Don’t be afraid to enlist the help of your doctor. In some cases, he may recommend counseling to get your anxiety under control. In more serious cases, anti-anxiety medication may be necessary to allow the mind and body time to recover.
Finding ways to relax helps get your physical and mental state under better control, helping to get your pain to a level where you can cope, too. You may need to try a few different things to find what combination works best for you.
Sources:
Johnson, Malcolm H. "How Does Distraction Work in the Management of Pain?" Current Pain and Headache Reports. 9:2, March 2005 pp 90-95
Treatment Options: A Guide for People Living with Pain. American Pain Foundation. Accessed December 28, 2008. http://www.painfoundation.org/Publications/TreatmentOptions2006.pdf
