Your Chronic Illness Companion Podcast

Caroline Poland

5.0 (1)
Health & Fitness
Biweekly

Living with chronic illness is hard enough without feeling alone in it. Join me every other week for honest conversations, real stories, and compassionate tools that meet you exactly where you are. chronicillnesscompanion.substack.com

Oct 22

When Others Are Disappointed in Your Boundaries...and How to Manage the Discomfort That Comes after Setting a Boundary

Today’s podcast dives into the moments that we choose to protect our health or the needs of our body by setting a boundary. Not only can setting boundaries be difficult, but it can come with discomfort after the fact, especially if someone responds with frustration or anger. In this podcast, I talk about the process of setting boundaries, the fawn response (and how this impacts living with a chronic illness), and how to navigate moments of discomfort once we have set a boundary. In this episode you will find: * A discussion about setting boundaries and its importance in navigating a chronic illness * The fawn response, and how self-abandonment, fawning, and people-pleasing impacts how we meet our needs * How to navigate the discomfort that comes with setting boundaries Articles mentioned in this podcast: * When Other People Are Disappointed by You Protecting Your Health or Needs… * What is the Fawning Trauma Response? * Managing the Discomfort That Comes After Setting a Boundary Stay connected: * Subscribe to the podcast so new episodes come straight to you. You can find my podcast here on substack, as well as on Spotify and Apple Podcasts * Subscribe to my Substack, where I write most weeks of the month on these same topics: Your Chronic Illness Companion Substack * Follow along on Instagram: @chronicillnesscompanion Instagram * Share this episode with a friend who lives with chronic illness too You are welcome here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chronicillnesscompanion.substack.com
Oct 8

To the Woman Who Is Feeling the Ache of Having Her Experiences or Illness Minimized or Invalidated

Living life with a chronic illness can feel very lonely. Each month on my substack, I write a letter from my heart to yours on a specific topic connected to living life with a chronic illness or complex condition. In today’s letter, I discuss the feelings associated with having your symptoms or illness minimized or invalidated. I talk about the impacts of invalidation, and how this can negatively impact our psychological well-being. I discuss separating someone else’s thoughts or beliefs about our illness from the reality of our illness, and discuss the importance of extending belief to ourselves. In this episode you will find: * An explanation of my series of “Letters from Your Chronic Illness Companion” * Me reading this letter to you * A discussion about the impact of invalidation and minimization * A discussion about the importance of us believing ourselves You can find a written version of this letter here. Stay connected: * Subscribe to the podcast so new episodes come straight to you. You can find my podcast here on substack, as well as on Spotify and Apple Podcasts * Subscribe to my Substack, where I write most weeks of the month on these same topics: Your Chronic Illness Companion Substack * Follow along on Instagram: @chronicillnesscompanion Instagram * Share this episode with a friend who lives with chronic illness too You are welcome here. Disclaimer: This substack and podcast, and the posts herein, provide general information and is not meant to be specific advice to any individual situation. These posts and podcast episodes should not be taken as specific medical, psychological, legal, or mental health advice, nor should this be construed as the initiation of a therapeutic client relationship. Though I am a mental health counselor, I am not acting in that capacity here. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose, treat, heal, cure or prevent any illness, medical condition or mental or emotional condition, and it is not a substitute for mental health, physician, or other medical services or counseling. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chronicillnesscompanion.substack.com
Sep 24

The Cost of Unsolicited Advice...And What to Do When Someone Offers It

Today’s podcast dives into unsolicited advice, its impact on relationships, and how we navigate moments where someone gives us advice we haven’t asked for. We know that receiving unsolicited advice is frustrating, and this podcast helps the listener understand why it has the impact is does. This podcast also discusses boundary setting and why setting a boundary might feel awkward before it feels natural. I end by talking about how we manage these moments of discomfort. In this episode you will find: * A discussion about unsolicited advice and how it impacts relationships * A conversation about how to navigate moments when someone offers unsolicited advice, including statements you can use in moments when someone gives you advice you didn’t ask for * How to navigate the discomfort that comes with setting boundaries around advice giving Articles mentioned in this podcast: * How Unsolicited Advice Can Be Harmful to Your Relationships * Why People Give Unsolicited Advice (Though No One Listens) * If I Want Advice, I’ll Ask for It * How to Navigate Unsolicited Advice * When Someone Gives Unsolicited Advice: Ways to Respond When Someone Gives You Unsolicited Advice * The Problem with Unsolicited Advice Stay connected: * Subscribe to the podcast so new episodes come straight to you. You can find my podcast here on substack, as well as on Spotify and Apple Podcasts * Subscribe to my Substack, where I write most weeks of the month on these same topics: Your Chronic Illness Companion Substack * Follow along on Instagram: @chronicillnesscompanion Instagram * Share this episode with a friend who lives with chronic illness too You are welcome here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chronicillnesscompanion.substack.com
Sep 10

To the Woman Who is Living in a Body That Has Changed Due to Chronic Illness

Living life with a chronic illness can feel very lonely. Each month on my substack, I write a letter from my heart to yours on a specific topic connected to living life with a chronic illness or complex condition. In today’s letter, I discuss the shifts and changes that our bodies experience as we navigate life with a chronic illness. I talk about how these shifts and changes can lead to self-criticism, and how a practice of self-compassion can be important as we navigate these changes. I discuss our sense of worth, and the fact that nothing about the shape or ability of our body, nor what we can do or accomplish, can ever change our worth. In this episode you will find: * An explanation of my series of “Letters from Your Chronic Illness Companion” * Me reading this letter to you * A discussion about grief and the emotional impacts of living in a body that has shifted and changed * A discussion of small steps moving forward, including self-compassion You can find a written version of this letter here. Stay connected: * Subscribe to the podcast so new episodes come straight to you. You can find my podcast here on substack, as well as on Spotify and Apple Podcasts * Subscribe to my Substack, where I write most weeks of the month on these same topics: Your Chronic Illness Companion Substack * Follow along on Instagram: @chronicillnesscompanion Instagram * Share this episode with a friend who lives with chronic illness too You are welcome here. Disclaimer: This substack and podcast, and the posts herein, provide general information and is not meant to be specific advice to any individual situation. These posts and podcast episodes should not be taken as specific medical, psychological, legal, or mental health advice, nor should this be construed as the initiation of a therapeutic client relationship. Though I am a mental health counselor, I am not acting in that capacity here. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose, treat, heal, cure or prevent any illness, medical condition or mental or emotional condition, and it is not a substitute for mental health, physician, or other medical services or counseling. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chronicillnesscompanion.substack.com
Aug 27

Ways to Provide Support to Individuals with Chronic Illness

Today’s podcast is based on my best performing Instagram carousel, which focused on ways that people could provide support to their loved one with chronic illness. This podcast gives an array of ideas to family and friends of those who have a chronic illness of ways to support or walk alongside their loved one. I end by reminding the listeners of the wisdom shared by Henri Nouwen in his book Out of Solitude: “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives meant the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.” In this episode you will find: * Ways that family and friends can support individuals with chronic illness * A conversation about individuals expanding their capacity to sit in uncertainty and pain * How to “build your muscle” of support Articles mentioned in this podcast: * The Psychological Cost of Not Being Believed * When You Cancel Plans (Again) * When the Response is ‘At Least’ * Same Diagnosis, Different Story: Why Chronic Illness Looks Different in Every Body * Learn about Ableism here * What People Need from the People Who Love Them (Instagram post part 1) * What People Need from the People Who Love Them (Instagram post part 2) Stay connected: * Subscribe to the podcast so new episodes come straight to you. You can find my podcast here on substack, as well as on Spotify and Apple Podcasts * Subscribe to my Substack, where I write most weeks of the month on these same topics: Your Chronic Illness Companion Substack * Follow along on Instagram: @chronicillnesscompanion Instagram * Share this episode with a friend who lives with chronic illness too You are welcome here. Thanks for listening to Your Chronic Illness Companion Podcast! This is public so feel free to share it. Disclaimer: This substack and podcast, and the posts herein, provide general information and is not meant to be specific advice to any individual situation. These posts and podcast episodes should not be taken as specific medical, psychological, legal, or mental health advice, nor should this be construed as the initiation of a therapeutic client relationship. Though I am a mental health counselor, I am not acting in that capacity here. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose, treat, heal, cure or prevent any illness, medical condition or mental or emotional condition, and it is not a substitute for mental health, physician, or other medical services or counseling. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chronicillnesscompanion.substack.com
Aug 13

To the Woman Who Has Spent a Lifetime Self-Abandoning

Living life with a chronic illness can feel very lonely. Each month on my substack, I write a letter from my heart to yours on a specific topic connected to living life with a chronic illness or complex condition. In today’s letter, I discuss patterns of self-abandonment, fawning, and people-pleasing. I talk about how these serve as protection for ourselves, and how they impact life with a chronic illness. I discuss small steps forward in overcoming fawning patterns, and remind you what your responsibilities and areas of ownership are as you navigate relationships. In this episode you will find: * An explanation of my series of “Letters from Your Chronic Illness Companion” * Me reading this letter to you * Questions for you to ponder * A discussion of small steps forward in beginning to break the fawning and self-abandonment patterns You can find a written version of this letter here. Stay connected: * Subscribe to the podcast so new episodes come straight to you. You can find my podcast here on substack, as well as on Spotify and Apple Podcasts * Subscribe to my Substack, where I write most weeks of the month on these same topics: Your Chronic Illness Companion Substack * Follow along on Instagram: @chronicillnesscompanion Instagram * Share this episode with a friend who lives with chronic illness too You are welcome here. Disclaimer: This substack and podcast, and the posts herein, provide general information and is not meant to be specific advice to any individual situation. These posts and podcast episodes should not be taken as specific medical, psychological, legal, or mental health advice, nor should this be construed as the initiation of a therapeutic client relationship. Though I am a mental health counselor, I am not acting in that capacity here. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose, treat, heal, cure or prevent any illness, medical condition or mental or emotional condition, and it is not a substitute for mental health, physician, or other medical services or counseling. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chronicillnesscompanion.substack.com
Jul 30

Navigating Chronic Illness Burnout (Podcast)

The weight of living with a chronic illness, and the tasks and demands that come with managing that chronic illness or condition, are immense. This can naturally lead to experiences of burnout, where our “perceived demands outweigh perceived resources” (E Gentry). Our experiences of burnout are often not talked about for a variety of reasons, including that we don’t realize that we are actually experiencing burnout, or because we carry a sense of shame about our experiences. This podcast will explore what chronic illness burnout is, as well as ways that we can help to manage this experience when we hit moments of burnout in our chronic illness journey. In this episode you will find: * An explanation of what healthcare/chronic illness burnout is and what it looks like * What contributes to our experiences of burnout * Ways we can manage burnout * Important reminders and reframes about burnout Stay connected: * Subscribe to the podcast so new episodes come straight to you. You can find my podcast here on substack, as well as on Spotify and Apple Podcasts * Subscribe to my Substack, where I write most weeks of the month on these same topics: Your Chronic Illness Companion Substack * Follow along on Instagram: @chronicillnesscompanion Instagram * Share this episode with a friend who lives with chronic illness too You are welcome here. Disclaimer: This substack and podcast, and the posts herein, provide general information and is not meant to be specific advice to any individual situation. These posts and podcast episodes should not be taken as specific medical, psychological, legal, or mental health advice, nor should this be construed as the initiation of a therapeutic client relationship. Though I am a mental health counselor, I am not acting in that capacity here. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose, treat, heal, cure or prevent any illness, medical condition or mental or emotional condition, and it is not a substitute for mental health, physician, or other medical services or counseling. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chronicillnesscompanion.substack.com
Jul 16

To the Woman Who is Living in a Body That She Didn’t Choose

Living life with a chronic illness can feel very lonely. Each month on my substack, I write a letter from my heart to yours on a specific topic connected to living life with a chronic illness or complex condition. The series of “letters from your chronic illness companion” are written from a place of deep empathy and care, meant to get to the heart of something that so many women experience or struggle with on their chronic illness journey. Living with chronic illness, we often find ourselves living in a body that we wouldn’t have ever chosen for ourselves. This can lead to grief, experiences of unpredictability, or betrayal. This first letter is meant to speak to this specific topic. In this episode you will find: * An explanation of my series of “Letters from Your Chronic Illness Companion” * Me reading this letter to you * A series of questions for you to consider Stay connected: * Subscribe to the podcast so new episodes come straight to you. You can find my podcast here on substack, as well as on Spotify and Apple Podcast * Subscribe to my Substack, where I write most weeks of the month on these same topics: Your Chronic Illness Companion Substack * Follow along on Instagram: @chronicillnesscompanion Instagram * Share this episode with a friend who lives with chronic illness too You are welcome here. Thanks for reading Your Chronic Illness Companion! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Disclaimer: This podcast provides general information and is not meant to be specific advice to any individual situation. These podcast episodes should not be taken as specific medical, psychological, legal, or mental health advice, nor should this be construed as the initiation of a therapeutic client relationship. Though I am a mental health counselor, I am not acting in that capacity here. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose, treat, heal, cure or prevent any illness, medical condition or mental or emotional condition, and it is not a substitute for mental health, physician, or other medical services or counseling. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chronicillnesscompanion.substack.com
Jul 16

Welcome to Your Chronic Illness Companion Podcast

Welcome to the first episode of Your Chronic Illness Companion! If you’re a woman living with a chronic illness and you’ve been looking for a space where your experience is seen and validated, this is for you. I’m Caroline. I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and I’ve also lived with POTS since I was seventeen (diagnosed at eighteen), so I come at this topic from both sides. In this first episode, I introduce myself, share a bit of my own story, and explain what this podcast is going to be: honest conversations about the emotional side of living with chronic illness, along with important tools and insights. On this podcast you will not find toxic positivity, we won’t hold to the belief that we have to “just push through,” there is no pressure to be inspiring, and we won’t be gaslighting ourselves. This podcast is meant to be supportive and informative for real life with a chronic illness or condition. In this episode you will find: * A little about me, my POTS diagnosis, and the 20 years since * Why I created this podcast and who it’s for * What we’ll cover in future episodes (topics like grief, identity, guilt, medical trauma, and self-compassion in low-capacity seasons) Stay connected: * Subscribe to the podcast so new episodes come straight to you. You can find my podcast here on substack, as well as on Spotify and Apple Podcast * Subscribe to my Substack, where I write most weeks of the month on these same topics: Your Chronic Illness Companion Substack * Follow along on Instagram: @chronicillnesscompanion Instagram * Share this episode with a friend who lives with chronic illness too You are welcome here. Thanks for reading Your Chronic Illness Companion! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Disclaimer: This podcast provides general information and is not meant to be specific advice to any individual situation. These podcast episodes should not be taken as specific medical, psychological, legal, or mental health advice, nor should this be construed as the initiation of a therapeutic client relationship. Though I am a mental health counselor, I am not acting in that capacity here. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose, treat, heal, cure or prevent any illness, medical condition or mental or emotional condition, and it is not a substitute for mental health, physician, or other medical services or counseling. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chronicillnesscompanion.substack.com

9 Episodes

Living with chronic illness is hard enough without feeling alone in it. Join me every other week for honest conversations, real stories, and compassionate tools that meet you exactly where you are. chronicillnesscompanion.substack.com

Creator

Caroline Poland
Years Active

2026
Episodes

9
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Caroline Poland
Show Website

Your Chronic Illness Companion Podcast