The Invisible Illness Club | Chronic Illness, Auto Immune

061 Disability Is Not a Bad Word: Jenna D’Angelo Shiner on Accessibility, Faith, and Living with Chronic Illness

What does it look like to navigate life when the world isn’t always built with disability in mind? In this episode, I’m joined by Jenna D’Angelo Shiner, who shares her journey from being able-bodied to living with chronic illness and disability. We talk about mobility aids, internalized ableism, accessibility, faith, church culture, and why disability is not a bad word. This honest conversation explores what it means to live fully, advocate well, and create spaces where everyone belongs. What You’ll Learn * Jenna’s journey into disability and chronic illness * The emotional transition from able-bodied to disabled * Why using mobility aids can bring freedom instead of defeat * What internalized ableism looks like and why so many struggle with it * How disability identity shapes the way we see ourselves * Why accessibility matters and practical examples of barriers people face every day * How churches can become more welcoming and inclusive * The relationship between faith, healing, and living with chronic illness * Why loving others includes advocating for accessibility and justice One Tiny Step Take a fresh look at one space you frequent—your church, workplace, favorite coffee shop, or even your home—and ask yourself, “Would this be easy to navigate for someone with a disability?” Small changes can make a big difference. Guest Info Jenna D’Angelo Shiner is a social worker, disability advocate, and passionate voice for accessibility and disability justice. She lives with chronic illness and disability and loves helping people better understand what life actually looks like for those navigating a world that isn’t always designed with them in mind. Find her at: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenna.reza [https://www.facebook.com/jenna.reza] Instagram: instagram.com/jenrezdan [http://instagram.com/jenrezdan] Resources * Join The Unseen Sisterhood newsletter * Visit The Invisible Illness Club website * Listen to more episodes of The Invisible Illness Club podcast Credits Host: April Aramanda Guest: Jenna D’Angelo Shiner Music: AudioJungle

060 Faith in Different Seasons: Remembering That God Is Bigger Than Chronic Illness

Faith can look different in different seasons. Not because God changes, but because our view of Him often changes with what we’re walking through. In this episode, April shares how chronic illness can become so loud that it fills the entire frame. Appointments, symptoms, pain, exhaustion, and uncertainty demand attention, and before we realize it, we’ve forgotten to look up. After watching Disclosure Day and reading a thought-provoking quote that pointed to the vastness of God’s creation, April was reminded of something simple and profound: God is still God. The God who created galaxies is not overwhelmed by our diagnoses. He isn’t surprised by our stories. He isn’t intimidated by the things that overwhelm us. This episode is a gentle invitation to lift your eyes, remember God’s greatness, and find hope in the truth that no matter what season you’re in, He remains the same. What You’ll Learn * Why faith can feel different in different seasons of life * How suffering naturally demands our attention * Why chronic illness can make our world feel smaller * What God’s vast creation reveals about His greatness * Why God isn’t overwhelmed by what overwhelms us * How remembering who God is can bring peace, even when circumstances haven’t changed Memorable Quotes “When you live with chronic illness, the illness can become so loud that it fills the entire frame.” “Suffering has a way of demanding attention.” “The God who hung every star in place sees me lying in bed on the days my body refuses to cooperate.” “He is not overwhelmed by the things that overwhelm me.” “Before my diagnosis, He was God. In the middle of my diagnosis, He is God.” “Not that my circumstances are small. But that God is infinitely bigger.” One Tiny Step The next time your symptoms, fears, or questions feel overwhelming, pause for a moment and simply remind yourself: God is still God. You don’t have to have all the answers today. You only need to remember who holds them. Resources * Psalm 139:13 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139%3A13&version=CSB] * Join The Unseen Sisterhood [https://www.theinvisibleillnessclub.com/unseen-sisterhood-newsletter] newsletter * Visit The Invisible Illness Club [https://www.theinvisibleillnessclub.com/] website * Subscribe to The Invisible Illness Club Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-invisible-illness-club-chronic-illness-auto-immune/id1796891851] Credits Host: April Aramanda Podcast: The Invisible Illness Club Podcast Music: AudioJungle

059 Faith, Chronic Illness, and the Pressure to Pretend You’re Okay | with Kaylen Soriano

What happens when chronic illness changes your identity, your relationships, and even the way you show up at church? In this conversation, April sits down with Kaylen Soriano of  Chronic Yet Undefeated⁠ to talk honestly about epilepsy, masking, loneliness, faith, emotional exhaustion, and learning how to trust God in seasons that feel unpredictable. Together, they explore church culture, gratitude without toxic positivity, and the difference between real hope and pretending everything is fine. What You’ll Learn * What life with epilepsy can actually look like behind the scenes * How chronic illness can slowly reshape identity and relationships * Why masking becomes so common in church culture * The emotional toll of unpredictability and canceled plans * How Kaylen worked through bitterness, fear, and victim mentality * What “real hope” looks like when healing doesn’t happen instantly * Why your emotions are not too big for God * The difference between gratitude and dismissing grief * How chronic illness can deepen trust and dependence on God One Tiny Step The next time someone asks how you’re doing, try giving one honest sentence instead of the automatic “I’m fine.” Not a full explanation. Not your whole story. Just one honest sentence. Guest Info Kaylen S., Chronic Yet Undefeated Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587608874826 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587608874826] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChronicYetUndefeated [https://www.youtube.com/@ChronicYetUndefeated] Resources * The Invisible Illness Club Website⁠ www.theinvisibleillnessclub.com [http://www.theinvisibleillnessclub.com/] * The Invisible Illness Club Podcast⁠ https://bit.ly/4jjOEDs [https://bit.ly/4jjOEDs] * Join The Unseen Sisterhood Newsletter⁠ https://www.theinvisibleillnessclub.com/unseen-sisterhood-newsletter [https://www.theinvisibleillnessclub.com/unseen-sisterhood-newsletter] Credits Hosted by April Aramanda Podcast:  The Invisible Illness Club⁠ Music from AudioJungle

058 The Invisible Full-Time Job of Chronic Illness

There’s a kind of exhaustion that comes from living inside constant management mode. Not only physical exhaustion. Mental exhaustion too. In this episode, I’m talking honestly about the invisible workload that comes with chronic illness — the symptom tracking, energy calculations, recovery planning, medication management, decision fatigue, and emotional weight people rarely see. Because chronic illness is more than symptoms. It’s the nonstop mental tabs running in the background all day long. If you’ve ever felt tired of constantly managing your body, wondering whether something is “worth the crash,” or grieving how much effort everyday life takes now, this episode is for you. You are not weak for feeling overwhelmed by something that never fully shuts off. Let’s talk honestly about life, faith, and chronic illness. What You’ll Learn * The invisible mental workload of chronic illness * Why decision fatigue becomes so overwhelming * The emotional exhaustion of constantly managing symptoms * Grieving spontaneity, ease, and mental freedom * Why survival mode affects identity and emotional health * Encouragement for women carrying invisible burdens every day One Tiny Step Pay attention to one invisible thing you’re carrying today without criticizing yourself for it. Maybe it’s symptom monitoring. Maybe it’s recovery planning. Maybe it’s simply getting through the day. Instead of calling yourself lazy or dramatic, acknowledge the effort your body requires from you right now. Resources * Join The Unseen Sisterhood [https://www.theinvisibleillnessclub.com/unseen-sisterhood-newsletter] newsletter + community * Visit The Invisible Illness Club:The Invisible Illness Club [https://www.theinvisibleillnessclub.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Credits Hosted by: April Aramanda Podcast: The Invisible Illness Club Podcast [https://www.theinvisibleillnessclub.com/podcast?utm_source=chatgpt.com]

057 Why Rest Feels Unsafe with Chronic Illness | Rest Guilt, Anxiety & Faith

Rest sounds peaceful in theory. In real life with chronic illness, it can feel anxious, guilty, frustrating, and emotionally unsafe. In this episode, April Aramanda talks honestly about the pressure to always be productive, the guilt that comes with slowing down, and why rest can feel so hard even when your body desperately needs it. This conversation explores chronic illness, emotional exhaustion, faith, and the struggle to believe your worth still matters when your output changes. What You’ll Learn * Why rest can trigger anxiety and guilt * The emotional pressure of always feeling “behind” * How chronic illness complicates rest and recovery * The connection between productivity and self-worth * What scripture says about rest and restoration One Tiny Step The next time your body asks for rest, try not to apologize for it. Resources Join the Unseen Sisterhood! A weekly newsletter and community for women navigating chronic illness, faith, boundaries, and real life. https://theinvisibleillnessclub.kit.com/unseen-sisterhood [https://theinvisibleillnessclub.kit.com/unseen-sisterhood] The Invisible Illness Club Website https://theinvisibleillnessclub.com [https://theinvisibleillnessclub.com/] The Invisible Illness Club Podcast https://theinvisibleillnessclub.com/podcast [https://theinvisibleillnessclub.com/podcast] Music Credit Audio Jungle https://audiojungle.net [https://audiojungle.net/]