In this episode, Margaret and Nicole sit down with two licensed therapists for a candid conversation about what it really looks like to advocate for yourself — and your children — in the mental health world. Together, they unpack the emotional fallout that happens when you’ve been dismissed by doctors, brushed off, or told “it’s nothing” when you know in your gut something is wrong. The therapists share how those experiences shape the way people show up in therapy, why self‑advocacy is a learned skill, and how to rebuild trust in the healthcare system after feeling unheard.

The conversation then shifts to the practical: How do you talk to your therapist about medical dismissal? What do you say when you’re afraid of being minimized again? How do you bring up symptoms, fears, or past experiences without shutting down? The therapists offer language, strategies, and gentle guidance for opening up — even when vulnerability feels risky.

Finally, the episode explores therapy through the eyes of parents. Margaret and Nicole ask the questions so many moms carry quietly: How do you introduce therapy to your kids? How do you help them feel safe? How do you support them without steering the conversation? The therapists walk through age‑appropriate approaches, how to frame therapy as empowerment rather than “fixing,” and how parents can partner with clinicians while still honoring their child’s autonomy.

This episode is validating, practical, and full of heart — a conversation for anyone who’s ever felt dismissed, anyone trying to heal, and any parent wanting to give their kids the emotional tools they deserved earlier in life.

In this episode, we open the door to a healing journey we never expected to take — one that started with Chad’s search for relief and ended up reshaping both of our lives. After months of reactions, restrictions, and the constant fear of what his body might do next, Chad turned to SAAT: Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment, a tiny needle in the ear that promised big change. What happened next wasn’t subtle. It was a turning point.

You’ll hear how Chad’s symptoms shifted, how his confidence came back, and how our household felt different almost overnight. But this episode isn’t just about his transformation — it’s about mine too. After watching his progress, I stepped into my own treatment, hoping to calm the inflammation, sensitivities, and lingering issues that followed my last chapter, The Tale of the Mystery Mass. What unfolded was its own story: surprising improvements, emotional clarity, and a deeper understanding of how the immune system can be nudged back into balance.

This episode is raw, honest, and full of the kind of details people rarely talk about — the fear before trying something new, the relief when your body finally responds, and the reality that healing is never one-size-fits-all. Whether you’re navigating allergies, chronic inflammation, Alpha‑Gal, or just searching for answers, this chapter offers hope, curiosity, and a look at an alternative treatment that’s changing lives one ear point at a time.

Part 2 picks up at the moment Wendy and her family step into the reality of living with her son’s Crohn’s disease. How the daily management becomes the new mountain to climb. Wendy opens up about the whirlwind that followed: Could cannabis be the answer they have been looking for?

She shares the emotion, the fear and the hope that cannabis might finally bring relief. Listeners hear how her son responded to early treatments, the setbacks that tested their resilience, and the small victories that reminded them they were moving forward, even when progress felt slow. Wendy also talks about the lifestyle changes they had to make and how she balanced being a mother, an advocate, and a steady source of strength during an unpredictable time.

Part 2 is a journey into the learning curve, the trial‑and‑error of treatment, and the emotional toll of watching a child fight a chronic illness. It’s a story of persistence, adaptation, and the unwavering determination of a mother committed to helping her son reclaim his life. What would you do in her situation?

If you have a story to share, please reach out to us on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. You can also email us at thedismissedwoman@gmail.com!

Part One introduces Wendy at the very beginning of her son’s health crisis — a period marked by confusion, escalating symptoms, and a medical system that struggled to see the full picture. She describes how her son went from being an active, energetic kid to suddenly dealing with persistent stomach pain, fatigue, and weight loss that didn’t make sense. Each new symptom added to her growing concern, but early appointments offered little clarity.

Wendy walks listeners through the frustrating cycle of dismissive visits, inconclusive tests, and temporary explanations that never addressed the root cause. She shares how she had to push for answers when his symptoms intensified: severe abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and episodes that made everyday life difficult for him. Eventually, after more targeted testing and specialist involvement, her son was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, giving a name to the struggle they had been living with for months.

The episode highlights the emotional impact of hearing the diagnosis — the fear, the relief of finally knowing, and the immediate shift into learning everything she could about the condition. Wendy explains the first steps in treatment, nutritional support, and discussions about long‑term management options like immunosuppressants and biologics. She also shares the challenges of navigating medications, side effects, and the overwhelming amount of information suddenly placed in front of them.

Part One ends with Wendy reflecting on how the diagnosis changed their family’s daily life, the adjustments they had to make, and the determination she felt to advocate for her son as they moved into the next phase of treatment and understanding.

For more information, check out these links:

Illegally Alive:

https://youtu.be/OOn142GAjsU?si=Ya35kqoELXWn7yA0

Radioactive Eggs: Gastric Emptying Study: What It Is, Prep, Procedures & ResultsRonald McDonald House:Donate | Ronald McDonald HouseIf you have a story to share, please reach out to us on Facebook, Instgram or TikTok. Or you can send us an email at thedismissedwoman@gmail.com

In this follow‑up to The Tale of the Mystery Mass, Margaret steps out from behind the microphone and into her own story — one shaped by symptoms that didn’t add up, doctors who couldn’t explain them, and the growing realization that she would have to become her own investigator if she wanted real answers.

This episode traces Margaret’s functional medicine journey from the very beginning: the intuition that something deeper was being missed, and the moment she decided to take her health into her own hands. She shares the tests, the discoveries, the dead ends, and the breakthroughs — the pieces of the puzzle that finally started revealing what traditional medicine had overlooked.

It’s a story about advocating for yourself, trusting your instincts, and refusing to settle for half‑answers. Margaret opens up about what she learned, what changed, and how functional medicine helped her uncover the root causes behind years of unexplained symptoms.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed, confused, or stuck in the cycle of “normal labs but abnormal symptoms,” this episode will resonate deeply. It’s honest, empowering, and a reminder that sometimes the most important diagnosis is the one you fight for yourself.

If you have a story you would like to share, please email us at thedismissedwoman@gmail.com. You can also message us on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok.

Part 2 of Cheyanne’s journey picks up right where her story left off — in the thick of uncertainty. In this episode, Cheyanne walks us through the turning point: the moment her everyday life became unrecognizable.

You’ll hear how her symptoms escalated, how she navigated emotional toll of trying to stay functional while her health kept slipping. Cheyanne shares the breakthroughs, the setbacks, and the moment she finally came back from disassociation. Her honesty, resilience, and determination shine through as she opens up about what it really feels like to fight for your own diagnosis.

Part 2 is raw, revealing, and deeply human — a chapter that shows how powerful it is when you refuse to give up.

Do you have a story to share? Send us a message on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. Or you can email us at thedismissedwoman@gmail.com

Cheyanne story begins like so many others: a confusing set of symptoms, a handful of theories, and a medical team trying to make sense of what didn’t quite fit. But as her condition shifted, so did the answers — again and again — until the truth finally emerged. What started as a routine search for clarity became a race against time, leading Cheyanne to the brink of organ failure.

In this episode, Cheyanne walks us through the emotional whiplash of evolving diagnoses, the moments when she felt unheard, the ones when she felt seen, and the turning point that set her on the path to survival. It’s a story of resilience, advocacy, and the power of refusing to accept “we don’t know” as the final word.

A tale of shifting answers, unwavering courage, and the breath she fought to reclaim.

Do you have a story to share? Email us at thedismissedwoman@gmail.com. Or reach out to us on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok

In this episode, Nikki opens up about the moment everything changed — the day she learned her daughter had an omphalocele. What began as a routine scan quickly became a whirlwind of medical terminology, urgent decisions, and the kind of fear only a parent can understand. Nikki walks us through those early hours when the world felt impossibly heavy, and the future seemed to hinge on every word spoken by the specialists around her.

She shares the raw truth of navigating uncertainty: the sleepless nights, the quiet moments of panic, and the fierce determination to stay present even when the path ahead was unclear. But woven through the fear is a story of extraordinary resilience — her own, her daughter’s, and the medical team who stepped in with skill, compassion, and unwavering steadiness.

Nikki reflects on the surgery, the recovery, and the surreal relief of watching her daughter fight, heal, and thrive. What began as one of the scariest chapters of her life ultimately became a testament to hope, intuition, and the power of a team who knew exactly what to do.

This is a story about a mother’s courage, a baby’s strength, and the outcome everyone prayed for — a journey that started with fear and ended with gratitude.

If you have a story to share, please email us at thedismissedwoman@gmail.com. Or you can find us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.