Ceart GROW Group – Unique Group for People Living With Chronic Physical Pain

Step 7 of the GROW Program is ‘We Took Care and Control of Our Bodies’. The following is a discussion about Step 7 and living a full life with chronic physical pain.

This discussion was in the Ceart GROW Group in Kilkenny – a unique group for people living with chronic physical pain. Details about the Ceart GROW Group are featured at the end of this article.

Ann: Chronic pain would drive you demented. Waking up in the morning, there can a huge dread of the long day stretching out ahead. It can feel like we are the only one burdened by pain. That’s why coming to the Ceart GROW group is great – we’re not alone. There are other people just like me who will listen and understand. Our families may care deeply about us, but if they don’t understand they can get fed up listening to us. It’s vital we find some place to share with people going through similar experiences.

Pat: The group isn’t just a place for us to talk. Every week we take a task. This means doing something that helps us and we share this with the group. Many of us have got back to swimming and going for small walks. This gets us out of the house and meet people. Chronic pain and isolation are a bad mix.

When we go for a coffee on 12th Step work, some of us are getting to rediscover our local town, after years of isolating ourselves. Spending more time around people means we can enjoy having company rather than dreading it. We can let go of fears like – ‘I’m in too much pain to cope with other people’. Such fears are often a result of bad habits, that we can grow out of.

[For further Ceart Group discussion on living a full life with chronic physical pain and more details about the Ceart GROW Group, see the GROW website]

Martin: A key element is a sense of control. For example, going for a long walk today will give me pain, but it will go away. If I go for too many long walks this week, it could flatten me. It’s good to push myself to my limits, but not beyond. There is a huge amount of knowledge out there that can help us better look after our body (e.g. discovering a healthy diet, exercise routine etc.).

If we feel we’ve lost control we can give in to panic or despair, but learning what can help empowers us. Often it’s about doing simple ordinary things like using a hot water bottle or an ice pack to help with muscle pain. Learning to do the little things right will make a big difference in the long run.

Ann: This is where GROW helps. We learn to set and achieve small goals as a practical task, In the long run, this builds our confidence and gives us a sense of mastery – i.e. we focus more on what we can, rather than can’t change.

Mary: We all know people with a serious disability (e.g. blindness, being paralysed etc.) who live positive, active lives. They have learned to do the best they can with what they have got. In some ways chronic pain/disability can be a spiritual challenge – we need to find a deeper meaning in our lives. Even if we are unable to hold down a paid job, we can contribute to society by making the most of who we are. Regardless of our limitations we can be positive, friendly, caring and open-minded.

Clare: It seems we need to cultivate two qualities –  empowerment and acceptance. Empowerment involves learning more about our condition, learning to do the right thing more often, developing a network of friends and hobbies/interests. We are building a toolbox to keep us well. On the other hand, there are some things we cannot change and this requires acceptance. We can waste so much energy wishing for impossible changes that we don’t have the energy to change the things we can. Acceptance and empowerment means we can learn to make the most of who we are. In GROW, we constantly see people overcome their self-imposed limits. Finding meaning in our lives generates not just energy, but pleasant surprises.

Information about the Ceart GROW Group
Who are we?  We are a mutual help group providing ongoing support, information and encouragement to people managing chronic illness. We have been running since 2005 and meet every Friday morning in the GROW Office in Barrack Street, Kilkenny from 11a.m. until 1p.m.

Much research around the world has shown that mutual help of this kind is a crucial ingredient in tackling illness. The mutual help group not only provides understanding and encouragement but it taps into each person’s unique experience of learning to live above and in spite of illness.

Who is the group for? The group has members with a diverse range of illness, from heart conditions to diabetes to head injury, Fibromyalgia and Rheumatism or MS. It includes all chronic conditions.

How does it work? The group is founded on the principle that whatever a person’s condition, their experiences are uniquely valuable. Meetings are anonymous, confidential and free.

What is a meeting like? Our meetings start with a cup of tea. Meetings follow a particular structure. Leadership is shared, so after a few meetings you may be expected to take your turn.

The most important part of the meeting involves each person deciding on a priority for the week. This will be unique to them and their current need. The priority could do with managing the illness, learning and practising new techniques, starting a diet or exercise regime. It could be to contact another organisation or expert or to investigate your entitlements.

On the other hand, it could be to do with enjoying your life, making sure that you are involved in enjoyable things. To ensure you are not becoming isolated, it could be to encourage you to develop a talent or to take on a new direction.

The meeting can also be used to discuss how you are feeling. It is amazing how others who are in the same situation can understand and offer support when you find the going tough and seem to be making no progress. The meetings are also educational, studying helpful and relevant literature.

These meetings are anonymous, confidential and non-denominational.

For more information contact: GROW, Barrack Street, Kilkenny on 056-7761624