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Introducing #Chrillogs: Our Chronic Illness Stories Through a Trauma Lens

Veronique Mead, MD, MA · February 5, 2021 · 2 Comments

#Chrillogs Through a Trauma Lens Mead CITS
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What are Chrillogs? #Chrillogs are our chronic illness weblogs – our stories of chronic illness as seen through a trauma lens.

I’ve shared my story to offer insights from trauma and nervous system perspectives, such as on my ME/CFS, food intolerances and weight and prediabetes so others might see some of the influences we don’t typically recognize in medicine.

This trauma lens draws on the science of adversity, the broad swath of research from a plethora of specialty areas, and from studies in different chronic diseases. It’s a perspective that helps make sense of symptoms. It’s a paradigm that suggests, even though each one of our stories is unique, that we have more in common than we’ve thought. It’s a perspective that explains how the effects of adversity are not psychological.

Next to come are YOUR stories.

I call these #Chrillogs.

#Chrillogs explore common themes: Different categories of adversity that played a role in YOUR ME/CFS or other chronic illnesses. How understanding trauma helps YOU feel less fear or worry when symptoms spike or you experience side effects from something you do or try. The tools YOU use to stabilize or soften or heal your symptoms or flares. How YOU experience that being sick is neither your fault nor even your body’s fault.

By speaking up and being more visible each of our stories validates the journey for others. It helps us all realize we are not alone. It connects us as a tribe.

By speaking out our stories help others acknowledge the depth of work that is possible. It offers examples of ways to help our bodies shift and heal, even if it’s not a “cure” (even as that happens too).

We are so much more than our illnesses. Even as we have also been shaped and molded by these life-altering adventures we would never have consciously chosen.

#Chrillogs are why I share the research. Because knowledge can be life-changing. It can show us new and more accepting ways of relating to our bodies, being with our tender feelings, and of connecting with ourselves, quirks and all.

Some authors will use their real names and locations. Others will use an assumed name and place where the live to protect their privacy.

If you’re thinking about sharing your story, know that you don’t have to be cured or even “better,” it’s about how the trauma lens helps you. Send me an email and we’ll explore it together.

Here’s a List of all the Chrillogs as they Emerge

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Chrillogs Specific Disease Stories

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ayani Pont says

    February 7, 2021 at 11:13 am

    Developmental Trauma, Relationship Trauma and Trauma through a cult…
    I sure score high on the ACEs.
    Recently I took tests on this site: Reading/Listening to this book now – I have been working with a SOMATIC EXPERIENCE practitioner for quite a while over Skype.

    But because of my multiple traumas I still have a lot of work to do, apparently.
    I thought I was better of, but when I read Janina Fisher’s book on The Fragmented SELF of Trauma Survivors, I realized, I have still a lot of fragmented parts that are not integrated.
    I get triggered a lot and then one of those parts takes over and runs the show.

    In my opinion, SE IS one of the best approaches there is to Trauma.
    But now I work with a Cranio Sacral Practitioner, who is specialized in Trauma Nervous System work with Autistics, in person…

    In this book they have a quiz too – thought I’d share it here, so you can check yourself, where on the scale you are.
    TAKING YOUR ASSESSMENT
    https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/5cfaac13ed10a600145ce0a7
    These assessments are designed to help you learn more about your mental and emotional health and gain a clearer understanding of how your nervous system is currently functioning.
    These assessments are a guide to help you become more attuned to yourself on a sensory level.
    From there, you can gain a better understanding of how your nervous system is currently functioning and take the steps needed to achieve your own healing journey.
    I had a score of 101
    ASSESSMENT RESULT: 101-125 = VERY HIGH TRAUMA SYMPTOMS
    This score means you have a very high level of trauma symptoms at this present time.
    This may mean you have experienced a lot of traumatic events in your past, had a very difficult childhood and/or you tend to react more strongly to traumatic experiences.

    I had a burnout in 2007 while still in the cult, and this was the final trigger. From then on I was exercise intolerant, meaning, I got migraines, fibromyalgia like pain in arms and legs, extreme fatigue, irritability or depression, back pain etc, whenever I did too much physically, so I stopped running and all.
    It turns out, this was actually my Mast Cells overreacting.
    I developed food intolerances, dairy allergies, and what is called histamine intolerance from then on.
    I have switched to an all meat way of eating in 2019 because all the other diets just really did not work.
    And this approach reversed at least the massive chronic pain issues I had since 2018 (back pain and hip, joints and regular migraines, it was bad, also due to nutrient deficiency from 4 years of veganism)

    At least I got a grip on this histamine intolerance, when I realized what it was, and I started taking DIAMINE OXYDASE for the histamine intolerance.
    Because I have the MTHFR Mutation I also take Folate B9, B6, B12, Omega 3, VITamine D3/K2 and Thiamine Megadose (based on Dr. Derrick Lonsdale’s research)
    So my anxiety has since then reduced a bit, and the hyperacusis and Misophonia are way less pronounced.

    As a newly diagnosed autistic (August 2020, age 46) I finally got the confirmation why many things stressed me more than other people, and why socializing for me is really difficult and this will not change.

    So my approach is also to really avoid stress at all costs.

    However, I still need to work on the trauma issue, so that fight/flight/freeze get triggered less.

    Work in progress.

    Reply
    • Veronique Mead, MD, MA says

      February 7, 2021 at 2:32 pm

      Thanks for sharing some of your story Ayani. I love SE too and it sounds like you are implementing a lot of great tools, from Janina Fisher’s book and survey that helps clarify how your ANS is working in relation to trauma responses and sensitivity, to the craniosacral and SE, and to your meat only diet, which was super helpful for me as well and more :-). It is a work in progress indeed!! Wishing you well on this journey. xoxo

      Reply

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I love hearing from you. I read and review every comment before publishing it to make it visible to everyone. Your stories and insights make the writing and running of my blog so worthwhile. Although your email is required, it is not made public. You can use any name you wish. How do you work with your health? What has helped as you've become an expert in your own right? Does understanding the science of trauma make your journey any easier? Is there anything you need or wish I wrote about more?

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About Me

Hello! I'm Veronique Mead. On my blog I look at how chronic illness may be a natural response to one or more overwhelming experiences of threat. While this includes infections and toxins, I specialize in the role of psychological and physical trauma. Because the research - still overlooked and underestimated by medicine - has knocked my socks off.

 

Symptoms, it is turning out, may not be caused by mistakes our bodies are making but because our nervous systems have gotten stuck in states of fight, flight or freeze. Our bodies are our best friends and risk everything to help us survive. We are designed to recover or at least begin to heal from the effects of those survival strategies. I never knew any of this as a family physician or assistant professor. And it’s not in your head.

 

I've been testing these ideas with my own disabling disease for the past 20 years (I am much improved and get a little better every year). I share the research, challenges, why some things that seem so logical do not work for everyone (or make things worse), as well as my favorite 11 tools. This is so you can explore what might help you stabilize, improve or possibly even begin to reverse underlying drivers of your chronic illness too. For an overview with links to my most important posts, start here.

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#WEGOHealthAwards 2019 Patient Leader Finalist for Best in Show Blog Chronic Illness Trauma Studies Veronique Mead MD, MA

I and we - it feels so much like a WE - were among 6000 nominees for 15 categories of patient leader awards and one of 5 finalists for Best in Show Blog at the #WEGOHealthAwards. Learn more here.

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