59. Navigating Chronic Illness: The Hidden Side of Healing

In this powerful re-airing of an interview originally featured on the Holistish Podcast with host Lianne Balazsi, Emily Fraser dives deep into her journey from high-achieving perfectionist to becoming bedridden after a traumatic brain injury—and how she turned that breakdown into a breakthrough.

Emily opens up about the emotional toll of chronic illness, the frustration of being dismissed by doctors, and how the nervous system became her compass for healing. She shares the hard truths about medical gaslighting, identity loss, and the messy middle of recovery—offering hope and validation to anyone feeling stuck or misunderstood.

Whether you're new to your healing journey or deep in the weeds, this episode reminds you: you're not broken, and you don’t have to heal alone.

🔔 What You'll Learn:

→ The backstory of how Emily went from educator to disabled after a life-changing concussion
→ The emotional layers of chronic illness: grief, identity loss, and self-trust
→ The power of nervous system regulation in real, lasting healing
→ How high-achieving traits like people-pleasing can sabotage recovery
→ Why performing healing or chasing the “right” treatment can keep us stuck
→ What PRP injections and body-based modalities taught her about somatic trust
→ How trauma bonding with providers can delay progress—and how to reclaim agency
→ Why community is a crucial (and often missing) piece in the healing journey

Want to learn how to find freedom from chronic pain and fatigue?

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