Podcast Summary
Trauma and Emotional Wellbeing: A traumatic event, like a complicated childbirth, can significantly impact one's emotional wellbeing, leading to self-perception issues and relationship challenges. Healing and recovery are crucial before processing the emotional aspects of the experience, and social media can exacerbate feelings of comparison and inadequacy.
The experience of a traumatic event, such as a complicated childbirth, can leave a lasting impact on an individual's emotional wellbeing. The speaker in this conversation reflects on the loss of her idealized birth experience and the effect it has had on her self-perception and relationships. She shares how she has been focusing on healing and recovery before processing the emotional aspects of her experience. Additionally, she discusses the impact of social media on her feelings of comparison and inadequacy. Despite these challenges, she expresses moments of gratitude and a sense of growth, highlighting the complex and nuanced nature of dealing with trauma and loss. The title of her book, "lucky," raises questions about her perspective on her experience and the role of luck in shaping our lives.
Personal growth from challenges: Embracing challenges can lead to personal growth and resilience, broadening our perspective and preparing us for future challenges. Distinguishing between what truly matters and what doesn't can help us navigate life's ups and downs with greater ease.
Going through challenging experiences, no matter how difficult they may seem, can lead to personal growth and resilience. The speaker shares her own journey of overcoming anxiety and adversity, including health issues, and reflects on how these experiences have broadened her perspective and prepared her for future challenges. She encourages embracing the positives, even in seemingly unfair situations, and learning to let go of unnecessary worries. The process of going through hardships can expand our mental capacity and give us access to a wider range of experiences, even if some of them are unpleasant. It's natural to worry and feel unease, but learning to distinguish between what truly matters and what doesn't can help us navigate life's ups and downs with greater ease.
Personal growth from challenges: Embrace challenges as opportunities for learning and growth, even during difficult experiences like legal matters, work problems, and health issues such as Ulcerative Colitis.
Going through challenging experiences can lead to personal growth and resilience. The speaker shares how she has learned to handle hardships with a new perspective, no longer getting bogged down by small issues. She's been tested recently with legal matters, work problems, and even had to let someone go, which would have been unbearable for her in the past. Now, she welcomes these challenges as opportunities for learning and growth. Additionally, the speaker discusses her experience with Ulcerative Colitis (UC), an inflammatory bowel condition that can affect various parts of the body, including the gut. She was initially unaware of the condition and its symptoms, which can include bleeding from the bum. The speaker encourages open conversations about such health issues to raise awareness and empower those affected or supporting friends and family members with stomas or inflammatory bowel conditions.
Assumptions about health: Assuming good health can lead to dangerous assumptions about not needing medical intervention, potentially delaying diagnosis and treatment of serious health conditions.
Assuming good health and trying to treat health issues holistically without medical intervention can be dangerous. The speaker's experience with undiagnosed colon issues highlights this. After eating something that gave her partner food poisoning, she experienced unusual symptoms including blood in her stool. Despite her initial assumption that she was fine due to her overall good health, her parents urged her to seek medical help. After several colonoscopies, she was diagnosed with moderate osteoporosis and ulcers in her colon. Her immune system was attacking her colon, producing ulcers that could bleed and potentially cause serious harm. The speaker's assumption that her wellness practices would be enough to treat the issue led to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. It's important to remember that good health does not make one invulnerable to serious health conditions and that medical intervention may be necessary.
Mental trauma, seeking medical help: Mental trauma can hinder communication and delay diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of loved ones' support and advocacy in seeking medical care.
Mental trauma and lack of motivation to seek medical help can significantly delay the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions. The speaker's experience with undiagnosed gastrointestinal issues highlights the importance of communication and support from loved ones in seeking medical care. Despite feeling broken and unable to communicate, the speaker was able to speak to doctors when her family intervened, leading to a diagnosis and treatment. However, even after receiving treatment, the speaker faced complications and setbacks, including a reaction to a biologic medication that caused lupus. Overall, the speaker's story underscores the importance of advocating for one's health and seeking help, even when it feels difficult or overwhelming.
Trauma Recovery: Persist in finding treatments, even after improvement, and seek compassionate healthcare professionals for emotional support during challenging times.
Recovering from trauma and health issues can be a long and complex journey. The speaker shares her experience of dealing with birth trauma, mental health challenges, and inflammatory bowel disease, which required various medications and frequent hospital visits. Despite some improvement, she experienced a relapse, which was unexpected after two years. She emphasizes the importance of persistence and trying different treatments until what works is found. The speaker also highlights the significance of compassionate healthcare professionals who can provide emotional support during difficult times. Ultimately, she encourages the belief that even after a challenging experience, it's possible to have a positive medical encounter that can help replace a negative memory.
UC surgery decision: Individuals with chronic illnesses like UC must weigh potential risks and benefits before deciding on major surgery, and seek multiple opinions to make informed decisions.
When living with a chronic illness like Ulcerative Colitis (UC), the decision to undergo major surgery, such as total removal of the large bowel (colectomy), can be a difficult one. The individual in this discussion had experienced numerous setbacks and flare-ups, leading to malnutrition and dehydration. Despite initial hesitation due to fear of the surgery and stoma, the urgency to regain control of her life and health led her to make the decision. The benefits of the surgery include eliminating the risk of ostetricitis and bowel cancer in the affected area, and potentially achieving a cure for the bowel effects of UC. It's important for individuals with chronic illnesses to make informed decisions, seek multiple opinions, and consider the potential risks and benefits before undergoing major surgery.
Major Surgery Recovery: Major surgery recovery involves physical pain, emotional challenges, and a long process of regaining mobility and appearance, requiring patience, resilience, and a strong support system.
Undergoing major surgery can be a complex and challenging experience, even with the best preparation and care. For the speaker, who had a history of bleeding issues, the extra precautions taken by the medical team were reassuring, but the recovery process was long and difficult. The physical pain was intense, and the emotional challenge came from not recognizing her own body post-surgery. Despite the initial relief and euphoria of making it through the procedure, she faced a few months of recovery with a liquid diet, limited mobility, and a significant change in her appearance. It's essential to remember that while major surgeries can save lives or improve quality of life, they also require patience, resilience, and a strong support system during the recovery process.