Pain Psychoeducation
These are some examples of factors that exacerbate pain
What is stress, mood, and/or fatigue?
This thinking traps occurs when you think of things as all good or bad, without seeing a middle ground or shades of gray
What is all-or-nothing/black-and-white thinking?
This is a technique that can take your mind away from pain
What is distraction?
These are some factors that turn the volume down on pain
What are distraction, functional activities, positive mood, coping thoughts
When you guess what others are thinking about you or your situation
What is mind reading/jumping to conclusions?
This is a technique that lowers your heart rate and respiration
What is deep breathing/diaphragmatic breathing.
This strategy refers to doing a set amount of functional activities each day, regardless of pain and symptom levels.
What is pacing?
When you try to predict the future or outcome of a situation
What is fortune telling/jumping to conclusions?
Visual Imagery
This problem occurs when you do many activities while you are feeling well, but then overdo it
What is the boom and bust cycle?
This thinking trap occurs when you assume a pattern based on one event and draw broad conclusions
What is overgeneralizing?
This technique occurs when you focus on the present moment and let your thoughts "float by" without judgement
What is mindfulness
These structures in the brain contribute to our pain experience.
What are the limbic system, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala?
This occurs when you exaggerate or magnify the importance of things, like your mistake or someone else's success
What is catastrophizing?
In this strategy, you challenge and adapt negative thoughts
What is cognitive restructuring?