Episode 9: Feeling Seen - Ashley’s Dry Eye Journey, Mental Health, and Finding Community

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode of the Dry Eye Girlfriend podcast, host Angela Jenkins sits down with Ashley Noonan, psychotherapist, yoga instructor, dry eye patient, and friend, to talk about her dry eye journey. From diagnosis to IPL, and every treatment in between, Ashley has taken the last 5 years to learn everything she can about dry eye, its symptoms and treatments, and is sharing her findings with us TODAY!🎧If you are ready to remedy your dry eye disease, or are starting your journey in relief, this episode is for you! 🎧Ashley Noonan is a psychotherapist, yoga instructor and grateful new mom who is also a dry eye patient. Ashley has been to many doctors & down her own rabbit hole to understand dry eye disease while improving her quality of life since she began her support journey in 2020. She educated herself on the many facets of dry eye disease, and is very informed through her commitment to learning. Ashley supports other dry eye patients online who are just beginning their journey to diagnosis and choosing aligned treatment options through Facebook groups and private messages. Ashley loves to spend time outdoors, attend workout classes and enjoy small cafes.Welcome to Dry Eye Girlfriend. - - - - - - - - -If you liked this episode of the Dry Eye Girlfriend podcast, tell your friends! Find us on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere you listen to podcasts to rate/review/subscribe to the show.Want more? Visit our website dryeyegirlfriend.com, and connect with Angela on Instagram (@dryeyegirlfriend) and TikTok (@dryeyegirlfriend). Thanks for listening and joining the conversation!Resources and References Register for Ashley’s virtual event: Focus on ReliefFind Ashley on Instagram - @oneluvash Show Notes  1:39 - Angela introduces today’s special guest, who dives into her journey story with dry eye3:55 - Ashley recalls how she connected the dots with her symptoms and experience to reach her diagnosis of dry eye10:34 - Ashley describes what her thorough work up and diagnoses looked like when she was finally able to find a dry eye specialist12:25 - Ashley divulges us on her journey with IPL18:39 - Ashley advises: try different things at the start of your journey to find the best relief for you!25:43 - Ashley shares what upcoming virtual dry eye event she is co-hosting (linked above in resources)27:09 - Ashley runs down additional treatments she has tried for dry eye28:31 - Ashley describes where she is right now from a relief standpoint - and the importance of air quality to eye health33:28 - Ashley discusses how she eats for dry eye symptom management - as well as some things she would like to get back to since giving birth36:21 - Ashley describes how she has adjusted her daily activities as a person with dry eye38:24 - Ashley shares what she does to get through this and thrive41:09 - Ashley shares her advise for folks who are at the beginning of their dry eye journey44:24 - Ashley divulges us with some final advise, and Angela wraps up the episode!