Challenging Your Condition - Virtual services

This is a virtual service which is available online only.

Is it for me?

This programme is for anyone over 18 living in persistent pain/living with a long term health condition. If you feel you are stuck in an endless cycle of pain, exhaustion and low mood and feel you'd like to break that then we can help.

What will I learn?

• Ways to manage your persistent pain especially on those really bad days.
• Simple techniques to help you deal with everyday problems such as frustration, fatigue, isolation and poor sleep.
• How to prioritise, pace yourself and plan activities and also how deal with setbacks.
• You will also have the opportunity to meet others who are living in persistent pain also.

How does it work?

Two leaders who live with pain or a long term health condition themselves deliver the workshops online. They have been 'in your shoes' and know exactly how you feel. The setup is very informal and there is no study involved. There will be a small group of people in the call.

The workshops run for 2.5 hours a week over 6 weeks and are FREE. You will receive an invitation by email to take part over Microsoft Teams and we will contact you beforehand to talk you through everything and what to do.

I don't have a computer or the internet and I'm not comfortable with IT…

Don't worry - even if you only have a landline phone - we will post all the course materials out to you and we can add you to the call ourselves - you won't have to do anything and can still hear and take part in the discussions.

Why should I do it?

Living with a long term health condition or persistent pain can feel like an endless stream of appointments with GPs, specialists, physio, OT and other Health Professionals. In reality, someone living with chronic pain spends, on average, just 12 hours a year with Health Care Professionals. This means you are left to manage the other 364 days by yourself.

Research shows that people who take part in a self-management programme experience less pain, depression, fatigue and anxiety than before. Within a year, you could be making fewer visits to your doctor and using your new found self-management skills to take back your life.

I'd like to take part in a face to face programme - if I register for an online one will I still be able to go to a face to face when they are running again in the future?

Yes - absolutely - you can attend both the online programmes and the face to face ones.

How do I book a place?

You can book your place by completing our online course booking form.

Call us on 028 9078 2940 or email NIreland@versusarthritis.org for any enquiries.