Module 6 - Midway review

Midway review - Te wā waenganui pū, ka whakaaroaro 

This midway review will an opportunity for you to reflect on how you are engaging with the programme content and what has changed in how you manage your pain.   We would love to hear about what you may have tried to do differently since beginning the group programme and how your understanding of pain has shifted.

You will find a document that provides key messages, skill practice suggestions and a short quiz for each session.  Going through these will give you a good idea what has or has not landed well with you and you are welcome to bring anything this brings up for you to the discussion with the clinician.

And if you have any specific questions or matters that you have not wanted to raise in the group setting, this is an opportunity to raise them.

We want to share the summary findings of a recently published paper that summarises factors that are helpful and those that are not helpful for a large number of people managing chronic pain.  Please use this to reflect on the strategies you currently use and if there is an area you want to focus on as we navigate the second half of this programme.   

[Alt text from diagram: 

Thriving with chronic pain

Attitudes towards pain and its impact on life

Hinders:

• Not wanting to accept a life with pain.
• Feeling in denial about living with pain.
• Experiencing psychological/emotional pain as a result of living with pain.

Helps:

• Positive outlook and perspective on living with pain.
• Drawing on personal resources and not giving up.
• Acceptance of pain.

Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishments

Behavioural strategies and openness to trying new things

Hinders:

• Lack of openness or motivation to engage in activities that may be helpful/are valued.

Helps:

• Openness to trying new approaches to manage pain.
• Approaching pain holistically.
• Commitment to putting strategies in place.

Engagement, Accomplishments

Perceiving love, support, and connection with others

Hinders:

• Invisible illness - feeling dismissed, not believed, or understood.

Helps:

• Positive patient-professional relationships.
• Drawing on spiritual connection.
• Positive support from friends and family helping with tasks and providing emotional support.
• Feeling a sense of connectedness with others experiencing chronic illness within the community who are also experiencing the same challenges.
• Motivation to connect and advise others on a similar journey.

Positive Emotions, Relationships, Accomplishments

Ascribing meaning to life alongside pain

Hinders:

• Interpreting living with chronic pain as loss and experiencing feelings of loss and grief.

Helps:

• Taking ownership and control of living with chronic pain and acting on this ownership.
• Seeing the humorous side of life.
• Appreciation of life and living life to the full.

Positive Emotions, Meaning

(Sourced from: Widdrington H, Krahé C, Herron K, Smith K, Cherry MG. Thriving when living with chronic pain: A qualitative evidence synthesis of individuals' experiences. Br J Health Psychol. 2025 Sep;30(3):e70000. doi: 10.1111/bjhp.70000. PMID: 40542486; PMCID: PMC12181663.)]