Key messages

Stress is a common experience, and can affect us physically and emotionally. Try to recognize your personal signs of stress, and reduce stress levels by adopting a healthy lifestyle such as eating well-balanced and regular meals and exercising regularly.
Anxiety, depression and fear of pain are common ways in which chronic pain can negatively affect your mood. However, there are many things that you can do to manage your mood.
People who catastrophize about their pain tend to take longer to recover, because they over-perceive the threat associated with their pain.
Drugs and alcohol are unsafe and unhealthy ways of dealing with stress. Instead, focus on changing your negative thoughts to more balanced thoughts.
Thoughts only become important if you let them become important.
If you experience sadness, worry, lack of energy, disruptive thoughts or an inability to enjoy the things you used to enjoy before, you should speak with a member of your healthcare team.