Agnes' Story - The Value of Monthly Meetings

Pain Association Scotland aims to address long term chronic pain, doing so by focusing on the non-medical issues. Here we have an account from Agnes Murray who attends the session in Stranraer: 

“I have attended the sessions since the 11th April 2018 and I also got involved with the 5 week intensive course. For the first session Stuart met me outside and we went together which helped as I knew he would be there if I needed him. 

When I was first introduced to the group I was quite shy and felt rather sensitive about talking about myself around other people in the group but by the end of the first session I found I was comfortable enough to speak and I felt really welcome. 

I attend these sessions regularly because I now have the confidence to do so. I have learnt so many valuable lessons, like not apologising all the time for how I feel, finding appropriate ways to alleviate stress, how to improve my quality of sleep, dealing with change, but most importantly recognising that I can talk about how I am feeling. 

I no longer require the same level of support to attend sessions and now go along with a very good friend of mine who makes sure I keep myself involved with the group. I am no longer burdened by chronic pain as I once was for my mindset has changed a lot in how I wish to address it. Phil has really helped me to recognise the inner strength I have to maintain my quality of life whilst living with chronic pain”.