Episode at a glance

• Full transcript and additional notes available at the Arthritis Life website here.
• 1:00 - 7:30 Unity’s shares her diagnosis story at 15 months old and details her young childhood experiences growing up with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)
• 7:30 - 15:00: How Unity became more active in her care management as an adolescent and explored alternate ways of managing JIA including nutrition, reiki, shamanism, and meditation.
• 15:00 - 23:00  The importance of meditation and managing stress in Unity’s JIA journey, including a discussion of some of Unity’s favorite books.
• 23:00 - 30:00 Unity explains what it means to be a “wounded healer” and what “healing” means to her. She also explains her Seasons of Self Energy Report framework.
• 30:00 - 37:00  Unity explains the importance of addressing mindset and mindfulness while living with a health condition.
• 37:00 - 40:00 Unity explains the inspiration behind S.O.S. Energy Report: A Survivor's Guide to Self-Healing Breakthroughs
• 40:00 - 43:00 Unity shares about her experience becoming a mother and now parenting two teenagers while managing her JIA.
• 43:00 - Unity & Cheryl discuss the many cost benefit analyses they do as patients, and when it’s worth it to do an activity even when it causes pain

Speaker Bios:

Unity Schmit: Born into a near-death experience, and diagnosed with chronic childhood illness, in the form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), Unity awakened to seek self-healing growth and the powerful meaning behind her unusual life start. On her path, she sought to understand how to bring pain to purpose, and how to follow her inner calling to experience her dreams, even though she was told they were unattainable. 

By studying self-healing, energy work, reiki, psychology, world religions and shamanism, Unity reached her dreams, and studied with healers and shamans from Canada, the United States and Australia. Through her experiences, Unity has become an author, teacher and 'faery godmother' life coach who seeks to help others awaken their own self-healing breakthroughs to reach their dreams, no matter the storms present or ahead.

Cheryl Crow is an occupational therapist who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for seventeen years. She’s passionate about helping others with rheumatoid arthritis live a full life, by using effective tools to manage physical, emotional and social challenges. She formed the educational company Arthritis Life in 2019 after seeing a huge need for more engaging, accessible, and (dare she say) FUN patient education and self-management resources.

Episode Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Rheum to THRIVE, a 6-month education and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. Join the waitlist today for the next group which starts in Spring, 2022! 

Episode Links:

• Unity’s Links:
  • https://www.instagram.com/unityschmidt/
  • ‘S.O.S. Energy Report Experience - this is a special link Unity created for Arthritis Life podcast audience members to allow you to access her “Survivor's Guide To Self-Healing Breakthroughs” for free. As a health provider I am not endorsing any claims from this website but am passing along the opportunity for you to experience it if you are interested, in hopes that it will be helpful.
• Books Unity Recommended in this episode
  • The Power of Myth - Joseph Campbell 
  • The Brain that Changes Itself - neuroscience book
  • Barbara Brennena - Hands of Light
  • Mindfulness, by Dr. Ellen Langer 
• Cheryl’s Arthritis Life social media pages:
• Arthritis Life Podcast, Practical Tips and Positive, Realistic Support - Facebook group
• Cheryl &  Arthritis Life on Instagram
• Cheryl’s website: Arthritis Life
• Arthritis Life Tiktok: @ArthritisLife 
• Arthritis Life Facebook Page
• Cheryl’s Twitter: @realcc 
• Arthritis Life Youtube channel

Medical disclaimer: 

All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

For full episode notes and a transcript: 

Full transcript and additional notes available at the Arthritis Life website here.

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