Calling In Sick

Happy New Year my lovies!!! In honor of the new year, I’m officially launching a new podcast segment… Ask Alex!  Every week (yes, even during guest episodes!), we’ll post the upcoming podcast topic (and guest) to our Substack and ask our subscribers to submit questions. I’ll answer a handful of these on the podcast each week, and the rest of the Q&A will live exclusively on Substack. For this first Ask Alex episode, I’m tackling some of  most requested questions… like what are my actual routines like, how I make medication decisions, what to do about medical finances and debt, and how to communicate boundaries and symptoms to those that *just don’t get it*. Substack EXCLUSIVES! This week, only our Substack subscribers will hear my two cents on micro-dosing and how to know when it might be time to consider long-term disability. I’ve been so excited to bring this segment to life. It’s my little way of saying thank you… for your support, your vulnerability, your questions, and for trusting me with your stories this past year. This community means everything to me, and I can’t wait to keep building this space together in 2026. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: So have you subscribed to our Substack now!? Subscribe to our Substack here: ⁠https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod?⁠ TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:02:58 My REALLY BIG life update!!!! 00:07:52 Alex’s Picks (AG1 and Ella’s Flats)  Ask Alex Q&A: 00:09:09 Tips on being the best caregiver 00:11:52 Are we doing an IRL meet up?! 00:12:38 GLP-1s and peptides for inflammation  00:13:21 How to stay on track with routines when you’re homebound 00:15:12 My low spoon, under 10-minute skincare, makeup and haircare routine 00:16:40 The things I grieved the most after my diagnosis 00:19:17 Finances & communicating budgets to our loved ones 00:21:18 Explaining boundaries and symptoms to those that do NOT understand 00:23:06 When to use disability aids (parking placard, cane, walker, etc.) 00:24:14 New Years guilt & feeling stuck in the same place as last year 00:26:30 How I *actually* motivate myself to physically get out of bed in the morning 00:28:24 How I decide to take (or not take) medications 00:29:41 My top tips for advocating at the ER (especially when we have trauma!!) Conclusion: 00:31:27 One Brain Cell Show 00:33:18 Thank you for listening!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 • Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: My go to passive wellness picks, in food form!! ✨AG1 — https://go.shopmy.us/p-37437789 ✨Ella’s Flats — https://go.shopmy.us/p-37437898 —> ALEXANDRAWILDESON15 for 15% off #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicPain #HealthJourney #DisabilityAwareness #flareup #ChronicIllnessSupport #WorkingWithChronicIllness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #SoftLiving #NewYearDifferentRules #AskAlex #QuestionandAnswer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, we’re talking about the terrifying and liberating shift from hiding your illness to letting the world see it. I’m joined by the incredible Sara Levitt, a Crohn’s warrior, Ostomy advocate, model, and creator who lived privately with her Ostomy for 15 years… before deciding that invisibility wasn’t serving her anymore. Today, she takes up space… in fashion shows, brand campaigns, magazines, and online, challenging stigma by simply existing visibly, confidently, and honestly. We dive into: ✨ What going public with your illness REALLY feels like ✨ Imposter syndrome & identity shifts when sickness becomes visible ✨ The critics, misconceptions, and assumptions we all endure ✨ Why storytelling is activism, even when it’s hard If you’ve ever worried about being “too sick” or “not sick enough” to be believed… this episode will encourage you to shop up however you want, however you are. xx, Alex Comment: What’s one part of your illness that feels hardest to make visible? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:02:13 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Mayfair & Tilt) Get to know Sara Levitt: 00:03:03 Intro to Sara Levitt (Crohn’s warrior, Ostomy advocate, model, and creator ) 00:12:43 Why we went into content creation and chronic illness advocacy work 00:23:40 What it’s like to work with brands that work to amplify voices with chronic illness 00:26:26 Finding confidence while working as a model with chronic illness 00:33:33 Navigating the pressure of advocacy work within the chronic illness community 00:44:24 Finding confidence, a sense of self-worth, positivity and hope despite chronic illness Conclusion: 00:51:30 One Brain Cell Show: Gossip Girl!!! 00:57:06 Thank you for listening! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 • Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: This week, I’m picking brands that help make the invisible, visible by celebrating disability, chronic illness and mental health, instead of showcasing. ✨Mayfair — https://go.shopmy.us/p-31914468 Use code ALEXANDRA15 for 15% off! ✨Tilt — https://go.shopmy.us/p-30221469 Use code ALEXANDRA20 for 20% off! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with our Guest, Sara Levitt: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/saralevs/?hl=en • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@saralevitt?lang=en #ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #OstomyLife #CrohnsDisease #IBDWarrior #DynamicDisability #MedicalGaslighting #BodyNeutrality #DisabilityAdvocate #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #ChronicPain #SpoonieSupport #HealthJourney #SelfAdvocacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m joined by @Samantha Duran, a chronic illness and pain advocate, accessible fashion designer and content creator who is radically honest about life with chronic illness. We talk about the parts of chronic pain that rarely make it into doctor’s offices or public conversations: the shame around needing relief, the reality of public judgment, and the exhausting internal battle of deciding how much pain is “enough” pain to deserve care. Together, we unpack the misconceptions that keep people suffering in silence. We’re diving into: ✨ Samantha’s journey with chronic illness and how it shaped who she is ✨ Why dynamic disabilities are so misunderstood ✨ The stigma around pain management and seeking relief ✨ The internal guilt, fear, and self-doubt that comes with chronic pain ✨ What compassionate, patient-centered pain care should look like If you’ve ever minimized your pain, questioned whether you’re “sick enough,” or felt ashamed for wanting relief, this conversation is for you. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s the hardest part of living with chronic pain that people don’t see? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:03:15 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Hair Growth Go-Tos: DIVI, K18, Jupiter, Hairstory) Our discussion on chronic pain & dynamic disabilities: 00:06:10 Get to know Samantha Duran 00:14:45 The reality of living with a dynamic disability 00:27:20 What living with chronic pain is REALLY like 00:48:00 Why there is a stigma around seeking relief from chronic pain 00:55:15 Why the current medical system’s understanding of chronic pain makes getting relief harder than it needs to be 01:06:47 What gives us hope that chronic pain management will improve over time Conclusion: 01:08:55 One Brain Cell Segment 01:14:17 Thank you for listening! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Follow our Guest, Samantha Duran! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adisabledicon/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adisabledicon?lang=en Shop her Store: https://thanksicon.com/ Listen to her chronic pain playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6OgAKjwfWMATonF4pNnBHP?si=IRavatdDTzmC0hPmZERoRw 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 Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: Samantha said it best… you can be sick, and hot!! Here are my favorite products for reclaiming your hair from chronic illness (no more thinning or frail hair!!) ✨DIVI — https://go.shopmy.us/p-36240548 Alexandra15 for 15% off at checkout!  ✨Jupiter — https://go.shopmy.us/p-36240630 Alexandra20 for 20% off at checkout!  ✨HairStory — https://go.shopmy.us/p-36240725 ✨K18 —https://go.shopmy.us/p-36240750 #ChronicPain #PainManagement #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #MedicalGaslighting #DisabilityAdvocate #ChronicIllness #HealthJourney #MentalHealth #PainStigma #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #spooniesupport #samanthaduran #accessibility #dynamicdisability #ambulatorydisability  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick I’m pulling back the curtain on the last two months of medical testing — why I said yes to a clinical study, what the actual tests were like, and how I’m handling the weird emotional whiplash of “we did all that… and we still don’t have a perfect answer.” I’m tired, I’m flaring, I had my first day of IVIG… and somehow we’re still laughing (because if we don’t laugh, we scream in a medical trailer getting injected with nuclear medicine 🙃). We’re diving into: ✨ Why I joined a clinical study (and what it’s actually used for) ✨ The 5-test diagnostic gauntlet: prednisone taper, bloodwork, scopes, pill cam, MRAs/MRIs + a PET scan ✨ Insurance + scheduling lore from HELL ✨ Colonoscopy prep amnesia (it’s like childbirth… you forget on purpose) ✨ My polarizing take: Google Maps > Apple Maps (fight me) ✨ The pill cam panic + urgent care x2 in one week ✨ The mindset shift I didn’t see coming: career momentum, motherhood timeline, and accepting what I’m not ready for yet xx, Alex 💬 COMMENT: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever had to do for medical testing? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:06:18 Alex’s Picks of the Week: Gap Body pajamas + bear slippers (kids section hack) Meat & Potatoes: The Diagnostic Gauntlet 00:09:08 Setting the stage: why I did the study 00:09:34 Clinical study 101 (and why it matters for future patients) 00:11:44 The deeper reason: the childhood diagnosis question mark 00:14:21 Prednisone taper (DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME) 00:19:27 Colonoscopy/endoscopy scheduling chaos + prep misery 00:22:26 Bloodwork off meds (and why I wanted the comparison) 00:25:14 Pill cam explained 00:30:47 MRAs/MRIs explained 00:34:56 Rituxan win: the mid-infusion Benadryl trick 00:36:02 IVIG recall 00:36:43 PET scans explained 00:39:19 Biggest takeaways: prep worse than tests + results didn’t show much 00:42:38 What’s next: oral prednisone vs IV, CAR-T trial, methotrexate or… Conclusion: 00:46:00 Why I feel “weirdly okay” right now (and what chronic illness teaches you) 00:49:24 Soft30 with Elastique 00:50:06 One Brain Cell Show: Age of Disclosure 00:52:34 Thank you for listening!  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 • Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Alex’s Picks of the Week: We’re talking “surviving medical chaos” essentials this week… aka comfort items and small joys. ✨Gap Body pajamas (port-friendly button down) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-35563702 ✨Gap bear slippers — https://go.shopmy.us/p-35563870 ✨Our MERCH is available still…. Get it while it lasts!!!! — https://calling-in-sick.myshopify.com/ —— Use code “ZOFRAN” for a special discount!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 🥄 RSVP: Cooking with Cooper LIVE on YouTube on 12/19 —https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cooking-with-coop-tickets-1976990439624?aff=oddtdtcreator ---------------------------------------------------------------- #callinginsickpodcast #callinginsick #chronicillness #autoimmune #spoonielife #spooniesupport #invisibleillness #healthjourney #ivig #rituxan #prednisone #vasculitis #lupuslife #endometriosis #chronicpain #fatigue #medicalgaslighting #spoonietribe #flareup #petscan #pillcam #colonoscopy #mri #mra #clinicalstudy #chronicillnesshumor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick we’re talking about one of the most controversial skills you’ll ever learn with chronic illness… working smarter instead of harder. After 25+ years being the patient, I’ve learned something I WISH someone told me as a kid… healthy-person rules were never designed for us. So I’m walking you through the “rules” I break on purpose, why my body finally didn’t crash after a holiday (knocking on wood), and the smarter systems I’ve built that protect my energy, time, and sanity. We’re diving into: ✨ Automating anything that drains your energy ✨ Outsourcing high-spoon, low-reward tasks ✨ Scheduling around spoons (not expectations) ✨ Proactive wellness + mobility aids BEFORE you look sick ✨ Habit stacking (my Soft30 girlies knowwww) We’ll talk if it’s OK taking mid-day naps during the workweek, cancelling last-minute, using a wheelchair-at-the-airport and what mindset shift that changed everything for me this year. If you’ve ever been called lazy, dramatic, or “too much” for doing what your body actually needs… then this episode is going to be like a chat with THAT friend who encourages you to break every rule healthy people consider “normal.” xx, Alex 💬 COMMENT: What societal rule do YOU break because of chronic illness? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:01:20 Introducing... Soft30 Challenge with Elastique 00:04:20 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Elastique, Comrad, MERCH!!!) Work Smarter, Not Harder: 00:06:47 Why working smarter not harder may disappoint healthy people 00:10:37 Tip 1: Automate anything that drains you 00:12:39 Tip 2: Outsource selectively 00:15:22 Tip 3: Own your own schedule 00:18:12 Tip 4: Be proactive with your spoons 00:22:33 Tip 5: Habit stacking & My top 5 wellness tools // products Conclusion: 00:27:48 One Brain Cell Show: Man on the Inside (Netflix) 00:29:42 Thank you for listening! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 • Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: We’re talking smarter systems and strategies this week… which obviously means I had to pick things in-line with that aka compression wear ✨Elastique — https://tidd.ly/4oyZWpa —— ALEXW30 for 30% ✨Comrad Socks — go.shopmy.us/p-28820619 —— ALEXWILDESON for 20% ✨Our MERCH is available still…. Get it while it lasts!!!! — https://calling-in-sick.myshopify.com/ —— Use code “ZOFRAN” for a special discount!! #callinginsickpodcast #callinginsick #chronicillness #autoimmune #spoonielife #spooniesupport #invisibleillness #worksmartnothard #disabilitylife #chronicpain #fatigue #chronicillnesspodcast #healthjourney #chronicillnesshumor #autoimmunedisease #lupuslife #vasculitis #mixedconnectivetissuedisease #spoonietips #spoonietools #wellnesstips #ivig #rituxan #duvetday #chronicillnesssupport #pacingskills #spoonietribe #energybudget #restday #mobilityaids #compressionwear #habitstacking #soft30 #burnoutprevention #medicalgaslighting #restisproductive #spoons #flarestory #restculture #energyconservation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, we’re getting into one of the most universal chronic illness experiences that NOBODY warns you about. What happens when you internalize the words “I don’t believe you,” and how that becomes the voice in your head. After 25+ years of being the patient, I’m unpacking how dismissal, doubt, and “are you sure?” became my default setting and how trauma therapy (for something else entirely) made me realize how DEEP this runs. We’re diving into: ⭐ The childhood moments that taught me to question my own symptoms — the arthritic kid in the 90s, the teacher who didn’t believe me, and the way it rewired my brain ⚡️ The universal experience that bonds every chronic illness patient — why people don’t “get it” unless they live it, touch it, or you explain it in their language 🧠 How this internalized disbelief shows up everywhere else — work, relationships, self-doubt, medical OCD, and becoming addicted to proving yourself ✨ The realization in trauma therapy that changed everything — and why this “I don’t believe you” voice isn’t actually yours If you’ve ever caught yourself wondering, “Are my symptoms real?” “Do people think I’m exaggerating?” “Is this all in my head?” …this episode is for you. xx,Alex Comment: Do you default to thinking people do believe you, or don’t believe you? Timestamps: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:00:25 The childhood moments that taught me to question my own symptoms 00:04:07 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Elastique, Warmies, Calling in Sick merch) 00:10:02 The realization in trauma therapy that changed everything 00:15:52 People “don’t get” chronic illness until they live it, touch it, or you explain it in a language they understand 00:20:17 How internalized disbelief shows up everywhere else (work, relationships, self-doubt, medical OCD, etc.) 00:29:01 The “I don’t believe you” voice in your head isn’t actually yours 00:30:38 One Brain Cell Show: Secret Lives of Mormon Wives 00:32:28 Thank you for listening! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 • Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: This week we’re talking COMFORT because when you have a big “aha” in therapy, your body needs all the softness ✨Elastique wearable wellness for on the go lymphatic-friendly comfort compression — https://go.shopmy.us/p-29784091 ✨Warmies microwaveable, weighted and an immediate nervous system hug packed into slippers — https://amzn.to/4pl7UmU ✨Shop Our Merch ✨ — https://calling-in-sick.myshopify.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, we’re diving into one of the most begged-for topics in women’s health… hormones. We talk about what they actually do, how they impact chronic illness, and why SO many of us are misdiagnosed or dismissed for years. I’m joined by Dr. Shawn Tassone, America’s Holistic Gynecologist, a double board-certified OB/GYN + Integrative Medicine MD with a PhD in Mind-Body Medicine. He’s known for blending science and spirituality, calling out misinformation online, and giving women the tools to finally understand their bodies. We’re breaking down: 🧩 Hormones 101 — what they really control (hint: it’s way beyond PMS) 🔥 Hormones & Chronic Illness — autoimmune overlap, stress load, flare patterns 🩺 What you can do — red flags, labs that matter, treatments and integrative care 🚨 Hormone Mythbusting — cortisol panic, “balancing your hormones,” internet BS If hormones feel like a mystery box, this episode will make everything finally click. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s ONE hormone symptom you wish doctors took seriously? TIMESTAMPS Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:02:39 Alex’s Picks of the Week (MERCH!!, Giveaway, Corkcicle, Hatch) Interview with Dr. Tassone 00:05:34 Intro to Hormones 00:10:50 Intro to Dr. Tassone (who he is, what he does and how he became the Hormone Guru) 00:18:33 Why there is SO much misinformation online about health 00:21:58 Calling in Sick Merch Drop Details 00:25:48 Women's Health & Narrative Medicine Women's Hormones 00:30:17 Why women's hormone health has been overlooked for SO long 00:32:57 The black box warning on women's hormone treatment 00:40:15 When should you look into your hormone health (testing & treatment) 00:44:52 The wrench that insurance throws into this mix (Alex's most recent crashout & impact to procedures) 00:49:50 Current hormone treatments on the market 00:53:57 Rapid Fire Myth Busting and why hormones impact chronic illness Conclusion: 00:58:48 One Brain Cell Segment 01:01:01 Where to find Dr. Tassone & Thank You!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 • Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week:These are my favorite finds to start my morning softly… and without spills! ✨Corckcicle, Sierra Leakproof Cruiser — go.shopmy.us/p-30936310 — CODE: ShopMy20 for 20% off at checkout ✨Hatch, Restore 3 — go.shopmy.us/p-32313847 — $30 off until 12/2, or until it sells out!! MERCH IS LIVE! https://calling-in-sick.myshopify.com/ #HormoneHealth #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #MindBodyConnection #WomenHealth #DrShawnTassone #HormoneBalanceBible #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #IntegrativeMedicine #Endometriosis #PCOS #Inflammation #MedicalGaslighting #HolisticGynecology #Cortisol #HRT #functionalmedicine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month has been a whirlwind, filled with highs and lows that nearly took a toll. The host dives into the consequences of pushing personal boundaries around food, sleep, and socializing. Testing dietary limits leads to unexpected illness while sleep proves crucial for stability. Despite physical setbacks, socializing brings unexpected joy. The journey highlights the balance between living life fully and managing health. Tune in for reflections on what worked, what didn’t, and plans for a more balanced approach moving forward!

I had a toddler-level crash out this week… like, full-on crying mid–Hot Girl Walk. In this episode, I try to make sense of where it came from. Hint: my brain was definitely trying to protect me. Between the prednisone taper, nonstop testing, and the mental gymnastics of waiting for answers, I didn’t realize how much my anxiety had been brewing under the surface. So today, I’m getting real about what’s actually behind it — and what this latest meltdown taught me. I open up about: 😭 How the literal anticipation of bad news made me crash out 🧠 The sneaky tricks our brains play on us (and why we need to not borrow tomorrow’s trouble) 🩺 Why negative test results can feel like heartbreak 💔 How hard it can be when those you love fail to support you in the way you need 🤯 How I gaslit myself into questioning if I can even be a mom Anxiety really is one SOB, isn’t it?!  xx,Alex 💬 Comment: How do YOU want people to show up for you when you’re struggling — with shit talking, solutions, solidarity, or silliness? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:03:10 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Elastique, Lola Blanket) Why I crashed the F out: 00:04:40 Confession time (ie: I crashed out) 00:08:12 Why I think I got so anxious 00:10:35 How my brain started to play tricks on me 00:14:52 My medical update 00:20:26 What I know for sure: my current protocol isn’t working 00:2250 My reframe since my crash out 00:25:00 The 4 different ways that people need support 00:27:47 The 3 reasons that people may not show up for you when you need them most Conclusion: 00:34:11 One Brain Cell Show: Dancing with the Stars 00:35:27 My approach for the next 2 months 00:36:18 Thanks for Calling in Sick with me this week!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 • Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: During the rollercoaster of this week, I’ve been leaning into anything that makes life easier, and these 2 have been absolute lifesavers ✨Elastique - https://go.shopmy.us/p-23182655 ✨Lola Blankets - https://go.shopmy.us/p-29496707 ALEXWILD for 55% off at checkout #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessAwareness #SpoonieLife #SpoonieSupport #ChronicPain #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicFatigue #MentalHealthMatters #HealingJourney #HealthAnxiety #PrednisoneProblems #VasculitisWarrior #ChronicIllnessCommunity #SpooniePodcast #IllnessJourney #MedicalMystery #MindBodyConnection #SelfCompassion #ChronicWarrior #BrainHealth #TraumaHealing #HealthUpdate #PatientPerspective #Duality #AutoimmuneLife #HealthPodcast #SpoonieStories  #EmotionalHealing  #ChronicIllnessAdvocate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, we talked about giving ourselves permission to have fun — but this week? We’re swinging the pendulum back the other way. Because I made zero adjustments and just had fun… which was great until it wasn’t. Truth is, one of the hardest people to set boundaries with is actually ourselves. In this episode, I talk through what it looks like to chase joy, crash hard, and try to recover without beating yourself up. Spoiler alert: I’m recording this after two straight days of IVIG, so I’m right in the thick of it. Here’s what we get into: 🚷 Why we need to set boundaries with ourselves to make life sustainable 🧳 The “oops I had fun and now I’m in spoon jail” cycle 🌿 Ottine road trips, mineral springs, and my new “Come With Me” content series 🪑 The adjustments I’m making in real time This one’s for the people who are 0 or 100, all or nothing, go-go-go until your joints give out. You’re not lazy. You’re not failing. You’re just human — and that’s more than enough. Thanks for Calling in Sick with me, again 💛 xx, Alex Comment: What’s one boundary you’re learning to set with yourself lately? Need to catch up on last week's episode? Here! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling In Sick! 00:00:30 Alex Life Updates! 00:03:00 Alex’s Picks of the Week! (discount code & links below) 00:04:28 The asterisk that should come after “Just Have Fun!” 00:06:00 How I allocate spoons (aka my energy!!) 00:11:30 Why I landed myself in sick chick jail this week (sorry for having a good time!!!) 00:15:43 Introducing My New Content Series, Come With Me!! 00:20:10 What Boundaries I’m Putting Up Against Myself 00:23:05 One Brain Cell TV: Your Friends & Neighbors (Apple) 00:28:06 LOVE YOU GUYS! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Stay connected and follow social: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod • Facebook -  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568 • Substack -  https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: ✨The Detox Market — https://go.shopmy.us/p-19681555 ———- ALEXWILDDETOX15 for 15% off at checkout! ✨Tower 28, SOS Line — https://go.shopmy.us/p-19830687 #podcast #podcastclips #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicPain #ChronicFatigue #SpoonieLife #HealthJourney #CallingInSick #SpoonieSupport #ChronicIllnessAwareness #MedicalJourney #DisabilityAwareness #SurvivalMode #IdentityShift #medicalgaslighting #womenshealth #selfadvocacy #medicalbias   #vasculitis #mixedconnectivetissuedisease #ibd #irritableboweldisease #trauma #ptsd #mentalhealthmatters #findjoy #glimmers #guiltforjoy  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices