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

062 The Laundry Can Wait: Learning to Leave Things Undone

Lately, I’ve been spending more time sitting in the pool with my husband while the laundry waits inside. The dishes still need to be done. The emails are still there. The to-do list hasn’t magically disappeared. I’m still tired. I’m still in a flare. For most of my life, I believed rest was something you earned after everything else was finished. Chronic illness only amplified that belief. There is always another symptom to manage, another appointment to schedule, another piece of paperwork to complete. At some point, I realized I had become the manager of my life instead of actually living it. This episode is an honest conversation about unfinished laundry, poolside conversations, and learning that joy doesn’t need permission from productivity. Because the dishes can wait. The people we love won’t always be sitting beside us on a Tuesday afternoon. What You’ll Learn * Why chronic illness can make life feel constantly urgent * How productivity quietly becomes tied to worth * The difference between managing life and living it * Why connection and joy matter even in hard seasons * Permission to enjoy your life before everything is finished * Why leaving things undone isn’t always laziness One Tiny Step Choose one thing this week that brings you joy or connection and do it before your to-do list is finished. * Sit outside with your coffee. * Call a friend. * Watch the sunset. * Float in the pool. Let one thing wait while you remember you’re allowed to live your life too. Related Episodes 1. 058 The Invisible, Full Time Job of Chronic Illness [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-invisible-illness-club-chronic-illness-auto-immune/id1796891851?i=1000771812037] 2. 060 Faith in Different Seasons: Remembering that God is bigger than chronic illness [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-invisible-illness-club-chronic-illness-auto-immune/id1796891851?i=1000773840107] Resources * Join The Unseen Sisterhood newsletter [https://www.theinvisibleillnessclub.com/unseen-sisterhood-newsletter] * Visit The Invisible Illness Club website [https://www.theinvisibleillnessclub.com/] * Listen to more episodes of The Invisible Illness Club Podcast [https://www.theinvisibleillnessclub.com/podcasts] Credits Hosted by April Aramanda The Invisible Illness Club Podcast — Let’s talk honestly about life, faith, and chronic illness. Music licensed through AudioJungle.

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]