My journey with chronic pain began in 2003. In the early years, life centered around doctors, tests, medications, physio and surgeries. My world consisted of pain, waiting and uncertainty while raising a family and caring for an ill parent. The career I worked so hard for slipped through my fingers. Depression took hold. To get me through, I focused with high hopes on the date of my next appointment with the next doctor who would have the answer, fix me and make the pain stop. It would build to a crescendo but before the grand finale that reveals the answers and the fix, the curtains fell and the lights went out every single time.  Sadly, my story is not unique to the chronic pain community.

It didn’t take long to realize that life with chronic pain is so much more than pain. Chronic pain invades every aspect of your life. It is isolation, frustration, depression, grief, humiliation, shame, judgement, confusion and disappointments. It steals jobs, partners, friends, and finances. It quietly steals your energy, motivation and self-worth. It is pleading your case for disability income, parking passes and extra red tape when you need to borrow money. It is wanting to participate in life and having no idea how you can or who can tell you. It is being the only one in your circle of family, friends, and co-workers, whose life is being stolen. Chronic pain is lonely.

As I fought my way through trying to figure out life with chronic pain, I remember wondering how many others were as confused, scared, lonely and overwhelmed as I was. I knew the source for medical advice (bio) and I knew the source for mental health advice (psycho) but who is the source to figure out day to day life with chronic pain? The answer sadly was no one.

How do you explain pain to your family, your friends, your co-workers, your boss? How can you still enjoy playing with children, grandchildren, pets? Are any of the expensive miracle cures effective? What products can actually make life better? How can I still enjoy a vacation? How will I ever find contentment? Find joy? Find purpose? Most of all, who can I even ask?

The seed I now call CWTCH (pronounced kutch) was born from the frustrations, complications and lack or reliable resources to help me figure out life with chronic pain. A passion that has been simmering in my mind, in random files on my computer, scribbled notes and far too many ideas to count for 20 years. I knew the lessons I learned the hard way could, should, would help other warriors on their path. I just didn’t know how – until now.

I am excited to bring my passion to life. CWTCH is a place to connect with and learn from others who get it. To grow your life into a life of contentment with joy and purpose. It is a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place to ask the life questions that take years to figure out alone. It is a place to learn from warriors who have fought to answer the questions that trouble you. It is by warriors for warriors.

I invite Chronic Pain Warriors far and wide to join me on this journey. I invite Warriors to ask the “living life with chronic pain” questions that can best be answered by a Warrior who has already figured it out. I invite Warriors to identify topics related to living life with chronic pain that you want to understand. I invite Warriors to share your lessons learned to help others on their journey. Remember – by warriors for warriors.

I will be forever grateful for the love and support of my family and friends, who have stood beside me on this journey. They have recognized the gaps, witnessed and felt the frustrations, cared for and about me, supported me, and loved me throughout my journey. They never lost faith that my passion for CWTCH – by warriors for warriors – would someday come to life.

A very special thank you to my colleague and friend, Deana Tsiapalis, owner of pain 2 possibilities.com, and Head Pain Coach and Chief Curator of The Change Pain Academy. It is Deana’s guidance, encouragement, friendship, and belief in me that has made this possible, turning pain 2 possibilities. My GDGF! Let’s do this!