My latest…
Appearances can be Deceiving
Frida, ...a woman who used fashion to channel her physical difficulties into a courageous statement of identity, strength and beauty. Exhibition by ISHIUCHI MIYAKO
This Train is Bound for… Wholeville: A Travel Guide for the Perplexed
Here are some of the important messages that we hope you have taken on board: Your brain can be a powerful tool to help you manage your pain experience. Like all of our life experiences, that of being in pain can be changed. You are not to blame for your persistent pain. You can experience pain without evidence of tissue damage and not experience pain when tissue damage has occurred. Drugs (or needles) alone are not the answer. The “third space” engagement gives you the best possible opportunity to better manage your pain. Consider embracing the whope model of care. Could this be your slogan? Know pain, know thyself!
Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia’s Melbourne launch
I was thrilled to be invited to The Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia (PPFA)'s Melbourne launch last night. I originally met Dr Susan Evans when I was invited to present my patient story at AIM Pain 2014. I had cyber met Dr Evans prior, asking if I could include her details on this website, in fact I've 'e-met' many pain professionals this way. I never dreamt that one day they may all be in the one room together, all of us advocating for pelvic pain and helping start up a National organisation that addresses pelvic pain for women AND MEN. Needless to say, last night I went on a magic carpet ride!
Intermission, my solo exhibition in Hobart
It’s my PN anniversary, eight years (if I don’t subtract [...]
SBS Insight: Ouch!
As usual, I was waiting for a lead. Waiting to hear that someone with chronic pain had found a way out of it and was cured. Mrs Gleeson, I could have bet you were going to say you were fine, after all, you looked it! And so did Lesley Brydon, Pain Australia's CEO... how could she be in any pain?
What do I do with my trigger points now, Dr Quintner?
John Quintner, Professor Milton Cohen and Dr Geoffrey Bove recently [...]
Permission granted and now it’s back to reality!
Permission granted and now it's back to reality! Or is it possible I never really left my reality? As if anyone can leave chronic pain behind and really have time off! I'm going to post my brain's two conflicting versions: 1. Crap thinking out-of-the-way first version..
Signing off for 2014 under an Olsen sun at MONA
Or should I say, looking forward to 2015? Looking forward [...]
Melbourne Leader story, Soula bares soul over pain
The following story was published in support of the current [...]
Robert J. Echenberg, MD
I don’t think I need to write an introduction for [...]
My interview with the Australian Pain Society
APS: How important are support groups for both you and your close family/community? Soula: I can’t say I feel there is much support for my husband and family/community. It’s difficult with invisible pain, it’s a similar scenario with depression, we still don’t get it. Society seems to have been given an immense right to provide their opinion (e.g. with social media platforms) and this has opened up some kind of authority to encourage opinions and much judgment. Not many tread carefully or really think from someone else’s perspective. Although we have more information accessible to us, we seem to be learning less.
‘The Hurting Strings’ wins International Film Festival Reel Health Award 2014
I must sound like a broken record by now, but once again, I am left bewildered by my chronic pain journey and the contrasting experiences that go from excruciating pain to exhilaration. Above all, I feel incredibly privileged at the opportunities presented to me and so happy to be able to help others by communicating my story. I could not have done this without Theo, my family and of course Peter Lamont and Jacinta Cashen.