057: Chronic Illness and Grief with Angela Dean (Part 2)

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Dr. Christina Zampitella and Angela Dean continue exploring the complex emotional landscape of chronic illness. From rebuilding identity after diagnosis to understanding the nuances of grief in long-term illness, this episode dives deep into what it means to live fully — even when your body won’t cooperate. Whether you're navigating illness yourself or supporting a loved one, this episode offers insight, compassion, and validation for the many ways grief shows up when chronic illness changes everything.   Chapters 0:00 – Intro: Picking up where we left off 1:45 – How relationships shift after illness 6:10 – Parenting while managing chronic illness 9:40 – The grief of changed routines and abilities 12:30 – Fear of being a burden 15:18 – “Who am I now?” – identity grief and self-worth 19:55 – The trauma of medical care and being dismissed 24:12 – Reclaiming agency and reframing the narrative 28:30 – Creating space for both joy and grief 32:00 – Final thoughts and what helps in the hard moments