Low Battery Club

if you're looking for five simple, memorable ways to support your mental health while living with chronic illness, you're in the right place.in today's episode, I'm sharing the often overlooked aspects of your mental health that you can influence— even when chronic illness makes it feel like so much of your agency has been taken away. drawing from my own experience living with POTS and hEDS, a psychology degree, and my genuine passion for talking into a microphone for 35 minutes, i’ll walk you through practical mindset shifts and habits that have helped me navigate the mental side of chronic illness.my hope is that you'll leave this episode feeling seen, understood, and encouraged to take the small but meaningful steps toward better mental health that you deserve.💗topics (with timestamps): 00:00 intro & why i care about mental health05:52 what therapy has taught me about my emotions12:59 finding the right support system for you18:29 trusting your instincts with your chronically illness 24:33 rumination, hypervigilance, & chronic illness28:49 setting goals & finding your purpose againmentioned resources:⚡️last week’s episodeconnect with me:🪫⁠tiktok⁠ 🪫⁠instagram⁠ 🪫⁠youtube⁠🪫email me!🪫⁠anonymous form (share your story!)⁠ 🪫⁠guest application (be on the pod!)⁠a little note: if you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review— it helps more people find the show!disclaimer: the information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. the host is not a licensed medical professional.always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, medications, or health routines.

if you’re navigating chronic illness, you probably know firsthand how deeply your mental health can be affected by your physical health. struggling with both isn’t easy—and you’re definitely not alone.but in order to support and improve our mental health, we first need to understand why it may be suffering in the first place. what’s happening biologically, psychologically, and even socially that can make chronic illness feel so mentally overwhelming?in this episode, i’m combining my own experience with chronic illness with my degree in psychology to break down the many factors that can contribute to worsening mental health. from nervous system stress to grief, isolation, and identity shifts, there’s often a lot influencing how you feel that you may not even realize.awareness is the first step toward healing—and understanding what you’re carrying can help you move through it with more compassion for yourself.topics (with timestamps): 00:00 life updates & your anonymous question!!03:59 chronic illness, mental health, & self-validation08:04 a psychology model for understanding mental health11:12 how chronic illness affects our biology15:36 the psychology behind chronic illness23:31 relationship dynamics & chronic illness 29:19 sociocultural impacts on chronic illness 34:12 final thoughts & a preview of next week’s ep!!mentioned resources:⚡️silly lily foundation⚡️multipath model⚡️stress + the nervous system⚡️psychological strain of chronic illness⚡️health disparities in the u.s. ⚡️chronic illness + financial burden⚡️ep.2: coping with chronic illness in your 20s⚡️ep.3: no one warns you how lonely chronic pain is⚡️ep.4: the invisible mental load behind chronic illnessconnect with me:🪫⁠tiktok⁠ 🪫⁠instagram⁠ 🪫⁠youtube⁠🪫email me🪫⁠anonymous form (share your story!)⁠ 🪫⁠guest application (be on the pod!)⁠a little note: if you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review— it helps more people find the show!disclaimer: the information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. the host is not a licensed medical professional.always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, medications, or health routines.

today is the day: i’m finally sharing my full journey with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).in this episode, i break down everything—from what i believe triggered it, to the strange early symptom that stumped every doctor, to the long road to getting diagnosed. i also open up about the emotional side of living with a chronic condition like this.whether you think you might have POTS, have already been diagnosed, or care about someone who has it, i hope this episode helps you feel more informed—and less alone.living with POTS can feel incredibly niche and isolating. my goal with this episode is to make that experience a little more understood🤍topics (with timestamps): 00:56 a huge misconception about POTS07:51 what triggered my POTS 12:13 non-epileptic seizures 18:20 my POTS symptoms  20:31 getting misdiagnosed 23:33 POTS testing + diagnosis 26:47 the emotional side of dr’s appointments28:42 what it felt like getting diagnosed 32:10 my current medical mystery connect with me:🪫⁠tiktok⁠ 🪫⁠instagram⁠ 🪫⁠youtube⁠🪫email me!🪫⁠anonymous form (share your story!)⁠ 🪫⁠guest application (be on the pod!)⁠a little note: if you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review— it helps more people find the show!disclaimer: the information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. the host is not a licensed medical professional.always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, medications, or health routines.

when your chronic illness shows up with symptoms every day, it can feel almost impossible to know when to push yourself—and when to rest. that’s exactly what we’re unpacking in this week’s episode.we’re diving into the personal and societal pressures that keep us from truly recharging— even when our bodies are asking for a break. then, we’ll look at the science behind why rest is essential for managing chronic conditions (spoiler: it’s not optional). finally, i’ll share my favorite ways to tell when your body needs a rest day.if you find yourself overexerting and ignoring your symptoms (same), this episode is your guide to breaking that cycle. managing chronic illness can feel like a constant balancing act— and this episode is here to help you find your footing.topics (with timestamps): 00:21 how i ended up in the ER this week02:52 your responses on rest days & rare disease awareness05:47 what society gets wrong about chronic illnesses10:06 internal pressures around taking a rest day 13:57 external & societal pressures around taking a rest day16:52 the science behind why our bodies need rest  21:00 how to tell if you need more rest for your chronic condition31:42 my final thoughts & more!mentioned resources:⚡️cowden syndrome⚡️importance of sleep with a chronic illness⚡️chronic pain & sleep article ⚡️chronic illness & rest article ⚡️deep rest article⚡️the science of rest article⚡️rest as a form of recharging research⚡️activity pacing research ⚡️long covid & inflammation research⚡️pots & inflammation research⚡️anti-inflammatory benefits of sleepconnect with me:🪫⁠tiktok⁠ 🪫⁠instagram⁠ 🪫⁠youtube⁠🪫email me!🪫⁠anonymous form (share your story!)⁠ 🪫⁠guest application (be on the pod!)⁠a little note: if you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review— it helps more people find the show!disclaimer: the information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. the host is not a licensed medical professional.always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, medications, or health routines.

we talk about the physical symptoms of chronic illness– but what about the mental ones? so many of us are dealing with invisible illnesses, and the emotional & mental effects of our conditions can go equally unnoticed. in my fourth ever podcast episode (yay!), i’m talking all about the mental load of chronic illness. managing chronic illness can be a balancing act: you’re always having to balance your self-care against your social life, your hobbies against your symptom flares, and your actual passions & interests against the chronic condition that’s taking up mental space 24/7. so how do we balance it all without burning out?! that’s exactly the question i’m trying to answer in this episode– along with reading a bunch of your super insightful chronic illness comments! there’s no doubt that there is a significant mental burden that comes with being chronically ill. my hope is that this episode validates you in your feelings & reminds you that you’re not alone💗topics (with timestamps): 00:00 intro01:13 the biggest shift in my chronic illness journey06:49 balancing relationships with chronic illness11:58 mental isolation & chronic illness14:18 secret stressors behind low symptom days17:06 how chronic illness can affect identity & personality20:50 most common emotions triggered by chronic illness 25:36 creative ways to cope when your illness has you downmentioned resources:⚡️mental drain tiktokconnect with me:🪫⁠tiktok⁠ 🪫⁠instagram⁠ 🪫⁠youtube⁠🪫email me!🪫⁠anonymous form (share your story!)⁠ 🪫⁠guest application (be on the pod!)⁠a little note: if you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—it helps more people find the show!disclaimer: the information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. the host is not a licensed medical professional.always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, medications, or health routines.

living with chronic pain is surprisingly common– and yet why do we feel so alone? in this episode, we’re talking about why living with chronic pain can be such an isolating experience. from navigating my own symptoms with hypermobile ehlers-danlos syndrome to the emotional weight of not being fully understood, i’m opening up about the parts of chronic pain that people don’t always see.we get into why getting diagnosed can feel unexpectedly lonely (and what the research says about it), plus the realities of living with chronic pain in your 20s– when your life doesn’t look the way you thought it would. i also talk about what it’s like to manage chronic pain alongside chronic illness, and how it can impact your relationships, social life, and sense of identity.toward the end, i share three gentle, realistic ways to support your mental health when you’re in pain– especially on the days that feel the hardest.if you’ve ever felt alone in your pain, this episode is for you. your experience is real, and you deserve support 🤍topics (with timestamps): 00:21 my symptoms hypermobile ehlers-danlos syndrome03:24 how chronic pain can be an isolating experience07:50 why getting diagnosed can feel lonely (& what the research says)12:17 the realities of living with chronic pain in your 20s14:13 having chronic pain along with chronic illness 18:52 how chronic pain affects your social life & identity20:17 three ways to help your mental health when you’re in painmentioned resources:⚡️cdc research⚡️chronic pain study⚡️women & chronic pain⚡️people of color & chronic pain⚡️mental health resourcesconnect with me:🪫⁠tiktok⁠ 🪫⁠instagram⁠ 🪫⁠youtube⁠🪫email me!🪫⁠anonymous form (share your story!)⁠ 🪫⁠guest application (be on the pod!)⁠a little note: if you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—it helps more people find the show!disclaimer: the information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. the host is not a licensed medical professional.always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, medications, or health routines.

your 20s are supposed to be the “best years of your life”… so what happens when you’re navigating chronic illness at the same time?🪫in this episode, i’m talking about parts of being chronically ill in your 20s that no one really prepares you for. i open up about comparing myself to other people, balancing my relationships and my chronic illnesses, dealing with anxiety, and being intentional with my (limited) energy.plus, i give my take on setting goals and making timelines when your body is unpredictable— and the self-love mindset that’s helped me navigate my diagnoses🤍if you’re chronically ill in your 20s, this episode is for you. you’re not behind and you’re not alone.topics (with timestamps): 00:00 intro 01:24 symptom flares & feeling misunderstood 05:48 being chronically ill in your 20s07:56 finding your identity & comparing yourself to others10:27 relationships: being intentional & dealing with anxiety 21:44 setting goals & making timelines 25:18 my self-love mindset 26:37 outro connect with me:🪫⁠tiktok⁠ 🪫⁠instagram⁠ 🪫⁠youtube⁠🪫⁠anonymous form (share your story!)⁠ 🪫⁠guest application (be on the pod!)⁠a little note: if you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—it helps more people find the show!disclaimer: the information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. the host is not a licensed medical professional.always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, medications, or health routines.

this is officially the very first episode of the low battery club 🪫how did i go from traveling the country after college… to navigating chronic illnesses, multiple surgeries, and moving back home?in this episode, i share my story—how my health journey unfolded, how i was diagnosed with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) and hEDS (hypermobile ehlers-danlos syndrome), and how everything led me to create this podcast.if you’re dealing with chronic illness or pain in your 20s—you’re not alone. this space is for you 🤍topics (with timestamps):00:00 intro00:47 early symptoms of POTS & hEDS14:40 getting diagnosed with POTS21:29 recent surgery & health updates22:37 why i started this podcast24:24 what’s the low battery club?29:21 outroconnect with me: 🪫tiktok 🪫instagram 🪫youtube🪫anonymous form (share your story!) 🪫guest application (be on the pod!)a little note:if you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—it helps more people find the show!disclaimer:the information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. the host is not a licensed medical professional.always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, medications, or health routines.