Hey sweet friends—no full episode this week, just a short 10-minute update from me. Between a rough IVIG reaction, an unexpected ER trip, and a literal attempted home invasion (yes, really), I’m throwing it back to a past episodes: Processing Your Chronic Illness—because wow, I need to listen to this one this week too!!

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m diving into something that doesn’t get talked about enough: the identity shift that happens when you're living with a chronic illness — whether you have an official diagnosis or not.

There’s a specific kind of grief that comes from realizing you're no longer the person you once were.

The person who had endless energy.

The person who didn’t have to think twice about plans, goals, or dreams.

The person who didn’t wonder, "Do I look sick enough for people to take me seriously?"

In this solo episode, I’m opening up about:

💭 How chronic illness impacts your sense of self (even before a diagnosis)

⚡ Why comparison — to others and to your old self — can feel so brutal

🩺 The silent pressure to “look” sick enough for care

🧠 How processing a chronic illness mirrors the stages of grief

📚 Plus: My tips, tricks, and personal mindset shifts that have helped me find myself again

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and thought, "I don’t even recognize my life anymore," — this one’s for you. You are not alone in this identity shift. You are not broken. You are just becoming someone new.

Thanks for Calling in Sick with me again — xx, Alex 💛

💬 Comment: What’s been the hardest part of your chronic illness identity shift? What part of your “old” self do you miss — and what new part of you are you starting to love?

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling In Sick!

00:02:01 Alex's Picks of The Week (Mayfair Group Sweat Suits, Intelligent Change 5 Minute Gratitude Journal)

00:04:02 One Brain Cell Segment: Below Deck

00:06:25 Processing your identity with a chronic illness intro

00:12:11 Post-Diagnosis Prioritization

00:19:46 The Challenges of Shifting Identity with Chronic Illness

00:28:31 My Tips for Handling the Identity Shift

00:45:41 My NUMBER ONE Tip for Handling the Identity Shift

00:48:01 Thank You for Listening!

Thank you to our sponsors this week:

*Lifeboost - Visit www.lifeboostcoffee.com/?ref=ALEXANDRAWILDESON and use code ALEXANDRA10 for 10% off your order for a healthier coffee experience – decaf included – you’ll love.

Alex's Picks of the Week:

*Mayfair Group - Visit http://go.shopmy.us/p-16514050 and use code Alexandra15 for 15% off

*Intelligent Change - Visit https://www.intelligentchange.com/ALEXANDRA10 and use code Alexandra10 for 10% off at checkout

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