Chronic Pain Anonymous (CPA) is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other so that they may solve their common problem and help others recover from the disabling effects of chronic pain and chronic illness. The only requirement for membership is a desire to recover from the emotional and spiritual debilitation of chronic pain and chronic illness. There are no dues or fees for CPA membership. We are self-supporting through our own contributions. CPA does not ally with any organization or institution.

Many of us have been unwilling to admit that we have a problem when handling our chronic pain or illness. Therefore, it is not surprising that our lives have been characterized by countless doctors, diets, and alternative therapies, with the hope of controlling our pain and illness so we can return to the lives that we had before we became ill or injured. The idea that somehow, someday, we will control our pain and illness is our great obsession. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing and many pursue this into isolation, addiction, anger, fear, and depression.

CPA offers friendship, hope, sanity, and peace. We achieve this as individuals, groups, and a fellowship by practicing our Twelve Steps of recovery for ourselves, being guided by our Twelve Traditions at our meetings, and supported in our fellowship service work by the Twelve Concepts, found in the CPA Service Handbook. Each of them embodies a set of principles for living life effectively, inside and outside CPA.

We have learned how to live fulfilling, joyous lives using the principles and tools in CPA. Emotional and spiritual growth begins to bloom in us as we live our lives interacting with others who, like us, live with chronic pain and illness but have decided to utilize what this program offers. Learning from and supporting each other, we are amazed at how our lives have changed for the better. It has helped us, and it can help you. We want you to discover the great potential that we have discovered in CPA.

Our primary purpose is to live our lives to the fullest by minimizing the effects of chronic pain and chronic illness in our lives and helping others to do the same. We do this by practicing the Twelve Steps and welcoming and giving comfort and understanding to each other. Many of us realized that recovery from our obsession was an option when we started attending CPA meetings and heard stories similar to ours. We define recovery as: The ability to live peacefully, joyfully, and comfortably with ourselves and others. Our CPA Declaration reminds us of what is possible when we learn to apply the steps and the principles of the program to our lives.

CPA was started in 2004 by Dale L. and Barry in Baltimore, MD. Since then the fellowship has grown and now has meetings around the world. Along with the local face-to-face meetings we offer meetings that can be attended from home, which makes it possible for all our members to participate in the fellowship, no matter what their physical status. We invite you to explore the website and discover how CPA can enrich your life.

If you are looking for a meeting go to Meetings. If you are starting a meeting, please visit Start a New Meeting. If you are interested in purchasing literature, you will find brochures and books in our Store. You can read about the experiences of members who have found recovery in CPA in Our Stories.

We have discovered that practicing the principles embodied in the Steps combined with taking action by using the program tools, grants us the simplicity, compassion and serenity we desperately sought for so long. If you think CPA could help you lead a life you love, no matter what your physical condition, please join us at a meeting in your community, or attend one of the distance meetings.

If you have any questions about CPA, please contact us here.

We welcome you to Chronic Pain Anonymous!

VISION STATEMENT

All people affected by chronic pain or chronic illness will find help and recovery in every community. We define recovery as the ability to live peacefully, joyfully, and comfortably with ourselves and others.

MISSION STATEMENT

To invite all people living with chronic pain or chronic illness to accept the serenity to live one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, and viewing hardship as a pathway to peace. We trust that as we surrender to a Power greater than ourselves, we will find strength and an unfathomable peace.

STRATEGIC PLAN

CPA’s spiritual principles permeate our policies and practices; we apply emerging technology and communication:

• To increase the visibility of CPA so that it is recognized as the number one resource throughout the world for helping anyone who lives with chronic pain or chronic illness
• To empower the CPA fellowship to be vibrant, inclusive, accessible to everyone, and flexible
• To be adaptive and strategic in using available talents, skills, and abilities