Time and Pain
Introduction
Recently, my mom shared with me an article from the “Rheumatologist” paper she receives every month. Amongst all of the fascinating ruminations, which are appropriately titled “Rheuminations,” there was one that stood out to me. A piece about the relationship between time and the pain patients experienced inspired me to research the psychological aspects of the same topic.
Chronos vs. Kairos
From the article on the same topic, Chronos is defined as “a quantitative sense of time set in units,” and Kairos is “a qualitative sense of time passing.” For instance, Chronos would refer to 30 minutes spent experiencing a painful migraine, while Kairos would be the patient describing “the worst part” of the migraine.
Psychological Lens
Of the two ancient Greek principles, Kairos has been found to have the most significant relationship with patients’ relationships with all kinds of pain. The subjective perception of time is often altered by pain, with higher pain scales associated with greater distortion. Acute pain is frequently followed by the slow passing of time, while intense pain can make time speed up.
More specifically, the psychological anticipation of pain can make it stretch almost endlessly. Especially when pain is expected due to a history of past trauma, pain may be perceived more intensely. A person’s emotions and mindset can also affect how long pain lasts. Distress from anxiety, anger, or sadness exacerbates pain, in addition to pessimistic attitudes towards one’s mental struggle.
Conclusion
In discovering that the duration of one’s pain—whether physical or emotional—is highly related to psychological factors, I have found that there are also many psychological methods to quell pain. Conversely to a negative outlook, if a patient experiences emotions such as happiness and relaxation in the face of pain, their optimistic attitude can mitigate it. Though this is not easy, cognitive-behavioral techniques can help patients challenge their previous negative beliefs about their pain. Engaging in enjoyable activities that distract patients from pain can also reduce its perceived duration. Lastly, seeking support from friends and family, as well as medical professionals can be some of the best mental support to shorten one’s experiences with pain. A patient sharing their encounters with pain in a support group might feel less alone and, therefore, more able to cope in times of discomfort. Similarly, a consultation with a mental health professional (like a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist) who specializes in pain management can provide these patients with further coping strategies to support their specific needs through therapeutic inventions like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR).