The broken fire alarm analogy of chronic pain

 Chronic pain can be thought of as a broken or over-protective alarm system in the body. Normally, pain is like a safety alarm - it rings when something is wrong, like when you twist your ankle or graze your knee. It’s there to protect you from harm.

But sometimes, after an illness, injury, or period of stress, the body’s alarm system keeps sounding even after the danger has passed. The nerves and brain become extra alert and start sending pain messages even when there’s no new injury or damage - a bit like a smoke alarm that keeps going off long after the smoke has cleared. This doesn’t mean the pain is “in your head”, it’s just that the alarm system is too sensitive.

Approaches from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can be really helpful in managing chronic pain. Rather than trying to fight or get rid of the pain - which can make the “alarm” louder - ACT focuses on helping us to notice the pain without letting it control what we do. Through mindfulness and acceptance skills, we can learn to make space for uncomfortable sensations or thoughts, while still doing things that matter to us, like seeing friends or going to school. Over time, this helps the body’s alarm system feel safer and less reactive, allowing us to rebuild confidence, flexibility, and quality of life - even if the pain hasn’t fully gone away.

With your child, you could try:
✨Acknowledging the pain: Let your child know you believe them, the pain is real, even if the body is safe.
✨Using the alarm analogy: pain doesn’t always mean damage
✨Encouraging gentle movement: Gradually increase activity rather than avoiding it. Small, regular steps help the alarm system calm down.
✨Focusing on what matters: Support your child to do small, meaningful activities that bring joy or connection, even if pain is present.