The Chronic Comeback

In this episode, I speak to Nicola Packman. Nicola was just 25 when she was diagnosed with MS/multiple sclerosis, after the onset of a series of symptoms including going fully blind in one eye. After her world came crashing down, she suffered her rock bottom where at times she questioned if she wanted to continue living with her condition. But she decided to challenge the expectation her diagnosis had put on her, take her health and wellbeing into her own hands, and used nutrition and the power of the belief in her own healing to achieve remission from MS. Nicola is now in the best health (both mental and physical) of her life and lives a fully symptom-free life.

- Nicola's childhood and life before her health deteriorated
- The onset of Nicola's symptoms, including fatigue, pins & needles, burning sensations etc, and how it took her going fully blind in one eye to go and see the doctor
- Her experience of getting diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
- The two years following Nicola's diagnosis and how this was the darkest period of her life
- How Nicola had 5 relapses in 18 months
- The turning point for Nicola, and how she shifted her mindset to not only want to not get worse, but to want to actually get better. 
- The body's ability to heal itself, and how these realisations were the start of Nicola's healing. 
- Nicola's lifestyle now, and how she is living fully symptom-free. 
- The role of nutrition in healing, and how food is medicine. 
- The importance in finding gratitude in every situation.
- Nicola's advice to others who may be newly diagnosed or going through a dark period with their health now. 

FOLLOW NICOLA
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_wellness_kitchen
▶ Website - www.thewellnesskitchen.info

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicComeback
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechroniccomeback

FOLLOW THE PODCAST
▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chronic-comeback/id1533970626
▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI9o4JPPkg1IpmDaX?si=9d01acef0627400d

Remember, the comeback is always greater than the setback 💪💪💪

#thechroniccomeback  #ms #multiplesclerosisawareness  #multiplesclerosisfighter #multiplesclerosis #healingispossible  ##recoveryispossible #chronicillness  #chronicfatigue #chronicfatiguesyndrome #cfs #nutritionfacts

In this episode, I talk about my recent mushroom retreat in Jamaica and the realisations and lessons I took from it. I also give a bit of a life update at the start about where I'm at with my health, the various things I'm working on at the moment and some changes I want to make. 

In this episode, I speak to Bianca Michele. Bianca is an Author, Motivational Speaker, Podcast Host, health, mindset, and reiki practitioner. Her mission is to remind others of their inner power and the root causes of any imbalances within their health, mind, body, and soul to find balance and harmony.

In this episode she tells her story of overcoming Lyme disease, CIRS, Mold toxicity, mast cell activation, POTS and more, and the many realisations she has had along the way.

- How Bianca became symptomatic aged 21 with heavy fatigue, brain dog, neck ache, sensitivity etc and her many misgiagnoses
- Bianca's experience of getting tested for lyme disease, and the difficulties surrounding this
- Bianca's experience with hypothermia at a clinic in Malaysia
- How Bianca developed mold illness and had to move out of her home into a tent at her parents house and how this initially helped her
- How Bianca developed mast cell activation syndrome, and other health issues she was confronted by
- Bianca's discovery of The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne and how this started to change her outlook on life
- Bianca's life-changing experience seeing an energy healer and how this led to inner child work, and doing EMDR therapy
- Bianca's time frame from sick through her recovery
- How her relationship with her symptoms changed, and she gradually experienced them less
- How her chronic illness has affected the realationships in her life
- Bianca's advice for others going through chronic illness now
- Bianca's book, 'It Happened For Me' and how you can reach out to her

REFERENCES
▶ The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne
▶ Bianca Michelle 's book 'It Happened For Me' was released just this week, and if you order the book from Amazon in the first week of publishing send a screenshot to biancasholisticway@hotmail.com, you'll receive a FREE BONUS Modality booklet and retraining video!

PURCHASE HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645598100
https://www.biancasholisticway.com/it-happened-for-me

FOLLOW BIANCA
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/biancasholisticway
▶ Website - www.biancasholisticway.com

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicCom
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechroniccomeback

FOLLOW THE PODCAST
▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chronic-comeback/id1533970626
▶ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_BGsN1LaeL4iudgSNUw7A
▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI9o4JPPkg1IpmDaX?si=ed48b5cefa0e43b2

Remember, the comeback is always greater than the setback 💪💪💪

#thechroniccomeback  #chronicillness  #podcast #biancamichele #mindbodyhealing #traumahealing #recoverystory  #recoveryispossible #fibromyalgia #pots #chronicfatigue #chronicfatiguesyndrome #cfs #lymedisease #lymewarrior #mastcellactivationsyndrome #mastcellactivation #healingispossible

In this week's episode, I'm joined by Sarah Harvey, a Bodymind & Metaphysics Coach, who shares her amazing story of making a full recovery, after suffering for almost 10 years with over 200 chronic symptoms. We discuss how humans have an innate ability to heal, the role trauma plays in chronic illness, the blocks people can have to healing, shifts in mindset and how you view your symptoms, and the importance of not waiting until you are healed to live your life (because that's all part of the healing.) 

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Episode Intro by Phil
1:10 - Intro to Sarah and her story, from when she left home at 15 to getting so sick she was bed bound, to being full recovered now
6:50 - The symptoms Sarah was experiencing and her search for diagnosis and treatment
11:33 - Sarah's discovery of ayuvedic philosophy, and Louise Hay's work, and how this led her to discover the link between trauma and chronic health
14:11 - Sarah’s upbringing and her home life, and the events that led her to leaving home at 15
16:36 - Phil’s recent Psilocybin retreat and some realisations he had in it
18:22 - The importance of accountability without self-blame and judgement and criticism.
20:33 - Sarah’s experience of being homeless at age 15
23:34 The link between trauma and chronic illness, and breaking down the definition of what ’trauma’ is 
25:53 - How Sarah now perceives her symptoms and the shift into having a different relationship with your body and seeing it as your friend
27:25 - How healing is happening, and the process of inviting yourself to heal and looking at any fears around this
32:00 - How healing is an ongoing process and can relate to all parts of your life, and the importance of living your life WHILE you’re healing, not waiting to heal.  
39:35 - How taking steps to healing, whether it’s investing money or time etc, is progress in itself, as it’s telling your inner self you’re worth it
46:31 - Sarah’s tip for one thing you can do to start your healing journey (for free)
48:54 - How her chronic illness has affected Sarah’s relationships
51:59 - Sarah’s advice to people struggling with their health at the moment and struggling to know they can heal

References:
Louise Hay: "You Can Heal Your Life"
Louise Hay: "Heal Your Body"
Louise Hay: "The Power Is Within You"

FOLLOW SARAH
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iamsarahharvey

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicCo...
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechronicc...

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...
▶ YouTube -  @thechroniccomeback  
▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI...

Remember, the comeback is always greater than the setback 💪💪💪

#thechroniccomeback  #chronicillness  #podcast #sarahharvey #mindbodyhealing #traumahealing #recoverystory  #recoveryispossible #fibromyalgia #pots #chronicfatigue #chronicfatiguesyndrome #cfs #ibs

In this episode, I'm joined by Lindsay Vine, who shares her story of her experience of ME/CFS. We discuss the ups and downs of her health and how she navigated through her healing journey.

Lindsay is an ME/CFS Recovery Program Navigator, helping people with ME/CFS, Long Covid, and other nervous system sensitivity disorders determine their best path to recovery, and supporting them along the way.

Lindsay got ME/CFS at the end of 2015 after completing her Masters Degree in Public Health. She was getting infection after infection and finally her body just crashed. She continued to push herself, working as a health research facilitator and conducting health programs evaluation work until she simply couldn’t do it anymore. It took Lindsay 5 years to find all the right tools and gain the knowledge needed for recovery and now she shares this knowledge through her work and through her podcast Post Viral.

TIMESTAMPS

00.00 - Intro, Lindsay's health story, and the issues she dealt with in her 20s
5:49 - The onset of Lindsay’s chronic symptoms 
9:35  - Lindsay’s ME CFS diagnosis
10:55 - Lindsay’s trip to Thailand, and how she came across brain retraining practices 12:20 - Lindsay’s move to Vancouver in the hope of healing in nature 
8.04 - Loneliness and isolation, and how this can impact your health 
15.50 - Lindsay’s major crash and her rock bottom moments 
18:15 - Her experience of the CFS Health program and how this started her path to healing again 
19:30 - How Lindsay’s friends helped with her healing and encouraged her to go back to Vancouver
22:45 - How healing can be gradual, and how setbacks can happen but they don’t have to be so scary
27:00 - Pushing your boundaries with healing, and how a little of this is required. 
29:15 - Lindsay’s programs guide and how it can help people find the right program for them 
31:40 - Polyvagal work and the role this can play in recovery
33:50 - Nervous system and trauma work, and the role this can play in healing 
36:00 - How the number and variety of programs and potential methods of recovery can be overwhelming, but how different programs cater to different personality types and needs
46:33 - How Lindsay’s life is different now, as a result of her ME CFS 
49:04 - Lindsay’s advice to others suffering with chronic health issues 

FOLLOW LINDSAY HERE  
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cfsprograms_navigator
▶ Website - https://www.lindsayvine.com/

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicComeback
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechroniccomeback

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-chronic-comeback/id1533970626
▶ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_BGsN1LaeL4iudgSNUw7A
▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI9o4JPPkg1IpmDaX

#lindsayvine #podcasting #healing #chronicfatigue #healingcfs #cfsrecovery  #chronichealth #chronicillness #thechroniccomeback #cfs #me #recoverystory 

In this episode, I'm joined by Rachael Elizabeth, also known as "Ribeye Rach" on Instagram. This podcast episode has been a long-time coming - we’ve been trying to arrange it for almost a year now! And interestingly, back when Rachael first found my podcast and we started speaking, she was in a totally different place with her recovery compared to now, so maybe that was the universe at work! 

Rachael was always an avid rock climber and athlete, but in 2016 her health rapidly deteriorated, and she was diagnosed with dysautonomia, ehlers-danlos syndrome, chair malformation, craniocervical instability, tethered cord syndrome, intracranial hypertension, gastroparesis, adrenal insufficiency, chronic Lyme disease and much more. 

After various treatments and surgeries and no improvement, Rachael was still in “a living hell”, and she hit her lowest point in 2020 when she was essentially bed-bound, having seizures and in a wheelchair. 

Starting a Lyme disease treatment protocol brought her out of her bed bound phase, but it was when she found alternative ways of healing that her healing accelerated, changing her life.  Through brain retraining, DNRS and living by a carnivore diet, she is now able to live her life again. 

In this conversation, Rachael tells her amazing story and we discuss brain retraining, the power of timing, the distinction between wanting to heal and being ready to heal, the importance of belief in your recovery, and how different treatments work for different people.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - Intro
1:33 - Rachael's childhood and upbringing 
1:56 - When Rachael's health started deteriorating, and the many conditions and syndromes she was diagnosed with
12:53 - How Rachael started considering looking at alternative methods of healing and nervous system regulation
15:11 - Rachael’s introduction to the carnivore diet  
16:24 Starting prolotherapy treatments and finding DNRS brain retraining, which was a turning point in Rachael’s recovery
17:40 Phil’s experience of the carnivore diet 
19:51 The importance of timing in recovery, and how Rachael had come across DNRS 5 years before she started it
21:50 - The timeline of Rachael’s recovery 
25:32 - Rachael’s progression, from wheelchair to walking, over the past two years 
27.45 - How everything is linked to the nervous system, and how there are so many different ways to regulate the nervous system, and how it looks different for everyone 
30:11 - How when you’ve had so much failure before, you co etc expect that each thing you try won’t work
31.00 - Phil and Rachael’s experience of putting so much pressure on each treatment to work and the desperation to find something to help them heal
32:34 - The importance of believing you’ll recover and surrounding yourself with success stories
39:01 - Where Rachael is at now with her healing
42:25 - How it can sometimes be hard to share your recovery when in the midst of it
43:43 - Finding the gratitude in your journey, and how Rachael now appreciates the little things in life
45:34 - Rachael’s advice to others going through the same right now  

FOLLOW RACHAEL HERE 
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ribeyerach

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicComeback
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechroniccomebackSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-chronic-comeback/id1533970626
▶ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_BGsN1LaeL4iudgSNUw7A
▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI9o4JPPkg1IpmDaX

#ribeyerach #podcasting #healing #chronicfatigue #fibromyalgia #lymedisease #chronichealth #chronicillness #thechroniccomeback #cfs #me #recoverystory #dysautonomia dysautonomia

In this special episode, I'm joined by Chazmith Newton,  host of the Our Power Is Within podcast. Chazmith and I both started our podcasts around the same time and have done over 100 episodes each, and so we decided to come together and share the key insights, lessons and takeaways that we've gained from speaking to the many guests that have been on our shows. There are many synergies to our stories and how our podcasts came about, so it was great to come together and have this conversation.

In this episode, we discuss each of our situations regarding  our own health and how our podcasts first came about, and our shared experience surrounding how hearing success stories of people recovering can be both inspirational but also triggering, and how we've had to navigate that in doing our podcasts. We also discuss the many modalities that our guests have had recovered with, including somatic tracking, brain retraining, breathwork, etc.  We discuss the importance of having faith in divine timing, cultivating a belief that you will recover, learning to trust your body again,  seeking support, and trying to find gratitude within your journey to health. 

FOLLOW CHAZMITH HERE
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ourpoweriswithin
▶ Website -https://www.ourpoweriswithin.com

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicComeback
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechroniccomeback

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-chronic-comeback/id1533970626
▶ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_BGsN1LaeL4iudgSNUw7A
▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI9o4JPPkg1IpmDaX

#ourpoweriswithin #chazmithnewton #podcasting #healing #chronicfatigue #fibromyalgia #lymedisease #chronichealth #chronicillness #thechroniccomeback #cfs #me #recoverystory

In this episode we have Kimberly Harter. Kimberly's health first became a problem in her life when she suffered an anaphylactic shock in 2006, which she later found out was due to Lyme, which she was later diagnosed with. This set off a worsening of many symptoms for Kimberley, leaving her in extreme pain, bed-ridden, with extreme sensitivities and a very limited diet. 

What followed were many ups and downs in her recovery journey, and it was through a whole host of techniques surrounding mindset, including brain retraining, breathwork techniques, cold therapy etc that she finally started seeng improvements, leading her to make huge changes in her life, including become a white water raft instructor and starting her own business. 

In this episode, Kimberly shares many insights she has had over the course of her recovery journey, and we discuss the importance of finding joy and play in your recovery, how powerful change can be and the importance of not becoming identified with being "sick." 

0:00 - Intro
01:05 - Kimberly’s first turning point in her health when she had an anyphalactic shock in 2006
05:39 - Kimberly’s diagnosis of Lyme disease 
08:03 - The treatments Kimberly went on
08:44 - How her body reacted to these treatments  and how this resulted in an emergency surgery
09:18 - Turning to naturopathic versions of treatment and the many things Kimberly tried
11:01 - Going to a treatment centre in Arizona for 15 weeks 
11:37 - How after initially feeling some improvement, Kimberly had a bad crash 
14:30 - How Kimberly was told it must be in her head or she must be exaggerating her symptoms
15:41 - How Kimberly came across brain retraining in 2017 and her initial scepticism 
16:40 - Kimberly’s experience with stem cell treatment and how it positively impacted her vision
18:15 - Kimberly’s experience with brain retraining 
18:41 - How Kimberly also started implanting cold therapy and breath work
20:04 - Kimberly’s change in mindset, and how things started to turn around for her and her health 
20:16 - Kimberly’s experience with mold
24:06 - How long it took for things to shift once Kimberly started feeling better
25:26 - How Kimberly became a white water raft guide, and how this big change in her life was key to her recovery 
32:13 - How recovery can be slow, and how Kimberley dropped a lot of her practices when she moved away but how this didn’t negatively impact her health, and actually reinforced that she was not a “sick person.”
38:35 - Phil’s experience with Primal trust, and the importance of finding joy in your day
39:57 - The importance of play in neutroplasticity
48:39 - How Kimberly wouldn’t trade the years she lost to illness, because of the positive changes it has brought about in her life 
54.44 - Kimberly’s advice to others going through chronic health issues now 

FOLLOW KIMBERLY
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kimbers.new.frequency

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicCo...
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechronicc...

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...
▶ YouTube -  @thechroniccomeback  
▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI...

Remember, the comeback is always greater than the setback 💪💪💪

#thechroniccomeback  #chronicillness  #podcast #kimberlyharter #mindbodyhealing #brainretraining ##recoverystory  #recoveryispossible #neuroplasticity

In today's podcast, I talk about how I've been feeling lately health wise, what things are helping me and some of the setbacks I've experienced too. I also cover some of the things I've got coming up over the next month or so.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro
5:36 My current relationship with exercise and how it’s serving my recovery 
6:42 Setbacks and progressions
6:52 My recent body fat percentage results and the markers it provides on inflammation, toxicity etc
14:05 How I’ve been feeling generally and dealing with living in mold and how that’s affected me 
18:44 My recent breath work retreat, and how this combined with changing my environment and getting out of mold had an almost instant affect on how I felt 
22:37 My current meal plans 
24:07 My struggles with my morning routine and how I need to improve on this 
24:54 Trying to get to the next level of progression with my health
27:00 What’s coming up for me the month, where I’ll be and what I’ll be doing
27:30 An upcoming mushroom retreat I’m doing in Jamaica - why I’m doing this and what I’m looking to get from it 
29:32 Changing up my routine and environment, and how this is needed along with a balance of stability 
30:20 How I feel much better leaving Bali than I did last Summer when I had fears around going back to London and if this could affect my recovery
32:07 Getting my CD 57 markers tested again 
34:07 Some thoughts around mindset and the comments I come across on my YouTube channel

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicCo...

▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechronicc...

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...

▶ YouTube -  @thechroniccomeback  

▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI...

Remember, the comeback is always greater than the setback 💪💪💪

#thechroniccomeback  #chronicillness  #podcast  #recoverystory

In this episode, I am excited to have Dr. Phil Parker, creator of The Lightning Process. The Lightning Process is a training programme that teaches people about the way the nervous system control the body, and empowers people with tools that involve gentle movement, meditation-like techniques and mental exercises, with the aim of teaching people how to switch on pathways to promote health and switch off the ones that are not serving you. 

In this episode, Phil and I discuss how the Lightning process started and developed, and what it is and what it involves, and practical ways you can incorporate the Lightning Process into your daily life. We also discuss the mind-body connection, and the importance of believing that recovery IS possible, and exposing yourself to positive recovery stories so that this becomes your inner conversation. We also cover the obstacles that could stand in people's way to recovery, perfectionism and how your inner critic can contribute to keeping you sick.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - Intro
1:36 - Phil Parker’s life-changing accident and how this led him to discover the mind body connection
6:11 - Being told that recovery isn’t possible and the consequence of those kind of statements 
7:19 - How Phil started working with people Chronic fatigue and ME 
8:38 - How that led to the beginning of The Lightning Process and how it helped people with chronic fatigue
9:03 - How this then led to working with people with ME
10.48 - The Lightning Process and what it is and a breakdown of what it involves
15:48 - Neuroplasticity and how you can use this in recovery
16:45 - What are the obstacles that may hold someone back from recovering with something like the Lightning Process?
21:58 - How it’s about finding that ‘stuckness’ and how to move past that
23:35 - Perfectionism and your inner critic, and how the Lightning Process encourages coaching yourself compassionately 
26:01 - How you can integrate The Lightning Process into your day 
27:41 - The Lightning Process as an in-person process, and how it translates to online/zoom
33:14 - How important is the belief that recovery is possible?
41:31 - How disheartening it can be when you’ve tried a lot of things to get better and haven’t recovered yet, and how it’s important not to lose trust
42:23 - How the Lightning Process is a training programme, and therefore works by teaching people the skills that other people have found useful, and supporting people through that
45:19 - The Lightning Process success rates
49:29 - How applicable the Lightning Process is to a range of different chronic conditions 
54:13 - Phil’s advice for someone who is progressing but is doing so slowly and is struggling to keep up the motivation
55:04 - How it’s so important to be seeking out inspirational stories and recovery stories, to bolster the belief that recovery is possible
59:16 - Phil’s advice to those in their darkest hours right now
01:01:48 - Letting go of the idea that recovery has to be complicated

FOLLOW PHIL PARKER
▶ Website - https://lightningprocess.com/
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lightningprocess
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drphilparker

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicComeback
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechroniccomeback

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-chronic-comeback/id1533970626
▶ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_BGsN1LaeL4iudgSNUw7A
▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI9o4JPPkg1IpmDaX

Remember, the comeback is always greater than the setback 💪💪💪

#thechroniccomeback  #chronicillness  #podcast #philparker #lightningprocess  #thelightningprocess #mindbodyconnection #mindbodyhealing #brainretraining #lightningprocess  #recoverystory  #rec

In this episode, we have Alexandra Marynczak. Alex's health started deteriorating in her late teens, leaving her bedbound for most of her early 20s. After her own research led to a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue, she set about looking for positive recovery stories and it was through a mix of brain retraining programs, Faster EFT and diet that she restored her health, and she now helps others recover too as a Mind Body Therapist and Holistic Health Coach.

0:00 - Intro
2:15 - Alex’s childhood and the development of her symptoms in high school
10:28 - Alex’s experience with doctors and the medical system at the time, and how she was misdiagnosed with depression and anxiety 
14:07 - How being ill was a blessing in disguise for Alex as it made her reevaluate the ways her life was out of alignment in so many ways
15:26 - When Alex finally got a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome
18:43 - The danger of being told you’ll never recover and that you'll need to live with your condition
20:22 - How Alex went about researching ways to overcome her condition and the alternative treatments she tried, and the many crashes she had
24:42 - How Alex would seek out recovery stories when feeling deflated
26:25 - The limiting belief that there’s something different with you, and that’s why you won’t recover
28:02 - The Gupta program and how it was the first thing that clicked for Alex
29:45 - How the Gupta program works to rewire your nervous system to a sense of safety
30:59 - The importance of getting in touch with what is causing you a sense of stress and how you are living out of alignment with yourself
32:43 - How Alex experimented with DNRS
32:02 - Faster EFT, and how a session with Ilka Oster changed things for Alex
34:44 - The ACE Study and the effect adverse childhood experiences can have on your health
36:08 - How finding Faster EFT and using this to rewire her nervous system was a breakthrough for Alex 
37:07 - The link between trauma and chronic health, and how trauma can be something you don’t necessarily remember
37:43 - Alex’s first session of Faster EFT and how this immediately made her look into the patterns that had manifested in her life and make some changes for the better
39:07 - How long it took Alex to feel improvements in her health
40:00 - The physical body being a representation of the unconscious mind
 44:40 - How Faster EFT helped Alex reframe her symptoms by looking at what they were trying to tell her
47:43 - How you use tapping, and how Faster EFT is different to traditional EFT
50:37 - The time it took for Alex to recover, and how recovery can be a long process with setbacks along the way
54:30 - Trying to not allow fear to play into your decisions or stop you doing things in life
59:31 - The importance of taking care of the basic pillars of health
01:02:30 - The positive changes that Alex’s illness has brought about in her life
01:07:50 - Alex’s advice to others out there suffering how she was in her early 20s

FOLLOW ALEX HERE

▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/healwithalex

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicComeback
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechroniccomeback

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-chronic-comeback/id1533970626
▶ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_BGsN1LaeL4iudgSNUw7A
▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI9o4JPPkg1IpmDaX

#healwithalex #chronicfatigue #chronicillness #chronichealth #recoverystory #thechroniccomeback #comebackstories 

This episode is the third and final episode of a mini series where I talk to three people who have been helping me bring about changes in three key areas - movement, sleep and breath.

In this episode I talk with Breathwork facilitator, Satori Clarke. Satori is Head of Research at Breathwork Bali, and Co-Founder of it's BreathLab, and I've been working with her doing one-to-one Breathwork sessions for the last 8 months of so. I've found it a really beneficial practice for me in many ways, including helping me learn to regulate and trust my nervous system, and allowing me to tap into states of rest and relaxation that I struggle to access otherwise. 

In this episode, we discuss breath and its power to change the way the nervous system functions, which can in turn alter which parts of our brain and more online.  Satori explains how when we bring conscious awareness to our breath, it will begin to re-pattern our body and how it functions, and the more that we practice it, the more our body will access it unconsciously.

Satori talks me through the different diaphragms we have in our body that assist breathing, and we also discuss various different breathing techniques (cadence breathing, conscious connected breathing, Holotropic breathing etc) and the benefits and states each one can bring about. We also discuss the importance of rest and relaxation and how Breathwork can tap into this by regulating the nervous system, by training it to safely activate and de-activate. 

0:00 - Intro
1:39 - Why breath is one of the most underrated areas to focus on in health?
4:10 - Rapid breathing and hyperventilation disorder, and how your unconscious breathing patterns could be causing you problems
5:45 - The three diaphragms of breath, and how breathing correctly and consciously can increase blood flow and help organs function better
7:00 - Cadence breathing - what it is and the impact practicing it can have 
8:00 - Wim Hof breathing (holotropic Breathwork) 
9:26 - Conscious connected Breathwork and how it differs to Holotropic Breathwork
11:29 - How conscious connected Breathwork can help create nervous system regulation, teaching it to go into intensity, and then come down and rest and recover. 
12:05 - How our culture creates a sense of stress and constant “doing” and the importance of rest and relaxation, and how Breathwork can help with this
12:55 - My experience when I first discovered Breathwork and my early takeaways from the practice 
14:55 - My breath and Satori’s observations of how this has changed over the course of time we’ve been working together 
16.15 - My experience in learning to trust my nervous system, and how this has been powerful for me 
22.40 - “Highly dis-regulated” nervous systems and what this means
26:28 - What a ‘breath journey’ is 
29:13 - Emotion as energy, and how Breathwork and nervous system activation can help this move through the body 
35:34 - How Breathwork can help dial down the prefrontal cortex, allowing emotions to emerge. 
40:10 - My experience of putting my trust in my nervous system, and how breathwork has helped me on my chronic health journey. 
47:14 - The importance of being properly supported in breathwork (not being guided virtually/online)
51:37 - Cadence breathing as an starting point for those without access to a facilitator, and its benefits 
56:13 - Satori’s work with Breath Lab, at Breathwork Bali, and their research 

REFERENCES:
▶ "Breath", by James Nester
▶ "When The Body Says No" by Gabor Mate

FOLLOW SATORI CLARKE
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/satoriclarke 

FOLLOW BREATHLAB
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/breath.lab

US ON SOCIAL
▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicCo...
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechronicc...&n

This episode is the second of a mini series where I talk to three people who have been helping me bring about changes in three key areas - movement, sleep and breath. In this episode I chat with Sleep Coach, Gary J Allman, owner of Sleep & Perform, who I worked with last year to help me commit to getting my sleep in order and to hold me accountable to those simple sleep hygiene habits that we all know we should be doing but are hard to be consistent with. 

Sleep is one of the key pillars of health, and it’s so important to be prioritising it when battling chronic issues and trying to optimise health.

In this conversation, we speak about how DNA can affect your sleep, the difference between REM and Deep sleep, and the role that consistent sleep and wake times, nutrition, and hydration play in regulating your circadian rhythms and melatonin production, and why this is so important. Gary also shares numerous sleep optimisation tips, and shares his wisdom answering some of the questions you sent in. 

REFERENCES:

▶ Andrew Huberman - https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab

▶ Chris McFadden - https://www.instagram.com/thedaddysleepconsultant

▶ ‘Why We Sleep’ by Matthew Walker

FOLLOW GARY ALLMAN
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/garyjallman

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicComeback
▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechroniccomeback

FOLLOW AND SUPPORT THE PODCAST
▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-chronic-comeback/id1533970626
▶ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_BGsN1LaeL4iudgSNUw7A
▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI9o4JPPkg1IpmDaX

Remember, the comeback is always greater than the setback 💪💪💪
#thechroniccomeback  #chronicillness  #chronichealth #sleepcoach #garyjallman  #healthoptimisation #sleepandperform

This episode is the first of a mini series where I’ll be talking to three people who have been helping me in three key areas - movement, sleep and breath. 

In this episode I chat with my trainer Jonson, Co-founder and Head Coach of Nirvana Strength here in Canggu, Bali. I started working with Jonson approximately 14 months ago, and as you may have seen from my posts, when we started working together we were doing the smallest of exercises, to slowly increase my mobility and strength, and more importantly, to build up my confidence in my own bodies ability to move and recover. 

In this conversation, we talk about how Jonson and I have worked together over the last year, how things have progressed for me both in terms of physicality but also mindset, when to know how to push and how to hold back, and flare ups and how they are all part of the process.

FOLLOW JONSON TAN

▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jonsontan

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicComeback

▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechroniccomeback

FOLLOW AND SUPPORT THE PODCAST

▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-chronic-comeback/id1533970626

▶ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_BGsN1LaeL4iudgSNUw7A

▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI9o4JPPkg1IpmDaX

Remember, the comeback is always greater than the setback 💪💪💪

#thechroniccomeback  #chronicillness  #nirvanastrength #jonsontan #brainretraining  #theimportanceofmovement #prehab

In today’s episode, we have Perry Nickelston, aka 'The Lymph Doc'. Perry is a Chiropractic Physician who, after experiencing issues with his own health and autoimmune system, educated himself on ways to overcome pain and other chronic symptoms.

In our conversation, we dive deep on how blood flow (circulatory system) and lymph flow (the lymphatic system) are fundamental to good health and overcoming chronic pain, and how the pillars of nutrients, hydration, detoxification, breathing and sleep are vital in overcoming chronic health issues. Perry also explains how all the bodily systems work in accordance with each other, and that an understanding of this is vital in terms of recovering from chronic issues. We also discuss how diagnoses can sometimes become a self-fulfilling prophecy, stress & the fight or flight response, and how emotional triggers that can underlie chronic illness.

Perry also kindly demonstrates his self-massage technique for lymphatic draining and detoxification to me.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro
1:04 Perry’s chronic health story
5:39 How he learnt about the concepts and techniques that helped him recover
6:46 How Perry began to look at the bodily systems working together
11:11 John Sarno’s work and how Perry’s work relates
13:50 Decreased blood flow and how this affects your body
15:25 The fight or flight response, and how this is subconscious
16:45 Perry’s thoughts on over treatment and going the other way and leaning into the fear/inaction
18:15 Pain and how a diagnosis can sometimes be a self-fulfilling prophecy
21:11 The importance in looking at the whole body as a whole when treating illness and pain
22:20 The importance of nutrients and minerals
24:19 The role of oxygen and the importance of breathing correctly
25:32 The system of ingesting and absorbing nutrients and the importance of doing the simple things right
28:16 Waste and importance of the detoxification system
31:36 The important in doing things in the right order to support the healthy function of your body’s processes
33:40 What would be the first step with someone who struggles with the typical things that are meant to calm your nervous system eg meditation
37:40 How awareness is the first step
43:52 How Perry looks at emotional pain as well as how the pain is manifesting in the body, as they are inextricably linked
46:10 Breaking down the words ‘cure’ and ‘manage’ and Perry’s thought surrounding these
51:44 Detoxification and how to know when doing it correctly
58:43 Perry’s step by step checklist he does with his patients
1:02:34 Ways to support your lymphatic system to detoxify
1:08:28 Perry’s guide to self-massage for lymphatic draining
1:23:56 Perry’s courses and how you can work with him

FOLLOW PERRY NICKELSTON

▶ Website- https://www.stopchasingpain.com/

▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stopchasingpain

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicComeback

▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechroniccomeback

FOLLOW AND SUPPORT THE PODCAST

▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-chronic-comeback/id1533970626

▶ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_BGsN1LaeL4iudgSNUw7A

▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI9o4JPPkg1IpmDaX

Remember, the comeback is always greater than the setback 💪💪💪

#thechroniccomeback  #chronicillness  #podcast #perrynickelson #lymphaticsystem  #stopchasingpain

In this episode, I speak to Luanne Hopkinson about her chronic health issues and how she overcame them.

Luanne suffered for decades from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), heartburn, eczema, anxiety, food intolerance and hormone issues, manifesting in chronic issues such as anxiety, heartburn, bloating, abdominal cramps, nausea, histamine intolerance, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and ME/CFS.

After years of suffering, and a crash when she hit her 40s, she began on a path of investigating how she could heal herself, and through meditation,  brain retraining and learning about her gut health and intolerances, she was able to promote her own body's natural healing processes and restore her health. She now works as a nutritional medical practitioner, helping others improve their health in the same way, as well as supporting the use of  diet and supplementation where necessary.


FOLLOW LUANNE HOPKINSON

▶ Website - https://luannehopkinson.com/

▶ Instagram - @happy_without_histamine


FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicComeback

▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechroniccomeback


FOLLOW AND SUPPORT THE PODCAST

▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-chronic-comeback/id1533970626

▶ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_BGsN1LaeL4iudgSNUw7A

▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI9o4JPPkg1IpmDaX



Remember, the comeback is always greater than the setback 💪💪💪

#thechroniccomeback  #chronicillness  #chronichealth #brainretraining #histamineallergy  #guthealth #ibs

In today's podcast, I talk about some of my recent thoughts and realisations that I've had on my own recovery journey.

0:00 Intro
0:33 My thoughts surrounding sleep
3:02 Flare ups and crashes, and the importance of not giving up
3:58 Rebuilding your trust in your body and knowing that progress isn’t linear
9:40 Embracing my masculine side whilst still trying to cultivate feminine energy too
17:09 Giving up the need to be perfect, and thoughts surrounding supplements
22:43 Knowing when to let go if things aren’t serving you
28:29 Trying not to identify with your diagnosis, by focusing on the bigger picture
31:27 Key (and free!) things to focus on to help your health
33:16 Changing my environment and how it’s helped me
35:25 Believing that recovery is not just possible, but it’s inevitable
37:52 What’s next for me

REFRENCES

▶ Dr. Dan Ratner - @crushingdoubt
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1386310/11950836-dr-dan-ratner-explains-how-removing-doubt-is-the-key-to-recovering-from-chronic-pain.mp3?download=true

▶ Dr. Cathleen King - @primaltrust_official
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1386310/10086184-going-in-depth-with-dr-cathleen-king-her-20-years-journey-with-chronic-illness.mp3?download=true

▶ Julie Morin - @juliewithjoy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1386310/9272745-julie-s-long-journey-of-what-she-thought-was-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-me-cfs-and-lyme-disease.mp3?download=true


FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicComeback

▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechroniccomeback

FOLLOW AND SUPPORT THE PODCAST

▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-chronic-comeback/id1533970626

▶ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_BGsN1LaeL4iudgSNUw7A

▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI9o4JPPkg1IpmDaX


Remember, the comeback is always greater than the setback 💪💪💪

#thechroniccomeback  #chronicillness  #podcast  #chronicrecoverystories #chronichealth

In this episode, we have Dr Dan Ratner.

After Dan's profound, life-changing experience resolving his own chronic pain, he has since become a leading expert in the field, curing hundreds of pain sufferers with both scientific and logical methods. In recent years, he used his experience and education in mind body issues to teach people about the mind body process, and now provides a short-term consultation model that has extensive success curing pain in 4-8 sessions.

His podcast, Crushing Doubt, discusses such treatments and how to understand them, has brought relief to many, and in this episode we dive deep on how removing doubt is the key to recovering from chronic pain and other symptoms.


TIMESTAMPS:

00.00 - Intro

2.33 - Dan's life before the onset of his chronic pain

3.50 - The start of Dan's symptoms and his search for help

20.43 - Dan's discovery of John Sarno and his books, and his recovery

23.38 - The distinction between 'chronic' and 'consistently acute'

25.42 - How Dan's chronic pain experience changed his perspective on life

27.15 - The role that doubt plays in persistent chronic pain

28.32 - Dan's work helping other people get rid of their chronic pain

29.51 - How removing doubt can help all chronic symptoms, not just pain

34.26 - Focusing on treatments that remove doubt and increase your sense of safety

38.22 - Dan's seminars and approach

47.50 - Candace Pert and her book, "Molecules of Emotion"

48.58 - The importance of getting your questions answered, and things making sense, in order to aid recovery

51.13 - How fear and doubt may stop someone getting results

53.12 - Time scales and how quickly someone could see results

56.30 - The role that both genes and emotional experiences can play in chronic health

57.55 - The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study and its findings

59.33 - Childhood experiences and personality differences, and their roles in chronic illness



BOOK REFERENCES:

John Sarno: "Mind Over Back Pain"

John Sarno: "The Divided Mind"

John Sarno: "Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection"

John Sarno: "The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain"

Candace Pert: "Molecules of Emotion"


FOLLOW DR. DAN RATNER

▶ Website - www.crushingdoubt.com

▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/crushingdoubt


FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicComeback

▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechroniccomeback


FOLLOW AND SUPPORT THE PODCAST

▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-chronic-comeback/id1533970626

▶ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_BGsN1LaeL4iudgSNUw7A

▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI9o4JPPkg1IpmDaX



Remember, the comeback is always greater than the setback 💪💪💪

#thechroniccomeback  #chronicillness  #podcast #drdanratner #johnsarno  #backpain #backpainrelief 

In this episode, we have Laura Najarian, a Lyme and chronic illness health advocate and blogger. Her first-hand and decade-long battle with Lyme has fuelled her passion to help others in similar circumstances, leveraging her pre-Lyme journalist-career skillset for extensive research and communications as an authentic content creator. In this episode she describes how she battled Lyme disease for a decade, and how her experience with the illness has changed her life in many beneficial ways. Laura now uses her knowledge and expertise to help others on their recovery journeys.

TIMESTAMPS:

00.00 - Intro

01.30 - Laura’s childhood and early life experiences

04.43 - The beginnings of Laura’s health difficulties 

07.13 - Laura’s Lyme diagnosis

10.02 - Laura’s rock bottom moment 

10.45 - Laura’s recovery from her first bout of Lyme disease

11.46 - Her relapse and second battle with Lyme disease

13.35 - Laura’s research into Lyme surrounding her diagnosis 

19.52 - Recovery from rebuilding your immune system 

22.07 - Laura’s belief that she would heal 

25.47 - Laura’s turning point and the treatments she explored

32.48 - Discipline and mindset 

35.54 - How battling Lyme disease has changed Laura’s life for the better

41.13 - Treating health as a priority

43.38 - Laura’s advice to those at their rock bottom now

48.16 - How to get in touch with Laura

FOLLOW LAURA

▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lauravictoriawellness

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicComeback

▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechroniccomeback

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-chronic-comeback/id1533970626

▶ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_BGsN1LaeL4iudgSNUw7A

▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI9o4JPPkg1IpmDaX

Remember, the comeback is always greater than the setback 💪💪💪

#thechroniccomeback  #chronicillness  #podcast  #lymedisease

In this episode, we have Annie Hopper, founder of the Dynamic Neural Retraining System, or DNRS. 

Annie developed DRNS in 2008, after she herself fully recovered from unexplained illnesses by implementing her own daily program of brain-based rehabilitation, which focused on rewiring faulty neutral pathways in the brain.

Here, she explains the five pillars of her program and how you can rewire your brain to recover from chronic illness.

TIMESTAMPS:

00.00 - Intro

01.07 - Annie’s life before her chronic illness

02.23 - The ‘perfect storm’, triggering the start of Annie’s health decline 

05.17 - Annie’s symptoms 

07.58 - The onset of electric hypersensitivity syndrome

08.40 - Having to move out of her home 

10.23 - The mental impact of Annie’s decline in health

13.25 - How Annie’s relationships were affected 

16.43 - Annie’s research and the development of DNRS

19.09 - The influence of “The Brain That Changes Itself” by Norman Doidge and his work on neuroplasticity 

20.09 - The start of some improvements in Annie’s health through changes to the limbic system 

21.22 - How long it took Annie to recover

22.50 - The development of DNRS

24.33 - The five pillars of DNRS

29.26 - A DNRS success story of someone who had been suffering from long covid symptoms

35.20 - How possible is it for someone to recover from old sensitivities whilst living in old

37.22 - The biggest limiting factor for people approaching DNRS 

38.27 - Long covid, and how DNRS and brain retraining can assist with recovery 

41.53 - How would someone tell the difference between symptoms of limbic system dysfunction and real triggers

44.52 - Annie’s advice for someone who is struggling to cultivate the belief that they can recover

47.05 - Accessing Annie’s resources, website and self-assessment questionnaire 

BOOK REFERENCES:

Annie Hopper:  “Wired for Healing - Remapping the Brain to Recover from Chronic and Mysterious Illnesses”

Norman Doidge: “The Brain that Changes Itself"

Norman Doidge: “The Brain’s Way of Healing”

FOLLOW ANNIE HOPPER

▶ Website- https://retrainingthebrain.com/

▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/official_dnrs
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

▶ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheChronicComeback

▶ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thechroniccomeback

FOLLOW AND SUPPORT THE PODCAST

▶ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-chronic-comeback/id1533970626

▶ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_BGsN1LaeL4iudgSNUw7A

▶ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/71485tI9o4JPPkg1IpmDaX

Remember, the comeback is always greater than the setback 💪💪💪

#thechroniccomeback  #chronicillness  #podcast #anniehopper #longcovid  #DNRS