Green Valley, AZ
I found out about a Mindfulness class being offered by Purple Mountain Institute (Tucson, AZ) at the local Green Valley library. I decided to take it as I have always had trouble handling stress and anxiety. It has been the best thing I have done for myself. I wish it would have been available when I was much younger (I am now 72). I developed breast cancer (no family history, former health educ. teacher, not overweight, and physically active) in 2007. I am fine now, but hopefully, it will not occur again. I truly believe that stress might have been the underlying factor of my developing cancer. Through this class, I have developed a "mindfulness" strategy to help me daily in living and handling stress effectively. The Institute expecially targets veterans, helping them deal with PTSD and is helping many. How wonderful for our veterans to get help like this at no cost.
Review from Guidestar
This is a great organization. I've taken the 2 pain management classes, and have learned a lot from each class. The class leaders are supportive, kind, and ask good questions to help you learn. The info is applied to our lives, as we do homework each week.
Pain Connection is a great resource. Gwenn is kind, knowledgeable and supportive. I highly recommend this non-profit.
What a great, supportive, non-judgmental, loving, kind group of people I have gotten to know through The Pain Connection. Staff is top-notch and know waaayyy more than I did for sure. I have forged friendships that are amazing and truly deep. I have picked up so many ways to deal with my pain through the Filling the Gaps In Pain Care classes and have been able to put some of them in place to help me. I cannot re-iterate enough how much the staff cares. It is impossible for me to express enough gratitude to them, but I can share it with you and hope that if you need 'help' with your pain -- no matter what kind -- there are a group of people that can help you. They certainly have me. Not just from a 'woohoo' someone else gets it point, but also from the 'how' to help yourself standpoint. Sorry for such a long post, but I am very serious about this organization and believe their love and kindness travels through all of us out to other people in need.
For the past 1 1/2 years, the Pain Connection has been an integral part of my healing, coping and managing my pain more effectively. Attending the Filling in the Gaps class was instrumental in fully understanding the complex condition of pain and the various causes, symptoms and responses to them.
The Pain Symposium was chock full of excellent information presented by trained professionals which put me in contact with some excellent physicians that literally turned around my overall health. I was introduced to Dr. Kaplan of the Kaplan Clinic as well as multiple doctors at NIH.
I cherish the monthly support group calls that share topics relevant to the pain community. So much good information is shared on these calls.
While I am not 100% pain free, I am 100% more in tune with my body and have endeavored to listen to it and respect it and that is largely in part to Gwenn Hermann and The Pain Connection. Thank you Gwenn!
A. Smith
"This program has helped me deal with a variety of issues such as relaxation therapy to reduce pain levels, meditation to put my mind at ease to better control the fight or flight problems and learning that I'm not alone in this walk because others are dealing with some of the same issues. I really appreciate your help with my situation and your advice given. "
Review from Guidestar