Mental helplessness may increase chronic pain, major finding by experts

Islamabad (Health Desk) A new scientific study has found that feelings of mental helplessness and defeat can increase the severity of chronic pain and long-term illnesses. According to researchers, individuals who consistently feel weak and helpless during pain or illness tend to experience more intense suffering, and their quality of life is further affected. This condition is sometimes linked to a psychological and social state described as “mental defeat.” During the study, 137 adults suffering from chronic pain were observed over a period of two weeks and were asked questions three times a day about their emotions, thoughts and behavior. The results, published in the medical journal “Pain,” showed that as feelings of mental helplessness increase, the intensity of pain also rises. This condition pushes individuals away from social activities and physical exercise, which further worsens their condition. Experts say this is a self-reinforcing negative cycle in which negative thoughts lead to increased pain. The study also clarified that mental helplessness and pain intensity are not directly linked but influence each other through a separate psychological process. According to data, around 26 percent of adults in the United Kingdom suffer from some form of chronic pain, and experts warn that this number may increase further by 2040.