Welcome to Season 2 of The Living Well Pod! We’re thrilled to have Lily Sais, one of our most-loved guests from last season, back to kick things off with a conversation about the sometimes blurry line between self-advocacy and anxious thinking.
How do you know if you’re advocating for your health or just stuck in an anxiety loop? What if your doctor isn’t listening, and you know something’s wrong—but you’ve also been down the rabbit hole of endless research and racing thoughts?
In this episode, we shift the focus to the energy behind our actions. We discuss how urgency and fear can fuel our need for answers and control, and how that’s very different from grounded, effective self-advocacy.
We cover topics like:
What it feels like when you’re advocating from love vs. fear
Why symptom spirals and obsessive researching can actually cloud clarity
Why hope tied to outcomes (“I’ll only be okay if…”) leaves us feeling burnt out and overwhelmed
What to do when it feels like doctors aren’t listening
Real-life examples from our own experiences with anxiety and self-advocacy
If you’ve ever found yourself questioning whether you’re doing enough or wondering if you’re making things worse by worrying too much, this conversation is for you. It’s a compassionate and practical look at how to care for yourself and speak up for your needs with clarity and confidence.
Resources Mentioned:
Thriving in the Eye of the Hurricane by Joseph Bailey
Lily’s Peace From Within Community
Samantha’s TWGP (Thriving with Gastroparesis) Community
Theme music from Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you
License code: LTNISOMTFHZIIXYY
