Chronically Living and how to make the most of it

The process begins with self-love and from there we can start to develop self-compassion. Let's face it, most of us aren't as compassionate with ourselves as we are with others, and it is extremely necessary to be when it comes to chronic illness.
In this episode we talk about:

• how to engage in self-love
• what self-compassion is
• research about self-compassion and chronic illness
• loving-kindness meditation

If you like this episode, make sure you tag me on Instagram @janeversuspain or Twitter @janevspain.

This week my guest Trachele Shields shares her journey with lupus and how chronic illness has not stopped her in her pursuit for happiness and purpose. Some amazing themes are evident this week, including:

• finding purpose and meaning is possible with chronic illness
• staying present and taking care of your health however you can
• maintaining hope 

Trachele Shields is is a licensed Florida realtor and business coach who promotes health and wellness by sharing her own journey through her blog and many social media channels. Follow Trachele on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook @thatgirlchele 

There are two ways you can interpret the title of the show, one that feels positive and hopeful, and the other that feels negative, and hopeless. This week we talk about both viewpoints and impacts on our mental health, as well as why I wanted to call the show Chronically Living and making the most of it. 
In this episode we talk about:

• definitions of "making the most of it"
• two interpretations of "making the most it"
• impacts on mental health
• "making the most of it" with chronic illness and in a pandemic

Follow me on Instagram @janeversuspain and on Twitter @janevspain

Sleep is difficult for most people, and if you have a chronic illness there can be even more that gets in the way, such as symptoms and side effects from medication. There are some ways, called good sleep hygiene practices, that can help improve your sleep quality that we explore in this episode.
In this episode we talk about:

• what sleep hygiene is
• why it's beneficial for you mental health
• why it's beneficial for your physical health
• five steps to good sleep hygiene

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @janeversuspain and on Twitter @janevspain.

My guest this week is disability advocate Tylia Flores who shares her story of living with cerebral palsy and why advocacy is so important to her.
In this episode we talk about:

• what cerebral palsy is
• ableism and stigma
• what businesses need to do better for people with disability
• how to turn negatives into positives

Guest Bio:
Tylia Flores is a 25-year old born with cerebral palsy. Although her condition has affected her mobility, it has never affected her will and determination to make a difference in the world. Though her many life challenges and obstacles, she discovered her passion for writing. Tylia's goal in life is to share her stories with the world. In doing so, she hopes to help others with disabilities realize that they, too, have the potential to make their dreams come true.
Follow Tylia on Instagram @stomping_on_cp_with_tylia
Facebook: stompingoncerebralpalsywithtylia
Twitter: stompingoncp01
www.tyliaflores.com

This week we take a dive into mindfulness! While we've touched on it in previous episodes, I am passionate about mindfulness and wanted to share why it's beneficial for chronic illness, mental health, and quality of life for everyone. 
In this episode we discuss:

• different types of mindfulness activities
• excuses to not practice mindfulness
• reasons you should practice mindfulness
• mindfulness and chronic pain and chronic illness

Follow me on Instagram @janeversuspain and on Twitter @janevspain.

This week I'm joined by chronic illness warrior and disability rights lawyer and advocate Ashley Jacobson, who shares her own journey with chronic illness, as well as discusses what rights and laws everyone with a disability (including chronic illness) should be aware of.
In this episode we discuss:

• why chronic illness is included in under the disability umbrella
• what a disability rights attorney is and does
• prominent disability rights and laws we should be aware of
• what we should do if we encounter stigma, discrimination and lack of access to accommodations
• person-first and identity-first language
• tips to make your social media more accessible

Guest Bio:

Ashley Jacobson if a disability rights attorney living with physical disability in Michigan. She also holds a Master's degree in disability rehabilitation counselling and a nationwide certification in disability counselling and assessment (CRC).

Through her law firm, Jacobson Law & Advocacy, she protects the rights of her clients in workplaces, schools, courtrooms, and communities. Ashley also provides disability consulting, assessment, and counselling services throughout the U.S. through her consulting firm Adaptive Inclusion. Her mission is to empower the disabled community and advocate for a more equal, inclusive, and accessible world.

Ashley can be found on Instagram and TikTok @ashleyjacbson, via email at [email protected], or on her website jacobsonlawandadvocacy.com.

This episode is a topical discussion about self-care. "Absence of mental illness does not equate mental wellness." I'm joined by Calum McGuigan, the founder of the self-care and personal development app, Shape and Foster, to talk about self-care and how this app can help.
In this episode we talk about:

• 6 pillars of self-care
• why self-care is important
• what Shape and Foster is all about and how it can help you

As of today (January 11, 2021) the annual membership of Shape and Foster was changed to $99 USD for the year, for $14.99 US monthly.

Guest Bio:

Calum McGuigan is originally from Scotland, and now lives in Canada. He is the founder of the app Shape and Foster. Previously he was the President of Fervent Events. Calum is passionate about personal development and growth.
Sign up for the free 14-day trial of Shape & Foster at https://www.shapeandfoster.com/

It's not easy to ask for help, especially when you value your independence, but as Warrior Spoonies, we need to do just that every once in awhile.
In this episode we discuss:

• asking for physical support
• asking for emotional support
• the interplay between independence and dependence

Follow me on Instagram @janeversuspain and Twitter @janevspain.

This might be a more stressful holiday season than normal, or maybe not, it really depends on you. We can control some of our stress though and it's important to do that so our physical symptoms of chronic illness don't get out of control!
In this episode we talk about:

• what can cause us stress
• ways we can utilize self-care to combat stress