Living with chronic pain creates an enormous emotional burden as it affects one’s sense of well-being, mobility, confidence, independence, identity, sleep, and relationships with loved ones and caregivers. The difficult struggle of living with these challenges can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and depression, all of which can exacerbate physical pain. Depression makes it harder to get out of bed and find the motivation to care for one’s self and participate in normal life. Anxiety and stress creates physical tension in the body, which worsens most chronic pain conditions. Therapy can provide support to unravel the emotional pressures affecting one’s life, to learn new ways of coping with stress, and to learn how to enjoy life despite physical challenges.
Spousal caregivers and family members can also benefit greatly from therapy. David J. Levy, a well-known speaker and writer on family caregiving, says, “When families are confronted with chronic illness, the disease tends to be the center of the universe, with everything happening in association with the illness. Life can quickly revolve around medicine-taking, doctor appointments, and how the patient feels.” 
Therapy provides a place to focus on the caregivers needs, to grieve, work through feelings of anger and despair, learn how to better care for yourself, cope with the hardships of caregiving, and continue to find hope and joy in life.

Additonal resources:
Advice for Caregivers and Spouses of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia
www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/4289/e/1/T/CFIDS_FM/
The Well Spouse Association
www.wellspouse.org