The Program That Changed My Life!

Today, Thursday May 25th, 2023 marks my very last day of the Chronic Pain Self-Management program at Constance Lethbridge. It's a momentous day. That sounds like a pretty big word to use to describe it, perhaps it even sounds like an exaggeration but I assure you in my heart of hearts I mean it. Back to the Oxford Dictionary because I love their definition of 'momentous' and it's so in keeping with all the big feelings I'm absorbing right now having come to the end of a life changing event. "Momontous: (of a decision, event, or change) of great importance or significance, especially in its bearing on the future." Being a part of the Constance Lethbridge Chronic Pain Self-Mangement Program is an event of GREAT importance AND significance, ESPECIALLY in its bearing on (my) future. It hasn't just changed the way that I perceive my pain but has also greatly impacted the way that I see the world. I take it with me everywhere I go! From using emotion and feeling management from the psycho-social part of the program with my husband and kids to integrating mindful movement taught courtesy of the kineosiologist and integrated into my everyday life. Every time I carry something heavy or do gardening I hear the occupational therapist in my head saying, "bend your knees, hold it close to your body, ask for help if you need it." I will never forget what I learned these last ten weeks or the people who have become my friends. I've never experienced such a motivating and encouraging crowd. They respected our thoughts, our feelings and our past experiences. Not once did I feel less than.

I was thinking about the psycho-social part of the course. I couldn't help but reflect on how we would all be more constructive in our dealings with people and be better able to communicate our feelings if we ALL had to take a course like this on our journey that is life! I am eternally grateful for someone teaching me with such understanding and support about how to better my communication skills.

The biggest thing I took from this program was being kinder to myself. It sounds rather obvious but I know that my self talk going into this program is not the same as it is coming out of it. In the past if I couldn't do something, take for example getting to the end of the day and not being able to help with the supper dishes, I would feel so guilty. I would say things to myself like, " suck it up, your husband works long days and can do it so why can't you?" I judged myself harshly. I was definitely my biggest critic. A very wise social worker explained that we need to treat ourselves like we would treat our best friend. Would you tell your best friend to suck it up? Would you tell her she's stupid if she forgets something? So why on earth do we let that annoying voice creep up in the recesses of our minds? I am not perfect. Where the improvement lies is that I started to recognize when my self talk was hateful or negative and I'm making efforts to change that.

Why am I writing all of this? Surely not just to ensure that this program keeps running and the government continues to fund it because we need more programs like this. Programs that empower people to help take control over the way they think about their conditions. Programs that attempt to prevent people from ending up in ERs when their pain flares up or even lowers the usage of medication because of better overall pain management. (Just for the record I am not anti-medication.) Also yes, to the people and organizations that fund this; continue providing people with HUMANIZED care like this. We need more of this. I know this program is not available to everyone, factors like location and time can play an important role in getting help. Primarily I want to share with you how much I love this program and to recognize the people who worked so tirelessly over the years to hone it into what it is today. The coordinator(s) as well as the specialists themselves. I have heard that the program has morphed and changed over the years but I know that it will continue to grow and help more people in years to come. To the powers that be. Those whom get to decide the funding for particular programs and whether they live or die; please recognize the importance of this one. I know for me personally it's been life changing and I am ever so grateful.

I continue on knowing that I am well prepared. I have the tools that I need to face my pain in the years to come. There's so much power in having the knowledge to self manage what I go through every day! It's not to say I won't need help along the way and that's absolutely fine, but I am empowered to put into practice everything I learned. Thank you Constance Lethbridge and thank you to all of those people who were an integral part of my journey. Much love.