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Sharing My Journey with Rare Diseases on the "I Am Not My Pain" Podcast



2024 started out with a bang for this medical zebra! The first week of January, Part One of A Woman’s Journey Living with the “Suicide Disease”, dropped on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with Part Two dropping the following week.

Towards the end of 2023, I had recorded a podcast with the I Am Not My Pain podcast with host Melissa Adams. It was a huge thing for me! And yes, it was indeed, my first ever time being on a podcast.

Melissa was wonderful to work with. She provided such a comfortable and safe space to share my rare and emotional journey with Trigeminal Neuralgia and Occipital Neuralgia.

It helped me so much to be able to share my story. I had no idea then how it would impact me personally to hear my own story. It was incredibly moving. I even cried listening to my story. It was incredibly validating.

I am so glad I leaned into the vulnerability to share my story with my own voice. I am also thankful for the support that I had when considering the idea in the first place. My twin sister (who had previously been a guest on the podcast), along with my partner encouraged me to be a guest on the I Am Not Pain podcast. They believed that I would enjoy telling my story and would help me to do so. And they were right. I am thankful I did.

It not only was healing for me to share my story, but it helped me be able to share with others who may not have fully understood my story and health conditions.I do not want to be seen as a victim for having these conditions, nor do I want to be seen as hero for having them either, I just, I just want to be - to be seen - and I was.

I felt incredibly more seen. I also hope it helps other patients with the same rare conditions, or chronic illness as a whole, to feel seen. And I hope they know that they are not alone.

After telling my story, I truly do not feel as alone. I think it was a huge moment for myself. To truly listen to MY story, I validated myself. And I needed to do that. 

Once again, thank you Melissa for allowing me the chance to share my story, it truly meant a whole lot to this girl! 


Check out both episodes below!


S3E27: A Woman’s Journey Living with the “Suicide Disease” – Part One 


Episode: https://bit.ly/LivingwithSuicideDiseasePart1


Listen on Apple Podcasts


Listen on Spotify


S3E28: A Woman’s Journey Living with the “Suicide Disease” – Part Two


Episode: https://bit.ly/LivingwithSuicideDiseasePart2


Listen on Apple Podcasts


Listen on Spotify 



Here's a bonus for you!

Lydia Joy Launderville (my twin sister) shares about dating while having chronic illness! It’s so good! 


S2E30:Dating With Chronic Illness - Part One


S3E1: Dating With Chronic Illness - Part Two



Learn more about the I Am Not My Pain podcast and the wonderful work that Melissa is doing, here! 

Please give the I Am Not Pain podcast a follow on Facebook and Instagram! Don't forget to check out the podcast too! 


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