The Invisible Illness Club | Chronic Illness, Auto Immune

Natasha shares life with bipolar disorder, PTSD, lupus, grief, and faith—and what healing looks like when it’s messy.
What You’ll Learn
What it felt like to be “high-functioning” while secretly struggling with self-harm and mood episodes
Why mental health labels can feel like stigma, while chronic illness labels can feel like relief
Natasha’s lupus story: pain, swelling, ER visits, and finally getting answers
How she connected food to flare-ups and what changed when she cut processed foods
The pressure of looking okay while you’re collapsing behind closed doors
Faith without the fake smile: why sickness and belief can exist in the same body
Why creativity (writing, art, building, making) can help your nervous system release what it’s carrying
What she wishes church communities understood about mental health
A sentence she wishes she heard earlier: “God has not forgotten you.”
Memorable Quotes
“You don’t see me behind closed doors.”
“A diagnosis can feel like a label… or a lifeline.”
“Faking it makes the depression worse.”
“Healing can look different for everybody.”
“God has not forgotten you.”
One Tiny Step
Pick one place this week to tell the truth—without overexplaining.
Try: “I’m not doing great today. I’m taking it slow.”
Resources
EMDR therapy (ask a trauma-informed therapist if it’s a fit for you)
Natasha’s website: https://natasharrobinson.com
Instagram: @natasha_r_rob
Natasha’s books (available on Amazon)
Credits
Host: April Aramanda
Guest: Natasha Minier-Robinson
Music: Audio Jungle
Produced by: The Invisible Illness Club

We talk a lot about surviving chronic illness. Today we’re gently challenging the way we define independence. What if losing physical capability doesn’t mean losing strength? What if dependence isn’t failure?
 
This episode explores grief, identity, and how faith reshapes what it means to live fully in a body that doesn’t cooperate.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Why losing independence feels deeper than inconvenience
The hidden fear of becoming a burden
How faith reframes dependence without minimizing grief
A small shift that helps you live fully inside limitation
MEMORABLE QUOTES
“I didn’t plan on building my life around appointments and a weak body.”
“My body has a way of fact-checking my ambition.”
“I am still grieving the capable version of me.”
“Needing help is not failure. It’s human.”
“Independence may shift. Your value doesn’t.”
ONE TINY STEP
Accept one offer of help this week without apologizing.
No explanation. No minimizing.

Waiting for medical answers can feel harder than the diagnosis itself. In this solo episode, April talks about the emotional toll of living in the in-between — the fear, grief, and exhaustion that come with waiting for test results, scans, and clarity while managing chronic illness. This episode offers validation, gentle grounding, and honest faith for anyone stuck in the middle.
What You’ll Learn
• Why waiting is so hard on the body and nervous system
• The common lies that get louder when answers are delayed
• How to care for yourself without pretending everything is fine
• What faith can look like without certainty or resolution
Memorable Quotes
• “Waiting isn’t passive. It costs energy.”
• “The middle matters, even when nothing is settled.”
• “You’re not failing because this feels heavy.”
Reflection / Journal Prompt
What part of the waiting is hardest for me right now — the uncertainty, the loss of control, or the fear of what comes next?
One Tiny Step
Choose one thing you won’t do during this waiting season — over-explaining, over-Googling, or over-bracing — and give yourself permission to stop.
Resources
Listen to the full episode
The Invisible Illness Club
Credits
Hosted by April Aramanda
Music via Audio Jungle

Chronic fatigue forced Belinda to slow down. This conversation is about listening sooner, asking for help, and finding hope that actually holds.
What You’ll Learn
What chronic fatigue can look like over decades
Why slowing down isn’t quitting — it’s maintenance
How therapeutic lifestyle changes support real life with illness
The difference between optimism and hope when your body won’t cooperate
Why asking for specific help matters more than “pushing through”
How faith can support you on unmanageable days without pressure
Memorable Quotes
“Slowing down removed the chaos — and my body felt it immediately.”
“Hope isn’t pretending things are fine. It’s doing what you can and trusting the rest.”
“People want to help. Asking gives them permission to love you well.”
“Chronic illness doesn’t disqualify you from purpose.”
Resources
Email: belinda@belindaterromooney.com 
Website: https://belindaterromooney.com/
https://instagram.com/belindaterromooney/
https://facebook.com/belindaterromooney/
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindaterromooney/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdXvux59JZU_QsQhW-2BZZw
https://www.pinterest.com/belindaterromooney/
https://www.amazon.com/therapeutic-lifestyle-changes-workbook-comprehensive/dp/1955225028
https://www.enroutebooksandmedia.com/alookatlife
 
Credits
Hosted by April Aramanda
The Invisible Illness Club Podcast
Music: Audio Jungle

This episode isn’t tidy or inspiring. I’m stuck in bed, waiting on answers, and my body scares me right now. I talk honestly about exhaustion, fear, faith questions, and what it’s like to stop pretending you’re fine when you’re not. If you’re surviving the day instead of living it, you’re not alone.
What You’ll Learn
Why it’s okay to say “this sucks” without rushing to hope
What the waiting season really feels like with chronic illness
How exhaustion shows up beyond the physical
What faith can look like when you don’t understand what’s happening
Why honesty is sometimes the bravest thing you can offer
Memorable Quotes
“This sucks. Being stuck in bed, being alone most of the time—it all sucks.”
“My body scares me right now.”
“Relief and exhaustion can sit in the same room.”
“I don’t feel close to God right now, and I’m still talking to Him.”
“No tidy ending today. Just honesty.”
One Tiny Step
Say the truth out loud today—to yourself, to God, or to someone safe.
No fixing it. No reframing it. Just naming it.
 
Resources
The Invisible Illness Club community - The Unseen Sisterhood
Episode 25 - Normal Labs, Real Symptoms: Patient Advocacy & Hope with Rheumatologist Dr. Reeti Joshi
Episode 20 - When God Doesn't Heal: Holding Onto Faith with Chronic Illness
Credits
Hosted by April Aramanda
Music via Audio Jungle
Produced for The Invisible Illness Club

In this episode, April talks with Bethany Bacon about living with hydrocephalus after being born at 24½ weeks, holding onto genuine hope, and learning not to let chronic illness—or the world’s opinions—define you. Bethany also shares the heart behind her Anchored in Hope coaching program and how listeners can connect with her.
What You’ll Learn
What it can look like to hold hope that feels real, not performative
Bethany’s early medical story: born at 24½ weeks and living with hydrocephalus
How she thinks about faith in a broken world (and why she talks openly about spiritual battle)
A simple morning rhythm Bethany uses to stay grounded when symptoms and stress flare
How a painful moment in public criticism impacted her identity for years
Why she created her Anchored in Hope coaching program and what it includes
Memorable Quotes
“People are wanting genuine hope.”
“Chronic illness doesn’t have to define a person.”
“I can’t control other people’s reactions. All I can do is obey the Lord.”
“It’s in my head… and it’s not in my head.”
“God wants you to see yourself as His child, not through the way the world does.”
Resources
Bethany Bacon: Created in His Image
Anchored in Hope coaching program
Website: created-in-his-image.com (with dashes between the words)
Credits
Host: April Aramanda
Guest: Bethany Bacon
Music: Audio Jungle
Produced for: The Invisible Illness Club Podcast

Starting the year tired, in appointments, and waiting on answers — this episode is about choosing quiet hope in a body that needs care.
What You’ll Learn
Why hope doesn’t have to feel confident to be real
How to hold grief and gratitude at the same time
What it looks like to start a new year already exhausted
Permission to define success by listening to your body
Why “manageable” can be a meaningful goal
Memorable Quotes
“Hope doesn’t require certainty. It requires permission to keep going anyway.”
“I didn’t need the day to look different. I needed my body to feel safer in it.”
“Getting through the day counts.”
“Sometimes the bravest thing we do is keep showing up gently.”
One Tiny Step
Give yourself permission to define success this week as listening to your body — nothing more.
Resources
Rest & Refocus Workbook – a gentle reset for tired bodies and overwhelmed mind
Credits
Host & Producer: April Aramanda
Music: Audio Jungle

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.

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

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