No one prepared you for a life of physical pain and symptoms.
Many of us grow up learning that if we get sick, we can go to the doctor, get some medication, and start to feel better. Or we can just rest for a week and be back at it. Maybe we’d need a surgery or procedure, but after that, we’d definitely be healed and able to return to our life.
But what happens when you start to experience symptoms that don’t get better? Maybe they come and go or worsen over time? You might feel a little better one day only to be unable to get out of bed the next. You might chalk it up to stress, exhaustion, or burnout. You tell yourself it’s probably nothing. But your symptoms aren’t improving.
You go to the doctor to get some answers about what’s going on. Maybe they dismiss your concerns, telling you that there’s nothing to worry about. Or you’re told that it’s normal to have painful periods or are put on birth control without a second thought.
Maybe they do some basic bloodwork and tell you that everything came back normal so they send you home without any follow-up. You find yourself being gaslit over and over by medical professionals that you wonder if you’re crazy and these symptoms are all in your head. Doctors tell you that you’re too young to be sick or that you are being dramatic.
And even when you finally get a diagnosis…you’re left to navigate a complex healthcare system that doesn’t prioritize patient care.
You’re likely feeling:
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Ashamed and guilty
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Isolated and alone
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Grief
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Anger
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Overwhelmed and anxious
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Depressed and hopeless
Welcome to a world I wish you never had to be a part of.
While I can’t cure your illness or pain, I’m here to be your guide.
During our sessions together we may explore:
- Honoring the grief and losses that come with living with a chronic illness
- Finding ways to cope with the reality of living in a body that is unpredictable
- Understanding and identifying your body’s unique needs, including prioritizing rest
- Finding a new normal that honors the pain and suffering, makes space for the joy and beauty that still exists, and celebrates the big and small wins
- Exploring how different parts of yourself are adjusting to being sick (e.g. maybe the ambitious part of yourself is fighting against slowing down and resting)
- Sitting with the multitude of emotions you are feeling
- Learning how to advocate for yourself and setting boundaries
