In this fascinating solo episode, I dive into the research on Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)—formerly called multiple personality disorder—and explore what it reveals about the mind-body connection.

From shifts in allergies and eyesight to changes in pain thresholds and immune responses, DID shows us what happens when identity, story, and nervous system regulation rewire the body in real time.

This episode is a stunning look at the nervous system’s role in chronic illness—through the lens of case studies that defy the rules of modern medicine.

What You’ll Discover:

✨ How one person can have different allergic reactions, vision, or pain depending on the persona they are embodying✨ Why cells don’t change—but signals do✨ The difference between the body’s fast clock and slow clock✨ How trauma imprints short-term patterns that become long-term physiology✨ What DID reveals about nervous system tone, stress, and identity✨ Why stories are the interface between brain, belief, and biology✨ How repeated states (like hypervigilance or safety) train the body over time✨ The hopeful truth: your body is wired—which means it can be rewired

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro — the mind-body connection & DID02:00 Historical case studies of blindness, paralysis, and altered senses05:00 Modern studies on allergies, medications, and eyesight07:00 The fast clock vs. slow clock in illness10:00 Nervous system tone and symptom development12:00 States becoming traits — how repeated patterns change the body13:00 Cellular turnover and long-term healing potential14:00 Final reflections: DID as a mirror for all of us

Want to go deeper?

→ Begin your Sacred Illness™ Journey:https://www.aurorasomatic.com

→ Apply to be a podcast guest:https://www.aurorasomatic.com/podcast-guest

→ Follow Dr. Erin on Substack:https://sacredillness.substack.com

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🎶 Music by: “Instructions for Living a Life” by Savfkwww.youtube.com/@SavfkMusic

What if illness isn’t random—or genetic—but a result of the messages your body has received over a lifetime?

In this solo episode, I invite you into a radically simple framework that cuts through the noise of health advice, diagnoses, and symptom management.We explore the idea that the body is an input-output machine, with the nervous system as the primary control center. And if the inputs aren’t safe, aligned, or supportive… the outputs will eventually show up as symptoms, dysfunction, and disease.

This episode is a call to simplify, not overcomplicate. It’s about tracing illness back to the earliest stories that shaped our physiology—and rewriting those stories to restore health from the inside out.

🌿 What You’ll Discover:

✨ Why the nervous system is the hub of all health✨ How “trauma” is anything that takes you away from your true self✨ Why childhood experiences become physiological programs✨ How stories like “I’m stupid” or “I don’t matter” become immune, endocrine, and gut responses✨ Why symptom flares aren’t random—they’re output✨ Why food, genetics, and lifestyle are secondary inputs✨ What it means to heal by making your life safe for your true self✨ The real reason your illness is here—and how to respond

⏳ Timestamps:

00:00 Intro – Health is not that complicated01:00 The body as input-output machine03:00 Why the nervous system is the central hub04:00 Inputs from childhood that shape our physiology06:00 Trauma as a story of unsafety08:00 How trauma makes our world smaller10:00 Downstream impacts on every body system14:00 Chronic illness as adaptation to unsafe inputs16:00 What safety really means for the body18:00 It's not about food—it’s about what your nervous system believes20:00 Rewriting the program22:00 Who is your illness inviting you to become?23:00 Final thoughts + upcoming group journey

💫 Want to go deeper?

→ Join the Sacred Illness™ Membershiphttps://www.aurorasomatic.com/communityUse code PODCAST to save 20% on your first month.

→ Apply to be a podcast guest:https://www.aurorasomatic.com/podcast-guest

→ Follow Dr. Erin on Substack:https://sacredillness.substack.com

🎶 Music by: Instructions for Living a Life by Savfkwww.youtube.com/@SavfkMusic

In this extraordinary episode, I sit down with UK-based creator, podcaster, and healer Lizzie Dunn, whose journey with the rare genetic condition MEN-1 defies all odds.

At just 13 years old, Lizzie was diagnosed with MEN-1, a hereditary endocrine disorder her doctors said would require a lifetime of surgery and surveillance. But a quiet, stubborn voice inside her said something else:

“What if it’s different for me?”

Lizzie followed that voice, and the path it led her on included functional medicine, spirituality, deep emotional work, nervous system regulation, and something even more powerful: self-leadership. Her most recent labs now show symptom reversal—something her doctors have never seen.

This conversation is a testament to what’s possible when we dare to imagine a new story—and become the leader of our own healing journey.

🌿 What You’ll Discover:

✨ Why MEN-1 (a rare genetic condition) doesn’t have to be a lifelong sentence

✨ The inner voice that changed Lizzie’s trajectory forever

✨ Her three-pillar healing framework: Build Your A-Team, Heal Yourself, Create Your Health

✨ What it really means to reverse symptoms in a condition you’re told is “incurable”

✨ How healing isn't about eliminating fear—it's about acting anyway

✨ Why doctors often resist what works (and what to do about it)

✨ The difference between comfort, familiarity, and actual health

✨ Who your illness is inviting you to become

Whether you’re navigating rare illness or everyday burnout, Lizzie’s journey will reawaken your belief in what’s possible.

⏳ Timestamps:

00:00 Intro + welcome

02:00 What is MEN-1? Lizzie’s diagnosis at 13

08:00 Early surgeries and the breaking point

10:00 The inner voice that changed everything

13:00 Symptom reversal and unexpected results

17:00 The danger of defaulting to “what’s typical”

23:00 Changing the prognosis by changing the story

28:00 Why doctors may resist what they see working

33:00 Lizzie’s 3-part healing framework

39:00 Designing your health, not waiting for it

45:00 Boundaries, discernment, and leading yourself

53:00 Who her illness invited her to become

58:00 Final reflections + how to connect with Lizzie

🔮 Connect with Lizzie and learn about her work + offers:

→ YouTube: @lizziieedunn

→ Instagram: @lizziieedunn

🎧 Listen to her podcast: The MEN-1 Mosaic on her YouTube channel

💫 Join the Sacred Illness™ Membership:

https://www.aurorasomatic.com/sacred-illness

💸 Use code PODCAST for 20% off your first month

→ Apply to be a podcast guest:

https://www.aurorasomatic.com/podcast-guest

→ Follow on Substack:

https://drerinhayford.substack.com

→ Inspired by this content? You can support my work by buying me a coffee here: www.buymeacoffee.com/drerin

🎶 Music by: “Instructions for Living a Life” by Savfk

www.youtube.com/@SavfkMusic

What if your body remembers more than your mind ever could?

In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by Audrey Burke — a somatic experiencing practitioner, transforming touch practitioner, and licensed massage therapist based in Durham, NC.

Audrey shares her deeply personal journey through confusing diagnoses, chronic digestive symptoms, amenorrhea, and mysterious illness flares — and how they ultimately led her to the world of somatic work and touch therapy.

Together we explore how trauma stories live in the body long before we can speak them, and why touch is often the missing piece in nervous system healing.

🌿 What You’ll Discover:

✨ Why talk therapy isn’t always enough (and when touch becomes crucial)✨ Audrey’s story of IBS, mold illness, and learning to listen to her body✨ How developmental trauma shapes our physical symptoms — even before birth✨ The delicate balance of self-compassion, boundaries, and discernment✨ Why you don’t need to "know the story" cognitively to heal somatically✨ The importance of ancestral trauma and epigenetic influences on illness✨ Reclaiming intuitive eating after years of food fear and hyper-control✨ The dance between internal vs. external locus of control on the healing path

Whether you're just starting your healing journey or deep in the work of reclaiming your body’s wisdom, this episode is a reminder that healing is not about fixing — it’s about listening.

⏳ Timestamps:

00:00 Intro + guest welcome02:00 Audrey’s story: Italy, IBS, and searching for answers10:00 Trying everything: diets, yoga, Vipassana, and beyond17:00 Finally finding somatic experiencing and touch therapy24:00 How visceral work transformed her relationship with food27:00 The unexpected medicine in mold illness32:00 Ancestral trauma and inherited patterns39:00 Food trauma, intuitive eating, and rebuilding trust with the body43:00 Boundaries, people-pleasing, and embodying discernment50:00 Navigating a world that doesn’t feel safe54:00 Who Audrey’s illness invited her to become57:00 Closing reflections and ways to connect with Audrey

🔮 Connect with Audrey:

→ Website: https://www.restorativepresence.com/→ Instagram: @somaticswithaudrey

💫 Join the Sacred Illness™ Membership:https://www.aurorasomatic.com/sacred-illness💸 Use code PODCAST for 20% off your first month

→ Apply to be a podcast guest:https://www.aurorasomatic.com/podcast-guest

→ Follow on Substack:https://drerinhayford.substack.com

🎶 Music by: “Instructions for Living a Life” by Savfkwww.youtube.com/@SavfkMusic

What if pain isn’t just physical—but perceptual?

In this off-the-cuff solo episode, I share a deeply personal story that changed everything I thought I knew about suffering, healing, and what’s possible for the body. From a nearly pain-free childbirth (yes, really) to a powerful client breakthrough around chronic pain, this episode is a living case study in the power of narrative and perception to reshape what we believe is “inevitable.”

This is a conversation about story medicine—and how your body listens to the stories you’ve been told.

What You’ll Discover:

✨ Why “pain is inevitable” is a cultural script, not a biological truth✨ How my second birth experience (using Hypnobabies) was 99.9% pain-free✨ What my patient’s resistance to healing taught me about collective beliefs✨ The link between trauma, identity, and nervous system feedback loops✨ How stories shape biology—and why your environment must reflect your possibility✨ Why “support groups” can reinforce illness—and how to create spaces that open new timelines

Whether you're navigating Crohn’s, chronic pain, emotional survival patterns or beyond—this is a reminder that what you've been told isn't the whole story.

⏳ Timestamps:

00:00 Off-the-cuff inspiration + intro02:00 Working with trauma: story, survival, and the nervous system04:00 Pain and birth: my first traumatic delivery06:00 Discovering Hypnobabies and preparing for a new possibility08:00 A pain-free labor? Yes. And here’s what shifted13:00 Resistance, story, and how the body protects itself from pain16:00 When narrative dictates outcome18:00 Why “support groups” can backfire21:00 Childhood programming and your inherited pain beliefs23:00 Rewriting the story: hope, healing, and neuroplasticity24:00 Cured by Jeffrey Rediger: what spontaneous healings have in common26:00 Sacred Illness™ and the power of perception to transform suffering

🔮 Mentioned in this episode:

→ Hypnobabies Childbirth Education: https://www.hypnobabies.com

→ 📖 Cured by Dr. Jeffrey Rediger

💫 Join the Sacred Illness™ Membership:https://www.aurorasomatic.com/community💸 Use code PODCAST for 20% off your first month

→ Apply to be a podcast guest:https://www.aurorasomatic.com/podcast-guest

→ Inspired by this content? You can support my work by buying me a coffee here: www.buymeacoffee.com/drerin

Subscribe to my Substack to stay informed about my latest posts, musings, teachings, transmissions and more on all things Sacred Illness™.

🎶 Music by: “Instructions for Living a Life” by Savfkwww.youtube.com/@SavfkMusic

🔥 What if your desire isn’t the problem—but the path? 🔥

Welcome to Episode 41 of the Sacred Illness™ Podcast. In this solo transmission, I unpack the deep link between longing, healing, and evolution.

We’re told desire is a distraction. That suffering must be eliminated. That symptoms are obstacles.

But what if illness is the sacred interrupter—and desire is the fuel that leads us through it?

This episode explores what it really means to evolve, why your desires will never be satisfied (and why that’s a good thing), and how to stop missing your life in the pursuit of healing.

What You’ll Discover:

🌿 Why desire keeps you stuck in the search—and how to step off the hamster wheel

🌿 How illness is designed to interrupt the misaligned life

🌿 The two-part path of real healing: awareness + integration

🌿 How to identify subconscious beliefs that keep you sick (like “I’m not enough”)

🌿 The subtle trap of “what’s next?” and how it sabotages transformation 🌿 Why cultivating presence is the antidote to insatiable longing

🌿 How to work with your desire as sacred momentum—not a destination

This episode is both a personal reflection and a wake-up call. If you’ve ever wondered why the healing journey feels like an endless search that never bears results... this one's for you.

⏳ Timestamps:

00:00 Podcast update + new solo episodes

01:00 Illness as a sacred disruption

03:00 Personal story: desire and disappointment

05:00 The meaning of life?

07:00 Facing your shadows as the path to healing

10:00 Why Western medicine reflects our fear of suffering

12:00 Desire on the healing journey: when pursuit becomes addiction

14:00 The necessity of stillness after seeking

16:00 The healing work: living what you've learned

19:00 How desire tricks us into missing our arrival

22:00 Holding presence and desire together

24:00 Recap + invitation into deeper work

🔮 Mentioned in this episode:

→ Apply to be a guest on the podcast: https://www.aurorasomatic.com/podcast-guest

→ Join the Sacred Illness™ Membership and alchemize your wounds into purpose: https://www.aurorasomatic.com/sacred-illness

💸 Use code PODCAST for 20% off your first month

→ Follow my transmissions + reflections on Substack: https://sacredillness.substack.com

🎶 Music by: Instructions for Living a Life by Savfk www.youtube.com/@SavfkMusic

What if your chronic disease symptoms aren't just physical—but the result of a nervous system stuck in survival mode?

For episode 40 of the Sacred Illness™ Podcast, I am sharing an interview I had the honor of recording with ⁨@lizziieedunn⁩ on her MEN1 Mosaic podcast!

From Lizzie's Notes:

"In this deeply personal and thought-shifting conversation, I speak with Dr Erin Hayford, a naturopathic doctor and somatic practitioner who has lived on both sides of the healing journey.

From being bed bound with Crohn’s disease to exploring what it really means to feel safe in your body, this episode dives into why trauma, people-pleasing, and misalignment with self can all play a role in how chronic illness expresses—and what can actually help.

Key takeaways:

How nervous system dysregulation affects chronic illness

The emotional root of symptoms (even in genetic conditions)

Why food fear and over-restriction might be doing more harm than good 

A simple technique to reconnect with your body and calm your system"

Stay tuned for a future episode where I will have Lizzie as a guest and we'll get to learn more about her own journey with chronic illness.

Enjoy!

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Follow Lizzie and her chronic illness healing journey and find resources for MEN1 @lizziieedunn on YouTube!

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If this message resonates with you, consider supporting my work and helping me continue to share these teachings.

You can buy me a coffee here: www.buymeacoffee.com/drerin

Your generosity keeps this sacred work flowing. Grateful to have you on this journey!

____

Are you on a healing journey?

Are you feeling suck, unsure of the next step, or wondering if a next step even exists?

If so, you are invited to join the Sacred Illness™ Membership, a profound and transformative group that supports you in alchemizing your wounds into medicine.

Inside, you'll find all the tools you need to reconnect with your deepest purpose, find all of the roadblocks standing between you and your most authentic health, and the confidence to exist in the world in your fullest, most vibrant expression.

This is a space dedicated to transforming illness into a sacred path of growth, meaning, and connection. Join us today!

Check out https://www.aurorasomatic.com/sacred-illness for more information.

Use coupon code PODCAST to save 20% off of the first month of your membership!

____

Are you someone who has or has had a chronic illness or chronic symptoms?

Did your healing journey help you understand a deeper meaning and purpose of your symptoms?

If so, we'd love to have you as a guest on the podcast!

Click here to apply: https://www.aurorasomatic.com/podcast-guest

____

Music used: Instructions for Living a Life by Savfk - www.youtube.com/@SavfkMusic

#chronicillness #healingjourney #mindbodyconnection #alternativemedicine #sacredillness #drerinhayford #polyvagaltheory #chronicpain #biofeedback #mindbodymedicine #somaticexperiencing #pots #mcas #autoimmunedisease #ibs #sibo #fibromyalgia #mysteryillness #shadowwork #suffering #transformation #healingjourney

In this episode of the Sacred Illness™ Podcast, Dr. Erin Hayford interviews Daniëlle from the Netherlands, currently living in Bali, about her transformative healing journey after a severe bicycle accident.

Daniëlle shares her story of overcoming depression, dealing with post-concussion syndrome, and how she found a new way to relate to herself and her body through breath work, somatic experiencing, and intuitive movement.   

This conversation dives deep into the intelligence of the body, the importance of listening to our inner voice, and how suffering invites us to break old patterns and discover a more profound connection to life.   

Join us for an inspiring discussion on navigating the complexities of healing and living a more authentic, embodied life.  Enjoy!

00:00 Introduction to Body Awareness and Healing 

00:17 The Warrior Spirit and Realization 

02:11 Daniëlle's Bicycle Accident and Initial Struggles 

04:18 The Long Road to Recovery 

09:09 Exploring New Healing Modalities 

15:24 The Gift of Silence and Letting Go 

24:07 The Grief of Letting Go 

25:36 Healing as a Spiral 27:06 Journey to Bali 

30:45 Intuitive Healing 

33:11 The Intelligence of the Body 

43:54 Embracing Suffering 

46:22 Final Reflections 

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Follow Daniëlle on Instagram to stay up to date with her journey and offerings @danielleneomi 

____

Are you on a healing journey? Are you feeling suck, unsure of the next step, or wondering if a next step even exists?

If so, you are invited to join the Sacred Illness™ Membership, a profound and transformative group that supports you in alchemizing your wounds into medicine.

Inside, you'll find all the tools you need to reconnect with your deepest purpose, find all of the roadblocks standing between you and your most authentic health, and the confidence to exist in the world in your fullest, most vibrant expression.

This is a space dedicated to transforming illness into a sacred path of growth, meaning, and connection.

Join us today! Check out https://www.aurorasomatic.com/sacred-illness  for more information.

Use coupon code PODCAST to save 20% off of the first month of your membership!

____

Are you someone who has or has had a chronic illness or chronic symptoms? Did your healing journey help you understand a deeper meaning and purpose of your symptoms?

If so, we'd love to have you as a guest on the podcast!

Click here to apply: https://www.aurorasomatic.com/podcast-guest

____

Music used: Instructions for Living a Life by Savfk - www.youtube.com/@SavfkMusic

#chronicillness #healingjourney #mindbodyconnection #alternativemedicine #sacredillness #drerinhayford #polyvagaltheory #chronicpain #biofeedback #mindbodymedicine #somaticexperiencing #pots #mcas #autoimmunedisease #ibs #sibo #fibromyalgia #mysteryillness #shadowwork #suffering #transformation #healingjourney

In this deeply moving episode of the Sacred Illness™ Podcast, I sit down with Robyn Watt, a former social worker from Ontario, Canada, who courageously shares her profound journey through a cancer diagnosis and recovery.

Robyn's story begins with the shocking news of her aggressive, diffuse B-cell, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis and follows her through the physical and emotional trials of chemotherapy.

With deep reflections on the symbolism of her illness and a moving ceremony to release her hair, Robyn illustrates how this life-altering experience became an invitation to truly align with herself.

Join us as Robyn recounts her path from overwhelming stress and burnout to a renewed focus on self-care, nature, and inner peace. Her insights and resilience offer a powerful message of healing and transformation for anyone navigating their own health challenges. Enjoy!

00:00 The Day I Found Out I Had Cancer

03:33 Robyn's Journey with Cancer

04:18 Life Before the Diagnosis

10:19 The Move to Ontario and Its Impact

14:47 The Struggles of Single Parenting and Social Work

19:58 The Cancer Diagnosis and Initial Reactions

25:56 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Treatment

38:20 Finding Meaning and Clarity Through Illness

44:52 Embracing Life After Chemotherapy

45:50 Facing the Fear of Recurrence

46:36 The Joy of Remission

47:33 The Importance of Self-Care

48:49 Reflecting on the Journey

50:23 The Deeper Meaning of Illness

51:49 Living in Alignment with Self

54:48 Finding Peace and Joy in Simple Things

59:45 Navigating Systemic Challenges

01:08:37 The Power of Nature and Gratitude

01:14:42 Ceremony and Healing

01:22:13 Final Reflections and Gratitude

____

Follow Robyn on Instagram to stay up to date with her journey and offerings at @_wildsong

____

Are you on a healing journey? Are you feeling suck, unsure of the next step, or wondering if a next step even exists?

If so, you are invited to join the Sacred Illness™ Membership, a profound and transformative group that supports you in alchemizing your wounds into medicine.

Inside, you'll find all the tools you need to reconnect with your deepest purpose, find all of the roadblocks standing between you and your most authentic health, and the confidence to exist in the world in your fullest, most vibrant expression.

This is a space dedicated to transforming illness into a sacred path of growth, meaning, and connection. Join us today!

Check out https://www.aurorasomatic.com/sacred-illness for more information.

Use coupon code PODCAST to save 20% off of the first month of your membership!

____

Are you someone who has or has had a chronic illness or chronic symptoms? Did you work with any type of mind-body medicine modality to lessen/ heal/ or alleviate your symptoms in any way?

If so, we'd love to have you as a guest on the podcast!

Click here to apply: https://www.aurorasomatic.com/podcast-guest

____

Music used: Instructions for Living a Life by Savfk - www.youtube.com/@SavfkMusic

#chronicillness #healingjourney #mindbodyconnection #naturalhealth #complementarymedicine #alternativemedicine #sacredillness #drerinhayford #polyvagaltheory #chronicpain #biofeedback #mindbodymedicine #somaticexperiencing #pots #mcas #autoimmunedisease #ibs #sibo #fibromyalgia #mysteryillness

In this episode of the Sacred Illness™ Podcast, host Dr. Erin Hayford welcomes Andrew, a civil and environmental engineer from the Atlanta area, to share his transformative journey of healing from chronic pelvic pain.

Andrew, an avid cyclist, dives deep into his experience with mind-body medicine and how his dysregulated nervous system and inability to process emotions were at the root of his pain.

Through engaging storytelling and practical insights, Andrew discusses the steps he took to radically shift his approach to pain, emphasizing pain science, nervous system regulation, and the importance of emotional exploration.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone dealing with chronic pain, offering hope and actionable advice for reclaiming a joyful, fulfilling life.

Enjoy!

00:00 Introduction to Chronic Pain and Nervous System

01:53 Guest Introduction: Andrew's Story

03:04 Andrew's Journey with Chronic Pelvic Pain

03:48 Discovering Mind-Body Medicine

08:20 Understanding Pain Science and TMS

11:26 The Role of Stress and Nervous System Regulation

19:39 Emotional Healing and Somatic Tracking

26:58 Practical Advice for Managing Chronic Pain

34:09 The Culture Shift and Safety in Medicine

34:39 Personal Crisis and Turning Points

35:44 Navigating Dark Moments and Finding Hope

37:33 The Role of Social Media and New Perspectives

38:33 Understanding Pain and the Nervous System

42:23 Reevaluating Life and Exercise

43:46 The Journey of Healing and Coaching

48:10 The Importance of Trying Different Approaches

56:57 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

____

Follow Andrew on Instagram to stay up to date with his journey!: @andrewmbcyclist

____

Are you on a healing journey? Are you feeling suck, unsure of the next step, or wondering if a next step even exists?

If so, you are invited to join the Sacred Illness™ Membership, a profound and transformative group that supports you in alchemizing your wounds into medicine.

Inside, you'll find all the tools you need to reconnect with your deepest purpose, find all of the roadblocks standing between you and your most authentic health, and the confidence to exist in the world in your fullest, most vibrant expression.

This is a space dedicated to transforming illness into a sacred path of growth, meaning, and connection. Join us today!

Check out https://www.aurorasomatic.com/sacred-illness for more information.

Use coupon code SACRED to save 20% off of the first month of your membership!

____

Are you someone who has or has had a chronic illness or chronic symptoms? Did you work with any type of mind-body medicine modality to lessen/ heal/ or alleviate your symptoms in any way?

If so, we'd love to have you as a guest on the podcast!

Click here to apply: https://www.aurorasomatic.com/podcast-guest 

____

Music used: Instructions for Living a Life by Savfk - www.youtube.com/@SavfkMusic

#chronicillness #healingjourney #mindbodyconnection #naturalhealth #complementarymedicine #alternativemedicine #sacredillness #drerinhayford #polyvagaltheory #chronicpain #biofeedback #mindbodymedicine #somaticexperiencing #pots #mcas #autoimmunedisease #ibs #sibo #fibromyalgia #mysteryillness