Healing Space

It’s Not Your Fault: Rewriting the Stories HS Teaches Us to Believe

In one of the most impactful episodes of Healing Space yet, Cara speaks directly to the quiet fears and crushing self-blame so many people with HS carry alone. With honesty, clarity, and tenderness, she walks listeners through the harmful stories we absorb — that HS is caused by poor hygiene, weight, food choices, lack of discipline, or even moral failure — and systematically replaces them with truth and compassion. Cara breaks down why these beliefs feel so convincing, how society reinforces them, and why none of them are rooted in science or reality. She names the shame, the comparison, the guilt, and the “maybe this is my fault” questions that live inside so many chronically ill people. And for each one, she offers a new narrative: You did not cause this. You are not dirty. You are not lazy. You are not being punished. You deserve care simply because you are human. This episode is a grounding reminder that HS is a chronic autoinflammatory condition — not a consequence of choices or character — and that releasing blame is a radical act of healing. A companion worksheet is available to help listeners unpack and rewrite the stories they’ve been carrying. Explore more episodes, tools, and guided emotional support at hsconnect.org/healingspace. This podcast was made possible by UCB.

HS & Secrecy — Why We Hide It, and How to Stop Punishing Ourselves

Living with hidradenitis suppurativa often means carrying more than physical pain — it means carrying it quietly. In this episode of Healing Space, we talk about the part of HS that rarely gets named: secrecy. Why so many of us hide our diagnosis.  The difference between healthy privacy and punishing silence.  Why your story can feel fragile — like an egg — after diagnosis.  How to recognize who is actually safe to tell.  And what gentle disclosure can look like in real life. If you’ve ever felt pressure to explain yourself, guilt for staying quiet, or shame for protecting your story, this conversation is for you. You are not weak for keeping HS private — you were surviving. This episode is paired with a reflective worksheet available at hsconnect.org, designed to help you process secrecy without shame and take one small step toward connection, on your own terms. Sponsored by UCB, with gratitude for supporting patient-centered conversations and the HS community. This podcast was made possible by UCB.

You Were Just Diagnosed — Start Here

If you’ve just heard the words hidradenitis suppurativa, this episode is for you. A new diagnosis can feel overwhelming, confusing, and frightening — sometimes all at once. In this Healing Space episode, we slow everything down and focus on what actually matters in the very beginning. We talk about: * Why your emotions feel big and contradictory * What a diagnosis really means — and what it doesn’t * What you don’t need to figure out yet * How to take your first next step without urgency or panic * How to protect your mental health from information overload You are not broken. You are not failing. And you do not need to become an HS expert overnight. This episode is paired with a gentle “Start Here” worksheet available at hsconnect.org, created to help newly diagnosed patients process, breathe, and find their footing — without pressure. Sponsored by UCB, thank you for supporting Healing Space and helping ensure newly diagnosed patients don’t have to navigate this moment alone. This podcast was made possible by UCB.

Special Episode with Brindley Brooks, MD Experts, & UCB

Special Episode with Brindley Brooks, MD Experts, & UCB In this special Healing Space episode, Healing Space Host, Cara Nethery, is joined by HS Connect Founder & CEO Brindley Brooks and leading experts. for a powerful conversation on the silent struggles of living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) — and why mental health support is just as critical as physical treatment. Joined by Dr. Ginette Okoye, Professor and Chair of Dermatology at Howard University, along with Kajal Bhika from the UCB team, this episode explores the emotional toll of HS, including depression, anxiety, shame, isolation, and the impact on relationships, intimacy, and daily life. Together, the panel discusses: Why mental health is often overlooked in HS care The hidden emotional burden of living with a chronic skin condition How HS affects relationships, self-esteem, and identity Barriers to accessing mental health support The importance of community, validation, and patient-centered care How Healing Space was created to fill critical gaps in emotional and mental health resources for people living with HS This episode also highlights how Healing Space — supported by UCB — was built to provide accessible, judgment-free mental health tools, alternative therapies, and community-driven support so patients never have to navigate HS alone. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or healthcare provider, this conversation offers insight, validation, and hope — and reinforces that HS is more than a skin condition. It’s a whole-person experience that deserves whole-person care. Learn more and access Healing Space resources at hsconnect.org. This podcast was made possible by UCB.

Capability vs. Capacity: Understanding Your Limits With Compassion

In this powerful episode of Healing Space, host Cara opens up a conversation many people living with chronic illness have never been given language for: the difference between capability and capacity. Drawing from real-life experiences shared across the HS community, Cara explains how chronic illness can shrink your daily capacity long before you ever sit down at your desk — and why this has nothing to do with laziness, weakness, or lack of motivation. Through relatable examples, gentle reframing, and compassionate storytelling, Cara guides listeners toward a new way of measuring their day: one that honors what their body has already carried, not what they feel they “should” be doing. If you’ve ever felt shame for slowing down, struggled with unpredictability, or wondered why simple tasks feel impossible on flare days, this episode will help you breathe easier. She also introduces a practical worksheet designed to help you explore your own capacity, reframe daily expectations, and create more emotional space for yourself — even on the hardest days. Listen now and explore more tools, worksheets, and community conversation at hsconnect.org/healingspace. This podcast was made possible by UCB.