CLICK HERE TO SEND ME A MESSAGE. I love to hear from my listeners --Leslie

In this enlightening episode of the Sick and Seeking podcast, I have a candid conversation with Ali Moresco about her unexpected journey with chronic illness, particularly focusing on tick-borne diseases. Ali shares her personal experiences navigating the healthcare system and underscores the vital role of advocacy and support in her journey.

We address common misconceptions about tick-borne illnesses, the importance of accurate testing, and how service animals can enhance the management of chronic conditions.

Join us for this heartfelt exploration of community, resilience, and the transformative power of turning personal trials into advocacy work.

Conversation Highlights:

• The Reality of Chronic Illness: Ali opens up about how a tick bite drastically altered her life, bringing to light the seriousness of tick-borne diseases and the challenges they present.
• Importance of Advocacy: We emphasize the critical role advocacy plays in navigating healthcare and encourage listeners to seek help when needed.
• Misunderstanding Tick-Borne Diseases: Ali clarifies that many tick-borne diseases present with flu-like symptoms, and less than 30% of Lyme disease cases exhibit the characteristic bullseye rash.
• The Role of Service Animals: We highlight how her service dog, Scout, has been instrumental in managing her condition, providing both physical and emotional support.
• Addressing Long COVID: We also touch on POTS as a long-term complication of COVID-19 and discuss the broader implications of the pandemic on chronic health issues.
• The Journey of Grieving: Ali reflects on the emotional journey of grieving one’s former self while adapting to the realities of chronic illness and the importance of community support.

Quotes:

"Ticks carry hundreds of diseases."

"POTS is essentially long COVID."

"We need more knowledge sharing."

Connect with Ali:

Website | Instagram

🌟 Connect with Leslie and Sick and Seeking Community: 🌟
Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram

Join an Embodied Movement Class or Wild Women's Circle!
🔥 CLICK HERE for details 🔥

🌟 FREE Support Group: Chronic Conditions - Coffee & Connection🌟
--> For people who are managing a long term health issue
-->We meet on ZOOM once a month at 12pm PT

Like The Show? Show Your Support With a Donation!

Sick and Seeking Disclaimer

CLICK HERE TO SEND ME A MESSAGE. I love to hear from my listeners --Leslie

In this episode of the Sick and Seeking Podcast, I interview Erica Hornthal, a dance and movement therapist, about the powerful connection between movement and emotional expression. We explore how dance movement therapy goes beyond traditional dance, highlighting its significance in mental health and self-awareness.

Erica shares her insights on the mind-body connection, emphasizing the need for a rich movement vocabulary and the importance of giving oneself permission to move freely. Our conversation reveals movement’s therapeutic potential in processing emotions, fostering deeper self-connection, and promoting healing. We also discuss the intricate relationship between trauma and the body, advocating for a holistic approach to self-acceptance amid chronic pain.

Join us as we unpack the transformative power of movement therapy and its role in emotional healing and self-discovery.

Conversation Highlights:

• The concept that “dance movement therapy finds us, not the other way around.”
• How dance serves as a rhythmic expression of emotion, reflecting our mindset.
• The significance of embracing our individuality in movement.
• The process of emotional release through movement and creating safe spaces for expression.
• The connection between trauma and the physical body, advocating holistic approaches to healing.
• How chronic pain management can improve through body trust and awareness.

Quotes:

“Dance is just another form of expression.”

“Tears are a natural part of the healing process and should not be shamed.”

“Trauma and somatics have to go hand in hand.”

“Your pain doesn't have to be your identity.”

Connect with Erica:

Website | Instagram

🌟 Connect with Leslie and Sick and Seeking Community: 🌟
Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram

Join an Embodied Movement Class or Wild Women's Circle!
🔥 CLICK HERE for details 🔥

🌟 FREE Support Group: Chronic Conditions - Coffee & Connection🌟
--> For people who are managing a long term health issue
-->We meet on ZOOM once a month at 12pm PT

Like The Show? Show Your Support With a Donation!

Sick and Seeking Disclaimer

CLICK HERE TO SEND ME A MESSAGE. I love to hear from my listeners --Leslie

As I sit with the heaviness of the devastation caused by the Eaton and Palisades Fire here in SoCal, I felt deeply moved to create and share this meditation and gentle movement practice with you. This tragedy has impacted so many, including people I know who have lost their homes or who are mitigating smoke damage, and it has left a profound ache in my heart.

The Eaton Canyon Fire in Altadena, CA destroyed what I consider my local community, a place that is a mere 15-min drive from my house. Witnessing the pain and loss has been overwhelming and it's taken me a few days to feel resourced and ready to help people with what I love to do most: guiding people back to their bodies in a slow, gentle, and loving way.

Finding our way back to feeling our bodies in times of pain, difficulty, grief and sadness may feel impossible, and this is completely reasonable. We sometimes must numb away from our inner world to continue moving on with our lives. And you may need to stay there awhile.

But in time, when you're ready, this is a practice to begin melting that icy, numbing hold so that you can process all that is shoved down, unattended to and waiting to be lovingly felt and compassionately witnessed. This may feel scary, but it can be done one gentle breath, one small loving touch, one small movement at a time.

Sending the signal to your body:

You are safe.

You are loved.

You are safe.

You are loved.

In this time of uncertainty and grief, I hope this meditation and practice offers a moment of peace, grounding and healing. Take your time with you; move slowly. Don't rush. Let your body have moments to breathe and rest while navigating these challenging times.

This is my love letter of support to all of us navigating these difficult emotions and honoring the beauty and resilience of my local Altadena and Pasadena communities that has given so much to me.

Sending love, light, and comfort to everyone affected, and may we continue to find ways to support and uplift one another through this time.

With Love,

Leslie

---
The words in this meditation were directly taken from or inspired by my two mentors: Erin Pace of the Responsive Body Practice and Michaels Boehm author and creator of the Wild Women's Way.

🌟 Connect with Leslie and Sick and Seeking Community: 🌟
Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram

Join an Embodied Movement Class or Wild Women's Circle!
🔥 CLICK HERE for details 🔥

🌟 FREE Support Group: Chronic Conditions - Coffee & Connection🌟
--> For people who are managing a long term health issue
-->We meet on ZOOM once a month at 12pm PT

Like The Show? Show Your Support With a Donation!

Sick and Seeking Disclaimer