This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Cheryl Crow — occupational therapist, founder of Arthritis Life, host of the Arthritis Life podcast, creator of the Rheum to THRIVE course, and someone who has been navigating rheumatoid arthritis for 23+ years. We’re talking all about how we’ve navigated processing life with chronic illness — from the control piece, the acceptance piece and the struggles between. So if you’ve ever struggled with processing chronic illness, you’ll love this episode.
We're diving into:
💊 What it actually looks like to cycle through flare-ups and treatment
🧠 Why high achievers can be particularly “bad” at chronic illness — the "A+ student" trap of believing you can find the perfect system to solve your body
🩺 What occupational therapy actually is — "a psychologist having a baby with a physical therapist" — and why this community desperately needs to know about it
🚌 Our favorite lessons from chronic illness therapy — from the passengers on the bus metaphor, to the ACT framework and the reframes that have truly changed things for us
🙅 Our thoughts on how ableism is innately baked into wellness culture
☕ Our top 3 tips for finding joy while living a life with chronic illness — micro-joys, duvet days, and seeing rest for more than a reward
xx, Alex
💬 Comment: What is your relationship with the word "acceptance" when it comes to your chronic illness?
TIMESTAMPS
Intro:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!
NAVIGATING CHRONIC ILLNESS WITH CHERYL CROW:
00:00:36 Cheryl Crow’s Diagnosis Journey & Early Symptoms
00:09:36 Treatment Cycles & Secondary Loss of Response
MENTAL HEALTH & CHRONIC ILLNESS:
00:11:58 Mental Health, Anxiety, & Catastrophizing
00:15:36 Overachiever Mindsets & disease Management
00:23:25 Occupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy
00:29:30 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
00:34:16 Positive Activity Scheduling & Micro-Joys
NAVIGATING “FEELING BETTER” WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS:
00:37:05 Facing Ableism & Cultural Assumptions
00:48:40 Finding Transformation & Agency
00:56:03 Rest, Sleep Divas, & Duvet Days
Conclusion:
00:59:53 One Brain Cell Show: Dancing with the Stars (Disney+)
01:01:43 Thank you for listening!
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Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568
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Connect with our guest, Cheryl Crow:
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/arthritis_life_cheryl/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@arthritislife
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/arthritislife
• Website - https://arthritis.theenthusiasticlife.com/about-cheryl/
Episode Resources
• Kate Bowler, “No Cure for Being Human” - https://link.amazon/B07znkSfA
• Kate Bowler, “Everything Happens for a Reason, and Other Lies I’ve Loved” - https://link.amazon/B0246dY3H
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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/
#RheumatoidArthritis #OccupationalTherapy #ChronicIllness #ACTTherapy #AcceptanceAndCommitmentTherapy #ArthritisLife #CherylCrow #ChronicPain #MedicalGaslighting #BoomAndBust #ChronicIllnessAcceptance #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #Ableism #MicroJoys #DuvetDay #RheumToThrive #AutoimmuneDisease #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson
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