Living With Chronic Pain

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) was developed in the 1980’s by psychologist Steven C. Hayes in response to his own struggles in dealing with panic attacks. Instead of arguing, ignoring, avoiding or negotiating with our emotions we should accept them as reasonable responses to situations we fear, but refuse to let them define the outcome.… Continue reading Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Living With Chronic Pain

How to Perform Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Stress, anxiety and chronic pain make our muscles tense. Initially it’s in preparation to a perceived threat the body believes requires a response to either fight or run away. But when a release doesn’t happen, the muscles stay in perpetual spasm. It doesn’t take much to start the cycle- problems at work, financial worries, family… Continue reading How to Perform Progressive Muscle Relaxation