Chronic Pain Ireland

Overcoming Guilt and Anxiety in Chronic Pain
2024-11-27 14:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Dublin) | Dublin
Overcoming Guilt and Anxiety in Chronic Pain
Join our November workshop, to tackle challenging emotions like guilt and anxiety and improve your chronic pain management.
Workshop Highlights:
Challenging Sticky Emotions: Understand the origins of guilt and anxiety and assess their relevance in your life.
Understanding Introjects: Learn about introjects and how they influence your emotions.
NAGs and Self-Talk: Identify negative automatic thoughts and develop healthier self-talk.
Loosening the Nut: Challenge the logic behind your emotions and beliefs.
Experimenting with Alternative Responses: Practice new ways to respond to emotional triggers.
Positive Rebellion: Embrace constructive defiance against negative patterns.
What If Flip: Explore positive outcomes by flipping negative scenarios.

Why Attend?

Gain tools to manage and reduce feelings of guilt and anxiety.
Learn practical techniques to challenge and change negative thought patterns.
Improve your emotional well-being and enhance your pain management strategies.

Chronic Pain Ireland has for many years offered self-management training for all living with chronic pain and are partnering with the Pain Association Scotland, who (having pioneered the development and delivery of self-management training) have run community programmes for over 20 years. Both CPI and PAS share mutual aims of helping to improve the quality of life for all living with chronic pain. The focus of these interactive workshops is therefore on introducing people to, and quickly building, self-management skills, thereby creating practical, positive change leading to an improved quality of life and well-being. Our trained facilitator has delivered over 10,000 workshops to date.
These workshops are offered to members of Chronic Pain Ireland only. If you would like to become a member and avail of all our chronic pain support services including: self-management workshops, telephone support line, chronic pain courses and programmes, online meetings, webinars and networking opportunities â€“ Join here

Chronic Pain 5-week Self-Management Course
2024-11-26 10:30 - 12:30, 2024-11-19 10:30 - 12:30, 2024-11-12 10:30 - 12:30, 2024-11-05 10:30 - 12:30 | online, Ireland
Chronic Pain 5-week Self-Management Course
Chronic Pain Ireland is excited to announce our upcoming 5-week Self-Management Course for individuals living with chronic pain. This course, delivered online in weekly 2-hour sessions, focuses on essential self-management strategies to help participants better manage their condition and improve their quality of life.
What You’ll Gain
Our course offers a unique, interactive experience where questions, feedback, discussion, and mutual support are integral parts of the process. The key topics covered include:

Introduction: Setting personal goals and understanding the bio-psycho-social model of pain management.
Understanding Chronic Pain: Comprehensive insights into the nature of chronic pain.
Boom-Bust Cycle, Pacing, Baselines, and Goal Setting: Techniques to manage activity levels and set achievable goals.
Stress Awareness and Management: Strategies to break the pain-stress cycle.
Anxiety: Tools to manage anxiety associated with chronic pain.
Sleep: Tips for improving sleep quality.
Social Aspects: The impact of chronic pain on social life and relationships.
Acceptance and Emotions: Approaches to accepting chronic pain and managing emotions.
Flare-Ups: Handling and reducing the frequency of pain flare-ups.

Course Structure
The course is flexible and responsive to the needs of the group. While there are key topics, the exact order and focus of each session depend on participant interests. For example, discussions on pacing might naturally lead to exploring stress management and acceptance.
Additional Resources
Participants will receive live notes and pre-prepared materials, including audio recordings for relaxation practice, after each session. This allows for continued exploration and focus on specific topics between sessions.
Expert Facilitation
The course is facilitated by Phil Sizer, Lead Trainer of the Pain Association of Scotland. Phil has extensive experience, having delivered thousands of workshops across Ireland and the UK. He is also the author of Chronic Pain: The Drug-Free Way, available at local libraries and on Amazon.
Partnership
Chronic Pain Ireland has a long history of providing self-management training and is proud to partner with the Pain Association Scotland. Together, we aim to enhance the quality of life for all living with chronic pain through effective self-management techniques.
Sign Up Now!
Join us to take control of your chronic pain and learn valuable strategies for a better quality of life.
Please note the above course is only offered to members of Chronic Pain Ireland at no additional cost. For information about taking out membership to Chronic Pain Ireland see here

HSE Living Well with Chronic Pain (evening)
2024-11-21 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-11-14 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-11-07 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-10-31 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-10-24 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-10-17 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-10-10 19:00 - 21:30 | online, Ireland
HSE Living Well with Chronic Pain programme
The HSE Living Well with Chronic Pain programme is open for registration. This free, online 7 week programme can help you develop skills and confidence to manage your condition.
Workshop Topics
Techniques to deal with symptoms of chronic pain conditions, such as fatigue, sleeplessness, stress, and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear, and frustration, with emphasis on cognitive behavioural therapy techniques for managing pain.
Topics include:
ï‚· Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance
ï‚· Balancing activity with rest
ï‚· Tools for overcoming worst-case thinking
ï‚· How our minds affect pain and how we can use our minds to lessen pain
ï‚· Negative emotions
ï‚· Healthy eating
ï‚· Appropriate use of medication
ï‚· Working more effectively with health care providers
ï‚· Communicating with friends and family
ï‚· Communicating with the health care system
ï‚· Communicating with oneself
ï‚· Action-planning, problem-solving, decision-making
Why join the Living Well with pain programme?
People who are supported in this way increase their knowledge, skills and confidence to better manage their health in partnership with their health care provider(s).
How: For more information or to register, contact the Living Well Team via Email LivingWellDNCC@hse.ie

HSE Living Well with Chronic Pain (afternoon)
2024-11-21 14:00 - 16:30, 2024-11-14 14:00 - 16:30, 2024-11-07 14:00 - 16:30, 2024-10-31 14:00 - 16:30, 2024-10-24 14:00 - 16:30, 2024-10-17 14:00 - 16:30, 2024-10-10 14:00 - 16:30 | online, Ireland

CPI Members Network meeting
2024-11-12 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-10-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Dublin
Each month CPI holds our peer to peer network meetings which are facilitated by our current Chairperson. It’s a safe, inclusive space to meet others, to chat, share and support each other. Our membership feedback regularly mentions the importance of speaking with others where they can chat openly without judgement and connect with others.
This event is open to members of Chronic Pain Ireland and if you would like to join, membership is €22.00 per year. See here for more details.
Many of our members have formed life long friendships as a result of attending CPI events, workshops and taking part in research. Please, consider becoming part of our community.

Coping with Pain and Related Emotions support group
2024-10-31 19:00 - 20:00 | online, Ireland
Chronic Pain and Mental Health
This month we explore Coping with Pain and Related Emotions support group
This anonymous, interactive chat group is facilitated by an experienced Turn2Me Counsellor and will focus on exploring how we can better cope with our pain and the related emotions we feel i.e. guilt, anger, anxiety, fear, sadness etc.
Whether you’re struggling with the emotional toll of chronic pain or simply looking for a supportive space to share your experience, this group offers a safe anonymous and understanding environment.
Chronic Pain Ireland has partnered with Turn2Me an Irish online mental health charity that provides free, anonymous and confidential online professional health services. We’ve partnered to offer a series of specific chronic pain and mental health group sessions which at present are available to members of Chronic Pain Ireland.
More about the Chronic Pain Group sessions – Chronic Pain is invisible, you cannot show it to your doctor, friends, or family. There isn’t always a scar or any visual cues to the pain you are suffering. This peer support group is a place where you can seek support from others who suffer with chronic pain and can empathise with what you are
going through.
Why not take that step and communicate via instant chat with people with similar challenges and experiences you have. The group is completely anonymous offering you safety and a chance to be honest and authentic with what you are going through and hear from other members what has helped them and how they manage. Remember living with chronic pain, is day by day, slow and steady. To join this group you need to register as a user with Turn2Me and then register for the group in advance of the scheduled date and time. Well done, we look forward to virtually meeting you.
Chronic Pain Ireland in partnership with Turn2Me will facilitate a specific ‘chronic pain group counselling support group’ on the last Thursday evening of every month at 7pm. This service is available to current members of Chronic Pain Ireland at present. If you would like to become a member to avail of this service see here
About Turn2Me:
Turn2Me is supported by the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention to deliver counselling online. Turn2me is a national mental health charity that was founded in 2009 by Oisin and Diarmuid Scollard, who tragically lost their brother, Cormac, to suicide in 2003. Turn2me offers adult counselling and support group services to adults and young people aged 12 plus. Turn2Me has helped over 120,000 people since it was set up in 2009. Turn2Me offers up to six free counselling sessions to adults living in Ireland.
Turn2Me also offer a wide range of online mental health supports that the general public can access online – To sign up or for more details please visit www.Turn2Me.ie

Transform Habits for Better Pain Management
2024-10-31 10:30 - 12:30 | Dublin
Transform Habits for Better Pain Management
Join us for our October workshop to transform your habits and enhance your chronic pain management skills.
Workshop Highlights:

Understanding Unconscious Thoughts and Behaviours: Recognize and address underlying patterns affecting your pain experience.
Spotting the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Identify beneficial and harmful habits.
Old Dogs, New Tricks: Break old habits and adopt new, healthier ones.
Stretch Zone: Challenge yourself with small, manageable steps to expand your comfort zone.
Pattern Interrupts: Learn techniques to disrupt negative patterns and foster positive change.

Why Attend?

Gain insights into managing chronic pain more effectively.
Learn practical techniques to break unhelpful habits and adopt positive ones.
Improve your overall well-being through better pain management strategies.

Chronic Pain Ireland has for many years offered self-management training for all living with chronic pain and are partnering with the Pain Association Scotland, who (having pioneered the development and delivery of self-management training) have run community programmes for over 20 years. Both CPI and PAS share mutual aims of helping to improve the quality of life for all living with chronic pain. The focus of these interactive workshops is therefore on introducing people to, and quickly building, self-management skills, thereby creating practical, positive change leading to an improved quality of life and well-being. Our trained facilitator has delivered over 10,000 workshops to date.
These workshops are offered to members of Chronic Pain Ireland only. If you would like to become a member and avail of all our chronic pain support services including: self-management workshops, telephone support line, chronic pain courses and programmes, online meetings, webinars and networking opportunities â€“ Join here

HSE Living Well with Chronic Pain
2024-10-23 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-10-16 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-10-09 19:00 - 21:30 | online, Ireland

HSE Living Well with Fibromyalgia
2024-10-22 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-10-15 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-10-08 19:00 - 21:30 | online, Ireland
HSE Living Well with Fibromyalgia programme
HSE CH09 have partnered with Chronic Pain Ireland in support of Pain Awareness Month and are running this free 7-week programme for people living with Fibromyalgia. This free, online 7 week programme can help you develop skills and confidence to manage your condition.
Workshop Topics
Techniques to deal with symptoms of fibromyalgia such as fatigue, sleeplessness, stress, and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear, and frustration, with emphasis on cognitive behavioural therapy techniques for managing pain.
Topics include:
ï‚· Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance
ï‚· Balancing activity with rest
ï‚· Tools for overcoming worst-case thinking
ï‚· How our minds affect pain and how we can use our minds to lessen pain
ï‚· Negative emotions
ï‚· Healthy eating
ï‚· Appropriate use of medication
ï‚· Working more effectively with health care providers
ï‚· Communicating with friends and family
ï‚· Communicating with the health care system
ï‚· Communicating with oneself
ï‚· Action-planning, problem-solving, decision-making
Why join the Living Well with pain programme?
People who are supported in this way increase their knowledge, skills and confidence to better manage their health in partnership with their health care provider(s).
How: For more information or to register, contact the Living Well Team via Email LivingWellDNCC@hse.ie or call 01 8976171

Exploring Sex and Gender in Chronic Pain
2024-10-11 14:00 - 16:00 | University College Galway OR online, University Road, Galway, H91 W5P7, Ireland
Exploring Sex and Gender in Chronic Pain
This hybrid event will explore the critical issue of sex and gender in chronic pain, inviting all genders to join the conversation. While chronic pain may affect individuals differently, this event will outline what we now know about sex and gender as variables in chronic pain, what impact the outcomes of the PAINDIFF network will have on the study of sex and gender in pain and how this may inform on diagnosis and treatment outcomes for everyone.
We will also look at the reality of in-person clinical experiences, the importance of the patient voice in PPI Research and how to ensure this critical research is incorporated into health policy and services.
Our event’s MC is none other than TV Presenter, Producer and Author Andrea Hayes who will introduce you to our panel of speakers outlining the following topics:
Developing guidelines and an agenda for research on sex and gender as a variable in differences in pain: The PAINIFF Network – Dr. Michelle Roche, University of Galway
What do we know about sex and gender differences in chronic pain? – Prof. Brian McGuire, University of Galway
Working with sex and gender differences in pain: Experience from the clinic – Dr. Rosemary Keane, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital Dublin
The important voice of those with lived experience in research activity – Ms Martina Phelan, Chronic Pain Ireland
Ensuring research really matters: Policy and service perspectives – Dr David Moore, Consultant Pain Specialist, Beaumont Hospital, Clinical Lead, Model of Care for Pain Management Services in Ireland
Q&A / Concluding Remarks
As this is a hybrid event you can choose to attend either online or in-person.
To attend online via webinar select this registration link
To come along on the day, meet our panel and our MC in-person at the Galway University Campus select this registration link
This event is organised by the School of Psychology, University of Galway, Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Galway, Centre of Pain Research, University of Galway, Chronic Pain Ireland as part of the University of Galway PPI Ignite Network and PPI Ignite Festival.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the PPI Ignite Festival.
