Denise,
I’ve actually been thinking about posting this same question. I struggle with this so much. I switched therapists because the last one I saw did not know how to help me with this. I am seeing a good pain therapist now, but we haven’t covered this just yet. I know that I need to accept where I am right now in order calm the fight or flight response, but sometimes I feel like I just can’t accept this. I am constantly reading and researching what I can do next, because I know that the earlier I can get it under control the better. It is so stressful to know that it is all on me to figure this out. I feel like if I “accept” this it means I am resigning myself to a life of pain. There has to be a way to accept where I am now, without inviting the pain and disability to stay forever. I know that I will never have the same abilities as I did before, and I accept that, but I do not accept never ending pain for the rest of my life. Do I need to? I think what you quoted is the key: balancing fight with acceptance and I don’t know how to do it either.
Missy