Thriving with chronic pain: A newly qualified Dramatherapist’s journey towards learning their body’s language

Abstract

This paper implements an Autoethnographic lens to explore a newly qualified Dramatherapists relationship to her chronic pain and body, the society is exits within, the process of overcoming internalised stigma and the journey taken through training. An analysis of how society has impacted the authors relationship of her body that is affected by chronic pain will take place, as well as unpacking her experiences of having chronic pain and endometriosis. Chronic pain has been a constant within the authors adult life. This pain and societies attitudes toward disability informed a belief that becoming a Dramatherapist was not an achievable ambition. The author will delineate the steps taken, challenges overcome and drastic shifts in thinking that took place before training, during and once qualified. Through this Autoethnographic exploration of the authors lived experiences, she discovered the essential pillars of turning surviving into thriving were community, connection, education and self-advocacy.