Practitioner Self‑Care: Healing Chronic Illness & Your Own Nervous System | Dr. Aimie Apigian

Helga Byrne, worked years in corporate, but wanted a more meaningful life. Becoming a licensed therapist, she spent years struggling with a chronic health issue without having an answer. Eventually, it was discovered it was chronic Lyme disease, but that didn’t bring an overnight solution.
How do we manage being a professional in the healing field when we have our own chronic health issues? What happens when our physical health issues get triggered by long days or difficult clients?
In this conversation, Helga joins Dr. Aimie to share the struggles and strategies Helga implemented to effectively run her business while navigating brain fog and extreme fatigue. She’ll also share insights on common identity challenges, the challenge of finding practitioners who believed her symptoms, how to identify what gives you energy, and changes you can make to your life, relationships and work.

They’ll discuss:
[04:50] How trauma can be created by medical invalidation
[07:40] How chronic illness can create isolation
[09:33] Using the "spoon theory" for managing energy
[12:19] Creating different ways to earn income when you can't see clients full-time
[14:28] The healing power of accepting your illness instead of waiting to "get better someday"
[19:08] Why working with clients can be energizing even during chronic illness
[23:26] Why learning to say "no" can protect your limited time and energy
[26:51] How finding a supportive community can change your outlook on your illness
[36:32] How your own health struggles can help you better understand and connect with clients
Whether you are a practitioner, parent or other caregiver, this episode will give you great insights into how you can structure your life, work and schedule around your body's needs while showing up for others effectively.
Helga Byrne is a licensed therapist who works with high achieving, career focused professionals and young adults experiencing anxiety, work/life balance, self esteem, substance abuse and relationship issues, and career and life transitions.

Helpful Links Related To This Episode

Guides, Tools & Resources:
The Essential Sequence → https://traumahealingaccelerated.myka...
Free guide that shows you the difference between stress and trauma states of our nervous system. In just 3 steps, it walks you through what your body needs when it has stored trauma or is in a freeze response.

Foundational Journey → https://traumahealingaccelerated.myka...
If you want to be safely guided through The Essential Sequence, and lay your foundation of regulation in this online 6 week course, join me and my team of mentors for this journey into your inner world with practical somatic and parts self-practices.

Brain Inflammation Protocol → https://us.fullscript.com/protocols/a...
The complete protocol for if you have anxiety, depression, prior head injuries and want to address the brain inflammation that’s keeping you stuck.

Tackling Brain Inflammation [Video Library] → https://traumahealingaccelerated.myka...
27 videos from experts on how to recognize brain inflammation, how to get tested and what nutrients and supplements can support you

Related Podcast Episodes for Practitioners:
Episode 67: Healing Trauma and Chronic Illness Through Connection with Gabor Mate →
https://biologyoftrauma.com/gabor-mat...
Episode 99: Stress In The Body: Trauma-Informed Medicine & Why Dysregulation Should Be Included In Assessments →
https://biologyoftrauma.com/ep99/

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