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• Coping Skills

In This Section:

• Ten Steps
• Coping Skills
• Your Basic Rights

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Coping Skills

Coping skills are techniques that can be helpful in managing pain. ACPA groups build on these coping skills:

• We do not dwell on physical symptoms of pain.
• We focus on abilities, not disabilities.
• We recognize and talk freely about our feelings about pain and its control over our lives. We do not make judgments. Group discussions are confidential.
• We use relaxation exercises to help ease the tension that increases pain and redirect attention away from our pain and suffering.
• We demonstrate mild stretching exercises and encourage you to do them daily, if your doctor approves.
• We set realistic goals and evaluate them weekly. This helps members to see that their desires can be achieved, one step at a time.
• We recognize our basic rights, including the right to make mistakes, the right to say no, and the right to ask questions.