Possible selves in chronic pain: self-pain enmeshment, adjustment and acceptance

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test whether enmeshment of self and pain predicted adjustment (depression and acceptance) in a chronic pain population. 89 chronic pain patients completed standardized self-report measures of depression and acceptance and generated characteristics describing their current actual self, hoped-for self and feared-for self, and made judgments about the degree to which their future possible selves (hoped-for and feared-for) were dependent on the absence or presence of pain, i.e. enmeshed with pain. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that after accounting for the influence of demographics (age, gender), pain characteristics and the degree of role interference attributable to pain, the proportion of hoped-for self characteristics that could be achieved even with the presence of pain predicted the magnitude of depression and acceptance scores. The findings are discussed with reference to the enmeshment hypothesis and theories of self-discrepancy, self-regulation and hopelessness.

A meta-ethnography of patients’ experience of chronic non-malignant musculoskeletal pain

“…Our model shows how threats to self-identity are fundamental to the experience of chronic pain 401 and suggests that moving forward with pain involves redefining self. Patients struggle to reconcile the new self in pain with an old self-rooted in the past or a hoped-for-self in the future.…”

“…406 For example, if the desire to be independent or to interact with others is highly valued, this is likely to lead to greater distress if it is threatened. 401 Self-discrepancy theory incorporates the importance of what another person thinks about me. In other words, any discrepancy between what people think I am and what they hoped or expected can have a powerful effect on how I feel and behave.…”

Cognitive dimensions of anger in chronic pain

“…Frustration may be particularly salient when pain interferes with activities that define identity in specific life-domains (e.g., parent, spouse, friend, worker), fostering role loss and identity erosion [23; 30]. In turn, discrepancy between one's actual and hoped-for identity has been linked to emotional distress and depression in chronic pain sufferers [30], as has the degree to which individuals feel that achieving their goals is contingent on pain relief [30].…”

Perbedaan Kualitas Hidup antara Berbagai Metode Manajemen Nyeri pada Pasien Nyeri Kronis

“…Reaksi individu yang menderita nyeri kronis biasanya memiliki afek yang negatif seperti takut, marah, dan frustrasi. Selain itu, pasien nyeri kronis juga yang mengalami tekanan, depresi, menghindar, dan menganggap nyeri kronis sebagai sebuah bencana dalam hidupnya (Morley, Davies, & Barton, 2005). Berdasarkan peringkat, ada perbedaan tingkat depresi, kecemasan dan stres antara kelompok Potensi dengan kelompok farmakologi, fisioterapi maupun farmakologi dan fisioterapi, dimana kelompok Potensi memiliki tingkat yang paling rendah dalam hal depresi, kecemasan dan stres secara umum.…”