Johannah tells her moving story of feeling helpless when every doctor dismissed her symptoms. Eventually, she withdrew from the medical system and assumed her only option was to live with her debilitating symptoms. Luckily, Johannah met Dr. Drossman and learned that her symptoms stemmed from a previous food poisoning incident that led to disordered gut-brain communication. She worked with Dr. Drossman to create a management plan that addressed her body and brain. Johannah has a master’s degree in education and a career in non-profit management. She is also the executive director of the Rome Foundation and secretary-treasurer for the center for education and practice of biopsychosocial care. In addition to her professional experience, she is a digestive health patient and patient advocate. Dr. Douglas Drossman is trained in both gastroenterology and psychiatry. He is professor emeritus of medicine and psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, professor emeritus and chief of operations of the Rome Foundation and president of the center for education and practice of biopsychosocial care and DrossmanCare. Dr. Drossman and Johannah are co-authors of two books Gut Feelings - Disorders of the Gut-Brain Interaction and the Patient-Doctor Relationship and the second book which will be coming out in the near future Gut Feelings - The Patient Story.  

Communicating with your doctor can be challenging – especially if your symptoms are difficult to explain and there is no straightforward treatment. Patients often feel disrespected and shut down during their appointments. However, a supportive partnership with your doctor is possible. Dr. Drossman will share his insightful tips from his book Gut Feelings - Disorders of the Gut-Brain Interaction and the Patient-Doctor Relationship: A Guide for Patients and Doctors. Dr. Douglas Drossman is trained in both gastroenterology and psychiatry. He is professor emeritus of medicine and psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, professor emeritus and chief of operations of the Rome Foundation and president of the center for education and practice of biopsychosocial care and DrossmanCare.

Dr. Drossman explains how we need to look at the big picture when searching for the cause of distressing symptoms (i.e. disorders of the gut-brain interaction). For example, when patients focus exclusively on the role of food, they may miss the treatments that are most likely to help them get back to a good quality of life. Dr. Douglas Drossman is trained in both gastroenterology and psychiatry. He is professor emeritus of medicine and psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, professor emeritus and chief of operations of the Rome Foundation and president of the center for education and practice of biopsychosocial care and DrossmanCare. Additionally, Dr. Drossman has co-authored the book, Gut Feelings: Disorders of the Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI) and the Patient-Doctor Relationship.

Shelly answers one of my burning questions about the benefits of observing the breath vs regulating it. She takes us through a meditation to encourage longer, smoother and softer breathing (but not necessarily deep). This practice can help calm the nervous system, decrease hypervigilance and minimize a variety of physical or mental health symptoms. Shelly also explains that "deep" breathing can sometimes lead to over-breathing with the upper chest and neck muscles, which can activate the sympathetic nervous system and may be counterproductive for some people.   Shelly is a physiotherapist, yoga therapist, author, educator, and pioneer of PhysioYoga with over 23 years of experience integrating yoga into physiotherapy and specializes in areas of chronic pain, pelvic health, and professional burnout. She lectures at physiotherapy and yoga programs, contributes to research, presents at conferences globally, provides mentorship for professionals, and offers courses and resources for healthcare professionals and the general population. Shelly has authored book chapters in rehabilitation textbooks and is the co-editor/author of Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in Pain. She maintains a clinical practice in Sylvan Lake, Canada and believes compassion is the foundation of healthcare. Visit www.physioyoga.ca to learn more.   www.physioyoga.ca and on social media: Instagram & Twitter: @proskoyoga FB page: Prosko PhysioYoga Therapy

When you lose the joy of eating because of a restricted diet, life can become bland. However, non-food sources of joy can bring back some pleasure and excitement. Melanie reminds us why joy is vital and how we can intentionally create opportunities to enrich our lives.  Melanie Mitchell Epp is an author, speaker and coach who knows that true change happens when we change how we think. She wrote an empowering book called “I Don’t Think So” that tells the story of how she overcame the greatest challenges of her life. She does one to one coaching and she has an online program called Your Whole Hearted Life, dedicated to helping people overcome pain, patterns and powerlessness. Melanie believes that change is possible for anyone who wants it. If you want to experience change in your life, Melanie can show you how to make that happen. You can find her at www.melaniemitchellepp.com

When you have sensitivities, getting overly focused on food and forgetting about your eating environment is easy. Instead, take the time to create an inviting environment and bring enjoyment back to your meal! In addition to more enjoyment, a better relationship with food can reduce your reactivity. Kristin will share her insightful tips to make meals more pleasurable, even on a restricted diet. Kristyn is a registered dietitian helping men and women in midlife eat better & feel better with food, not diets, through coaching, mindfulness and nourishment. She provides energy, education and a shame-free space to talk about your food and nutrition struggles. I can testify that she is a culinary wizard. Her Instagram posts are mouth-watering. Nutrition is one of the most powerful, yet under-used therapies for our health and wellness. If you are hungry for healthy, sustainable nutrition strategies to help you feel better and reclaim your best health, you can reach Kristyn through her website at www.EnergizeNutrition.ca

When you have food sensitivities, it is easy to get in a repetitive-food rut and resent food. Kathlena's stories and creative meal ideas will empower you to break out of this rut and rediscover the joy of eating. Kathlena has over 200 food allergies & intolerances, including most water. The members of her household also have food allergies and special diets, none of them the same. After being told she had 30 days to live, she made it her mission to help the food allergy community thrive. Three years from her lowest point, she and her team have published cookbooks, started a bakery, done nationwide outreach, developed recipes and resources, and more. You can reach Kathlena through her websites (raise.theallergychef.com OR goraise.net), Instagram (@theallergychef), Youtube (theallergychef) and Facebook (freeandfriendly).

Kristina Seefeldt, who faced severe food allergies and anxiety, shares her journey of rebuilding trust with food. Topics include distinguishing between anxiety and physical reactions, navigating body trust, empowering proactivity in managing allergies, and rebuilding trust after challenging experiences.

Vigilance describes how careful you are with your food restrictions. Your quality of life will suffer if you are either under- or over-vigilant. Kristina shares her journey of finding a healthy degree of vigilance. Kristina Seefeldt has navigated anaphylactic food allergies her whole life. Born and raised in Alberta, Kristina moved to Toronto in 2015 to pursue her Master of Arts in Criminology at the University of Toronto. She currently works at Toronto Community Housing's Community Safety Unit. Work aside, Kristina is a yoga teacher, a dedicated traveller (when the world is not in the throes of a pandemic!), and despite her allergies, a huge foodie. You reach Kristina through IG @kristina.flows.

It is easy to get caught in a futile struggle to try and get other people to understand and accept your food sensitivities. Christine shares stories of how this led to frustration and why she keeps her explanations to a minimum. Christine Myers is a wife and a mom of two. She is a chronic illness warrior, nutritional therapy practitioner student, former pastry chef , content creator and a board member of the non-profit organization Lichen Sclerosus support network. For years she has struggled with numerous chronic illnesses and food sensitivities. She shares her delicious recipes and her journey to thriving with chronic illness and food sensitivities through her website (www.insicknessandinwellness.com) and Instagram (@insicknessandinwellness).