Chronic pain doesn't have to rule your life. YOU are the one in charge! In this Focus Journal, you'll find strategies for mitigating pain and mindset tactics to help you take control of your days.

Spend ten minutes each day reflecting on your health and wellness habits. Make goals for every week and reflect at the end of each month on your mindset progress.

Make the inner you a priority and work toward having calm in your days. Take action against chronic pain and be the YOU you are meant to be!

Introduction

Crafting this journal has been very personal for me. I've suffered from

chronic pain for many years due to a variety of medical conditions. Pain

steals your time and happiness on bad days. And for those who have

medical conditions, it's always around on the good days, too. Just hidden

better in the background.

The National Library of Medicine states that "up to 85% of patients with

chronic pain are affected by severe depression." Mayo Clinic explores the

relationship between the two: "Sometimes pain and depression create a

vicious cycle in which pain worsens symptoms of depression, and then

the resulting depression worsens feelings of pain."

I've personally suffered from recurring depression since I was a teenager,

and when chronic pain started taking center stage in my early thirties, my

depression spiraled. I noticed a direct relationship with when I was feeling

a lot of pain and the level of my depression. It seemed hopeless at times.