“Unhelpful comments, along with other “witty” remarks are what I have found to cause the most damage long term.” Gemma shares her journey, shedding light onto the reality of what it is to have a chronic condition.

Ash is one of our wonderful Victorian members of the AMPA support groups. Her ability to remain upbeat, with her bubbly personality and infectious laughter has made her a blessing to all she is surrounded by.

When you are living with chronic pain the idea of self-care can be equally confusing and daunting. You may have googled "self care" to find a list of activities such as bubble baths, long walks on the beach, in-fashion yoga outfits and exciting images of spa days - there is however, a whole lot more to this concept!

Going from okay, to despair…to then finding a way back. Sound familiar? Dawn shares her story which may be pretty similar to how we are all feeling when it comes to chronic pain.

“I can’t today, I’m running low on spoons…”

The guilt associated with having a chronic illness is a heavy burden. One of the things that the Spoon Theory can help with is that separation between what we’d like to do and what our illnesses dictate.

If you are one of many employees either looking to re-enter the workplace following a period away from work due to chronic pain, or doing your best to continue working with chronic pain, then this is something you need to read!!

APMA recognizes Lil Carrigan on her recent Member of the Order of Australia award in recognition of her tireless work to support patients who suffer from severe persistent pain.

When your chronic pain symptoms suddenly crank up to 11 out of 10, you know that you are experiencing a flare. Don’t worry though, we have some tips for you!

“Don’t faint, please don’t faint, I beg of my body. “ As a healthcare professional, Dannielle often ignores her own pain to focus on caring for others. A true modern day hero!

Caring for others does not mean you shouldn’t take time to care for yourself. YOU are still important, so self-care is essential. We have some tips and tricks to help you navigate this balance.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome typically affects an arm or leg and is more common in women than men. CRPS is a disorder of the central nervous system. This is Kira’s story.

"This is not the life I would have chosen for myself, but it has still been a life worth living". Lyn

“I believe it is important to connect with other people living with pain, and to share information and tips.”

Having previously attended monthly pain support groups provided by the Australian Pain Management Association, Kevin James has been a proud member of the group now for several years.

So if you’re reading this and you recognise that you do carry the mental load for your household what can you do?