The Chronic Movie Lover

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Today we’re talking about Christmas movies. The comforting ones. The nostalgic ones. The ones you put on when it’s cold outside, when your body hurts, when your brain is tired, and when you just want something familiar and safe playing in the background.

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

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Today’s episode is going to be a very personal one. Usually, I connect my love of movies and TV to my life with chronic pain, but today I want to talk about something that’s been just as much a part of my journey: weight, food, and the role they’ve played in how I’ve coped with pain.

For a long time, eating was one of my main coping mechanisms, besides watching movies and TV shows. It gave me comfort when nothing else could. But it also led to changes in my body that were hard to carry, both physically and emotionally. Gaining weight became a part of my chronic pain story, and eventually, so did my decision to start using Ozempic.

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

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Today’s episode is all about connection. You know that moment when you’re watching a movie or a TV show, and a character says something, does something, or reacts in a certain way—and you feel it in your bones? Like, “Yes. That’s me. That’s exactly how I feel.”

For me, those moments are pure magic. They’re little reminders that even if your exact life experience hasn’t been portrayed on screen, parts of you—your emotions, your fears, your dreams—are still out there in the world, being reflected back.

So today, I’m sharing some of the most relatable characters I’ve ever encountered in film and TV—some from my personal favorites, and some that seem to be universally beloved for the way they mirror our lives.

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Today’s episode is another essay. It’s not about a film or a TV show—at least not directly. Today, I want to share an essay I wrote titled ‘Between Noise and Silence: Communicating Pain in a World That Doesn’t Listen.’ It’s about what it means to live with chronic pain, and more specifically, what it means to communicate that pain in a world that often doesn’t want to hear it—or doesn’t know how to.

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

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We’re diving into how chronic illness—specifically chronic pain—is portrayed in movies and TV. Sometimes, these stories feel honest and validating. Other times? They’re full of clichés, misinformation, or just plain erasure. So today, we’re going to explore the difference between representation that gets it right and the kind that does more harm than good.

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Today’s episode is a really special one. I’m not alone this time—I’m joined by two amazing women who, like me, live with chronic pain. And together, we’re doing something a little different. 

We’re answering the hard questions. The awkward ones. The uncomfortable ones. The questions that people often want to ask about chronic pain—but don’t know how to. Some of them are taboo. Some of them are unintentionally hurtful. And some are the kind of questions we wish people would ask more often, with empathy and understanding. 

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

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This episode is based on a personal essay I wrote titled ‘Living Without Pain: My Love for Vampires and the Longing for Something Beyond.’ It’s an exploration of what it means to live with chronic pain, and how the stories we love—especially stories about vampires—can offer escape, comfort, and a kind of imaginative freedom. 

So if you’re someone who’s ever felt trapped in your own body, or if you’ve ever found meaning in the fantastical, I hope this speaks to you." 

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If you love film as much as I do, you’ve probably had this conversation before—someone shrugs off an emotional reaction, a debate about representation, or a discussion about deeper meanings by saying, ‘Relax, it’s just a movie.’ But here’s the thing: movies aren’t just movies. They shape culture, they influence how we see the world, and for some people—like me—they can be a lifeline. So today, we’re diving into why movies matter beyond entertainment and looking at films that have had real-world impact. Let’s get into it!"

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

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We’re getting personal. We’re talking about the movies that saved me—the ones that helped me through the toughest times, the ones that gave me an escape, the ones that comforted me when nothing else could. If you’ve ever had a movie or TV show feel like a lifeline, this episode is for you. So grab a cozy blanket, get comfortable, and let’s dive in.

https://www.instagram.com/nienkekievit/
https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

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I am back after being gone for almost a year! But I am better than ever and ready to start the next season of my podcast. We have undergone a little rebrand, and I hope you guys still like to listen to my podcast! In this episode, I just explain why I have been gone for such a long time and why movies still matter today. 

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/