"Buy this book and make sure that your doctor reads it too!" - Dr Steve Gilbert, Staff Specialist in Anaesthesia and Pain Management, former Lead Clinician for Chronic Pain in Scotland

"Phil's book has everything necessary to help people with chronic pain change their life. To live, thrive and not just survive. A must-read for people in pain: learn to live again." - Linz Stevens, living well despite chronic pain.

Chronic pain is much more common than you might think - it affects nearly one-fifth of the population. Chronic pain is defined as any pain that continues for longer than three months. It has a variety of causes including arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, accidents or operations, although sometimes there is no apparent cause.

Many people suffering from chronic pain have been told by medical professionals that 'I'm sorry, there's nothing more we can do for you', leaving them feeling abandoned and isolated. If you have been told this, or you think this news may be in your future, then this book is for you.

Self-management is an important approach to coping better and managing this long term condition. Written with humour, and making use of cartoons and line drawings, this book encapsulates 20 years of pain management courses given by Phil Sizer at Pain Association Scotland to patients, GPs, and other health professionals. Divided into three sections (Understanding, Managing, Coping) Its approach is based on a holistic, bio-psycho-social model of health including CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), positive psychology, relaxation, hypnotherapy, motivational interviewing and coaching.

Topics include:
introduction by Pain Association Scotland
understanding chronic pain - definitions, acute vs chronic
pacing - how to avoid over-doing
realistic goal-setting
stress management
relaxation and sleep
dealing with flare-ups
diet and foods to avoid
coping with unhelpful thinking (racing mind, anxiety and negative thoughts)
challenging limiting beliefs
relationships with others
accepting help
importance of humour - attitude and values
being a person not a condition

If you can learn how to make changes and live better with your pain, things will improve, be different, and most importantly, so much better.