People are often told to “accept” their pain, and it can sound like that means giving up — like there’s nothing more that can be done. But in ACT, acceptance means something different.
Some people keep pushing through pain to prove they haven’t given in. Others feel defeated and start to give up things that matter to them. ACT helps you find a different way forward.
In pain rehabilitation, acceptance means choosing to live a life that still feels meaningful and full — even with pain. It’s about making active choices each day to use helpful skills, and to stay connected to the things you care about.
When you start making these choices, even with small changes or adaptations, you’re already practising acceptance.
This factsheet aims to give you information about individual sessions within the pain rehabilitation service so you know what to expect should you choose this option.
This factsheet aims to give you information about the moving on with pain group programme so you know what to expect should you choose to take part.
This factsheet aims to give you information about the living well with pain group programme so you know what to expect should you choose to take part.
This document is called a ‘decision aid’. It is for people aged 16 years and over with persistent primary pain. It can help you think about what options you might like to consider to help you live well with pain.
There may be one person, or several different people working together, to help you live well with your persistent primary pain. For example, your GP, pharmacist, other healthcare professionals, social care practitioners, social prescribers and wellbeing coaches. We’ll call them your health and care team.
You do not have to use all of this document – you can just use the sections which you think might be helpful to you.
You can complete this decision aid in your own time, and you do not need to complete it all in one go.
You might like to bring this document to your appointments and go through it with your health and care team. Having a good relationship with them, where you feel able to talk openly, is important in supporting you to manage your symptoms and will help you make the right decisions for you.
Download a pdf or visit the British pain society web page for the document
