Autoimmune Adventures

autoimmuneadventures.com
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

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

  1. 4d ago ·  Video

    102: Chronic Pain, Emotions & Neuroplasticity with Dr. Tovah Goldfine

    Can emotions affect chronic pain? What does neuroplasticity have to do with persistent symptoms—and can the brain learn new pain pathways? In this episode of Autoimmune Adventures, Dr. Tovah Goldfine joins Stacy, Becky, and Alysia for a conversation about chronic pain, emotions, neuroplasticity, and the connection between the brain and body. Dr. Tovah is a Doctor of Chiropractic and Rehabilitation who specializes in neuroplastic chronic pain, MindBody approaches, TMS (Tension Myoneural Syndrome), and brain and nervous-system training methods. Her work brings together decades of experience working with the physical body and her study of neuroplastic approaches to persistent pain. In our conversation, Tovah explains how our understanding of the brain has changed and why neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to change and develop new pathways—has opened new conversations about persistent pain. We explore the relationship between emotions and pain, what it means for the brain to “learn” a pain pathway, and how thoughts and emotional experiences can affect the way we feel in our bodies. We also address an important distinction: Talking about the brain does not mean pain isn't real. And recognizing connections between the brain, emotions, nervous system, and physical symptoms should never become another reason to blame someone for being sick. Tovah leaves us with a powerful idea: instead of viewing the body as something that is punishing us, what happens when we become curious about the ways it may be trying to protect us? IN THIS EPISODE • Can emotions affect chronic pain? • What is neuroplasticity? • How does the brain develop neural pathways? • Can the brain learn—and unlearn—pain patterns? • What is the connection between emotions and physical symptoms? • Why brain involvement doesn't make pain imaginary • How thoughts and emotions can influence our physical experience • Why Tovah believes the body protects rather than punishes • What it can mean to begin trusting your body again ABOUT DR. TOVAH GOLDFINE Dr. Tovah Goldfine is a Doctor of Chiropractic and Rehabilitation who specializes in neuroplastic chronic pain, MindBody approaches, TMS solutions, and brain and nervous-system training methods. She also hosts the TMS RoundTable, which brings together health professionals and people sharing recovery experiences around chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, and neuroplastic symptoms. Visit Dr. Tovah Goldfine's official website You are worthy of joy. Disease does not define your life. You do! This conversation is for informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. YouTube Hashtags #ChronicPain #Neuroplasticity #MindBodyConnection #DrTovahGoldfine #AutoimmuneAdventures

  2. Sep 8 ·  Video

    101: Red Light Therapy Explained: How Does It Affect Mitochondria, Energy & Inflammation?

    How does red light therapy actually work—and what happens inside your cells when you're exposed to red and near-infrared light? Dr. Paul Barattiero joins Autoimmune Adventures to explain the science behind red light therapy, mitochondria, ATP production, oxidative stress, cellular energy, inflammation, and recovery. We've all seen red light therapy everywhere—from wellness centers and gyms to spas and home devices. But seeing that familiar red glow doesn't tell us what is actually happening inside the body. So we wanted to understand the science. In this episode, Stacy, Becky, and Alysia talk with Dr. Paul about how specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light interact with our cells, why mitochondria and ATP production matter, and how oxidative stress can interfere with cellular energy. We also explore the growing body of research surrounding photobiomodulation and its potential applications, including recovery, sleep, cellular function, collagen production, and more. And then we get practical. With so many red light devices now on the market, how can consumers know what they're actually getting? Dr. Paul explains why factors such as wavelength, irradiance, dosage, exposure time, and independent testing matter when evaluating red light technology. In this episode: • What red light therapy and photobiomodulation actually are • How red and near-infrared light interact with cells • Why mitochondria matter • ATP production and cellular energy • Oxidative stress and fatigue • Research into potential applications of red light therapy • Why wavelength, irradiance, and dosage matter • How treatment time changes the amount of light delivered • What to look for when evaluating red light devices • Why independent testing matters • How to become a more informed wellness consumer For anyone living with autoimmune disease or chronic illness—or anyone who's looked at all those glowing red panels and wondered, “Does this actually do anything?”—this conversation gives you a fascinating place to start. Please note: This conversation is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Discussion of research or potential applications does not mean red light therapy has been proven to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent a particular disease or condition. Talk with a qualified healthcare professional about your individual health needs. You are worthy of joy. Disease does not define your life. You do!

  3. Sep 1 ·  Video

    100: Celebrating 100 Episodes | The Voices & Stories That Have Shaped Autoimmune Adventures

    🎉 100 EPISODES. And we didn't get here alone. This episode is our love letter to every guest who trusted us with their story—and to every person who has listened, watched, shared, commented, laughed, cried, learned, and walked this trail alongside us. For our 100th episode of Autoimmune Adventures, the three of us—Stacy, Becky, and Alysia—got together IN PERSON to celebrate something that once felt almost impossible to imagine. One hundred episodes. Instead of simply looking back, we wanted you to hear the voices that helped bring us here. So we went back through some of our favorite conversations and pulled together a montage of moments from the extraordinary people we've had the privilege of interviewing—patients, advocates, doctors, researchers, authors, experts, and people who simply had a story worth telling. Because that's what Autoimmune Adventures has become. It isn't just our story anymore. It's a collection of stories about living in bodies that don't always cooperate. About searching for answers. Being dismissed and learning to speak up. Losing pieces of the lives we thought we'd have—and discovering that there is still so much life waiting for us. It's about science and advocacy. Grief and ridiculous laughter. Hard conversations and hopeful ones. And above all, it's about people reminding other people: You are not walking this trail alone. To every guest who has sat down with us over these first 100 episodes: thank you. Thank you for your vulnerability. Thank you for your expertise. Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for trusting us with your stories. And to every member of this community who has listened along the way—whether you've been here since the beginning or found us yesterday—thank you for giving these conversations somewhere to land. We don't know exactly what the next 100 episodes will hold. But we know we're not done asking questions. We're not done advocating. We're not done learning. And we're definitely not done finding joy along the way. Here's to the first 100. 💜 You are worthy of joy. Disease does not define your life. You do! #AutoimmuneAdventures #100Episodes #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #AutoimmuneCommunity #ChronicIllnessCommunity #PatientAdvocacy #SelfAdvocacy #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneWarrior #ChronicIllnessSupport #PatientStories #AutoimmuneAwareness #WomenWithAutoimmuneDisease #PodcastMilestone

  4. Aug 25 ·  Video

    99:Hydrogen Water Explained: Can It Help Oxidative Stress & Inflammation? | Dr. Paul Barattiero

    What is hydrogen water—and what could molecular hydrogen have to do with oxidative stress, inflammation, energy, and cellular health? Dr. Paul Barattiero joins Autoimmune Adventures to take us inside the science of molecular hydrogen and explain why this tiny molecule has become such a fascinating area of wellness research. In this episode, Stacy, Becky, and Alysia ask the questions many of us have had about hydrogen water: Isn't hydrogen already in water? What is oxidative stress? Why does the human body need hydrogen? What role does the gut play in producing it? And what should consumers understand before investing in a hydrogen water system? Dr. Paul breaks down the relationship between oxidation and reduction, discusses hydrogen production within the gut, explains the potential role of molecular hydrogen in supporting cellular function, and walks us through the technology behind the Echo Water Flask. For anyone living with autoimmune disease, chronic illness, fatigue, or inflammation—and anyone who's seen hydrogen water everywhere and wondered what the science actually says—this conversation is an accessible place to start. In this episode: What molecular hydrogen water actually is Hydrogen water vs. ordinary water Why the body produces hydrogen The gut as a “hydrogen ecosystem” Oxidative stress and the inflammatory response Molecular hydrogen and cellular health What to look for in hydrogen water technology How the Echo Water Flask works About our guest: Dr. Paul Barattiero is the founder of Echo Water and has spent decades in the health and wellness industry studying and educating others about molecular hydrogen and cellular health. IMPORTANT: This conversation is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always discuss changes to your health or treatment plan with your qualified healthcare provider. You are worthy of joy. Disease does not define your life. You do!

  5. Aug 18 ·  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!

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

See All (100)

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    autoimmuneadventures.com
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Autoimmune Adventures

You Might Also Like