Patients experiencing pain, particularly those with chronic pain, often experience negative emotions such as panic, fear, grief and anger. One coping strategy is to acknowledge those feelings. Techniques for addressing feelings include:

• Recognizing the seriousness of feelings
  
  
• Talking about feelings to friends, family members and others
  
  
• Seeking the assistance of a therapist or counselor, if necessary

Some patients record symptoms in a pain diary. This can assist patients in monitoring pain and determine factors that may alleviate or worsen pain.

Lifestyle changes that are commonly used to treat chronic pain include:

• Staying active. Exercise and increasing the level of activity have been shown to improve chronic pain and enhance mood.
  
  
• Focusing on others. Staying active in the community and keeping close contact with friends and family members often makes patients feel less isolated and better able to cope with pain.
  
  
• Staying healthy. Maintaining a healthy weight and sleeping on a regular schedule can improve chronic pain.

Some chronic pain patients develop emotional disorders, such as depression, as a result of pain. Patients diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder resulting from pain may be treated with medication or with therapy. Medications used to treat emotional disorders include:

• Antidepressants. Most antidepressants exert their effect on brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters. Two such neurotransmitters are serotonin and norepinephrine, which play roles in the regulation emotions, behavior, appetite and sleep.
  
  
• Tranquilizers (group of drugs that are used to treat medical conditions such as severe anxiety, stress disorders and muscle tension). These are usually classified as major or minor. Major tranquilizers are often prescribed as antipsychotic medications, and minor tranquilizers induce a feeling of calm and relaxation.
  
  
• Psychostimulants (drug having antidepressant or mood-elevating properties). The most common stimulant used in treating pain is caffeine.
  
  
• Anticonvulsants (drugs used to prevent or treat seizures). Their effectiveness in treating some types of pain has not been proven.
  
  
• Cannabinoids. Some studies have shown that marijuana has pain-relieving qualities. Some U.S. states have laws supporting medical marijuana, but the federal government has outlawed it. 

Some patients are treated using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is based on the idea that thoughts and behavior patterns affect symptoms. With this type of therapy, patients learn relaxation techniques, stress management and other methods to cope with pain.

The goal of CBT is to change the way the patient thinks about pain so the mind and body respond better to episodes of pain.  CBT usually consists of attending several one-hour sessions with a therapist. Sometimes sessions are one-on-one, and sometimes they are in a group setting. Therapy sometimes consists of learning exercises that help the patient cope with feelings. Other forms of psychotherapy, or support groups, may also be options.