Autoimmune Adventures

autoimmuneadventures.com

Navigating chronic illness is a lifelong journey. Don’t travel alone.

  1. 1d ago ·  Video

    98: Chronic Stress Affects Your Body | Melissa Lewis-Duarte on Realistic Nervous System Regulation

    If you live with chronic illness, you've probably been told to “manage your stress.” But what does that actually mean when you're already exhausted, overwhelmed, and managing a body with limited bandwidth? In this episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we sit down with stress management and resilience coach Melissa Lewis-Duarte, PhD, NBC-HWC, to talk about realistic nervous system regulation—and why taking care of yourself shouldn't become one more impossible task on your to-do list. Melissa brings both professional expertise and deeply personal experience to this conversation. After a traumatic birth and six months with her third child in the NICU, chronic stress began taking a significant toll on her own health. When doctors told her to manage her stress without giving her realistic strategies for doing it, she began searching for practices that could actually fit into a demanding life. That journey eventually helped shape her approach to stress management: small, sustainable practices rather than complicated wellness routines. In our conversation, we explore: • What emotional regulation actually means • Melissa's “Name, Notice, Nurture” practice • Why identifying the specific emotion you're experiencing matters • How emotions can show up physically in the body • Using expressive writing when you feel emotionally stuck • Why “just take a deep breath” can feel so dismissive • How changing your breathing can change the signal you're sending your brain • What to try when breathwork isn't helpful for you • Simple regulation strategies for low-energy days • Why five minutes can still matter • Making stress management fit the life you already have • The concept of your “body budget” • How sleep, physical depletion, and hormonal changes can influence emotions • Why stress management should never become another standard you feel you're failing to meet This conversation is especially for anyone who has ever thought: “I know I'm supposed to take better care of myself. I just don't have anything left.” You don't need a perfect routine. You need tools that meet you where you are. Subscribe to Autoimmune Adventures for honest conversations, practical tools, expert insight, and lived experience for navigating autoimmune disease and chronic illness. You are worthy of joy. Disease does not define your life.   #AutoimmuneAdventures #ChronicIllness #NervousSystemRegulation #StressManagement #ChronicStress #AutoimmuneDisease #EmotionalRegulation #Burnout #ChronicIllnessSupport #Resilience #InvisibleIllness #NervousSystem #SelfAdvocacy You do!

  2. Aug 11 ·  Video

    97: Chronic Illness Grief, Identity & Finding Yourself Again | Dr. Jeffrey Bone

    What happens to your identity when chronic illness changes the life you thought you were going to have? And how do you grieve who you were without giving up on who you can still become? In this powerful episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we sit down with mental health specialist, author, poet, and chronic illness patient Dr. Jeffrey Bone for an honest conversation about the emotional reality of living in a body you can no longer predict. Jeff brings a rare perspective to this conversation: he has spent more than two decades helping people navigate chronic pain and illness while also experiencing chronic illness himself. Together, we explore the pieces of chronic illness that don't always make it into the exam room—the loneliness of experiencing pain another person cannot truly feel, the disappointment of leaving another doctor's appointment without answers, the recurring grief of losing parts of your former life, and the challenge of rebuilding identity when your capacity changes. We also talk about solidarity and why finding people who understand matters. And then we go somewhere unexpected: creativity. Jeff shares how poetry, writing, guided meditation, and other forms of artistic expression can create agency when illness has taken away so many of our choices. Creativity doesn't need to become productive. It doesn't need to become a side hustle. It doesn't even need to be “good.” Sometimes the power is simply in choosing what happens next. In this episode: • Why chronic illness can feel profoundly isolating • The invisible realities healthy people often don't see • The grief of repeatedly seeking medical answers • Why chronic illness grief can return again and again • Identity after illness changes your capacity • What true solidarity can look like • Creativity as a way to reclaim agency • Why your old potential may change without disappearing • Building meaning without pretending illness is a gift • Recognizing that your story is still unfolding If chronic illness has ever left you wondering, “Who am I now?” this conversation is for you. Subscribe to Autoimmune Adventures for honest conversations, lived experience, expert insight, and practical tools for navigating life with chronic illness. You are worthy of joy. Disease does not define your life. You do!   #DrJeffreyBone #ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessGrief #AutoimmuneDisease #InvisibleIllness #ChronicIllnessMentalHealth #AutoimmuneAdventures

  3. Aug 4 ·  Video

    96: Can Your Subconscious Affect Chronic Illness? | Hypnotherapy & Healing with Craig Meriwether

    Could your subconscious mind be influencing your chronic illness? If you've ever wondered why stress can trigger flare-ups, why chronic pain sometimes persists, or why your body feels stuck in survival mode, this conversation may completely change the way you think about healing. In this episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we sit down with Craig Meriwether, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Medical Hypnosis Specialist, to explore the fascinating connection between the subconscious mind, the nervous system, and chronic illness. Together we discuss how subconscious patterns are formed, why anxiety and trauma can influence physical symptoms, and how hypnotherapy may help people reduce resistance, calm the nervous system, and create healthier patterns. This conversation is not about replacing medical care—it's about understanding another important piece of the healing puzzle. In this episode you'll learn: ✔ What hypnotherapy really is (and what it isn't) ✔ How the subconscious mind influences chronic stress and anxiety ✔ The connection between stress, inflammation, and chronic pain ✔ Why your nervous system can become "stuck" in survival mode ✔ How subconscious patterns are created ✔ Practical techniques for calming your nervous system ✔ Common myths about hypnosis ✔ Why healing often begins with changing patterns instead of fighting symptoms Whether you're living with lupus, Hashimoto's, Sjögren's, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, or another chronic illness, this episode offers practical insights into supporting your health from the inside out. 🎙 About Our Guest Craig Meriwether is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Medical Hypnosis Specialist who helps people overcome anxiety, trauma, chronic stress, and emotionally rooted physical symptoms by working with the subconscious mind. 🌄 About Autoimmune Adventures Autoimmune Adventures exists to educate, encourage, and empower those navigating chronic illness through expert interviews, practical strategies, and honest conversations. Remember... You are worthy of joy. Disease does not define your life, you do. 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and Share to help us reach more people living with chronic illness. #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #Hypnotherapy #MindBodyConnection #ChronicPain #Anxiety #StressRelief #NervousSystem #HealingJourney #AutoimmuneAdventures

  4. Jul 28 ·  Video

    95: Survival Mode Affects Chronic Illness | Dr. Danielle Griffin on Somatics & Nervous System

    Could your nervous system be keeping your body stuck in survival mode? For people living with autoimmune disease, chronic illness, chronic pain, or burnout, stress isn't just emotional—it can have real physical effects throughout the body. In this episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we sit down with Dr. Danielle Griffin, TEDx speaker, Doctor of Organizational Leadership, Certified Hypnotherapist, and somatic healing expert, to explore how chronic stress impacts the nervous system and why learning to regulate it may be an important part of supporting long-term health. Together we discuss: ✔ What survival mode really looks like ✔ Hidden physical signs of unresolved stress ✔ The connection between stress, inflammation, and chronic illness ✔ How somatic practices help build body awareness ✔ What hypnotherapy actually is—and what it isn't ✔ Simple breathing exercises to help calm an overwhelmed nervous system Whether you're navigating lupus, Hashimoto's, Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, or another chronic illness, this conversation offers practical insights to help you better understand the connection between your body and your nervous system. 💜 Remember: You are worthy of joy. Disease does not define your life. You do. 👇 Tell us in the comments: Have you ever realized your body was stuck in survival mode? Subscribe for new conversations every Tuesday featuring experts and inspiring stories that help you advocate for your health with confidence. #AutoimmuneAdventures #ChronicIllness #SurvivalMode #NervousSystem #NervousSystemRegulation #Somatics #SomaticHealing #ChronicStress #BurnoutRecovery #MindBodyConnection #StressManagement #Hypnotherapy #Inflammation #ChronicPain #HealingJourney

  5. Jul 21 ·  Video

    94: Can Trauma Affect Chronic Illness? Cindy Costley on Healing, the Nervous System & Hope

    Have you ever wondered if stress, trauma, or past experiences could influence the way your body responds to chronic illness? In this episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we sit down with Cindy Costley to explore her personal journey through trauma, chronic symptoms, nervous system healing, and learning to listen to her body in a completely different way. Cindy shares how medical gaslighting, stored emotional experiences, and years of feeling misunderstood shaped her health journey—and why healing, for her, meant addressing more than physical symptoms alone. Together we discuss: ✔ Big T vs. little t trauma ✔ Why toxic positivity isn't always helpful ✔ Learning to view symptoms differently ✔ Nervous system regulation ✔ Emotional healing and resilience ✔ Why affirmations sometimes don't work ✔ Finding hope after years of chronic illness Whether Cindy's story reflects your own experiences or offers a new perspective, we hope this conversation encourages you to continue asking questions, advocating for yourself, and discovering what healing can look like for you. Remember... You are worthy of joy. Disease does not define your life. You do. 🌄 Visit us: https://autoimmuneadventures.com Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday featuring leading experts, inspiring patients, and practical strategies for living well with chronic illness.   #AutoimmuneAdventures #ChronicIllness #TraumaHealing #AutoimmuneDisease #NervousSystem #InvisibleIllness #MedicalGaslighting #HealingJourney #PatientAdvocacy #MindBodyConnection

  6. Jul 14 ·  Video

    93: Why Am I Still Sick? Melissa Rose on Root Causes, Autoimmune Disease & Terrain Medicine

    Why Am I Still Sick? Melissa Rose on Root Causes, Autoimmune Disease & Terrain Medicine Have you ever been told your blood work looks "normal," but you still don't feel like yourself? You're not alone. In this episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we sit down with Melissa Rose, founder of Sagebrush Wellness, functional medicine practitioner, educator, and author of Reversing Your Autoimmune Story, to explore why so many people with autoimmune disease and chronic illness continue searching for answers long after receiving a diagnosis. Melissa shares how her own recovery from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) inspired her to develop a terrain-based approach to healing—one that goes beyond simply identifying root causes to understanding why those root causes developed in the first place. Together we discuss: ✔️ Why "normal" blood work doesn't always mean you're healthy ✔️ The difference between functional medicine and terrain medicine ✔️ Root causes of autoimmune disease ✔️ Gut health, food sensitivities, and chronic inflammation ✔️ Why personalized care matters ✔️ Childhood stress, trauma, and long-term health ✔️ Taking ownership of your healing journey ✔️ Why your diagnosis doesn't have to define your future Whether you're living with lupus, Hashimoto's, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, celiac disease, chronic fatigue, or another autoimmune condition, this conversation offers practical insights and hope for understanding your body more deeply. 🌿 Learn more about Melissa Rose and Sagebrush Wellness: https://sagebrushwellness.com 🌿 Melissa's Free Terrain Assessment: https://start.sagebrushwellness.com ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎙 About Autoimmune Adventures Autoimmune Adventures is a podcast dedicated to helping people living with autoimmune disease and chronic illness navigate life with more knowledge, confidence, and hope. Every week, Stacy Griffin, Becky Miller, and Alysia Thomas bring you conversations with physicians, researchers, advocates, and fellow adventurers who are helping redefine what it means to live well with chronic illness. 🌿 Website: https://autoimmuneadventures.com 📬 Subscribe to our free Scenic Route Newsletter for encouragement, resources, and practical tips delivered along your journey.

  7. Jul 7 ·  Video

    92 : Why Do Doctors Dismiss Chronic Illness Patients? A Physician Becomes a Patient | Dr. Zeest Khan

    What happens when a doctor becomes the chronic illness patient—and suddenly discovers the healthcare system doesn't have answers for her either? Dr. Zeest Khan spent years caring for critically ill patients, managing cardiac surgery, and running her own medical practice. Then Long COVID changed everything. She went from leading her life and caring for others to depending on people just to help her get out of bed. And when she turned to medicine for help, she experienced something millions of chronic illness patients already know: dismissal, uncertainty, and doctors who simply didn't know what to do next. In this powerful episode of Autoimmune Adventures, Dr. Zeest Khan joins Stacy, Becky, and Alysia to talk about medical gaslighting from a physician's perspective, why doctors struggle to admit when they don't have an answer, and what happens when burnout, medical trauma, and fear collide inside the exam room. We also talk about Long COVID symptoms, navigating medical uncertainty, the difference between genuine hope and toxic positivity, grieving the life you had before chronic illness, and why community can become a lifeline when illness leaves you feeling completely alone. If you have ever left a doctor's appointment feeling dismissed, unheard, or wondering whether you were somehow asking for too much, this conversation is for you. 🎙️ In this episode: • Why chronic illness patients are so often dismissed or gaslit • What medical training teaches doctors about saying “I don't know” • How Dr. Zeest Khan's perspective changed when she became the patient • What Long COVID symptoms can actually look like • Why collaboration matters in the doctor-patient relationship • How to navigate healthcare when there is no perfect answer • Hope vs. toxic positivity in chronic illness • The grief and identity changes that come with becoming chronically ill • Why chronic illness community and connection matter 💛 Subscribe to Autoimmune Adventures for honest conversations about autoimmune disease, chronic illness, self-advocacy, and building a life that still belongs to you. Remember: You are worthy of joy. Your disease does not define your life. You do. #MedicalGaslighting #ChronicIllness #LongCOVID #PatientAdvocacy #DrZeestKhan #InvisibleIllness #ChronicIllnessCommunity #Healthcare #SelfAdvocacy #AutoimmuneAdventures

  8. Jul 1 ·  Video

    91: What Are the 6 Habits That Create a More Peaceful Life? | Dr. Will Tuttle - The World Peace Way

    Can peace be cultivated—even during life's most difficult seasons? In this episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we welcome author, educator, and speaker Dr. Will Tuttle to discuss the powerful principles from his book The World Peace Way. Many people think peace depends on circumstances, relationships, or the world around them. Dr. Tuttle offers a different perspective. He shares six foundational tenets that can help us create greater peace, resilience, purpose, and harmony from the inside out. Together, we explore: ✅ What inner peace really means ✅ Why joy may already exist within us ✅ How discipline can become a pathway to freedom and happiness ✅ Why challenges can help us grow stronger ✅ The connection between peace, relationships, and well-being ✅ The six tenets from The World Peace Way ✅ Practical ways to cultivate more purpose and meaning in everyday life For those living with chronic illness, autoimmune disease, stress, uncertainty, or simply the challenges of modern life, this conversation offers thoughtful insights and practical wisdom for creating more peace—one day at a time. About Dr. Will Tuttle Dr. Will Tuttle is an internationally recognized speaker, educator, musician, and author. He is the author of The World Peace Way, a guide to cultivating personal peace and creating a more harmonious world through conscious living, healthy relationships, mindfulness, purpose, and connection. 🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about chronic illness, healing, self-advocacy, resilience, and living well. 🌐 Website: autoimmuneadventures.com 📸 Instagram: @theautoimmuneadventures 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts #DrWillTuttle #WorldPeaceWay #InnerPeace #Mindfulness #PersonalGrowth #SelfDevelopment #PurposeDrivenLife #HealingJourney #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneAdventures #MentalWellness #EmotionalWellness #StressManagement #HealthyRelationships #PeacefulLiving

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About

Navigating chronic illness is a lifelong journey. Don’t travel alone.

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  • Creator
    autoimmuneadventures.com
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Autoimmune Adventures