Quiet Confessions, Episode 9: Trying To Hold It All

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In this week’s Quiet Confession, Chelsea shares a vulnerable update on their health and the wave of grief following the loss of their grandmother, their lifelong hero. 

From learning that their pituitary gland is no longer functioning—and what that means for living with chronic illness—to navigating severe sleep apnea and constant medical appointments, Chelsea opens up about the frustration, fear, and exhaustion of life in a body that won’t cooperate. 

This isn’t a story tied up with a bow; it’s a moment of honesty from someone trying to survive when everything feels like too much. 

Key Takeaways

• Chronic illness can shatter the vision of “getting back to normal,” forcing us to reimagine what living fully looks like.
  
  
• Grief doesn’t pause when our bodies demand attention—it layers, complicates, and weighs heavy.
  
  
• Sometimes survival, not grace or productivity, is the best and only goal.
  
  
• Being overwhelmed doesn’t mean you’re failing; it means you’re human.

Soundbites

• “It feels like my body is this unpredictable roommate who doesn’t tell me the plan… and I’m just scrambling to keep up.”
• “I had this quiet hope that one day I’d get my life back to ‘normal’—but this week, I realized that might never happen.”
• “Grief doesn’t pause when your health falls apart. It just stacks, until your brain and body both feel heavy.”
• “Sometimes these episodes aren’t about wisdom. They’re just about letting things breathe.”

Support the show

Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection

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