When Siana Smith's leg kept going numb at work, she and her colleagues laughed it off. It wasn't until she felt an electric shock shoot down her spine during a self-tape that she knew, deep in her gut, something was really wrong.
After being told "it won't be MS," she finally saw the white dots scattered across her brain on an MRI screen — and burst into tears. This is the story of what came next.
In this episode, Siana — a London-based actor, digital creator, and the voice behind @chronicallyiconicwithms — sits down with Karin and Chris to talk honestly about life with multiple sclerosis.
She shares the invisible symptoms most people never see (brain fog, deep painful itching, that "stepped-in-a-puddle" sensation with no water in sight), how she learned to pace herself through 12-hour film days, and the surprising moments of connection that came from being radically open about her diagnosis.
Whether you're newly diagnosed, supporting someone who is, or just need a reminder that strength can look like simply getting out of bed, this conversation will leave you feeling a little less alone. Hit play and meet someone who decided to be unapologetically herself.
Key Takeaways
- You're allowed to grieve a diagnosis — and the emotions won't be linear. Scared one day, angry the next, okay the day after. All of it is normal.
- Invisible symptoms are real symptoms. Looking "fine" on the outside doesn't mean the inside isn't working overtime through brain fog, nerve pain, and numbness.
- Openness creates connection. Talking about MS didn't make Siana weaker — it built a support system and unexpected community, because "courage is contagious."
- Self-kindness is a strategy, not a luxury. Siana asks herself: "If this were someone I loved, how would I want them to react?" — then treats herself that way.
- Rest is productive. Planning a recovery day between work days isn't quitting; it's protecting future-you.
- Holistic and medical approaches can coexist. Medication, diet, movement, and therapies like hyperbaric oxygen aren't either/or — and the right mix is a personal decision.
- A diagnosis doesn't define you. "You can achieve everything you want in life in spite of having a diagnosis."
Chapters
- 00:00 — Welcome + meet Siana
- 00:45 — Who Siana is beyond her diagnosis
- 01:37 — The "I want to be Annie" moment and falling in love with acting
- 04:01 — Life before diagnosis: the first strange symptoms
- 05:28 — Seeing the MRI, hearing "MS," and the months of fear that followed
- 07:13 — The grieving process and navigating MS day to day
- 08:54 — Learning self-kindness and pacing
- 10:36 — How being open about MS changed everything
- 15:04 — Why she started documenting her journey online
- 17:01 — The invisible symptoms people don't see
- 18:32 — Pacing herself through long days on set
- 19:27 — Lifestyle changes: quitting vaping, the gym, saying no
- 21:07 — Protecting yourself when the world keeps spinning
- 23:02 — When to tell people + the headshot photographer who also had MS
- 26:02 — Finding joy and the mindset shift that primed her
- 28:04 — Treatments: monthly injections and hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- 30:34 — Diet and the foods that help her feel her best
- 32:55 — Advice for someone newly diagnosed and scared
- 34:05 — What "invisible strength" means to Siana
- 35:29 — Skydiving for the MS Society: "If I can do that, I can do anything"
- 38:23 — Silver linings she never expected
- 39:39 — What's ahead: acting dreams and embracing life
- 40:40 — Her final message: you are not your diagnosis
- 41:35 — Where to find Siana online
🌱 Community, resources & coaching: https://www.invigorateyourjourney.com
Siana on TikTok & Instagram: @chronicallyiconicwithms
#ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #InvisibleIllness #HealingJourney #ChronicFatigue #ChronicIllnessSupport #AutoimmuneSupport #InvisibleStrengthPodcast #ms #multiplesclerosis
⚠️ Disclaimer: This content is for education and shared experiences only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare team before making changes.
