The life behind the pain
Family, creativity, earlier struggles and the hopes that shaped my life before chronic pain became its centre.
A memoir by Lili Road
Breaking Free
Breaking Free
from Chronic Pain
How I Overcame Chronic Pain and Reclaimed My Life
When pain changed my life, I began searching for answers. This book tells that deeply personal story: the uncertainty, the questions, and the journey towards rebuilding my life.
My story may be
yours too.
Before pain took over, my days were filled with music, work and family life. I was a mother, an artist, a woman with plans and places to be.
Then pain changed the shape of my everyday life. Alongside the physical suffering came uncertainty, isolation and questions that seemed to have no answers.
I know how lonely that search can feel. In this book, I share the experiences and discoveries that helped me find a way forward.
My journey is my own. But perhaps, in these pages, you will recognize something of yours — and feel a little less alone.
A life interrupted.
A search for a way forward.
At the heart of this memoir are the experiences that changed how I understood my body, my story and the life I wanted to rebuild.
The search for answers
The questions, research and personal exploration that led me to consider the connections between physical and emotional experience.
Rebuilding a life
What it meant, for me, to find a way forward and reconnect with the parts of life that mattered.
You are more
than what hurts.
Pain can take up so much space that everything else feels far away: your interests, your relationships, your plans.
That experience is part of the story I wanted to tell. Alongside the difficult moments, there is a woman learning, searching and finding her voice again.
I share my experience in the hope that it offers companionship and a reason to keep asking questions about your own path forward.
The English-language book
Breaking Free
Breaking Free
from Chronic Pain
How I Overcame Chronic Pain and Reclaimed My Life
By Lili Road
- Publisher
- Library Tales Publishing
- Distributor
- Simon & Schuster
- Format
- Trade paperback · 220 pages
- Publication date
- October 7, 2025
- Language
- English
- ISBN
- 9798894410258
Visit the official Simon & Schuster listing for retailer links. Prices, delivery options and availability depend on the retailer and your location.
From lived experience
to the Mind-Body Connection
My personal journey also shaped the MBC approach and, later, FriLi. Both reflect my interest in understanding experience, making room for emotions and exploring wellbeing practices.
Mind · Understanding
Finding words for your experience and making space for questions about pain, thoughts and emotions.
Body · Listening
Approaching your body with attention and respect for your own circumstances and limits.
Connection · Bringing it together
Exploring your experience as a whole person, without judgment or blame.
Meet Lili Road
Author, artist and founder of FriLi App, I bring together a love of creativity, a lifelong interest in learning and the experience of living with chronic pain.
My background includes art therapy at the Faculté Libre de Médecine de Lille, alongside training in Pain Reprocessing Therapy, yoga and meditation.
Writing gives me a way to share the human side of that journey: the questions that stayed with me, the experiences that changed me, and the wish to help others feel heard.
A few questions
you may have
Is this a memoir or a treatment programme?
Breaking Free from Chronic Pain is a personal account of my journey, including the experiences and approaches I explored. It is not an individualized treatment programme or a substitute for medical care.
Where can I buy the English-language book?
The official Simon & Schuster listing includes links to retailers. Check your chosen retailer for local availability and delivery information.
Does the book promise the same outcome for every reader?
No. It tells my personal story. Every person’s circumstances are different, and my experience does not guarantee a particular outcome for someone else.
Can I contact you before exploring further?
Yes. You can use the contact form or write to with your questions.
Discover FriLi
Wellbeing tools inspired by the Mind-Body Connection approach, to explore at your own pace and without judgment.
Your medical care matters
This page and the book share a personal experience. They do not replace medical assessment, diagnosis or treatment. FriLi is not a medical device.
Never change your treatment without speaking with your doctor. If you have questions about your symptoms or notice a change in your condition, consult a healthcare professional.