Crohn's Disease Sends Me to John of God (Part 1)

Today we take a detour from our examination of mental illness, and instead look at the impact of chronic physical illness on our lives. I've had Crohn's disease for more than twenty years. Physical illness is so often intertwined with one's mental health. And my severe case of Crohn's left me running scared and desperate to avoid a disfiguring surgery.Dr. Ava, a physician and friend, explains Crohn's disease and autoimmune diseases, that ignite inflammation and often exacerbate mental health issues. My life became a dance of managing bipolar illness and Crohn's disease and resulted in back-to-back hospitalizations for both.I felt forced to seek out unconventional healers, like the notorious John of God, who has drawn people from around the world with his unorthodox methods. In this episode, I answer the question as to why I would put myself in a risky situation to achieve healing.Support the showHelp Bipolar She Today! Buy Me A Coffee is a platform for podcasters to receive support, even if just a micro-donation. It's finally time to grow! Let's amplify voices of mental illness in all their raw details.Bipolar She is dedicated to real conversations for women living with mental illness. Hosted by Janine Noel, the majority of episodes give voice to a woman who has lived-life experience with mental illness--or who has experienced the illness of someone close to them. Along the way, I interview experts in the field that address additional mental health concerns.Frankly, coping with a mental health condition can be exhausting. Here's a place where you can land and find an episode that resonates with you. Some topics we've covered: being a bipolar mom or having a bipolar mom. Anxiety, agoraphobia, chronic depression, ECT, borderline personality disorder, ADHD, a psychiatrist that breaks your trust. A therapist who goes above and beyond to help you. The impact of trauma on your brain. Bipolar She couldn't have thrived without guitarist, JD Cullum's original music.Editor Brandon Moran makes everyone's voice sound both crisper and smarter.Sponsored by Amy Vincze's Emotional Freedom Technique App: Soar With Tapping....