THERAPY
The primary components of CBT are:
Cognitive restructuring, by interrupting negative thoughts and beliefs about their symptoms in other words, recognizing that fear makes things worse;
Exercise, such as a walking program;
Pacing, monitoring, and engaging in small amounts of exercise or exposure to triggers of symptoms initially, then gradually increasing them;
Relaxation exercises to reduce muscle tension and anxiety; and
Increasing meaningful and enjoyable activities.
ACE scale-adverse childhood experiences scale:
A list of ten potentially traumatizing situations including neglect, abuse, parental divorce, or drug use.
ACT-acceptance and commitment therapy:
A form of psychological treatment that emphasizes accepting the pain or other symptoms, using mindfulness to tolerate them better, and focusing on living a full life.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS):
A complex and chronic pain condition usually occurring in hands or feet consisting of pain plus varying degrees of swelling, skin color changes, and temperature changes. There is little effective medical treatment.
Conversion disorder:
A condition whereby the brain "converts" emotional stress into a physical condition, such as inability to speak, move a limb, or other symptoms, also known as functional neurological disorder.
MBSR-mindfulness-based stress reduction:
A model of therapy that teaches how to become aware of thoughts, feelings, and sensations with more acceptance and less reactivity. It also teaches compassion and engagement in life-fulfilling activities.
ME/CFS- myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome:
A condition in which there is chronic and ongoing fatigue and other symptoms, such as cognitive difficulties, pain, and others, with few effective medical treatments.
Nocebo:
A term indicating that the brain is generating a symptom due to an internal, subconscious expectation of harm. It is the opposite of a placebo effect.
OCD-obsessive-compulsive disorder:
A term indicating one of the anxiety conditions in which there is rumination about fearful thoughts, actions, or situations often associated with actions designed to calm these fears by repetitive actions, such as counting, handwashing, or checking locks on doors.
Panic attacks/panic disorder:
An anxiety condition consisting of episodes of extreme fear, breathlessness, a racing heart, and sweating that can be triggered by fearful thoughts, emotions, or external conditions.
Placebo:
A medication, procedure, or other intervention that causes the brain to generate a reduction in symptoms due to an expectation of a positive outcome.
Triggers:
This is a term describing a stimulus that activates a specific neural circuit in the brain to generate a reaction or symptom. Common triggers are memories, places, movements, or external stimuli, such as wind, cold, heat, computer screens, or weather changes.