When back pain leads to back surgeries and long term debilitating pain and anxiety leads to missing out on your authentic self, diving deeper into the why behind it all became an urgent exploration for Caitlin. In this episode, she shares about the complicated and diverse nature in which people encounter chronic pain, and elaborates on her experience with chronic pain and anxiety across her life.  TW: Eating disordersSources:Aroke, E. N., Joseph, P. V., Roy, A., Overstreet, D. S., Tollefsbol, T. O., Vance, D. E., & Goodin, B. R. (2019). <p>Could epigenetics help explain racial disparities in chronic pain?</p> Journal of Pain Research, Volume 12, 701–710. https://doi.org/10.2147/jpr.s191848Biopsychosocial Factors that Underlie Racial Disparities in Pain Outcomes, Comorbidities, Inequities, and Barriers to Treatment. Current Pain and Headache Reports, 27(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-022-01098-8 Chronic Pain. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4798-chronic-pain Mossey, J. (2011b). Defining Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pain Management. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 469(7), 1859–1870. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-011-1770-9Nestel, S. (2012). Colour Coded Health Care: The Impact of Race and Racism on Canadians’ Health. In The Wellesley Institute. https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Colour-Coded-Health-Care-Sheryl-Nestel.pdfNew Fact Sheets Show Growing Racial Disparities in Canada | OCASI. (n.d.). https://ocasi.org/new-fact-sheets-show-growing-racial-disparities-canadaOverstreet, D. S., Pester, B. D., Wilson, J. M., Flowers, K. M., Kline, N. K., & Meints, S. M. (2022). The Experience of BIPOC Living with Chronic Pain in the USA: Biopsychosocial Factors that Underlie Racial Disparities in Pain Outcomes, Comorbidities, Inequities, and Barriers to Treatment. Current Pain and Headache Reports, 27(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-022-01098-8Socioeconomic status and occurrence of chronic pain: a meta-analysis. Rheumatology, 60(3), 1091–1105. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keaa758 What are Anxiety Disorders? (n.d.). https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/anxiety-disorders/what-are-anxiety-disorders#:~:text=Anxiety%20is%20a%20normal%20reaction,involve%20excessive%20fear%20or%20anxiety.Remember that we never walk this journey alone. Helpful numbers if you or someone you love finds themself in need quickly:988- suicide and crisis hotline741 741 - crisis text hotline911- medical emergencies

In this episode, Steph explores her journey with Bipolar II and Myasthenia Gravis. She takes us through what she calls her "mental health timeline" and offers reflections on how Bipolar has shaped her life over the past decade. Steph also shares more deeply about her new diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis and how both Bipolar and MG have become her greatest teachers. Remember, you are always able! Remember that we never walk this journey alone. Helpful numbers if you or someone you love finds themself in need quickly:988- suicide and crisis hotline741 741 - crisis text hotline911- medical emergenciesSources:Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America:https://myasthenia.org/NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illnesshttps://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Bipolar-DisorderNational Institute of Mental Healthhttps://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/bipolar-disorderRemember that we never walk this journey alone. Helpful numbers if you or someone you love finds themself in need quickly:988- suicide and crisis hotline741 741 - crisis text hotline911- medical emergencies

We're talking today about timelines and the breaking, bending, resetting, and releasing of goals or objectives that are bullshit in the face of what we're dealing with.Caitlin is almost a year post-surgery and finishing up her MPH and is ready for change but not sure if her body can handle. Steph is trying out a new infusion for her MG and balancing expectations on symptom alleviation.  Join us as we discuss when the rigidity has to go and how we can more deeply love ourselves exactly where we are.Remember that we never walk this journey alone. Helpful numbers if you or someone you love finds themself in need quickly:988- suicide and crisis hotline741 741 - crisis text hotline911- medical emergenciesRemember that we never walk this journey alone. Helpful numbers if you or someone you love finds themself in need quickly:988- suicide and crisis hotline741 741 - crisis text hotline911- medical emergencies

Welcome to Able. In this episode, we, Caitlin and Stephanie share about our friendship and our life journeys that led them to Able. In speaking about our own experiences, we hope you feel seen and held in your own journey, whatever that may be.Remember that we never walk this journey alone. Helpful numbers if you or someone you love finds themself in need quickly:988- suicide and crisis hotline741 741 - crisis text hotline911- medical emergenciesRemember that we never walk this journey alone. Helpful numbers if you or someone you love finds themself in need quickly:988- suicide and crisis hotline741 741 - crisis text hotline911- medical emergencies