e-Campus - Work Wellness Institute

At first glance, a presentation that brings chronic pain, grief and anger together might seem strange.  However, these three are often intertwined in those who experience chronic pain.  For those with chronic pain, the topic is a no-brainer:  they know all about grief and anger.  But when do grief and anger become problematic?  Can either grief or anger increase or lower pain perception or vice versa?  Is there anything to learn from listening to grief and anger and how can we listen to our emotional experience?  Is there such a thing as toxic grief or anger?  What can be done, if anything, when grief seems prolonged or anger excessive?

Learning outcomes:

• To learn now chronic pain, grief and anger are interrelated.
• To learn the value and limitations of a stage model of grief.
• To learn the difference between primary and secondary emotional experience and the importance of this distinction to our topic.
• To learn an adaptive view of emotions like grief and anger
• To learn whether grief and anger can become toxic and when.
• To learn psychological coping strategies when grief seems prolonged or anger excessive