How to Build Resilience while Living with Chronic Pain: Tips from a Psychologist & Pain Researcher, with Dr. Afton Hassett

<h2>Summary:</h2><p>Psychologist Dr. Afton Hassett and Cheryl Crow, OT explore the neuroscience behind chronic pain and how its interconnection with fatigue, sleep, stress, and emotions may affect your experience of pain over time. </p><p>Dr. Hassett is an Associate Professor and Director of Pain and Opioid Research in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Michigan. In this episode, she explains how pain is not "all in your head," however it is in your BRAIN! Because the areas of your brain that process pain overlap with the areas that process thoughts and emotions, there is much you can do to influence pain signals. Further, there is evidence that building your resilience through mindfulness, social support, optimism, and healthy lifestyle habits can positively alter how the brain perceives pain.</p><p>Dr. Hassett also shares lessons from her soon-to-be-released book, The Chronic Pain Reset, and Cheryl shares how she developed her Rheum to THRIVE course and program to help address the full picture of chronic pain patients’ needs.</p><h2>Episode at a glance:</h2><p><strong>Professional background:</strong> Dr. Hassett studied clinical psychology in San Diego, where she received her doctorate. She now works as an Associate Professor and principal investigator at University of Michigan in the renowned Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, one of the largest Chronic Pain Research centers in the world.</p><p><strong>Pain Science 101:</strong> Pain is not “all in your head”... but the brain processes pain using many of the same areas and structures of your brain that process emotions and thoughts. Thus, our thoughts, emotions, and life context can greatly affect how pain is processed and experienced. </p><p><strong>Tools for Fatigue:</strong> Pain, poor sleep, poor mood, and lack of energy often group together and affect each other - if you can improve one it can help improve the others. Saving “spoons” for relationships and supportive connections and spending time outside getting fresh air and sun