Chronic pain IS complex trauma.

Chronic pain complicates trauma recovery, because it replicates exactly what makes complex trauma so devastating. 

That is to say: chronic pain is a textbook complex traumatic stressor. 

Complex trauma is “complex” because it happens over time; it’s difficult or impossible to escape; and it gets entwined with many, or all, of our important relationships. 

The same could be said for chronic pain as well. 

Chronic pain isn’t the type of pain that is experienced, and then passes. By definition, it lingers and persists, even if it varies in intensity. 

That is to say, the experience of chronic pain stretches over time— just like complex trauma generally.

Chronic pain sufferers don’t think back to “that one time” they were in pain; many or all of their memories are accompanied by recollections of how their pain was affecting them at the time. 

Similarly, chronic pain is difficult or impossible to escape, even with pain management medications. 

(This is something many people seem to misunderstand about the experience and treatment of chronic pain— pain meds don’t “solve” the problem of chronic pain. They may, under the best of circumstances, make chronic pain more manageable— but at no time do they negate the withering impact of chronic pain.)

And, as sufferers of chronic pan can attest, the experience of chronic pain seems to invade every important relationship in their lives, from work relationships, to friendships, to romantic and sexual relationships. 

It’s just impossible to experience chronic pain without that pain becoming central to our life experience. 

The experience of chronic pain is very often overwhelming. 

One of the things that makes traumatic stressors “traumatic” is, they overwhelm a survivor’s ability to cope— and chronic pain is one of the most overwhelming experiences a human being can endure, day after day, year after year. 

Many people don’t understand that the experience of trauma isn’t just about what happens to us who we’re hit with a traumatic stressor. Trauma, especially complex trauma, is also about the overwhelming, painful experience of living with the impact of a traumatic stressor over time. 

Living with trauma is, itself, a complex traumatic stressor— and living with chronic pain is definitely a complex traumatic stressor. 

That means managing chronic pain necessarily needs to incorporate trauma recovery tools, skills, and philosophies. 

Living with chronic pain very often stokes negative beliefs and attitudes about ourselves— about our worthiness, our ability, our lovability. 

Living with chronic pain very often leaves us feeling hopeless and helpless. 

Living with chronic pain very often distorts our own relationship with ourselves, and our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors surrounding relationships with others. 

That is to say: all the complex trauma symptoms and struggles that also afflict survivors of childhood abuse, childhood neglect, domestic violence, spiritual abuse, or any other form of complex trauma. 

Why is this important? It’s important because very often chronic pain management skips the part about it being a complex traumatic stressor. 

The medical community often thinks of pain as a primary “physical” problem, and any psychological problems that stem from it are treated like afterthoughts. 

Anyone who struggles with complex trauma knows that, when complex trauma is present, it is no afterthought. It dominates your life— as surely as chronic pain itself does. 

Trauma recovery skills, tools, and philosophies have a lot to offer chronic pain sufferers. 

Not the least of which is the assurance that they are not alone in the psychological and behavioral symptoms they’re experiencing— even though almost every trauma survivor tends to feel very alone at some point in their journey.