Trigeminal neuralgia, orofacial pain, and anxiety

If you have trigeminal neuralgia, neuropathic or atypical face pain, or orofacial pain, chances are that you have experienced anxiety. Some people think of anxiety as nervousness or a feeling of panic. It can escalate when negative thoughts or "what ifs" become frequent or won't go away. It's important to mention these feelings to your physician or medical practitioner.



Face pain can storm like a thundercloud, bringing "what ifs" into our lives. It's really important to recognize anxiety when it begins to manifest itself. There are a number of things that can be done.

Your physician may want to prescribe an anti-anxiety medication. If you are hesitant to take medication for anxiety, you may want to see a counselor who can help you with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT works for many individuals because it helps them train their thought patterns and does not introduce more medication into the body.

We hear a lot about "natural" approaches to illness. Some people get relief through massage or other types of integrative medical techniques. Herbal remedies are also sometimes helpful. Sometimes seeing an upper cervical chiropractor (UCC) can also help with anxiety as well as the face pain itself.

Addressing anxiety is important. These feelings sends signals to the brain, and they can actually trigger more pain. Anxiety is common to people with facial pain. You're not alone in this journey. God bless you.