@albiet, by mental issues do you mean foggy thinking or confusion? That may be a side effect of the medication you are taking. I only have numbness with my PN so do not take any medications but I have had times where I was pretty down mentally due to the neuropathy. What has helped me is just trying to take things one day at a time and focus on things that make me happy - not that I'm always able to do that but I make an attempt.

There is a book by Norman Doidge, M.D. - "The Brain's Way of Healing" that talks about a way to train the brain (my words) to help reduce or remove chronic pain. I started reading it but never finished and gave it to a friend. The chapters I did read made a lot of sense. He has a website with some frequently asked questions that may be helpful - http://www.normandoidge.com/?page_id=1052

It certainly is hard not to obsess about this. Not only is it painful, it's also unpredictable. Plus, it's common to worry about what the future will bring.
There are a number of medications, primarily anti-depressants, that are commonly prescribed for PN. They not only address issues of anxiety and depression, but also seem to reduce the pain independently of their psychological effects. It may take some experimenting to find the right one. Your PCP can prescribe these, although seeing a psychiatrist or therapist certainly wouldn't be a bad idea.
Don't try to direct your own treatment too much. Let your PCP be the one to decide who to go to next.
Staying active and socially engaged is also helpful, as are techniques such as meditation. Many are discussed on this forum.
Be as positive as you can be. Worrying and questioning why this happened to you will never be helpful. With the passage of time, you will likely get better at dealing with it.

For me, talking and writing about it here on this forum, and with friends and family, helps. Im hoping just by communicating your fears and concerns has helped some. The worse thing we can do is allow ourselves to be trapped in our feelings. We're already trapped in our bodies. I occasionally make that mistake and it backfires on both myself and my family. This is a huge learning curve for most so try not to be too hard on yourself. You are not alone and you are justified in your feelings.
Rachel

@albiet, @jeffrapp, @johnbishop, @rwinney Good evening group.....Oh my goodness, we all struggle. The small task of responding to your inquiry is a building block for my positive emotional condition and level of acceptance of my physical condition. Discover others to help, find a way to contribute. Acknowledge and accept the incurability of neuropathy. And then build upon that foundation with a focus on quality of life.

I practice mindful meditation, daily yoga and will do anything BUT miss my MFR (myofascial release) treatment every week. Knowing that you are loved is so enriching. I am going to jump out to the end of the diving board here and attach a photo of Amelia (age - 3 1/2 months) and me, (age 77 and 8 months). Notice how important a month or even a 1/2 month is when we begin this journey and how little it means at this end. Find a bit of joy every day. Chris