After a TBI, it is common to experience anxiety. Anxiety is closely related to pain, and each can make the other worse. This comic explains the relationship between pain and anxiety and demonstrates strategies to help manage both conditions.

This infocomic follows a TBI survivor as anxiety and pain cause problems in his daily life, and shows how he learns to manage his symptoms.

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND CHRONIC PAIN Part IV: Pain and Anxiety

Pain and Anxiety

You all manage your pain so well.

I still get nerve pain.

When I’m anxious or in pain it’s hard for me to think clearly and remember things.

Pretending that I don’t have anxiety and pain hasn’t helped much.

I get anxious and little things become huge issues in my head.

Where is the pasta?

I panicked and forgot the most important thing!

Little negative thoughts can grow into disaster scenarios.

I’ll order some food.

Finding What Works

You’ve all found different strategies for dealing with your pain.

Keeping an activity log, and going over it with your doctor is a great way to start.

I’ll do that!

Picking up a copy of TBI and Chronic Pain

Your pain is related to anxiety

Close your eyes.

Tell yourself “My right arm is warm and heavy”.

Repeat this exercise with your left arm.

Relaxing is a skill, it takes time to learn.

I really do feel a difference.

Make a routine.

There’s another exercise called controlled breathing.

What's that?

Place one hand over your stomach and the other on your chest. Let your eyes close.

Turn your attention to your breath.

Exhale for longer than you inhale.

Breathe in through your nose.

1... 2... 3... 4...

let your eyes open and give yourself a moment to be aware of your surroundings.

Do the controlled breathing at the same time every morning.

On Demand Pain Management Strategy

Hey! You made it!

Now that I have some tools to manage pain I worry about it less.

Authorship and Illustration

Information Source of TBI and Chronic Pain: Part 4 Infocomic

Part 4 of the TBI and Chronic Pain infocomic series is based on the TBI and Chronic Pain factsheet series. This factsheet was developed by Silas James, MPA; Jeanne Hoffman, PhD; Sylvia Lucas, MD, PhD; Anne Moessner, APRN; Kathleen Bell, MD; William Walker, MD; CJ Plummer, MD; Max Hurwitz, DO, in collaboration with the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center.

Related Resources for TBI and Chronic Pain

You can learn more by exploring the many resources on our Traumatic Brain Injury and Chronic Pain page.

Related Resources

Infocomics: TBI and Chronic Pain: Part 3

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