Being bedridden felt like a prison, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

Two years ago, I spent nearly every day in a dark bedroom, unable to work, go to school, or do many of the things I loved. My migraines and light sensitivity were so severe that being in a lit room felt unbearable. I rarely left the house, and when I did, it was usually for a medical appointment with my sunglasses on.

Today, I live independently and co-own a business dedicated to helping others with chronic illness. I couldn’t see any of this at the time.

In this episode of The Chronic Fighter Podcast, I reflect on what helped me through that difficult season and how small habits that didn’t seem significant in the moment eventually led to meaningful changes in my life. I learned to take life one day at a time rather than worrying about an uncertain future, find little moments of joy, stay connected with friends, respect my limits, move through grief, and lean on my faith. When so much of my day was hard, even one good moment mattered.

What You'll Hear in This Episode

• 00:00 - Intro and Highlights
• 01:26 - My Experience Being Bedridden with Chronic Illness
• 02:50 - Managing Fear About the Future and Focusing on Today
• 03:21 - Breaking Overwhelming Challenges into Manageable Steps
• 05:11 - Finding Joy in the Little Things
• 06:18 - Staying Connected and Prioritizing Relationships
• 08:24 - Listening to Your Body and Redefining Productivity
• 09:42 - The Chronic Fighter Coaching and Membership
• 11:17 - Processing Grief Without Letting It Consume You
• 13:21 - Remembering There Is Life Outside of Your Health Struggles
• 14:16 - How My Faith Gave Me Peace and Hope
• 15:03 - Finding Your Reason to Keep Going
• 15:46 - Unexpected Opportunities That Came From Being Bedridden
• 17:04 - Pick One Small Thing That Feels Possible Today
• 17:38 - Closing Thoughts and Outro

Biggest Takeaways

✔ Focus on today instead of trying to figure out your entire future. When everything feels overwhelming, focus on what’s possible right now.

✔Stay connected in ways that work for your health. Prioritize the things that bring you joy and the relationships where you can be fully yourself.

✔ Redefine what productivity looks like for you. Listening to your body can help you work with your energy instead of constantly pushing past your limits.

✔ Allow yourself to process grief without letting it take over. It’s healthy to validate your feelings while also knowing there’s more beyond your current situation.

✔ Hold onto hope, even when you can't see what's ahead. You may not know where this season is leading, but the small things you do now can shape what comes next.

Resources Mentioned

The Chronic Fighter: Health coaching, membership, and additional resources: https://thechronicfighter.com

Atomic Habits by James Clear: A book about how small, consistent changes can lead to meaningful progress over time:https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits

Business & Coaching Socials

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechronicfighterco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechronicfighterco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechronicfighterco
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thechronicfighterco

Podcast Socials

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechronicfighterpod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechronicfighterpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechronicfighterpod

If You Enjoyed This Episode

I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to

If you’re bedridden, struggling with your health, or feeling uncertain about your future, I hope this episode encourages you to focus on what’s possible for you today.

Thank you for listening, and I'll see you in the next episode.

People living with invisible illness often carry challenges others never see.

In this episode of The Chronic Fighter, I sit down with Signe Libbon, who was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at just three years old. For more than two decades, she has navigated chronic pain, surgeries, flare-ups, different medication regimens, and the unpredictability of living with RA.

From a young age, Signe had to think about how her choices would affect her joints long term. That meant missing out on experiences like playing sports and grieving those limitations, while learning how to listen to her body, stay involved, and keep going after her goals. Signe shares personal stories about the day-to-day realities of RA, including how difficult standing can be and the rest and recovery that may follow an event.

We also talk about friendships and relationships with chronic illness. Signe shares how she became more open about her health with friends, how much they showed up for her, and how she and her now-husband, Drew, learned to communicate about her symptoms so he could best support her.

What stands out most in this conversation is the way Signe continues to live with so much joy and gratitude despite everything she has faced. A big part of that perspective comes from the role faith plays in her life.

What You'll Hear in This Episode
0:00 Coming Up
2:10 Meet Signe Libbon
3:06 Diagnosed With Rheumatoid Arthritis at Age 3
5:22 Growing Up With RA & Medical Complications
8:05 Managing Flares & Learning Your Limits
11:04 The Reality of Invisible Illness
14:34 Opening Up About Chronic Illness
18:21 The Daily Impact of RA & Medication
21:28 What People Don’t See Behind the Scenes
26:26 Grieving What Illness Limits & Finding Gratitude
37:07 Friendship, Support & Feeling Less Alone
43:52 Dating With Chronic Illness
53:14 PT & Managing RA
58:44 Faith & Hope with Chronic Illness

Biggest Takeaways
✔ Some chronic illnesses are invisible, making them harder for others to understand.Someone can look okay while still dealing with significant pain or symptoms.

✔ Respecting your limitations can help you keep doing the things you love. Accepting your limits doesn’t mean giving up. It means making adjustments so you can still participate in the things that matter to you.

✔ Treatment can change over the years. What helps manage chronic illness at one point may not work forever, and finding the right treatment can involve adjustments along the way.

✔ Opening up can make invisible illness feel less isolating. Letting trusted people know what you’re really experiencing gives them the opportunity to support you better.

✔ Grief and gratitude can exist at the same time. It’s healthy to grieve what chronic illness has changed or taken away while also recognizing and appreciating what you’re still able to do.

✔ Chronic illness doesn’t make you less worthy of love. Your person will love every part of you and see what you’ve been through as a source of strength and resilience, not a reason to walk away.

✔ There is hope in difficult circumstances. Even when chronic illness brings pain and uncertainty, faith can be a steady source of strength.

Resources Mentioned
The Chronic Fighter: Health coaching, membership, and additional resources: https://thechronicfighter.com

Business & Coaching Socials
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechronicfighterco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechronicfighterco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechronicfighterco
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thechronicfighterco

Podcast Socials
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechronicfighterpod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechronicfighterpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechronicfighterpod

If You Enjoyed This Episode
I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it.

Chronic illness can feel deeply isolating when so much happens behind the scenes, but opening up and allowing others to support you can make a meaningful difference. As Signe shares, we aren’t meant to do life alone.

Thank you for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.

After years of doctor’s appointments, testing, and searching for answers, I developed a lot of medical anxiety. Certain parts of medical settings became triggers for me: hearing my legal name, getting my vitals taken, sitting under bright fluorescent lights, and wearing a hospital bracelet.

In this episode of The Chronic Fighter Podcast, I share how I have learned to better support my body and manage medical anxiety so appointments feel more manageable. Rather than simply listing the tools that have helped me, I walk you through the entire experience of a doctor’s appointment, from getting ready at home and driving there to sitting in the waiting room, talking with your provider, and finally coming back home.

If you ever feel anxious, overwhelmed, or on edge in medical settings, this episode is for you.

What You'll Hear in This Episode
00:00 - Intro and Overview of Medical Anxiety
00:47 - Welcome to The Chronic Fighter Podcast
02:05 - Common Triggers in Medical Settings
04:10 - Preparing the Nervous System Before an Appointment
06:04 - Getting Dressed: Choosing Comfort Over Fashion
06:24 - Packing a Medical Appointment "Go Bag"
07:01 - Preparing Your Mindset and Letting Go of the "Medical Mystery" Label
09:54 - Calming the Nervous System on the Way to the Appointment
11:14 - Managing Stress During the Appointment and Dealing with Harsh Lighting
12:37 - Navigating the Check-In Process and Reminding Yourself You Are Safe
13:26 - Communicating Your History to Providers and Advocating for Yourself
14:59 - Planning a Post-Appointment Reward
15:20 - Resetting and Unwinding Once You Get Back Home
16:17 - Shifting Perspectives on Your Body and Rewriting Your Narrative
17:11 - The Power of Hope and Closing Thoughts

Biggest Takeaways
✔ Your body can remember difficult medical experiences. Even when you know you’re safe, your nervous system may still react to things it associates with past stress.

✔ You can prepare your body before an appointment. Tools like grounding, prayer, breathing, music, rest, or comforting items can help you feel calmer going in.

✔ Remind yourself that you are safe during the appointment. If your body starts to feel overwhelmed, use tools that help you feel grounded and regulated in the moment.

✔ Give yourself grace during the appointment. You don’t have to remember everything, explain everything perfectly, or have all the answers to the provider’s questions.

✔ Focus on what you can control. You can’t control the outcome of the appointment or whether you leave with every answer, but you can advocate for yourself and care for your body throughout it.

✔ Your body may need time to reset afterward. Give yourself time to slow down and do what makes your body feel like home after an appointment.

Resources Mentioned
The Chronic Fighter: Health coaching, membership, and additional resources: https://thechronicfighter.com

Business & Coaching Socials
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechronicfighterco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechronicfighterco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechronicfighterco
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thechronicfighterco

Podcast Socials
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechronicfighterpod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechronicfighterpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechronicfighterpod

If You Enjoyed This Episode
I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Whether you’re navigating chronic illness yourself or supporting someone through it, I hope this episode is a reminder of how much connection, understanding, and support matter.

Thank you for listening, and I'll see you in the next episode.