Control your condition don’t let it control you

Living with a long term health condition can cause depression, pain and low confidence – it can also affect relationships with friends and family – but this needn’t be the case.

Expert Patients Programme Community Interest Company (EPP CIC) through NHS Suffolk are delivering free courses for people who live with a long term health condition or chronic illness.�

The course ‘Chronic Disease Self-Management’, is run over six weekly sessions, each lasting two and a half hours. The sessions are delivered by two trained facilitators who are also living with a long term health condition.

The programme is designed to improve quality of life, reduce feelings of isolation and depression, improve eating habits, improve relationships, reduce visits to health care professionals and aid participants learning in self managing their illness.�

 “The course helped me realise how small steps can make a big difference in my day to day life and to work towards setting small goals which are achievable and make me feel good about myself. It was worthwhile attending.” Dave, Suffolk

Topics that the course covers include:

• Managing tiredness and pain
• Coping with feelings of depression
• Relaxation techniques and exercise
• Healthy eating
• Action planning and problem solving techniques
• Communication skills with healthcare professionals, friends, family and colleagues

The full range of Expert Patients Programme CIC courses can be found on our website www.expertpatients.co.uk

For more information or to book your place call our freephone number 0800 783 8944 or email info@eppcic.co.uk