Chronic Pain · ACT
ACT for Chronic Pain Worksheet
Clean pain vs suffering
ACT for chronic pain doesn't try to reduce the pain — it reduces suffering by shifting relationship to pain and re-engaging in values-aligned life. Counter-intuitive; well-evidenced.
Pain vs suffering
Clean pain: the sensation. Dirty pain / suffering: fear, resentment, rumination, life narrowing, identity loss.
Where suffering is stacking on top of pain
Values-aligned action, done with pain present
Value
Action this week
Done despite pain?
Willingness
Can I have this sensation AND still do the thing that matters?
Life expands around pain
Waiting for pain to leave before living puts your life on pause. ACT rebuilds the life inside the pain.