030 - “I Turned My Chronic Illness Into A Career”, Turning Pain Into Purpose - Oliver Achard Ravn

In Episode 30 I sit down with Oliver for a powerful and honest conversation about chronic illness, identity, isolation, and purpose.Oliver shares his journey of first developing psoriasis as a teenager before later being diagnosed with IBD during the chaos of 2020. He speaks openly about the long and frustrating road to diagnosis, the fear and trauma of hospitalisation, and the mental strain of trying to make sense of a body that suddenly feels unpredictable.We also go deep into the ripple effect of chronic illness, not just on the person living with it, but on parents, partners, friends, and the people trying their best to understand what they cannot fully see.A major part of this episode is Oliver’s work with Chronicare, a platform he created to help people living with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and IBD feel less alone, track symptoms more clearly, and take more control in the time between hospital appointments. It is a brilliant example of turning pain into purpose.This episode touches on:Psoriasis and IBDCrohn’s disease vs ulcerative colitisDelayed diagnosis and medical frustrationHospital trauma and mental healthCommunication with family and loved onesLiving with flare-ups and uncertaintyBuilding purpose through chronic illnessCreating a better support system for people with IBDThis is a conversation about patience, perspective, and slowly learning how to build a life around something you never asked for.If this episode resonates with you, please share it with someone who might need it.Search "Chronicare" in the app store or google play.