Episode4 Segment 2 - Are you avoiding certain activities?
Fast Fact
You could
be missing out
on opportunities
that provide
enjoyment and fun
It is likely that things have changed in your life since your pain began.
- You may have lost confidence.
- You may have stopped doing things you find makes your pain worse.
- You maybe avoiding many other activities just in case they make your pain feel worse.
You could be missing out on opportunities that give you excitement, joy, fun.
Avoidance is when we limit or put restrictions on things that we do, because we let things like pain get in the way. This might mean that we stand on the sidelines during school sport, instead of participating. It might mean that we stay home instead of going to the movies with friends. It might mean that we lie on the couch instead of getting outside and playing with friends or a pet. These limitations or restrictions in behaviour impact on the quality and the experience of life we have. That is a very high price to pay for our pain.
Our behaviour is as part of who we are, but not all of who we are. If we can start to notice unhelpful or avoidant behaviours, then we can make changes to improve things.