In chapter 2 of my book, "Chronic Pain Hacker", I talk about radical acceptance and how to use it to reduce suffering and increase joy in your life. #chronicpainhacker
Expectations play a big role in chronic pain management. Unrealistic expectations can lead to anxiety, grief, and depression when the "miracle cure" doesn't come to fruition. Suffering is increased, when expectations are not met. A wise therapist from my Dialectical Behavior Therapy #dbt class gave me this formula for "radical acceptance." I placed the notecard in a strategic viewing place like my mirror, car, or white board.
PAIN WITH NON-ACCEPTANCE= SUFFERING
PAIN WITH ACCEPTANCE=JOY
Radical acceptance is not: approval, compassion, love, passivity, or against change. I found it helpful to focus on a statement of acceptance such as "It is what it is." Suffering occurs when unmet expectations cause us to grieve when things don't work out the way we planned. #radicalacceptance
The healing process is not linear. It is continual and requires acceptance at each phase. It's not a one time event where an individual accepts their circumstance and that is it. For many chronic pain sufferers, it requires radical acceptance over and over again. #healing
Long term conditions make it a tough pill to swallow. It's easier said than done. I spent two years suffering in a terrible state of depression and anxiety. I had given up on life when I found the DBT class. It was a game changer. #anxiety #depression #therapy
DBT originated with psychologist, Marsha Linehan, the founder of DBT. There are online DBT and in person classes. I highly recommend it. Many doctors usually prescribe (Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) first then DBT. #cbt #dbtskills #acceptance
CBT focuses on our belief system and challenging our limiting beliefs. People learn how to identify and change destructive thought patterns. It is helpful to take DBT after CBT if possible. DBT focuses on many coping skills such as mindfulness. #mindfulness #copingskills #stressless #selfcaretips #growth