The Death and Rebirth of Identity with Chronic Illness with Renée Nicholson

Chronically Healing Podcast

Welcome back to Season 2 of the Chronically Healing Podcast! If you haven’t heard already, listen to our first episode of Season 2 where we introduce our new cohost, Christina Sanghera!

Today’s episode is with Renée Nicholson. Renée takes us through her journey of growing up a dancer, but having that stripped away by Rheumatoid Arthritis. In that journey, Renée found ways to create a new identity for herself that wasn’t just a “chronic illness patient.” We talk about the amount of grit we need to get through the hard times, but how joyous it can make our ordinary life. We also dive into narrative medicine and how that brought Renée to writing her book, “Fierce and Delicate.”

In today’s episode we chat about:

• Renée’s story of having her dancing life cut short because of rheumatoid arthritis

• The parallels between being a dancer and being a patient with chronic illness

• What rheumatoid arthritis is and the telltale signs to look for

• Dealing with the death of your identity and then a rebirth of sorts when you get a diagnosis

• The dangers of “symptom chasing” and how that can really affect your outlook on how you’re feeling

• The push and pull of chaos and control

• The idea of narrative medicine: “The care of the sick unfolds in stories”

• How writing for patients reminded Renée that ordinary lives are so beautiful

• More about her book, “Fierce and Delicate”

Links and things:

• Renee’s Website

• Renee’s Twitter

• Buy Renee’s book, “Fierce and Delicate”

• Chronically Healing Instagram

• Chronically Healing Facebook Group