Chronic pain typically fluctuates in intensity, with some days being significantly worse pain-wise than others. While it can often be difficult to anticipate when the pain will worsen, most triggers for the pain can include either physical activity or emotional stress. Triggers caused by physical activity can include engaging in repetitive physical actions for too long, potentially following an intense workout, shoveling snow, or even gardening. Both overactivity and underactivity can lead to a flare up of chronic pain. Emotional stressors that can lead to flare ups include increased stress levels such as through work or personal problems, or mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety. A lack of sleep or poor-quality sleep can also lead to increased pain or flare ups for those with chronic pain, which can be influenced by both physical and mental health.