Having a chronic illness is tough enough to manage, but then throw parenting into the mix and it adds a whole new layer onto an already complex situation.  My situation as a mom is quite different from many, as I was a teenage mom and my daughter was entering into young adulthood when I received my MS diagnosis.  I give so much credit to those of you who are balancing a chronic illness and mothering a new born or a small child.  

It is my hope that some of the advice that I share in this episode will allow you to acknowledge your accomplishments in raising your children and managing your chronic illness. 

When it comes to nutrition the old proverbial saying "You are what you eat" comes to mind.  However, does this hold weight when it comes to MS and chronic illness?  There is something to be said about maintaining a healthy lifestyle with both diet and exercise, however there is no scientifically proven diet for reversing MS.  There are foods recommended that may improve symptoms and foods to avoid that can negatively affect symptoms.  In this episode I discuss what these foods are.  

Dating today is challenging in itself, now throw a chronic illness into it and it puts a whole new spin on things.  Many may feel it's less complicated just to stay single.  That isn't the case.  It is definitely possible to find and have a fulfilling relationship regardless of the circumstance.  

So many of us struggle silently from anxiety and panic disorders.  Those of us who suffer from chronic illness are at an increased risk to develop anxiety.  So, how do you cope and keep this from overpowering your daily life?  In this episode I discuss my initial experience with anxiety and panic and how I managed it, as well as my most recent experience and what I discovered.  

Your mindset can really set the tone for your day, whether it be positive or negative.  So, how do you combat those negative thoughts and adopt a more positive mindset, especially when you are going through a multitude of health issues?  In this episode I share 9 techniques that have proved to be helpful in assisting me throughout my MS journey.  These 9 techniques are simple practices that you can incorporate into your daily lifestyle and get you on your way to more positive thinking.  

Setting the record straight regarding ingredients in our beauty and personal care products.  Clean beauty is a broad topic and needs to be broken down to really understand what "clean" truly means.  Sharing some startling facts and what we can do as consumers to create more awareness around the products and food that we consume daily.  

Body image continues to be a huge concern for so many.  This is not just limited to only women anymore.  We hold ourselves to unrealistic ideals, comparing ourselves to others, as well as to what we once might have been prior to being diagnosed.  Learning how to accept ourselves in the present and shift our mindsets on how we view ourselves when we look in the mirror will have a huge impact on how we treat our body.  It's time to let go of our old programming and embrace the new!

Your body is your body.  Although we rely on specialists to help us navigate through treatment and medication options, at the end of the day the final decision is ours to make.  This episode uncovers the benefits of being your own advocate, along with sharing relevant experiences.  

Finding out that you have a chronic illness is traumatic.  You probably will have many more questions than answers in the very beginning.  What will your life look like now?  How will you ever begin to feel normal again?  In this episode I speak about 5 simple steps that helped me to regain a sense of normalcy in my life post diagnosis.  Remember, normal is subjective to the individual.  These tips are meant to be used as a guide.