The Invisible Illness Club | Chronic Illness, Auto Immune

037 The End-of-Year Energy Check-In — Reflect, Release, and Realign

This year may not have gone to plan, but you grew through it. Here’s a gentle reflection to help you rest, release, and refocus before the new year.
What You’ll Learn
How to reflect on your year with honesty and grace
Ways to recognize growth that doesn’t look like achievement
Reflection prompts around energy, joy, and compassion
How to release guilt and carry peace into the new year
Memorable Quotes
“You don’t have to pretend this year was easy — you just have to acknowledge that you kept showing up.”
“Growth isn’t always visible. Sometimes it looks like resting when you need to.”
“You don’t need a new you — you just need rest and refocus.”
“What you carry forward should serve you, not drain you.”
Key Scripture
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:14 (NIV
Reflection / Journal Prompt for the Week
What do you want to carry with you into the new year — and what can you lovingly release before it begins?
One Tiny Step for the Week
Write one thing you’re grateful you survived or learned this year. Then, one thing you’re ready to lay down.
Resources
The Reset & Refocus Workbook — A gentle year-end reset to help you reflect, release, and realign before the new year.
The Self-Care Toolkit — Daily tools and reflections to help you protect your peace and restore your energy through every season.
Credits
Host: April Aramanda
Podcast: The Invisible Illness Club
Music: Audio Jungle
Learn more: theinvisibleillnessclub.com
 
Let’s talk honestly about life, faith, and chronic illness.

036 Holiday Survival Mode: How to Set Boundaries and Still Feel Loved

Holiday gatherings don’t have to drain you. Here’s how to protect your energy, say no with grace, and still feel connected.
What You’ll Learn
Why guilt creeps in when you set limits
How to communicate your boundaries clearly and kindly
Simple scripts for saying no or leaving early
How to let go of pressure and find joy in quieter moments
Memorable Quotes
“You don’t owe anyone a detailed medical update over mashed potatoes.”
“Guilt is often just grief in disguise.”
“You can love your people deeply and honor your limits at the same time.”
“You don’t have to earn your right to rest.”
Key Scripture
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
 
Reflection / Journal Prompt for the Week
What boundary could protect your peace this holiday season — and what guilt do you need to release to set it?
 
One Tiny Step for the Week
Practice saying one loving, honest no. It doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to be true.
 
Resources
Free Download: The Boundary-Setting Script Pack - Your one-page guide to saying no, asking for help, and protecting your peace this season.
Free Download: The Rest Without Guilt Checklist -
A simple, honest look at how to rest before you crash using a one-page checklist that helps you check in with your body, your mind, and your real capacity.
Credits
Host: April Aramanda
Podcast: The Invisible Illness Club
Music: Audio Jungle
Learn more: theinvisibleillnessclub.com

035 When Gratitude Feels Forced: Finding Thanks in the Mess

When life feels heavy, gratitude can feel fake. Let’s talk about finding real, grounded thankfulness in the middle of the mess.
What You’ll Learn
Why “toxic gratitude” makes hard days harder
The difference between pretending and practicing gratitude
Gentle journal prompts for finding small joys
How faith helps you hold gratitude and pain at the same time
Memorable Quotes
“Gratitude doesn’t erase pain — it makes room for hope.”
“It’s not about being thankful for the pain. It’s about noticing what still holds.”
“You can be angry, tired, and grateful all at once.”
“Gratitude doesn’t have to be loud — sometimes it’s a whisper: ‘I’m still here.’”
Key Scripture
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
Reflection / Journal Prompt for the Week
What’s one small mercy you can thank God for today — even in the middle of what’s still hard?
One Tiny Step for the Week
Write down one moment each day that made you breathe easier, even for a second. That’s where real gratitude begins.
Resources
The Rest Without Guilt Checklist -
A simple, honest look at how to rest before you crash using a one-page checklist that helps you check in with your body, your mind, and your real capacity.
Gratitude Prompt for the Hard Days— A super simple daily reflection to help you notice what’s still good, even on low-energy days.
The Joy Journal — A gentle guided journal with short prompts to help you rediscover joy one small moment at a time
Credits
Host: April Aramanda
Podcast: The Invisible Illness Club
Music: Audio Jungle
Learn more: theinvisibleillnessclub.com

034 The Crash After the Feast — How to Rest Without Guilt

After the holidays, your body crashes and your guilt kicks in. Here’s how to rest without apology — because recovery is sacred work.
What You’ll Learn
Why your post-holiday crash isn’t weakness
How to identify guilt-driven thoughts about rest
Real-life examples of what true rest looks like
Mindset shifts to help you rest without apology
Memorable Quotes
“Recovery isn’t laziness. It’s the part your body’s been waiting for.”
“Your body doesn’t keep score — it keeps memory.”
“Rest was never meant to be earned. It’s meant to be part of the rhythm.”
“You don’t have to bounce back. You just have to breathe.”
Key Scripture
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” — Psalm 4:8 (NIV)
 
Reflection / Journal Prompt for the Week
When was the last time you let yourself rest without guilt? What would it look like to honor your body instead of apologizing for it?
 
One Tiny Step for the Week
Write “Rest — nonnegotiable” in your planner. Treat it like any other appointment you wouldn’t cancel.
 
 
Resources
The Rest Without Guilt Checklist -
A simple, honest look at how to rest before you crash using a one-page checklist that helps you check in with your body, your mind, and your real capacity.
The Boundary-Setting Script Pack — Your cheat sheet for saying no, asking for help, and protecting your peace this season.
The Self-Care Toolkit — A cozy collection of checklists, prompts, and practical tools to help you rest, reset, and care for your body with kindness.
Credits
Host: April Aramanda
Podcast: The Invisible Illness Club
Music: Audio Jungle
Learn more: theinvisibleillnessclub.com

033 Thank You From My Heart to Yours

Hey friend. This one’s simple — no lessons or bullet points today. I just wanted to take a breath with you and say thank you. For real. For showing up, for listening, for being part of this messy, beautiful space we’ve built together. When I started The Invisible Illness Club, I hoped it would help women feel seen. What’s happened has been so much more. Every message you’ve sent, every episode you’ve shared, every quiet moment you’ve listened while folding laundry or driving home — it all matters. You’ve turned this podcast into more than a project. It feels like sitting across from a friend who gets it, even when words fall short. So today’s episode is my way of saying I see you, I’m grateful for you, and I’m so glad we get to walk this road together.
Memorable Moments
“Community doesn’t have to be big to be real.”
“If you’ve ever wondered whether your story matters — it does.”
“Your worth isn’t measured by what you get done. It’s who you are.”
Reflection Prompt
What moments or people carried you this year — even in the smallest ways?
One Tiny Step
Tell someone you’re thankful for them. It doesn’t have to be fancy. A text, a voice note, a hug — whatever you’ve got.
Next Steps
Revisit your favorite episodes from The Invisible Illness Club Podcast
Share this episode with a friend who needs a little reminder she’s not alone
Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts — it really helps more women find us
Credits
Hosted and written by April Aramanda
Produced by The Invisible Illness Club
Music by Audio Jungle

032 Why Asking for Help Feels So Dang Hard

Asking for help shouldn’t feel like failure — but for so many of us living with chronic illness, it does. In this episode, April gets real about the guilt, pride, and fear that make it so hard to ask for help, even when we desperately need it. From a moment of vulnerability in the shower to redefining what strength really means, this honest conversation invites you to see help not as weakness, but as connection.
🪞 What You’ll Hear
Why asking for help feels so heavy (and what’s really underneath it)
The difference between weakness and honesty
How guilt and pride keep us silent — and isolated
Learning to see help as safety, not failure
One small step you can take to practice asking for help this week
💡 One Tiny Step
Notice one thing you usually try to push through — and instead of muscling through it, say:
“I could use a little help with this.”
You don’t have to justify it. You just have to allow it.
💌 Mentioned in This Episode
The Boundary-Setting Script Pack — your free cheat sheet for saying no, asking for help, and protecting your peace
Join the Unseen Sisterhood — Weekly newsletter from people who get it!
🩵 Episode Quote
“Connection doesn’t start with perfection — it starts with permission. And asking for help is one of the bravest kinds of permission there is.”
 
✨ Connect with April
🌐 theinvisibleillnessclub.com
💌 Join the Unseen Sisterhood newsletter
🎧 Listen + subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts
🎧 Credits
Host: April Aramanda
Produced by: The Invisible Illness Club
Editing: The Invisible Illness Club
Music: Licensed via Soundstripe
Show Notes + Strategy: Created with Cherry (ChatGPT-5)

031 Boundaries, MS & Building a Business on Your Terms (with Stephanie Boyle)

Virtual assistant agency owner Stephanie Boyle shares how living with multiple sclerosis reshaped her work, motherhood, and mindset. We dig into boundaries without guilt, pacing work with alarms and self-check questions, co-parenting through flares, and starting a business small (on your body’s timeline). This one’s a masterclass in honoring limits without losing your ambition.
Key Topics
The schedule that listens: using alarms and self-check prompts to pace work with MS
Boundaries that stick (and why “no” often becomes a better “yes” later)
Recovering people-pleasing: serving well without self-abandonment
Parenting in a flare: resilience, honest language with kids, and asking for help
Building a values-first business: starting with one client and growing sustainably
Finding your people: support systems that celebrate your “no”
Faith as a trust fall—releasing what you can’t control
 
Highlights & Takeaways
“If I don’t take care of myself, I can’t please others.”
Set expectations early: deadlines met, but on a spoon-friendly schedule.
When guilt creeps in, remember a past boundary you kept—and how light you felt afterward.
Compare less. Chronic illnesses—and capacities—are different in every body.
Start small in business. Five hours a week can become forty.
Choose community that congratulates your boundaries.
Quotable Moments
“My faith is a trust fall. I’m trusting God will catch me.” — Stephanie Boyle
“Hustle culture won’t get you there faster when your body needs slow.” — April Aramanda
Connect with Stephanie
Work with By Friday
Say hi on social:
Instagram: finished_byfriday
Facebook: assistancebyfriday
 
Connect with April / The Invisible Illness Club
Newsletter: The Unseen Sisterhood
Social Media:
Instagram: the_invisibleillnessclub
TikTok: theinvisibleillnessclub
Need ops help? Tell Stephanie April sent you 💌

030 What I Wish Doctors Knew About People Like Me

In this heartfelt open letter, April shares what she wishes every doctor, nurse, and medical professional understood about life with chronic illness.
This isn’t a rant — it’s a reminder that compassion and curiosity are just as vital as prescriptions.
 
From the frustration of being dismissed to the healing power of the words “I believe you,” this episode invites providers — and patients — to reimagine what true care looks like.
🩵 In This Episode, You’ll Hear:
What patients with chronic illness wish their doctors truly understood
How years of being dismissed or doubted impact trust and mental health
What compassionate, trauma-informed care actually looks like
Why belief and empathy are forms of medicine too
A personal story of one doctor who changed everything with four words: “I believe you.”
🔗 Links & Resources
🌸 Join The Unseen Sisterhood Newsletter — for community, stories, and chronic illness support
💬 Read the Blog Post Version — “What I Wish Doctors Knew About People Like Me”
💗 Follow April on Instagram | TikTok | Pinterest
🎧 Listen to more episodes of The Invisible Illness Club Podcast

029 Supporting Your Spouse Through Chronic Illness with Matt and Latricia Davis

This episode dives into what it really looks like to support a spouse living with chronic illness. Matt shares the long, emotional journey to his MCTD diagnosis — from years of pain and self-doubt to finally finding answers. Latricia offers honest insight into the emotional weight of watching someone you love struggle and how she’s learned to listen, show up, and advocate without losing herself in the process. Together, they talk about the hard days, the moments of laughter that keep them grounded, and what love looks like when life doesn’t go as planned. Whether you’re the one who’s sick or the one standing beside them, this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone in the struggle or the strength it takes to keep going.
 
🛠️ Tools, Resources & Mentions:
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) overview – Arthritis Foundation
Invisible Illness Club Podcast archives – “You’re Not Lazy: The Truth About Chronic Illness and Invisible Effort"
 
🙋‍♀️ Guest Info:
Names: Matt & Latricia Davis
Bio: Matt and Latricia Davis have been married 14 years and have navigated multiple health diagnoses together, including Matt’s mixed connective tissue disease and epilepsy. They share their story to bring awareness to the unseen challenges couples face when chronic illness enters the picture — and to remind others that love can still thrive in hard seasons.
 
👉 If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or partner who needs encouragement today.
Join The Unseen Sisterhood for weekly stories, hope, and support for women navigating life with chronic illness.
Join Here →

028 Building a Business That Works With Your Body (Not Against It)

Entrepreneurship is often painted as hustle, consistency, and 5 a.m. mornings. But when you live with chronic illness, that version of productivity just doesn’t fit. In this episode, I pull back the curtain on what it really looks like to run a business when your body has other plans. From working in bed with a laptop tray to building flexible schedules that honor your energy, I’ll share the practices and mindset shifts that keep me moving forward—slowly, but steadily. You’ll learn how to theme your days, use brain dumps to clear mental clutter, set flexible priorities, and reframe rest as part of the work. If you’ve ever doubted your worth or felt “behind” because of chronic illness, this conversation will remind you: you’re not lazy, you’re not failing—you’re building something beautiful, at your pace.
💬 Memorable Quotes:
“Done is often much better than perfect.”
“Rest isn’t for the lazy—rest is part of the work.”
“I am building a business that works with my body, not against it.”
“You’re not lazy, you’re not flaky. You’re living in a body with real limitations and you’re still showing up—that’s huge.”
🛠️ Tools, Resources & Mentions:
Growing Slow by Jennifer Dukes Lee (the book mentioned in the episode)
🎬 Credits:
Host: April Aramanda
Editing & Production: April Aramanda
Music: “The Invisible Illness Club” theme
Show Notes & Assets: Cherry (ChatGPT)
© The Invisible Illness Club