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The Weight I Carry Isn’t Just Physical
"Shame lives in the body, but so does compassion." —Donna Piper
If shame could be seen, would you finally believe it’s not your fault?
So many of us carry invisible burdens—chronic symptoms, exhaustion, and the silent weight of feeling misunderstood or blamed for what we can’t control. The real struggle isn’t just in our bodies, but in the stories we tell ourselves when healing doesn’t look the way the world expects.
Donna Piper knows this journey firsthand. After years of being dismissed and doing everything “right” but still getting sicker, she’s learned how shame embeds itself in our bodies—and how compassion and psychological flexibility can set us free.
Tune in as Donna unpacks the truth about shame, busts the myth of willpower, and guides you through a powerful practice to help you move from self-blame to self-love.
Connect with Donna:
Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper
Episode Highlights:
01:27 Understanding and Addressing Shame in Chronic Illness
03:15 The Role of Self-Compassion and Psychological Flexibility
09:34 The Impact of Shame on Healing and Relationships
17:04 Practical Techniques for Shame Release
23:10 Myth-Busting: Willpower vs Shame
Resources:
🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I’d love to hear from you!
Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to [email protected], and you just might hear your answer on the show.
X:
Ever feel like your body’s pain is only half the battle? Discover how shame shapes healing & learn to break the cycle in this week’s episode as Donna shares tips, tools, & truth! #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #Lymphedema #lipedema #MCAS #BodyShame #SelfCompassion #InvisibleIllness #HealingJourney #PsychologicalFlexibility #ShameRelease #SelfCare #ChronicFatigue
Quotes:
02:08 Shame lives in the body, but so does compassion." —Donna Piper
02:13 "Shame just isn't a feeling, it's a somatic experience. It gets stored in your body— in your thighs, and in your belly, and in your nervous system— and over time, it becomes a lens you see yourself through." —Donna Piper
03:35 "Shame is very prevalent. It's very silent. It hides in the shadows, and it's lurking over everything that we want to do, and how we see who we are." —Donna Piper
04:17 "Self-compassion means speaking to yourself in a way that you would to a dear friend, and it sounds like this: This part of me is hurting. This part of me deserves care." —Donna Piper
05:00 "We want to feel part of a group, that's just how we're made. We want to have community and connection and be understood." —Donna Piper
06:39 "Psychological flexibility... just really means allowing uncomfortable emotions to exist without letting them control your choices. It's noticing the shame without becoming ashamed, choosing your values over your fear, and letting your truth lead the way." —Donna Piper
09:21 "Shame is like any other emotion. Once it's seen, once it's acknowledged, then it can move through you. So it's not a life sentence, it's just another level of awareness." —Donna Piper
09:46 "Resting is self-care… Resting is critical. It's part of the healing." —Donna Piper
12:57 "[Lipedema] isn't about laziness. This isn't about willpower. It is a medical condition rooted in inflammation and hormones, and it deals with connective tissue issues." —Donna Piper
14:47 "Be compassionate with yourself and be loving with yourself. This is something that you didn't cause." —Donna Piper
15:47 "Willpower isn't the problem, it's the shame." —Donna Piper
16:43 "You could be doing everything right and still see no change. That doesn't mean that you or I have failed. It's just a mismatch about the care that's available and what our bodies are experiencing." —Donna Piper
17:51 "What I do need is a little more love and compassion and education for how my body responds." —Donna Piper
19:30 "You don't have to explain your shame to anyone— that's not really liberating… because the people around you may not be equipped to hear. If it doesn't land in the right place, then it creates more trauma, and it doesn't have the healing effect that you think it is." —Donna Piper
22:46 "I hold myself with love, even when the world doesn't." —Donna Piper
Meet Your Host:
Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.
With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.
Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.
View all episodes
By Donna Piper
"Shame lives in the body, but so does compassion." —Donna Piper
If shame could be seen, would you finally believe it’s not your fault?
So many of us carry invisible burdens—chronic symptoms, exhaustion, and the silent weight of feeling misunderstood or blamed for what we can’t control. The real struggle isn’t just in our bodies, but in the stories we tell ourselves when healing doesn’t look the way the world expects.
Donna Piper knows this journey firsthand. After years of being dismissed and doing everything “right” but still getting sicker, she’s learned how shame embeds itself in our bodies—and how compassion and psychological flexibility can set us free.
Tune in as Donna unpacks the truth about shame, busts the myth of willpower, and guides you through a powerful practice to help you move from self-blame to self-love.
Connect with Donna:
Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper
Episode Highlights:
01:27 Understanding and Addressing Shame in Chronic Illness
03:15 The Role of Self-Compassion and Psychological Flexibility
09:34 The Impact of Shame on Healing and Relationships
17:04 Practical Techniques for Shame Release
23:10 Myth-Busting: Willpower vs Shame
Resources:
🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I’d love to hear from you!
Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to [email protected], and you just might hear your answer on the show.
X:
Ever feel like your body’s pain is only half the battle? Discover how shame shapes healing & learn to break the cycle in this week’s episode as Donna shares tips, tools, & truth! #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #Lymphedema #lipedema #MCAS #BodyShame #SelfCompassion #InvisibleIllness #HealingJourney #PsychologicalFlexibility #ShameRelease #SelfCare #ChronicFatigue
Quotes:
02:08 Shame lives in the body, but so does compassion." —Donna Piper
02:13 "Shame just isn't a feeling, it's a somatic experience. It gets stored in your body— in your thighs, and in your belly, and in your nervous system— and over time, it becomes a lens you see yourself through." —Donna Piper
03:35 "Shame is very prevalent. It's very silent. It hides in the shadows, and it's lurking over everything that we want to do, and how we see who we are." —Donna Piper
04:17 "Self-compassion means speaking to yourself in a way that you would to a dear friend, and it sounds like this: This part of me is hurting. This part of me deserves care." —Donna Piper
05:00 "We want to feel part of a group, that's just how we're made. We want to have community and connection and be understood." —Donna Piper
06:39 "Psychological flexibility... just really means allowing uncomfortable emotions to exist without letting them control your choices. It's noticing the shame without becoming ashamed, choosing your values over your fear, and letting your truth lead the way." —Donna Piper
09:21 "Shame is like any other emotion. Once it's seen, once it's acknowledged, then it can move through you. So it's not a life sentence, it's just another level of awareness." —Donna Piper
09:46 "Resting is self-care… Resting is critical. It's part of the healing." —Donna Piper
12:57 "[Lipedema] isn't about laziness. This isn't about willpower. It is a medical condition rooted in inflammation and hormones, and it deals with connective tissue issues." —Donna Piper
14:47 "Be compassionate with yourself and be loving with yourself. This is something that you didn't cause." —Donna Piper
15:47 "Willpower isn't the problem, it's the shame." —Donna Piper
16:43 "You could be doing everything right and still see no change. That doesn't mean that you or I have failed. It's just a mismatch about the care that's available and what our bodies are experiencing." —Donna Piper
17:51 "What I do need is a little more love and compassion and education for how my body responds." —Donna Piper
19:30 "You don't have to explain your shame to anyone— that's not really liberating… because the people around you may not be equipped to hear. If it doesn't land in the right place, then it creates more trauma, and it doesn't have the healing effect that you think it is." —Donna Piper
22:46 "I hold myself with love, even when the world doesn't." —Donna Piper
Meet Your Host:
Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.
With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.
Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.