxiety can lead to very dangerous mental health situations. One being always advised to seek professional help from a licensed mental health professional when dealing with stressful situations that lead to overwhelming anxiety. CRPS is a monster of an illness! It has a destructive nature to an individual like an F-5 tornado. F-5 the most destructive tornado based on how much it destroys in its wake. Just like the tornado chronic pain will destroy everything in its wake, leaving everything unrecognizable in your life. I personally have been dealing with my chronic pain for 32 years, I wouldn't even be able to recognize myself before the chronic pain. You literally become a different person. Anyone will tell you who deals with chronic pain you're going to have good and bad days; you must focus on the good days no matter how rare they are. Take a mental picture, snapshot if you will, and replay them in your mind on the bad days to help get you through them.

If you feel you are at risk to yourself and need to talk to someone, please give them a call: The National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1 (800) 273-8255. Also, simply dial 988 if you can’t get through on the number above.