Navigating Remission and Reality: Confidence Through Chronic Illness

 In this deeply honest and powerful episode of Her Unshakeable Confidence, Simone and Olivia Knego open up about Olivia’s recent health setback after three years in remission from Crohn’s disease. From traveling to New York for her colonoscopy, to the emotional impact of hearing she’s no longer in remission, they unpack the realities of living with a lifelong autoimmune illness.Olivia shares the physical, mental, and emotional challenges that come with flare-ups, the stress of managing law school alongside chronic illness, and the importance of listening to your body—before it forces you to. Through humor, vulnerability, and raw truth (including the not-so-glamorous parts of hospital visits), she reminds listeners that strength isn’t avoiding the hard moments—it’s facing them head-on.

Simone and Olivia also dive into self-advocacy, communicating with professors and deans, grief over lost progress, reshaping expectations, and the power of letting yourself feel before creating an action plan. Their conversation is a reminder that setbacks don’t erase strength—and confidence often comes from speaking up, asking for help, and refusing to hide your reality.This episode is for anyone navigating illness, burnout, pressure, or unexpected life detours—and needs to hear: you’ve got this.


✅ Actionable Takeaways

• Give yourself space to grieve before jumping into problem-solving.
  
  
• Self-advocacy is not weakness—it’s confidence in action.
  
  
• Communicate your needs with the people who can support you.
  
  
• Adjusting commitments is not failure—it’s self-preservation.
  
  
• Taking care of your mental health is as important as physical care.
  
  
• Saying your struggles out loud helps you move forward with strength.
  
  

📖 Chapters

00:00 – Traveling to New York for the Procedure
02:15 – The Realities of Colonoscopies and Hospital Prep
05:30 – Hearing the News: No Longer in Remission
08:12 – Grieving the Setback and Honoring the Emotions
11:25 – School, Stress, and Ignoring the Body’s Signals
14:48 – Making Changes: Course Load and Priorities
18:10 – Self-Advocacy and Communicating with Faculty
21:03 – Owning Your Health Without Shame
24:20 – The Fear, the Humor, and the Reality of Crohn’s
28:00 – Saying It Out Loud: Why Speaking Up Builds Confidence
31:15 – Moving Forward with Strength and Support
33:25 – Final Message: You’ve Got This


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