I did the Challenging Arthritis course in October 2002. I had ongoing problems for a number of years and was diagnosed with arthritis in 2000. I was working in the voluntary sector and had a job I absolutely loved, but the osteoarthritis got much worse and I had to give up working. Many things had to change in my life such as changing the car to an automatic and not having any stairs in the house. I read about a course that Arthritis Care ran and decided that it was what I needed to get motivated.
The course gave me a sense of hope as I suddenly thought there are people worse than me who had come to terms with living with arthritis. The course helped me to see that I could take control of things in my life and manage the pain. I learnt lots of relaxation techniques that I still use today.
I am now a training services supervisor. I work with volunteers who attend the courses by supporting them and managing their courses. Sometimes the benefits I see in other people can be huge. I think there is a sense of isolation for many people with arthritis and the courses are great for bringing people together and it's a way of making friends and knowing that you are not alone. I think I learned that it wasn’t my fault that I had arthritis but that it was my responsibility to do something about it. It is possible to change your life and the course gave me the motivation to do so and a sense of optimism.