What Counts as a Chronic Illness? A Practical Guide

Welcome to Season 4 of the Less Stress in Life Podcast.This season, Deb Timmerman, registered nurse and board-certified reflexologist, and Lindsay Vertalka, master’s-level licensed physical therapist, are focusing on what it really looks like to live well with chronic illness.Through practical tools, research-backed insights, fresh approaches, and honest conversations with guests who are walking this path, this season is here to help you feel more hopeful, more informed, and more supported.In this first episode, Deb and Lindsay begin with a practical question: What actually counts as a chronic illness?Is it only major diagnoses like autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, diabetes, or multiple sclerosis? What about migraines, chronic fatigue, digestive issues, chronic pain, or symptoms that never seem to fully go away?Together, they explore what chronic illness really means, why symptoms are often more connected than they seem, and how stress, pain, nervous system patterns, and daily life can all overlap.Whether you’ve been diagnosed for years, are still searching for answers, or are supporting someone you love, this episode offers a grounded starting point for understanding chronic illness through a more holistic lens.Follow Us:Website: LessStressinLife.com/podcast/Stay tuned for more conversations to empower you to live well, manage stress, and build a thriving, healthy life!