Chronic pain lasts or recurs for more than three months.

It may relate to a condition such as arthritis or nerve injury, or occur as chronic primary pain. Both patterns can coexist.

Pain is real even when a scan does not explain its severity. Assessment still matters.

Ongoing pain can bring worry about symptoms, sleep, work or the future.

Anxiety may increase tension, disrupt sleep and make pain feel more difficult to manage. The pattern varies between people.

This does not mean anxiety caused the pain. Treating anxiety may help wellbeing while pain still needs care.

Pain and anxiety can both activate the body’s automatic stress response. You may notice sweating, a racing heart or muscle tension.

This response does not explain every pain condition or diagnose dysautonomia.

Persistent faintness, palpitations or symptoms linked to standing deserve assessment rather than an automatic anxiety label.

• Use your agreed pain care plan.
• Try a supported position or a quieter space.
• Reduce one non-essential demand.
• Ask someone for practical help.

Gentle grounding or relaxed breathing may help distress if comfortable. Stop if it worsens symptoms.

You do not have to become calm before you deserve pain relief.

A GP can assess the pain pattern, review medicines and consider condition-specific care. Physiotherapy or a pain service may be appropriate.

For chronic primary pain, NICE recommends considering CBT for pain or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), delivered by trained clinicians.

These approaches can support coping and daily life. They do not mean pain is imagined or require accepting inadequate medical care.

Activity advice should fit your conditions and capacity. If you have ME/CFS or post-exertional malaise, avoid pushing through or fixed increases in exercise.

Arrange a review if pain changes, interferes with daily life or your current plan is not helping.

Call 000 in Australia for severe chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, new stroke-like symptoms or another medical emergency.

Seek urgent care for back pain with new bladder or bowel control changes or numbness around the groin.

For emotional crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If life is in immediate danger, call 000.

This connection spans Pain / Bodily Sensitivity and Anxiety / Autonomic. Sleep, sensory demands and emotional wellbeing may also affect capacity.

A comfortable environment and predictable support may help several needs at once. These are practical connections, not proof of a single cause.

These Scottish guides are not crisis care. Local services differ. Adapt any activity advice to your health conditions.

• NICE: Chronic pain assessment and chronic primary pain management.
• NHS inform: What is chronic pain?