Has anyone been for counselling to help with chronic pain?

It seems like you have a good doctor...I've been dealing with RA for 26 years, and none of the doctors I've seen have ever asked me about this! 

Chronic pain certainly does take a toll, and although I tend to be a person who works things out for myself (not always a good thing), I, too would like to hear if anyone has done this, and if it helped.

Good question, angelfeather! 

Very wise words, angelfeather!  ("We are only as alone as we want to be".)

In the past, I've interacted as little with my doctors as is possible, and that could be because with the doctors I see, every comment about pain or a new symptom is met with either an offer for a steroid shot or an additional medication, so I mainly go to visits to keep my current prescriptions active, and I don't say much unless something is really out of whack!

I live in a very rural area, and I don't have a lot of choice regarding doctors, unless I want to drive a really long distance.  (As it is, the specialists I see are over an hour away.)

I'm glad you have a young and sympathetic doctor--that helps so much!

Thanks for replying, AK Angel. It sounds like therapy helped you and I'm glad.

I see my doc for a referral on Wednesday. Not sure how much help I'll get in the two sessions that are covered by health insurance plan and those guys charge an arm, a leg and a pint of blood for one hour. But it'll be a start anyway ...

Kimliz, I understand what you're saying about having little interaction with your doctors by choice. Until my new doc came into practice, my previous doc never listened and was constantly giving me drugs. Talking to him was like talking to a door knob so I eventually stopped.
There is always hope that your doctors will retire soon like my previous one did, and that you will be blessed with someone who is more on the ball.

blessings and peace

I see a psychologist and a psychiatrist. I talk to my psychologist a lot about my pain and how I am feeling. She has taught me to deal with pain and to actually deal with life.

I have learned that a lot helps with taking life one day at a time and living in the moment. I do things too to distract myself from the pain. There is always going to be some level of pain. We have to accept that. But a lot is how we view things and cope with things. The best thing to do is take life one day at a time... Go with the flow... We can't always promise tomorrow, but we can do what we can today. And if we can't, we go with that. Be happy for what you can do. That is what it has taught me. And different ways of coping. We talk about regular life too. And that helps. I highly recommend seeing a counselor.

My psychiatrist is good too. He has got my meds as right as far as I can see. I feel good for the most part, and my mood is good. So I am thankful for that.

I hope that you decide to go. Fibromyalgia does effect us on a psychological level. We go through a grieving stage and a denial stage, it is hard to cope with chronic pain. I hope that you feel better soon.

Hugs, Karen

Thank you so much, everyone - all your comments have been very helpful. I had my appointment with the doctor today and it was very positive. He is referring me to a CBT therapist for psychological help with chronic pain management - the office will call me with the appointment date.

Mealmaker, I resonate with your comment, "I used to think I had all the skills to deal with this ...". I worked as a hospital chaplain/spiritual counsellor for many many years and helped people cope with all kinds of issues, from family and relationship issues, to terminal illnesses and end-of-life issues and everything in between. I am familiar with various kinds of therapies and am quick to do thought replacement, anger redirection, self awareness exercises along with meditation and prayer, deep breathing, etc., etc., etc. ... but this chronic pain stuff is just too much to deal with on my own. I didn't even realize it was as bad as it is, until I had the meltdown in the doc's office. So, even the helpers need help sometimes :)

I am also very happy to report that, I printed off the information on malic acid, magnesium, Vitamin D and B-12, brought it to my appointment and discussed it all with my doctor this morning. He is so on the ball ... he had already tested me for magnesium and found I was on the low end of normal for that, as well as in a few other areas. He said he was familiar with some of the research done on malic acid and magnesium and recommended that I start with a very low dose, around 400. I will also be having vitamin B-12 injections once a month, starting once I get the prescription filled and go back for that appointment. Apparently, when a patient is on the "low end of normal", it's not crucial to suggest these supplements because the patient is viewed by the doc to be "fine". So, with that qualifier in mind, he said to go ahead and give the supplements a try.

I noticed somewhere in the Fibro 101 post a cautionary note to take calcium with the malic acid/magnesium supplements, so hopefully the pharmacists will be able to guide me in the amounts.

He also looked at the redness in my cheeks and chin and sent me for bloodwork to test for Lupus.

So that's been my day - and now I'm exhausted beyond belief. Going to have a bite to eat then crash for a bit and rest. Thank you all again!

blessings and peace