"Living with chronic pain was scary, draining, lonely. I felt like no one understood me and I felt so alone, I felt shame and worthless... Always worried that I was going to die and there was something wrong with me and my body. I hated my body because it didn't work the way it was 'supposed to'. I felt like my body was 'against me' no matter what I did the pain was always there. That's all I could focus on. I felt like such a burden on my children. After working with Melissa I have come to realize that there is nothing wrong with my body. My body is amazing and is always working hard to keep me alive. I love my body because it does it's best with what it got to heal and support me. I'm not afraid of my aches and pains anymore. I know that it is only my body communicating with me. I am learning to stop and listen to what my body is telling me. When I listen and show compassion to myself I am able to process the emotions and let them go. I have learned that self care is the most important thing I can do daily. I have learned that saying no to someone else means saying yes to me."