Not everyone experiences the holidays as happy — and that deserves to be said out loud.

The holidays can be joyful — and they can also be overwhelming, emotional, and physically draining, especially for those living with chronic illness or autoimmune disease. In this episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we’re having an honest, compassionate conversation about navigating the holiday season in a way that protects your mental health, honors your body, and supports your emotional well-being.

We talk about recognizing small moments of joy, acknowledging grief and loss that often surface during the holidays, setting boundaries without guilt, and choosing peace over pressure. We also discuss the importance of creating a mental health toolkit before the holiday season begins — so you’re not scrambling for support when stress, fatigue, or emotional overload hits.

This episode is for anyone who feels like the traditional holiday narrative doesn’t fit their reality. Whether you’re managing chronic illness, autoimmune disease, burnout, or grief, this conversation offers validation, practical tools, and gentle reminders that your needs matter — especially during the holidays.

🎄 Holiday Episode #4

If this episode resonates, consider liking, subscribing, and sharing it with someone who could use a little extra compassion this season.

 #AutoimmuneAdventures #HolidayMentalHealth #ChronicIllnessSupport #AutoimmuneDisease #MentalHealthAwareness #HolidayBoundaries #ChronicIllnessLife #GentleHolidays #MentalHealthToolkit #LivingWithChronicIllness #NervousSystemCare #SelfCompassion #InvisibleIllness

Releasing December 9 — Holiday Episode 3 of Autoimmune Adventures

The holidays can be magical… and overwhelming. In this week’s episode of Autoimmune Adventures, Stacy, Becky, and Alysia dive into the traditions that shape our season — the ones we keep, the ones we change, and the ones that help us feel connected when living with chronic illness or autoimmunity.

We explore:

Whether you’re navigating chronic illness, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking a more intentional holiday season, this episode will bring warmth, validation, and a few laughs along the way.

💬 Drop a comment: What traditions bring YOU the most joy — or peace — this time of year?

Welcome back to Autoimmune Adventures! Our second holiday episode, releasing December 2nd, is all about creating vibrant, flavorful holiday plates without relying on artificial dyes—because those colors shouldn’t come at the cost of your health.

Join Stacy, Becky, and Alysia as we explore:

Whether you’re baking cookies, hosting a holiday meal, or planning dye-free treats for the kids, this episode is packed with empowering tools to help you enjoy the season naturally and deliciously.

🎧 Subscribe for more holiday episodes all December long!

Welcome to the FIRST episode of our 2025 Holiday Series!

Releasing just in time for Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday rush, this episode of Autoimmune Adventures dives deep into how to travel during the holidays with chronic illness or autoimmune disease—without losing your sanity, your health, or your joy.

In this conversation, Stacy and Becky sit down with guests Anthony Heard and Chelsea Streit to explore realistic, compassionate strategies for navigating the busiest travel season of the year.

Whether you're traveling across the country or just across town, this episode will help you feel more prepared, more confident, and more supported.

In This Episode, We Cover:

✈️ Why traveling still matters, even when it requires extra preparation

🌻 How the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard can make airports and transit smoother

🍽️ Avoiding holiday diet pitfalls and staying true to your personal “rulebook of life”

🧭 Creating a travel routine that works for YOU (not someone else!)

😰 Navigating travel stress, crowds, expectations, and boundaries

🎒 What to put in your holiday travel kit for safer, smoother trips

This episode is packed with real talk, practical tools, and the encouragement you need to travel with confidence this season. If you live with an autoimmune condition, chronic illness, or invisible disability—this holiday travel guide is for you.

👉 Episode Release Date: November 23, 2025 — perfectly timed for Thanksgiving and the start of holiday travel chaos.

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes on:

Autoimmune health • Chronic illness support • Mental wellness • Diet + lifestyle tools • Boundaries • Stress management • Invisible disability advocacy • Joy-filled living

#AutoimmuneAdventures #HolidayTravel #ChronicIllnessTravel #InvisibleDisability #SunflowerLanyard #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicIllnessTips #HolidayWellness #TravelWithChronicIllness #ThanksgivingTravel #StressFreeTravel #HolidaySeason2025 #ChronicIllnessSupport

In this empowering episode of Autoimmune Adventures, Stacy and Alysia sit down with Sharon Jones — speaker, advocate, and chronic illness warrior — to talk about what it really means to rebuild your strength while living with autoimmune disease.

Sharon opens up about her personal journey, the mindset shifts that changed everything, and the practical strategies she uses to navigate daily life with purpose and resilience. If you're looking for inspiration, validation, or tools to help you keep going on your autoimmune or chronic illness journey, this conversation is for you.

🌟 In this episode, we talk about:

What resilience really looks like during chronic illness

Sharon’s powerful story of rebuilding strength

How mindset, community, and self-compassion shape healing

Practical tips for navigating autoimmune challenges

Why owning your story can transform your life

🎙️ Autoimmune Adventures is a podcast created for anyone living with autoimmunity, chronic illness, or invisible disabilities. We bring honest conversations, expert voices, and real-life strategies to help you live boldly, advocate for yourself, and find joy in the middle of it all.

🔔 New episodes every Tuesday!

To contact Sharon:  https://linktr.ee/SharonJonesCoaching

#AutoimmuneAdventures #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #Resilience #SharonJones #InvisibleIllness #ChronicIllnessCommunity #HealingJourney #MindsetMatters #SpoonieLife

In this inspiring episode of Autoimmune Adventures, hosts Stacy, Becky, and Alysia sit down with Chelsea Streit, a passionate rare disease advocate living with Cowden Syndrome and Sjögren’s Syndrome. Chelsea shares her powerful story of navigating chronic illness, emotional healing, and the small victories that make each day meaningful.

From the heartbreak of diagnosis to finding love, purpose, and advocacy, Chelsea’s journey shines a light on the resilience and courage of the chronic illness community. She opens up about how she manages flare days, balances rest with productivity, and uses creative hobbies and practical tools to find hope and healing.

💬 In this episode, we discuss:

How small victories can transform your chronic illness mindset

Emotional healing and stress management for autoimmune and rare diseases

Tools, hobbies, and routines that make hard days easier

The power of self-advocacy and community support

How Chelsea turned pain into purpose and found connection through advocacy

If you’re living with autoimmune disease, chronic illness, or a rare condition, this conversation will remind you that healing is not about perfection — it’s about persistence, purpose, and grace.

Subscribe to Autoimmune Adventures for more real stories of resilience, advocacy, and living well with chronic illness.

#AutoimmuneAdventures #ChelseaStreit #CowdenSyndrome #SjogrensSyndrome #RareDiseaseAdvocacy #ChronicIllnessWarrior #AutoimmuneAwareness #PatientAdvocacy #ChronicIllnessSupport #HealingJourney #SelfCare #RestAndRecovery #InvisibleIllness #MentalHealthAndChronicIllness #ResilienceAndHope

Meet Stacy Griffin, co-host of Autoimmune Adventures — a Mind Mastery Coach, speaker, and autoimmune adventurer who turned her journey of loss, resilience, and renewal into a mission to help others thrive.

After autoimmune disease forced her to completely rebuild her life, Stacy discovered the power of mindset, self-compassion, and intentional living. In this inspiring episode, she opens up about what it really means to start over — not just surviving chronic illness, but growing through it.

💬 “Happiness doesn’t disappear when life changes. It just asks to be found in new ways.”

Join us as Stacy shares how NeuroGrowth principles helped her navigate identity shifts, embrace change, and create space for joy, purpose, and healing — even when the road looked nothing like she planned.

Connect with Stacy at stacyannegriffin.com or drop her an email at [email protected]

#AutoimmuneAdventures #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneWarrior #StacyAnneGriffin #TheLuminarium #NeurogrowthTeen Coach #ParentingCoach #TraumaInformedCoach #ChronicIllnessJourney #AutoimmuneDisease #HealingThroughMindset #Resilience #AutoimmuneSupport #SelfGrowth #ChronicIllnessCommunity #Empowerment #MindsetMatters #AutoimmuneAwareness #WellnessPodcast

In this heartfelt episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we sit down with Hana Birch, an author, advocate, and lifelong rheumatoid arthritis warrior who has lived with the condition for more than 50 years.

Hana shares how she’s learned to find hope, humor, and strength through the hardest seasons of chronic illness—and why she believes we must never give up, because doing so means we’ll miss the light of all the good things still to come. She also opens up about her book, Hana’s Hope, a beautiful collection of poetry offering encouragement to anyone walking the path of autoimmunity, pain, or healing.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

Finding purpose and laughter in the face of illness

The power of gentle movement and mindset shifts

Turning life’s struggles into meaningful adventures

The inspiration behind Hana’s Hope

🎧 Tune in to discover how Hana’s story reminds us all that even in our hardest moments, there is still light, love, and hope ahead.

Link to buy Hana's Hope: Sharing Hope and Faith by H.J. Birch - https://amzn.to/4oev5Px

*The Amazon link above is an affiliate link. Using this link will not cost you anything extra, but as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Hana Birch, Hana’s Hope, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic illness journey, autoimmune disease, hope and healing, chronic illness inspiration, resilience, Autoimmune Adventures podcast

#AutoimmuneAdventures #HanaBirch #HanasHope #RheumatoidArthritis #ChronicIllnessJourney #HopeAndHealing #Resilience #AutoimmuneWarrior #ChronicIllnessCommunity #NeverGiveUp

What happens when your child is born with a rare condition that most doctors have never seen?

When Amy Schefer's daughter, Lazer, was born missing nearly a third of her jaw, Amy was thrust into a world of medical uncertainty, complex healthcare systems, and constant advocacy. What began as a mother's fight to get her daughter the care she needed became a lifelong mission to help other families navigate the challenges of rare disease.

Today, Amy is the founder of AdvocateAngel, a platform dedicated to helping patients, caregivers, and healthcare teams communicate more effectively, reduce overwhelm, and improve outcomes. She is also the creator of the Rare Aware Scorecard, a practical tool designed to help families identify strengths and gaps in their healthcare journey before those gaps become barriers to care.

In this powerful conversation, Amy shares:

Whether you're living with a rare disease, caring for someone who is, navigating a complex diagnosis, or simply trying to become a stronger advocate for your own health, this episode is packed with insight, wisdom, and hope.

🎙️ Autoimmune Adventures is a podcast dedicated to helping people with chronic illness feel seen, supported, and empowered to advocate for themselves.

🌐 Learn more about Amy and AdvocateAngel:

💙 Remember:

#RareDisease #PatientAdvocacy #RareDiseaseAwareness #CaregiverSupport #HealthcareAdvocacy #ChronicIllness #MedicalAdvocacy #AdvocateAngel #PolyvagalTheory #NervousSystemRegulation #RareDiseaseParent #HealthcareNavigation #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneAdventures #PatientEmpowerment

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Annie Toro Lopez — cookbook author, chronic illness advocate, and autoimmune warrior — as she shares her remarkable journey of healing through food, therapy, and deep self-discovery.

After facing lupus, celiac disease, and profound personal loss, Annie transformed her pain into purpose, using the power of nourishment, mindset, and emotional healing to rebuild her health and her life. In this heartfelt episode, Annie opens up about:

You won’t want to miss this uplifting and powerful episode filled with hope, heart, and healing wisdom.

Grab Annies Cookbook @ https://amzn.to/4oOu5CV

🎧 Watch or listen now on Autoimmune Adventures — where real people share real stories of courage and chronic illness.

🔗 Listen on all major podcast platforms

💬 Let’s stay connected!