Free Chronic Pain Peer Support — Virtual | Chronic Pain Anonymous
Chronic Pain Anonymous (CPA) is a worldwide fellowship of people from all walks of life who share one common thread: living with the daily reality of chronic pain and chronic illness. Founded in 2004 in Baltimore, Maryland, CPA has grown into a global community of members who gather — virtually and in person — to share experience, strength, and hope. There are no dues or fees for membership. The only requirement is a desire to recover from the emotional and spiritual weight that chronic pain and chronic illness can place on a person’s life.
What to Expect
CPA meetings follow a 12-step model adapted specifically for people living with chronic conditions. In each meeting, participants share their personal experiences with pain, illness, and the challenges these conditions create in daily life — from relationships and work to sleep and self-worth. Meetings are structured but welcoming, with a focus on serenity, acceptance, and finding meaning alongside physical limitations. CPA offers face-to-face meetings in select cities, as well as phone meetings, video meetings via Zoom, and alternative meeting formats — making it accessible to members wherever they live, including remote and rural areas of Alaska.
Who This Group Is For
CPA welcomes anyone living with chronic pain or chronic illness, regardless of diagnosis. Whether you are managing fibromyalgia, back pain, lupus, multiple sclerosis, nerve pain, or any other persistent condition, you are welcome here. CPA is open to all ages and backgrounds. You do not need to be in crisis or at your lowest point to join — many members attend as a regular part of their self-care routine and recovery plan.
Why Peer Support Works
The emotional burden of chronic pain is often invisible to others. Peer support — connecting with people who truly understand what it means to navigate a world designed for healthy bodies — has been shown to reduce isolation, improve coping, and support emotional resilience. The 12-step framework CPA uses helps members build practical tools for managing the emotional consequences of pain: grief over lost abilities, frustration with medical systems, and the slow erosion of self-identity that chronic illness can bring. Connecting with others who have walked this path provides validation that family, friends, and even healthcare providers often cannot offer.
How to Join
CPA is free and open to anyone. To find a meeting that fits your schedule, visit chronicpainanonymous.org and browse the meeting calendar. Both video and phone meetings are listed there with options spanning multiple days and time zones. There is no registration or sign-up process required — you simply show up to a meeting of your choosing. All meetings are confidential.