Do you struggle with your own internalized ableism? Do you wish there was more representation of dynamic disabilities and chronic illness in media and art? Do you feel alone in your journey with chronic illness?  If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then this is the episode for you.  Meet the powerful dynamic-disabilities advocate and disabled artist, Ashley Bravin. My conversation with Ashley begins with her journey with multiple chronic illnesses. We then dive into her current art projects and future exhibitions that reflect the reality of living with multiple dynamic disabilities and chronic illnesses. Finally, we touch on her experience with her two service dogs and what services dogs can do for people with chronic illness (e.g., medical alerts)! MORE ON ASHLEY:  Ashley Bravin is a disabled artist and advocate, with multiple chronic illnesses. Born and raised in Southern California, Ashley studied both at Carnegie Mellon University, and Burren College of Art in Ireland, graduating with a BFA in painting and drawing. Her work has been exhibited extensively throughout the United States and abroad. She has been the recipient of two grants and a fellowship to develop her body of work and has participated as an artist in residence twice at the Chautauqua Institute of Chautauqua, New York. ASHLEY'S INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ashleybravin/?hl=en ASHLEY'S WEBSITE, TIKTOK, AND MORE: https://linktr.ee/insicknessandindog

Have you ever wondered, "Why me?", "Will I ever be happy again?" or "My life is over"? If you have, Natalie Kelly is here to help. As Nat says, with chronic illness, thought patterns of fear, doom, anxiety, self-consciousness, and self-hatred are common (and valid), but they don't have to be your forever. If you are ready to learn how to reframe those thoughts and learn mindset tools to help you find happiness, confidence, and joy again, then this is the conversation for you!  First, we touch on Nat’s personal journey with chronic illness and how she came to be a chronic illness mindset and lifestyle coach. We then delve into some specifics about what mindset work is, how she helps people get comfortable with acceptance, and what it means to control our emotions. More on Nat:  Natalie is the CEO and founder of Plenty and Well where she is a full-time chronic illness blogger, podcaster, and mindset and lifestyle coach. Nat, who has been living and thriving with Ulcerative Colitis (UC), is passionate about helping you find acceptance, confidence, inner growth, and self-compassion on your chronic illness journey. You can find her @plentyandwellwithnat on Instagram and her website plentyandwell.com JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! Click here Help Support the Podcast: \https://anchor.fm/thechronicpod/support — Find the Chronic Connection Community: Podcast Instagram: @thechronicpod Twitter: @thechronicpod - https://twitter.com/thechronicpod Join us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/thechronicpod Morgan's Instagram: @lifewithmigraine

When asked what she would put on a billboard, Roop said she would write, "endometriosis is a whole-body disease, not just a painful period".   Roop is currently living with stage 4 deep infiltrating endometriosis. She has undergone multiple surgeries for endometriosis and had a total hysterectomy for the treatment of adenomyosis. Once a nurse with a full-time career, now plagued by unbridled symptoms Roop has been forced to give up her career. Despite her difficult health journey, Roop is a passionate advocate working to dismantle the misconceptions surrounding endometriosis and adenomyosis.  If you struggle with endometriosis or adenomyosis or want to become further educated on what it is like to live with these conditions, then this is the episode for you. More on Roop: Roop B. has a BS in psychology and nursing. She is an endometriosis and adenomyosis educator, advocate, and speaker. She is currently managing stage 4 deep infiltrating endo. You can find her on Instagram @endointhe604. 

Do you struggle to manage your mental health when living with chronic pain?  This episode centers on the intersection of mental health (i.e., depression) and nociplatic-pain disorders (i.e., Fibromyalgia and migraine), including lessons learned from talk therapy and Curable Health. Allison Martinez has been living with chronic pain for several years managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), and fibromyalgia. Her passage through the belly of the medical system exemplifies grit, strength, and determination. She is an inspiration for self-education, personal advocacy, and radical acceptance. Despite having divergent diagnoses, I deeply related to all that Alison had endured and overcome. You can find her @chronicalli_ on Instagram Help Support the Podcast: \https://anchor.fm/thechronicpod/support — Find the Chronic Connection Community: Podcast Instagram: @thechronicpod Twitter: @thechronicpod Join us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/thechronicpod Morgan's Instagram: @lifewithmigraine

Imagine being seized by pain after laughing, sneezing, and even talking. Imagine having to avoid funny people, loud places, and singing in the car. For Christie Griffith, this has become reality after being diagnosed with Chiari malformation, a birth defect that affects 1 in 1000 individuals. Her symptoms rapidly progressed after sustaining a concussion while snowboarding in early 2021. Today’s we step into Christie's world of living with Chiari malformation. We swim through events of the past year and arrive at the apogee of her journey, decompression surgery that was just a few weeks away at the time of this recording. This conversation is about bringing awareness to chiari malformations and what it’s like to live with the condition. It features an inspiring look into how Christi has managed to balance her debilitating symptoms with her full-time job and, perhaps most importantly, being there for her family and her 9-year-old daughter. Christie is not one to come front and center, but she is on a mission to raise awareness and build a community of people who understand the realities of living with a chiari malformation. Christie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christie_with_chiari/?hl=en Help Support the Podcast: \https://anchor.fm/thechronicpod/support — Find the Chronic Connection Community: Podcast Instagram: @thechronicpod Twitter: @thechronicpod Join us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/thechronicpod Morgan's Instagram: @lifewithmigraine

Should you talk to a child, teen, or even a young adult about chronic illness? Are you allowed to use the words illness, sick, dying, and death when talking to kids? How young is too young to tell the absolute truth about these life difficult topics?  If you’re ready to stop guessing and want to hear definitive answers to each of these questions and more, then this episode is for you! It may feel scary to talk to younger generations about trauma, illness, and loss as even adults struggle with these topics. But there is no one better to help you navigate these difficult circumstances than someone who has advanced training in helping kids and families cope with big challenges, enter a Certified Child Life Specialist.  Certified Child Life Specialist, Shani Thornton is a beacon of light for families who are facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Through therapeutic play, creative arts, education, and emotional support, she helps infants, children, teens, and young adults process health issues, trauma, and loss. She equips families with coping plans to best support their needs.  Shani Thornton has her master's in child life and has been a certified child life specialist since 2007. It was a pleasure to have this informative conversation with Shani because we discuss an aspect of life in which a lot of people are left guessing including myself. Let Shani Thornton take the guesswork out of helping kids and yourself cope with big life challenges.  Shani's Website: https://childlifemommy.com/ JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE!  Click here Help Support the Podcast: \https://anchor.fm/thechronicpod/support — Find the Chronic Connection Community: Podcast Instagram: @thechronicpod Twitter: @thechronicpod Join us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/thechronicpod Morgan's Instagram: @lifewithmigraine

Do you have pelvic pain? Have you struggled to have medical practitioners take your symptoms seriously? If yes, then you are in the right place.   Cassandra Earle, Her Uterus founder, is an outspoken, bold, and passionate women's health advocate who is working to change the social narrative around endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and other pelvic disorders.  Today’s conversation plunges into the depths of Cassandra's difficult journey of getting accurately diagnosed with endometriosis and PCOS. We examine the challenges that those with endometriosis, PCOS, and pelvic pain are often faced with including medical gaslighting, stigma, and shame. Finally, we discuss how members of the community can help shift the narrative around these pelvic disorders so that we can help the millions of people living with these conditions feel empowered.  Cassandra's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/her_uterus/?hl=en Find the Chronic Connection Community: Podcast Instagram: @thechronicpod Twitter: @thechronicpod Join us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/thechronicpod Morgan's Instagram: @lifewithmigraine

Do you struggle with GI symptoms - bloating, fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, or constipation? Have you had these symptoms be dismissed by medical professionals? This episode will help you start to see your symptoms for what they truly are - real, worthy of treatment, and unable to be dismissed. In today's conversation, Kirsten and I talk about the current research and science behind IBS onset, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments (including food sensitivity tests and more). Kirsten debunks the misconceptions around the low FODMAP “diet”, which really should be called a temporary diagnostic tool. Finally, Kirsten offers advice for those who experience mealtime anxiety. More on Kirsten:  Kirsten Jackson, the.IBSdietitian and Food Treatment Clinic founder is a UK-based low FODMAP trained registered dietitian who uses her ‘Take Control 2.0’ 1 on 1 coaching program and group sessions to help people tackle irritable bowel syndrome, SIBO, and histamine intolerances – balancing not only nutrition but also mental wellbeing, sleep, and movement. Blog and website: https://thefoodtreatmentclinic.com/about-kirsten/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.ibsdietitian/?hl=en Take Control - a podcast for people with IBS I hope you enjoy this episode! Podcast website: https://thechronicpod.weebly.com/ Podcast Instagram: @thechronicpod Twitter: @thechronicpod Join us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/thechronicpod Morgan's Instagram: @lifewithmigraine

Megan Donelly has been living with migraine for several years. The pivotal moment in her story came when in just a handful of months her migraine snowballed from episodic attacks into a chronic, debilitating condition. Today’s conversation weaves through Megan’s journey of chronic intractable migraine, her search for effective treatments, and her experience with protracted hospital stays. But perhaps of even greater value, this conversation traces Megan’s emotional and mental growth that has served as the foundation for her healing journey. Megan made a few fundamental changes to her perception, thought patterns, and self-talk that enabled her to better manage her symptoms. This conversation is sprinkled with seemingly small actions that anyone can take to help them escape the fear-pain cycle and cultivate optimism in the face of health challenges. A journey that so closely parallels my own, I have exceptional respect for Megan and for all that she has endured with her journey. I deeply admire Megan’s willingness to bare-all when it comes to fear, pain, and hope for the future. Megan Donnelly's Instagram: @healwithmeg JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! Click here Help Support the Podcast: \https://anchor.fm/thechronicpod/support — Find the Chronic Connection Community: Podcast Instagram: @thechronicpod Twitter: @thechronicpod Join us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/thechronicpod Morgan's Instagram: @lifewithmigraine

Imagine a life where you work for yourself. You can set your own schedule, take a break when you need it, budget your time so you don’t surpass your limits and yet, still make a living and have adequate health insurance and benefits. Sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong. Tatiana Skomski is a passionate entrepreneur, former mindset coach, and current chronic illness business coach. She is living proof that you can leave your competitive corporate job and build a business that will allow you to take better care of your health and will very likely leave you even more fulfilled, motivated, and engaged than ever before. Today we cover an in-depth discussion on who should start their own business and the key questions you should have answers to before deciding if this is the right path for you. Finally, we conclude with how someone who is chronically ill can leave their corporate job and find affordable and adequate health benefits. If you allow it, this conversation can serve as the launching point from which you can develop a more fulfilling and sustainable career with chronic illness. Please enjoy my conversation with Tatianna Skomski. Tatiana's Instagram: @thetatianaskomski JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! Click here Help Support the Podcast: \https://anchor.fm/thechronicpod/support — Find the Chronic Connection Community: Podcast Instagram: @thechronicpod Twitter: @thechronicpod Join us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/thechronicpod Morgan's Instagram: @lifewithmigraine