Ep. 60: Your Body is Your Friend: A Story of Autoimmunity, Having Faith, and Reclaiming Identity with Allison Hampton

When Allison Hampton was diagnosed with lupus, Sjogren’s, fibromyalgia, and arthritis, she realized she had been speaking negatively about her body—saying it wasn’t on her team, that it was fighting her. But then came the revelation: her body had been compensating for her, running on a backup generator for years until she could figure out what was wrong. Even when she didn’t know what she needed, her body kept showing up. This is a story about reframing our relationship with illness, reclaiming our identity from our activity, and discovering that a chronically ill body is not a downgrade—it’s just different.Episode OverviewIn this conversation, I sit down with Allison Hampton, a Christian speaker, playwright, author, and life coach from Indianapolis, Indiana. Allison walks us through her journey of receiving four chronic autoimmune diagnoses—lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, fibromyalgia, and arthritis—after two years of being dismissed by doctors. We explore the painful process of learning to trust herself again, the importance of firing doctors who won’t listen, and the sacred practice of managing wellness. Allison shares her revelation that “your body is your friend,” the power of grief and gratitude coexisting, and how she learned to stop associating her identity with her activity. We also discuss the creation of her nonprofit, Living Chronic Faith, which builds community for those navigating chronic illness and their support systems.🌿 What You’ll Discover* The two-year journey to diagnosis and the self-doubt that comes from being dismissed by doctors.* Why you are the expert on your body—and how to reclaim that authority.* The revelation that changed everything: “Your body is your friend, not your enemy.”* Why grief and gratitude can coexist—you don’t have to choose one or the other.* The danger of associating your identity with your activity, and what remains when activity falls away* How a tetanus shot triggered temporary paralysis and became a turning point in her healing.* The snowman vs. racetrack eight: adapting without losing the essence of the thing.* Why chronic illness requires a faith as chronic as the diagnosis (Living Chronic Faith).* How a late-night conversation with a grieving nurse revealed that even from a hospital bed, she could still help.* The power of community, virtual gatherings, and having things to look forward to.⏳ Timestamps00:00 - Allison’s Opening: “Your Body is Your Friend”01:00 - Introduction & The Big Question of the Podcast03:00 - Welcoming Allison Hampton from Indianapolis05:00 - The Two-Year Journey: Being Dismissed by Doctors08:00 - Firing the Doctor and Reclaiming Self-Trust12:00 - The Lupus Support Group and the Physician Who Walked Both Sides15:00 - “My Baseline Pain is a Five” — Communicating Chronic Pain to Loved Ones18:00 - Boundaries, Spoons, and Power Save Mode22:00 - The Revelation: Your Body Has Been Faithful to You25:00 - Grief and Gratitude Can Coexist28:00 - The Tetanus Shot That Triggered Temporary Paralysis32:00 - The Snowman vs. The Racetrack: Learning to Adapt35:00 - Chronic Illness as Identity Theft — And How to Reclaim Yourself40:00 - The Hospital Room Conversation with a Grieving Nurse45:00 - Living Chronic Faith: The Nonprofit and Its Mission50:00 - Virtual Gatherings, Bingo, and Having Things to Look Forward To55:00 - The Sepsis and Respiratory Failure: Revisiting Square One58:00 - “Do the Thing” — Fill the Gap Only You Can Fill01:02:00 - Who Has Her Illness Invited Allison to Become?💫 Guest Information & LinksConnect with Allison Hampton:* Website: www.livingchronicfaith.com → for information on the community, workshops, and other resources* YouTube: Living Chronic Faith channel* Instagram: www.instagram.com/livingchronicfaith* Book: Chronic Faith (available now)💫 Want to Go Deeper?→ Begin your Sacred Illness® Journey:https://www.aurorasomatic.com/communityUse coupon code PODCAST for 20% off your first month.→ Become a Sacred Illness® Practitioner: click the link to get on the waitlist.https://www.aurorasomatic.com/practitioner-training→ Apply to be a podcast guest:https://www.aurorasomatic.com/podcast-guest→ Apply to be an Affiliate and help share this work:https://www.aurorasomatic.com/affiliate→ Follow Dr. Erin on Substack:🎶 Music by: “Instructions for Living a Life” by Savfkhttps://www.youtube.com/@SavfkMusic This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacredillness.substack.com/subscribe