Chronically Living and how to make the most of it

Yoga is a mindful movement practice that a lot of people with chronic illnesses have said is helpful for them. There is also a ton of empirical research supporting its use with a number of conditions. But what exactly are the benefits? MS Warrior and Yoga Instructor, Clarissa Hidalgo joins us to explain the benefits she has found.
In this episode we discuss:

• the benefits of yoga
• different types of yoga practices
• why you should...

TW: talk of death, thoughts of dying.

Many people hate the "m" word for various reasons, but the reason often given is "it' won't help me or cure me." Here's the thing, many people have said it does help them, and mindset doesn't necessarily mean being an eternal optimist. Terry Tucker, a cancer warrior, talks about mindset, health and his principles to a good life.
In this episo...

Here's the problem with routines, while many people find them extremely helpful, it can be hard to establish one when you have a chronic illness because you never know how you're going to feel physically from day to day. My guest this week, MS warrior, Patti Kaye Bevilacqua explains how she has been able to establish a morning routine and how it has helped her.
In this episode we talk about

• Mantras and setting inte...

The noticing self is that part of you that notices everything. It can help you see that you are more than just your illness (or pain). You are more than just your thoughts and feelings and sensations.
In this episode we talk about: 

• what the noticing self is
• life being like a stage show
• 2 exercises to help you with the noticing self

Here's some guided practice as well:
There Go Your Thoughts: https://www.youtube.c...

This week my guest, actress and psoriatic arthritis warrior, Jessica Lorion, and I discuss the idea of having a baby and starting a family when you have an autoimmune disease. This includes some major lifestyle changes Jessica has had to make.
In this episode we talk about:

• family planning with autoimmune disease
• the Autoimmune Solutions Diet/AIP diet
• The "Why" Behind Your Goal

Guest Bio
Jessica has spent the...

You may have heard of the vagus nerve before, and it's wondrous healing powers. You probably haven't heard of microcurrent stimulation for the vagus nerve... and if you're like me, you won't have heard of the Hache protocol which integrates these with some lifestyle factors. My guest this week is holistic healthcare practitioner and former chronic pain warrior, Dr. Rob Vanbergen, who tells us about this protocol...

We're talking about values-based living. Doing things to improve our lives, even with chronic illness and chronic pain, which sometimes means going outside of our comfort zone. This is the second-part to the episode, "Why Can Connecting With Your Values Improve Your Well-Being?"
In this episode we discuss:

• what values based living is
• SMART goal setting
• HARD barriers to living by our values and how to overcome th...

Sometimes we get advice from our doctor's that we don't like. Sometimes we get advice that is hard to follow. This could be lifestyle changes, or taking medication properly. Either way, we need to at the very least take it into consideration and hopefully actually follow it. Emily Marquis, health coach and chronic illness warrior, is here to share how we can do this.
In this episode we talk about:

• what a health coa...

Plant-based lifestyle coach and cookbook author, Kathy A. Davis, joins me this week as we discuss the benefits of eating plant-based foods and the impact on overall health and wellness, as well as results she's seen with some of her clients who have chronic illnesses.
In this episode we discuss:

• benefits of plant-based diet
• how to track how food makes you feel
• an awesome recipe to get us started

Guest Bio:
Kathy D...

This week we're figuring out what our values are, particularly our values concerning health. Why? Because it can actually improve our well-being. How? That's a question with a longer answer, and so, this is part one of a two-part episode (part two is coming out December 27). 
It's helpful (though not required) to review the episodes on Creative Hopelessness, Contacting the Present Moment, Distancing Ourselves fro...

This week we explore what inflammation actually does in our body, and how what we eat can affect it. But this isn't a follow this specific diet episode. Elizabeth Yarnell, ND, helps us understand how individually tailoring what we eat to ourselves can usually do the trick.
In this episode we discuss:

• what inflammation is
• three-step process to testing for inflammation
• how to figure out what we can and can't eat
• how all...

Merriam Webster defines resilience as: "the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens." When you have a chronic illness, resilience is what helps you get through it so that you can actually live a fulfilling, values-based life. My guest this week is Lindsay Miller, a strength and resiliency coach who happens to have Hashimoto's.
In this episode we talk about:

• Lindsay&ap...

Pain - both physical and emotional - is part of the human experience, but it's also a part that most of us don't like. However, in order to truly live fulfilled lives, we need to be able to accept it. This is especially true for chronic illness warriors.
In this episode we talk about:

• what acceptance is and isn't
• why acceptance is important
• different types of acceptance
• an acceptance practice to get you started

This week we're exploring a chronic illness that we haven't before, and yet is extremely common - cancer. The lessons from this episode, can easily be applied to any chronic illness though. And we all know or have known someone with cancer. My guest this week is Em Veach who shares her story and what has helped her.
In this episode we talk about:

• metastatic breast cancer
• ways to improve your well-being after a cance...

TW: mentions of suicide

We're usually told by our doctors that the causes of our chronic pain are related to joints. This is often verified by the use of an MRI. But for some people, nothing shows up on an MRI. And for others, what shows up has nothing to do with their symptoms. My guest Dr. Mitchell Yass introduces us to his Yass Method for diagnosing and treating pain.
In this episode we talk about:

• causes of...

We're continuing our journey through the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy hexaflex this week by taking a look at defusion - or rather, creating distance between ourselves and our thoughts. When our thoughts are too close to us, they tend to interfere with our lives, leading us to behaviour that is the opposite of what we want (we want mindful, values-based living).
In this episode we talk about:

• common chronic illness ...

Connections, community, networking. These are important for our well-being. We need support, but also we need to just engage with others as social creatures. Lifelong chronic illness warrior Amy Sinha joins me on the show to talk about where to find these connections and how to make them.
In this episode we talk about:

• why connection and community is important for well-being
• where to make new connections online
• different types...

This week we're exploring what sounds like the weird world of hypnotherapy, but in fact, it is nothing like you think it is.  This week Sam Visnic joins us to tell us he uses hypnotherapy in his practice, and how it helps people with chronic pain.
In this episode we talk about:

• what hypnotherapy is
• how hypnotherapy can help chronic pain
• who makes a good candidate for hypnotherapy

Guest Bio:
Sam Visnic has spent hi...

One of the 6 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) processes is Contacting the Present Moment. And guess what?! ACT has a huge evidence base for helping people with chronic pain and chronic illness, as well as mental health. But how do we do this (in a way that isn't formal meditation)? That's what we're exploring this week.
In this episode we talk about:

• the 6 processes in ACT
• "mindfulness" for chr...