Summary: Chronic pain is complex, affecting all parts of one’s life. It may be caused by a combination of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, chemical, nutritional, behavioral, and/or environmental factors. Physical pain, if not well managed, often acts as a primary trigger for addictive purposes. The connection between pain and addiction requires a high level of medical expertise to generate consistently successful outcomes. Sierra Tucson’s broad approach to treatment addresses the simultaneous bio-psycho-social factors that contribute to chronic pain. Patients are taught to identify and manage the four components of the pain experience: 1) the physical sensation, 2) automatic thoughts, 3) uncomfortable emotional reactions, and 4) self-defeating behaviors that often result from those thoughts and feelings.
