Dear Body, I'm Listening is the podcast for women living with chronic pain, mysterious symptoms, and invisible illness. Hosted by movement therapist, Pilates instructor, and chronic illness navigator Donna Piper, this show is a sanctuary for those who've tried everything, felt dismissed, and are still searching for answers.
If you've ever felt like your body is speaking a language no one else understands—you're not crazy, and you're not alone. In this space, nothing is off the table. We talk openly about swelling, fatigue, brain fog, body shame, and more. We go beyond diagnosis to explore what may be worth investigating—and more importantly, how to reconnect with yourself in the process.
Through somatic spirituality, movement, and truth-telling, Donna offers support, insight, and hope. Because healing isn't linear, and neither are we.
Site
RSS
Apple
Classements récents
Dernières positions dans les classements Apple Podcasts et Spotify.
Liens partagés entre épisodes et podcasts
Liens présents dans les descriptions d'épisodes et autres podcasts les utilisant également.
The Perrin Technique: How To Diagnose And Treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Me And Fibromyalgia Via The Lymphatic Drainage Of The Brain by Dr. Raymond Perrin, 2nd Ed. Part 2
jeudi 16 avril 2026 • Durée 47:23
"ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is more than just fatigue. What we do, or specifically what we don't do, actually aids in more healing. So doing less equals faster, better outcomes."—Donna Piper
A focused revisit to the Perrin Technique that zeroes in on practical steps for easing crashes and brain fog. This is part 2 of our series on The Perrin Technique. This week, Donna dives into chapter 10 to pull out clinician-ready moves and patient routines. Her experience shows how targeted lymphatic drainage, thoracic mobility, and pacing change day to day tolerance over months. Donna describes weekly clinic work and daily self-care that turned theoretical protocol into measurable recovery, and why slow, gentle practice mattered most. Play this episode to hear the chapter 10 breakdown and actionable next steps. • Chapter 10 deep dive from Dr Raymond Perrin 2nd Ed • Perrin Technique steps for neuro-lymphatic drainage • Contrast bathing and thoracic region protocols • Cervical and cranial sacral techniques explained • Pacing and rest as core treatment strategies • Practical self-care routines and when to seek a certified practitioner
Episode Highlights: 01:28 The Perrin Technique: Chapter 10 Intro 10:13 Real Talk: ME/CFS— More Than Fatigue 16:14 Connective Thread: A Systemic Dysfunction 35:25 Myth Buster 41:15 Feel Good Flow 45:02 Shared Education &Lived Experience
Resources: 🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I'd love to hear from you! Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show. 💲Discount Get $20 off the Visible Wrist Band 2.0 Click the link: https://join.makevisible.com/73784699c7db3e **Wearable heart-rate and activity sensor, with charging cable and strap included. 5 days battery life Manufactured by Polar, the world leader in heart-rate monitoring Designed for illness, not fitness HSA/FSA Eligible 💗Springrose Give $20, GET $20 When you share Springrose with friends, they get $20 off their first purchase and you get $20 towards your next purchase!* Share the love. https://oken.do/0l3hpr6v 💗Equip Fuel With Real Food Meet Prime Protein, the original beef protein powder, with over 20g of delicious grass-fed beef protein. No junk or fillers https://www.equipfoods.com/DONNA15 💗Books: 📖The Perrin Technique: How to diagnose and treat CFS/ME and fibromyalgia via the lymphatic drainage of the brain, 2nd Ed: https://amzn.to/4sV1ehf 📖The Concise Perrin Technique: A Handbook for Patients: https://amzn.to/47JSEcG 📖https://theperrintechnique.com/self-help-guide/
X: DO LESS, HEAL BETTER. The Perrin Technique Chapter 10 unpacked: contrast baths, cervical drainage, thoracic mobility, and severity scoring to track recovery. Tune in and get clear actions to discuss with your clinician. #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #ThePerrinTechnique #DrRaymondPerrin #MECFS #ChronicFatigue #fibromyalgia #LymphaticHealth #NeuroLymphaticDrainage #AutonomicNervousSystem #ThoracicSpine #Inflammation #ContrastBathing #SelfGuidedMovements #StressReduction #DietAndNutrition #Hypermobility
Quotes: 05:30 "Pain equals no gain; more equals no gain; more actually makes me worse." —Donna Piper 07:14 "For healing, you want to look at it as a few years that you're going to be doing this. It's taken a long time to get sick in most cases, so it does take a while to get better. This is not a miracle… You probably are going to feel worse because you're going to be detoxing. Some of these toxins are going to be coming out, so you might feel worse. And then that is how you know that it's working." —Donna Piper 19:08 "When you have ME/CFS, you're not just tired, you're having a whole body problem with drainage, nervous system stress and physical dysfunction."—Donna Piper 26:08 "You're not doing anybody any favors, including yourself if you push yourself through the pain barrier. Pain is the body's natural protection; it tells you when to stop." —Donna Piper 36:09 "ME is one of those conditions that punishes excess. Too much stimulation, that's a problem. Too much activity is a problem. Cognitive effort is also a problem. Too much emotional stress is a problem. Too much treatment, believe it or not, is also a problem." —Donna Piper 39:27 "Some healing is microscopic at first. You can't see that healing that it's doing inside of your body. You may notice you're crashing less violently. You may see that you recover a little faster… You have slightly more room between effort and consequence, and that is really where the nuances are, and that's what counts." —Donna Piper 40:15 "Don't let the internet, or what you think you should do, or a timeframe bully you into thinking subtle progress is fake progress."—Donna Piper 46:09 "ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is more than just fatigue. What we do, or specifically what we don't do, actually aids in more healing. So doing less equals faster, better outcomes."—Donna Piper
Your Host: Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions. With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships. Donna's sessions are a haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.
The Perrin Technique: How To Diagnose And Treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Me And Fibromyalgia Via The Lymphatic Drainage Of The Brain by Dr. Raymond Perrin, 2nd Ed.
Saison 2 · Épisode 45
jeudi 9 avril 2026 • Durée 32:44
"Take a look at everything that's been going on with your body and your health, and see if you can be at least okay with the knowledge that this is something that you need to treat in a different way, and relish in the fact that it is not something you've been making up and it there are some real treatment out there." —Donna Piper
A clogged brain drainage system rewires energy, hormones, and recovery so daily life becomes a series of compromises. This matters now because new research and hands-on approaches reveal a physical route to symptoms often written off as psychological. This week, Donna walks through her Perrin technique diagnosis and yearlong treatment journey after unexplained fatigue, showing how structural, autonomic, and lymphatic factors converged to create measurable change. Her story reframes chronic fatigue syndrome and ME as treatable physiological conditions. Tune in to hear the practical breakdown: Perrin technique and neuro lymphatic drainage How hypothalamic dysfunction drives ME/CFS symptoms Common structural and autonomic signs to watch for Self assessment basics and when to see a practitioner Realistic timelines and treatment expectations Related conditions: fibromyalgia, EDS, MCAS
Episode Highlights: 01:01 Discovering The Perrin Technique 06:22 Real Talk: Dr. Raymond Perrin and His Life Work 10:35 Connective Thread: 7 Facts 25:57 Myth Buster: Not Psychological, But Physiological 27:48 Feel Good Flow 29:59 Shared Education and Lived Experience
Rest Without Guilt (When Your Worth Got Tied to Output)
Épisode 36
jeudi 29 janvier 2026 • Durée 31:22
"Rest isn't a character flaw. It's what your body needs in order to heal from these invisible illnesses. And for some of us, it's also a grief process, because we're not just resting from task; we're resting from the version of ourselves who thought we had to earn love through output." —Donna Piper
We talk about rest like it is simple, but for many bodies it brings guilt, fear, and shame. When worth gets tied to productivity, stopping can feel dangerous even when the body is breaking down. This conversation meets the tension between exhaustion and identity without sugarcoating it. This week, Donna shares her lived experience with chronic illness, nervous system dysregulation, and post-exertional malaise, alongside research that reshaped how she approaches rest, pacing, and recovery. Press play and sit with this one, then return to it when the guilt shows up. Topics covered: • Rest without guilt, and why it feels so hard • Chronic illness, fatigue, and invisible symptoms • Nervous system regulation and safety • Post-exertional malaise and pacing strategies • Why pushing through backfires • Identity loss when productivity disappears • Practical rest tools that actually work • Boundaries, scripts, and energy budgeting
Episode Highlights: 03:05 The Impact of Chronic Illness on Identity 07:52 The Role of the ANS 10:50 How to Rest Without Guilt 19:01 The Importance of Pacing and Boundaries 21:41 Reframing Rest as Productive 25:34 Intentional Breathing and Mindfulness
Is It POTS? When Standing Up Feels Like a Trap
Épisode 35
jeudi 22 janvier 2026 • Durée 13:12
"You're not making it up. You're not weak, you're not failing. Your body is working hard to keep you upright, and you deserve support that matches the reality of that." —Donna Piper
Standing up should not require strategy, recovery time, or mental math. When heart rate spikes, dizziness hits, and showers wipe us out, the hardest part is not the symptom. It is being told nothing is wrong while our body says otherwise.
Donna shares lived experience with POTS, dysautonomia, and multiple comorbidities, blending physiology with trauma-informed insight. Her work is shaped by years of being dismissed and the clarity that comes from finally naming what is happening in the body.
Press play to ground into language that makes sense of your symptoms and offers support without pushing.
Signs of POTS and dysautonomia in daily life
Why standing, heat, and showers trigger symptoms
Heart racing vs anxiety and why both can exist
The mental exhaustion of medical gaslighting
Gentle nervous system supports for upright intolerance
"If you're traveling with chronic illness, I want you to hear me. There is nothing wrong with you. You just have to prepare a little bit. You deserve to travel in a way that doesn't punish you, that helps you, that makes you feel good." —Donna Piper
Travel takes more out of the body than most people admit. For those living with chronic illness, the cost shows up before the suitcase is even packed. Energy drains through lines, noise, time pressure, swelling, and the fear of crashing far from home. Donna shares her real-time approach to spending a month in Germany while managing lipedema, chronic fatigue, MCAS, hypermobility, and nervous system overload. This conversation blends lived experience with practical science to show how support, pacing, and preparation make travel survivable and humane. Press play for a grounded, no-hype conversation and explore: • Traveling with chronic illness without pushing or proving • Energy budgeting before, during, and after trips • Nervous system overload and why travel hits harder • Swelling, compression, and movement on long flights • Flying with lipedema and chronic pain • Planning layovers, buffers, and recovery days • Using accommodations without guilt or explanation • Safe food strategies for MCAS and histamine issues • Why rest protects the trip instead of ruining it • Micro-regulation tools for airports, flights, and hotels
Pack, Move, Fly, Heal: Why I'm Choosing Germany for Lipedema Surgery
Épisode 33
jeudi 8 janvier 2026 • Durée 19:49
"Movement and less pain is why I'm doing this and why I've chosen to go to Germany." —Donna Piper
Big life changes rarely wait their turn. When health decisions collide with exhaustion, logistics, and uncertainty, clarity matters more than certainty. Donna shares the personal and medical reasoning behind traveling to Germany for lipedema surgery while managing multiple chronic conditions. This episode traces how lived experience, failed conservative treatments, and the need for long-term care shaped a choice rooted in mobility, pain reduction, and nervous system safety. Press play for a grounded, unfiltered conversation, then explore the key moments: • Why Germany was chosen for lipedema surgery • Living with lipedema, ME/CFS, hEDS, POTS, and MCAS • Limits of conservative treatments for lipedema • Surgery as debulking, not a cure • Managing chronic illness during major life transitions • The role of aftercare and hospital-based recovery • Reframing healing away from aesthetics • Nervous system support during overwhelm • Making slow, aligned medical decisions
Episode Highlights: 01:40 Personal Update and Upcoming Move 04:56 Choosing Lipedema Surgery in Lipedema 11:23 The Importance of Practicality and Compassion 13:38 Surgery is Not a Miracle Cure 17:32 The Importance of Community Support
Lipedema Surgery Vs. Non-Surgical Care… Do I Have To Choose?
Épisode 32
jeudi 1 janvier 2026 • Durée 38:38
"Anything you choose is not weakness. It's the best for you… Instead of thinking surgery or no surgery, try this question: 'What would make my next step safer?'... Safety is a step, not a switch." —Donna Piper
Pressure around medical choices can turn care into panic. When the body is complex and money, time, and fear are involved, certainty starts to feel like a deadline. This conversation slows that moment down and gives it room to breathe. In this episode, Donna shares her lived experience navigating lipedema and the long road of conservative care, research, and choosing surgery without shame or urgency. Her perspective is shaped by years of dismissal, chronic symptoms, and learning to trust the body again. Press play and walk your healing journey at your own pace. We cover: • Lipedema surgery vs non-surgical care and why it is not an either-or decision • Decision paralysis, medical trauma, and fear-based choosing • Conservative treatments like compression, lymphatic care, and supportive movement • Pain, mobility, swelling, and quality of life considerations • Money pressure, timelines, and realistic recovery expectations • Why not ready is a valid and protective choice • Nervous system safety and building trust after being dismissed
Episode Highlights: 02:16 Lipedema Surgery: The Financial and Emotional Pressures 04:41 Lipedema Surgery vs Non-Surgical Care 08:33 Lipedema Management and Support 15:14 Navigating Medical Trauma and Decision-Making 17:11 Myths and Misconceptions About Lipedema Treatment 27:05 Creating a Decision Container 38:30 Supporting Women in Their Health Journey
Hot Flashes, Heavy Legs: Lipedema Meets Perimenopause & Menopause
Épisode 31
jeudi 25 décembre 2025 • Durée 20:26
"Lipedema is not a willpower issue. Shame is not a treatment plan. Late diagnosis does not mean late reality. It means late recognition. Your best advocate is yourself. There's nothing wrong with you. You've just been navigating a body that hasn't been understood by the medical world yet. Be gentle with your capacity. Meet yourself where you are." —Donna Piper
Bodies can change in ways that do not follow the rules we were taught. Pain, swelling, and heaviness show up, and the explanations never quite fit. Many women carry this quietly for years, assuming it is just weight or age. In this episode, Donna shares lived experience and clinical insight around lipedema, a connective tissue disorder often missed until perimenopause or menopause. She connects personal symptoms, years of dismissal, and emerging research to explain why midlife is often when lipedema finally gets recognized. Press play for grounded clarity, validation without hype, and language that helps make sense of what has felt confusing for too long. In this episode, we cover: • What lipedema is and how it differs from typical weight gain • Why perimenopause and menopause can intensify lipedema symptoms • Common signs like pain, tenderness, bruising, and symmetry • The role of estrogen, inflammation, and connective tissue • Why labs can look normal while symptoms worsen • Gentle, supportive movement for lymphatic flow • How to talk to doctors and advocate for a diagnosis • Myths that keep women stuck and misunderstood
Episode Highlights: 01:43 Understanding Lipedema and Its Symptoms 04:44 Defining Perimenopause and Menopause 07:04 Lipedema and Hormonal Connections 10:35 Gentle Supports for Lipedema 13:06 Seeking Diagnosis and Support 16:15 Breathing Techniques and Exercises
How Trauma Rewrites Pain Part 4: Flare or Trauma Response? When the Body's Signals Get Confusing
Épisode 30
jeudi 18 décembre 2025 • Durée 15:12
"Flares and trauma responses often look the same because fascia remembers, the nervous system protects, and the immune system overreacts to help defend itself, and the body is trying to keep you alive, not confused. So your job isn't to decode perfectly. Your job is to offer safety consistently, because when the body feels safe, the symptoms soften, and when the symptoms soften, the story changes, and when the story changes, the healing becomes possible." —Donna Piper
The body can shift from steady to overwhelmed without warning, leaving confusion about what just took over. Pain, fatigue, and emotional overwhelm can blur together until everything feels like danger at once. There is relief in knowing this reaction has a reason. In this final episode of the trauma rewrites pain series, Donna draws from lived experience with chronic illness and trauma to unpack why flares and trauma responses often feel identical and how years of illness, stress, and not being believed shape the nervous system's reactions. Press play for clarity without pressure and a grounded way to respond when symptoms and emotions collide, plus a gentle roadmap back to safety. • The difference between a chronic illness flare and a trauma response • Why flares and trauma responses often activate together • How fascia, the nervous system, and the immune system overlap • Research linking trauma, PTSD, and autoimmune conditions • Why the body is pattern-matching, not malfunctioning • A simple grounding practice to support the nervous system • Reframing self-trust without self-surveillance
Transformation Boundaries: Protect Energy And Design A Purposeful Life with Didi Selwa
jeudi 11 décembre 2025 • Durée 54:24
"Move forward, take action. It may happen, it may not, but it's just about putting one step in front of the other— doing that is so important. When you go forward, you realize, 'oh, that's not for me', but in the process, you discover what is." —Didi Selwa
Drop the guilt of being stuck and discover a movement that meets your body where it is. Press play to hear how embodiment, faith, and small practical steps shift shame, chronic illness limits, and stalled dreams into forward motion. Didi Selwa went from a 25-year banking career to a Certified Transformational Life Coach and Level Two TranscenDance Facilitator by following a mix of mindset training, embodied practice, and faith-guided risk-taking. Her work blends mind-body-spirit coaching with guided movement to help women reclaim confidence and take consistent action. Press play to hear a grounded conversation about how to make affirmations actually work, how movement becomes a tool for trauma release, and why tiny actions matter now. • What transcenDance movement is and how it differs from a dance class • How to use embodied movement to release shame and trauma • Practical mindset tools to turn affirmations into real habits and visioning practice • Adapting transcenDance for chronic illness and low-energy days • The role of faith and spiritual practice in coaching and embodiment • How small, repeatable actions build confidence and creative momentum
02:38 Meet Didi— From Banking Grind to Life Coaching 05:49 True Change— Faith + Mindset 10:52 Why Transformation Feels Uncomfortable 14:31 Breakthrough Tools 18:16 TranscenDance— Healing Through Joyful Movement 24:40 Breaking the Mold— Trusting Your Body 31:05 Breaking Old Beliefs and Celebrating Yourself 36:07 How Affirmations and Manifestations Really Work 42:36 Creativity for Healing and Growth 48:53 Confidence, Action, and Letting Go
Resources: 🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I'd love to hear from you! Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show. 💲Discount Get $20 off the Visible Wrist Band 2.0 Click the link: https://join.makevisible.com/73784699c7db3e **Wearable heart-rate and activity sensor, with charging cable and strap included. 5 days battery life Manufactured by Polar, the world leader in heart-rate monitoring Designed for illness, not fitness HSA/FSA Eligible
💗Springrose Give $20, GET $20 When you share Springrose with friends, they get $20 off their first purchase and you get $20 towards your next purchase!* Share the love. https://oken.do/0l3hpr6v
💗Equip Fuel With Real Food Meet Prime Protein, the original beef protein powder, with over 20g of delicious grass-fed beef protein. No junk or fillers https://www.equipfoods.com/DONNA15
💗Books: 📖The Perrin Technique: How to diagnose and treat CFS/ME and fibromyalgia via the lymphatic drainage of the brain, 2nd Ed: https://amzn.to/4sV1ehf 📖The Concise Perrin Technique: A Handbook for Patients: https://amzn.to/47JSEcG 📖https://theperrintechnique.com/self-help-guide/
Resources: 📝Free Quiz: https://amybehimercoaching.com/quiz Learn the 1 thing your body needs to reduce inflammation & start getting your energy back! 🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I'd love to hear from you! Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show. 💲Discount Get $20 off the Visible Wrist Band 2.0 Click the link: https://join.makevisible.com/73784699c7db3e **Wearable heart-rate and activity sensor, with charging cable and strap included. 5 days battery life Manufactured by Polar, the world leader in heart-rate monitoring Designed for illness, not fitness HSA/FSA Eligible 💗Springrose Give $20, GET $20 When you share Springrose with friends, they get $20 off their first purchase and you get $20 towards your next purchase!* Share the love. https://oken.do/0l3hpr6v 💗Equip Fuel With Real Food Meet Prime Protein, the original beef protein powder, with over 20g of delicious grass-fed beef protein. No junk or fillers https://www.equipfoods.com/DONNA15
X: Your worth is not measured by stamina. Period.This episode dives into fatigue, shame, pacing, and nervous system safety—plus tools to rest without guilt. Press play if your body's tired but your mind won't quit.#DearBodyImListeningPodcast #RestWithoutGuilt #ChronicIllness #NervousSystem #FatigueSupport #InvisibleIllness #RestIsMedicine #PEM #HealingJourney #WomensHealth #RestAndHeal #NervousSystemCare #FatigueAwareness
Quotes: 02:06 "A lot of us don't just have fatigue. We have fatigue plus shame, and shame is heavy. It's like wearing a weighted vest you did not consent to." —Donna Piper 04:06 "Rest— there's no volition to it. You need it, and the more you don't do it, the worse it gets." —Donna Piper 09:42 "We all want to be relied on. It's a lot of women do too much… So it's not a negative that we do that a lot. It's just that if it becomes too much of our identity, it takes away from our health. So that's really where we want to learn some safety in our body and what that looks like." —Donna Piper 14:23 "It's not forced rest. Rest is being safe. Rest is self-respect in the body that has limits. And so, we want to just first look at what our relationship is with rest; know that rest is essential in your healing." —Donna Piper 17:55 "Rest works better when it's a choice you can name, not avoiding your brain fears." —Donna Piper 18:34 "The safer you feel in your body, the more the environment is primed to help you see things differently, manage things differently, and also get you on your road to recovery." —Donna Piper 20:18 "Treat rest like an appointment; you don't cancel on yourself. You're not lazy, you're energy budgeting." —Donna Piper 24:44 "Rest is not giving up. Rest is what helps you prevent the worst of the crash cycle, especially with PEM patterns." —Donna Piper 25:11 "Sometimes, stopping is the only reason anything stays intact." —Donna Piper 26:54 "Your body is the doer and the be-er. So the more you support your body, the more you're actually taking care of yourself in order to do the things you want to do in the future." —Donna Piper 27:45 "Rest isn't a character flaw. It's what your body needs in order to heal from these invisible illnesses. And for some of us, it's also a grief process, because we're not just resting from task; we're resting from the version of ourselves who thought we had to earn love through output." —Donna Piper
Your Host: Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions. With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships. Donna's sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.
🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I'd love to hear from you!
Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show.
X:
Standing up shouldn't feel like a full-body ambush. If your heart races, showers wipe you out, or upright time feels risky, this episode breaks down POTS signs, daily triggers, and gentle supports. Pull up a chair and listen for clarity and support..
04:18 "This isn't you just being dramatic. This is your body sending data, not drama." —Donna Piper
04:47 "There's absolutely nothing wrong with you. You may have been dealing with regulation issues, and they deserve support, not shame." —Donna Piper
06:59 "POTS can shrink your world, not because you're incapable, but because your body is doing extra math to keep you upright." —Donna Piper
08:17 "Here's the spicy truth: being dismissed can make you anxious. So you can have both anxiety and POTS." —Donna Piper
08:33 "POTS can fluctuate. Your good hours don't erase the hard ones. You're not faking. You're cycling through capacity." —Donna Piper
08:47 "For a lot of us, pushing through is what makes symptoms worse. Sometimes, the bravest thing is choosing smart support instead of self punishment." —Donna Piper
11:20 "You're not making it up. You're not weak, you're not failing. Your body is working hard to keep you upright, and you deserve support that matches the reality of that." —Donna Piper
Your Host:
Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.
With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.
Donna's sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.
Episode Highlights: 01:59 Travelling with Chronic Illness 05:14 How Travel Can Stress Your ANS and What to Do About It 07:02 Myths and Misconceptions About Travelling with Chronic Illness 08:23 Practical Travel Tips and Mindfulness Practices
Resources: 🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I'd love to hear from you! Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show. 💲Discount Get $20 off the Visible Wrist Band 2.0 Click the link: https://join.makevisible.com/73784699c7db3e **Wearable heart-rate and activity sensor, with charging cable and strap included. 5 days battery life Manufactured by Polar, the world leader in heart-rate monitoring Designed for illness, not fitness HSA/FSA Eligible 💗Springrose Give $20, GET $20 When you share Springrose with friends, they get $20 off their first purchase and you get $20 towards your next purchase!* Share the love. https://oken.do/0l3hpr6v 💗Equip Fuel With Real Food Meet Prime Protein, the original beef protein powder, with over 20g of delicious grass-fed beef protein. No junk or fillers https://www.equipfoods.com/DONNA15
X: Traveling with chronic illness isn't Eat, Pray, Love. It's planning, pacing, compression, and rest. In this episode, we talk fatigue, swelling, flights, and nervous-system-safe travel—without the gloss. #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #ChronicIllnessTravel #InvisibleIllness #Lipedema #ChronicFatigue #TravelTips #NervousSystemSafety #SelfAdvocacy #BodyAwareness
Quotes: 02:34 "Travel costs energy before the trip even starts. There's the physical stuff: standing in lines, hauling bags, temperature swings, weird food timing, and bathrooms require a map, and emotional courage. And then there's the invisible stuff, decision fatigue, sensory overload, nervous system activation, the pressure to 'make it worth it', and that sneaky fear of what if I crash and I'm not at home." —Donna Piper 03:33 "Build a buffer like it's your job… Two, use help like it's normal… Three, Plan the flight like it's a body event…Four, bring safe food… Five, treat landing like recovery day." —Donna Piper 06:44 "You're not aiming for no symptoms. You're aiming for support, strategy, and self-trust." —Donna Piper 07:15 "Rest is what makes a trip survivable. Rest is what keeps you from needing a week-long recovery afterward." —Donna Piper 09:52 "If you're traveling with chronic illness, I want you to hear me. There is nothing wrong with you. You just have to prepare a little bit. You deserve to travel in a way that doesn't punish you, that helps you, that makes you feel good." —Donna Piper
Your Host: Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions. With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships. Donna's sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.
Resources: 🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I'd love to hear from you! Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show. 💲Discount Get $20 off the Visible Wrist Band 2.0 Click the link: https://join.makevisible.com/73784699c7db3e **Wearable heart-rate and activity sensor, with charging cable and strap included. 5 days battery life Manufactured by Polar, the world leader in heart-rate monitoring Designed for illness, not fitness HSA/FSA Eligible 💗Springrose Give $20, GET $20 When you share Springrose with friends, they get $20 off their first purchase and you get $20 towards your next purchase!* Share the love. https://oken.do/0l3hpr6v 💗Equip Fuel With Real Food Meet Prime Protein, the original beef protein powder, with over 20g of delicious grass-fed beef protein. No junk or fillers https://www.equipfoods.com/DONNA15
X: Big life moves don't pause for healing—but your body still matters. Donna is packing, moving, and flying to Germany for lipedema surgery, choosing care over speed. Listen for surgery decisions, nervous system safety, and real-life prep. #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #lipedema #chronicillness #medicaldecisions #healingjourney #bodywisdom #lipedemasurgery #chronicfatigue #spoonielife #healthchoices #patientadvocate
Quotes: 02:48 "It has been important for me to go slowly through this process, as much as I wanted to speed up sometimes, but to really make sure that my nervous system and everything was in alignment so I can make these huge moves on top of healing." —Donna Piper 08:37 "Healing does take a lot of energy." —Donna Piper 11:12 "Movement and less pain is why I'm doing this and why I've chosen to go to Germany." —Donna Piper 11:46 "Surgery isn't your only option, and surgery isn't a miracle; you still need to continue to do conservative things." —Donna Piper 13:34 "It takes about a year after surgery to really start to see the results." —Donna Piper 17:10 "If you're in a moment where life is asking a lot of you and your body is already carrying a lot, remember: there's nothing wrong with you. You've just been living in a body that hasn't been understood." —Donna Piper
Your Host: Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions. With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships. Donna's sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.
Resources: 🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I'd love to hear from you! Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show. 💲Discount Get $20 off the Visible Wrist Band 2.0 Click the link: https://join.makevisible.com/73784699c7db3e **Wearable heart-rate and activity sensor, with charging cable and strap included. 5 days battery life Manufactured by Polar, the world leader in heart-rate monitoring Designed for illness, not fitness HSA/FSA Eligible 💗Springrose Give $20, GET $20 When you share Springrose with friends, they get $20 off their first purchase and you get $20 towards your next purchase!* Share the love. https://oken.do/0l3hpr6v 💗Equip Fuel With Real Food Meet Prime Protein, the original beef protein powder, with over 20g of delicious grass-fed beef protein. No junk or fillers https://www.equipfoods.com/DONNA15
X: There is no "right" choice—only the one that fits your body. This episode unpacks the surgery vs non-surgery dilemma, fear loops, and how to decide without pressure. Listen for grounded truth, not ultimatums. #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #lipedema #healthdecisions #bodywisdom #chronicillnesssupport #selftrust #bodyautonomy #lipedemaawareness #chronicpain #medicaltrauma #selfadvocacy #healingjourney
Quotes: 07:02 "With Lipedema, it's always trial and error. Not everyone's body responds the same way as someone else's body does. Listen to yourself, trust your intuition, and do your research, because education is what's going to help you." —Donna Piper 09:40 "Medical trauma and uncertainty equals decision paralysis.. When you're being asked to make a big medical decision inside a system that didn't protect you, of course, you're spinning." —Donna Piper 11:10 "The panic you feel is not proof that you're behind it's not proof that you need to make one decision over the other. It's proof that you care and the decision is real, and you're taking some time to really weigh out your options." —Donna Piper 19:45 "If you make any decision of panic or feeling pressured, then you're never going to feel peaceful, even if it's the right one." —Donna Piper 20:29 "Surgery is not just this thing that is going to make everything better. In some cases, it may not be the right thing for you, so just know that opting for whatever care and how you piece it together is the best thing for you. It's not one or the other." —Donna Piper 25:00 "Anything you choose is not weakness. It's the best for you… Instead of thinking surgery or no surgery, try this question: 'What would make my next step safer?'... Safety is a step, not a switch." —Donna Piper 29:59 "None of this is the perfect choice, because the lipedema is not perfect at all." —Donna Piper 30:56 "If you're not ready to make any decisions, that's also a decision. Take some pressure off yourself to explore some things again." —Donna Piper 32:45 "Don't let shame be your surgeon… Shame is not a pre-medical professional. Shame doesn't get a vote. Just let the goal of your quality of life guide you." —Donna Piper 35:44 "You don't have to make a choice. You're not required to choose at all, let alone from a place of fear. This isn't a test of your toughness or your the best decision-making. It's really about your body's decision, and it deserves time, tenderness, and clarity." —Donna Piper 37:20 "Sometimes, the most healing thing is realizing that you're not alone in the mess of it. Whatever you choose, let it be rooted in agency, not shame." —Donna Piper
Your Host: Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions. With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships. Donna's sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.
Resources: 🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I'd love to hear from you! Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show. 💲Discount Get $20 off the Visible Wrist Band 2.0 Click the link: https://join.makevisible.com/73784699c7db3e **Wearable heart-rate and activity sensor, with charging cable and strap included. 5 days battery life Manufactured by Polar, the world leader in heart-rate monitoring Designed for illness, not fitness HSA/FSA Eligible 💗Springrose Give $20, GET $20 When you share Springrose with friends, they get $20 off their first purchase and you get $20 towards your next purchase!* Share the love. https://oken.do/0l3hpr6v 💗Equip Fuel With Real Food Meet Prime Protein, the original beef protein powder, with over 20g of delicious grass-fed beef protein. No junk or fillers https://www.equipfoods.com/DONNA15
X: You're not failing at weight loss—your tissue plays by different rules. Hear how lipedema shows up, why hormones turn up the volume in midlife, and how to recognize the signs. Listen in for science, lived experience, and gentle next steps. #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #lipedemaeducation #perimenopausejourney #womenswellness #chronicpain #healthadvocacy #hormonehealth #perimenopause #menopausehealth
Quotes: 01:37 "If you've never heard the word lipedema, you're not alone. Most women haven't, and that's part of the problem." —Donna Piper 06:08 "Every time they told me my labs were just fine. And that is also part of lipedema… One of the parts of lipedema is that your labs can look different than what your body is doing and the reality of what your body is going through." —Donna Piper 08:00 "It doesn't mean that you're failing. You haven't done anything wrong. You're just your tissue is different, the connective tissue that you have and the adipose tissue, and how your lymphatic system works." —Donna Piper 09:49 "Lipedema symptoms can become more noticeable, not because you did something wrong, but because your internal environment has changed. Then, lipedema arrives. Newer model suggests menopause can act like a turning point in lipedema progression." —Donna Piper 13:45 "Unfortunately, you have to be your own advocate, and you have to educate your doctors. And fortunately, there's a lot more research out there. There is a lot more support out there." —Donna Piper 15:03 "Lipedema is not a willpower issue. Shame is not a treatment plan." —Donna Piper 15:13 "Perimenopause is the fluctuating lead-up. Menopause is the 12-month marker, different seasons, different support." —Donna Piper 15:24 "Many women have symptoms for years and get diagnosed later, often turning during the perimenopause or menopause phase, because that's when the pattern becomes undeniable. Late diagnosis does not mean late reality. It means late recognition." —Donna Piper 18:52 "Your best advocate is yourself. There's nothing wrong with you. You've just been navigating a body that hasn't been understood by the medical world yet. Be gentle with your capacity. Meet yourself where you are." —Donna Piper
Your Host: Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions. With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships. Donna's sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.
Episode Highlights: 02:49 Flare vs Trauma Response 04:05 Flare Symptoms vs Trauma Response Symptoms 06:30 The Overlap Between Flare and Trauma Response 08:40 The Science: PTSD, Autoimmune Disease, and Chronic Inflammation 11:55 How Trauma Rewires the Autonomic Nervous System 14:00 Gentle Nervous System Grounding
Resources: 🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I'd love to hear from you! Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show. 💲Discount Get $20 off the Visible Wrist Band 2.0 Click the link: https://join.makevisible.com/73784699c7db3e **Wearable heart-rate and activity sensor, with charging cable and strap included. 5 days battery life Manufactured by Polar, the world leader in heart-rate monitoring Designed for illness, not fitness HSA/FSA Eligible 💗Springrose Give $20, GET $20 When you share Springrose with friends, they get $20 off their first purchase and you get $20 towards your next purchase!* Share the love. https://oken.do/0l3hpr6v 💗Equip Fuel With Real Food Meet Prime Protein, the original beef protein powder, with over 20g of delicious grass-fed beef protein. No junk or fillers https://www.equipfoods.com/DONNA15
X: Your body isn't broken; it's pattern-matching to survive. This episode unpacks why flares and trauma responses feel identical and offers a simple roadmap back to calm without self-blame or pressure. Listen and breathe along. #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #NervousSystemRegulation #ChronicIllnessSupport #TraumaAwareness #SomaticHealing #SelfCompassion
Quotes: 04:30 "Your flare can trigger your trauma response, and your trauma response can amplify your flare, and they share some of the same components. So a flare and a trauma response can co-activate each other, not because you're dramatic, disorganized, weak, or not healed enough, but because your nervous system has been trained by the illness, by trauma, by years of not being believed to over respond when something feels familiar." —Donna Piper 07:25 "Your body is trying to protect you loudly and perfectly and sometimes inconveniently." —Donna Piper 09:00 "After chronic stress or emotional wounds, your autonomic nervous system becomes biased towards protection. So this is not a judgment, this is just pattern recognition." —Donna Piper 10:25 "It's not your fault. You're not failing. It's nothing you can do. Your body is doing its best with the map it has." —Donna Piper 10:57 "You're not supposed to perfectly diagnose your internal state that is not self-trust, that is self-surveillance." —Donna Piper 13:22 "Flares and trauma responses often look the same because fascia remembers, the nervous system protects, and the immune system overreacts to help defend itself, and the body is trying to keep you alive, not confused. So your job isn't to decode perfectly. Your job is to offer safety consistently, because when the body feels safe, the symptoms soften, and when the symptoms soften, the story changes, and when the story changes, the healing becomes possible." —Donna Piper
Your Host: Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions. With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships. Donna's sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.
Episode Highlights:
Resources: 🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I'd love to hear from you! Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show. 💲Discount Get $20 off the Visible Wrist Band 2.0 Click the link: https://join.makevisible.com/73784699c7db3e **Wearable heart-rate and activity sensor, with charging cable and strap included. 5 days battery life Manufactured by Polar, the world leader in heart-rate monitoring Designed for illness, not fitness HSA/FSA Eligible 💗Springrose Give $20, GET $20 When you share Springrose with friends, they get $20 off their first purchase and you get $20 towards your next purchase!* Share the love. https://oken.do/0l3hpr6v 💗Equip Fuel With Real Food Meet Prime Protein, the original beef protein powder, with over 20g of delicious grass-fed beef protein. No junk or fillers https://www.equipfoods.com/DONNA15
X: You're allowed to celebrate even the smallest wins—celebration rewires shame into momentum. Hear this episode for baby-step tools, repatterning, manifestation, and mind-body movement as Donna sits with Dream By Design Coaching Founder, Didi Selwa. #DearBodyImListening #MCAS #Lymphedema #Lipedema #ChronicIllness #mindset #selfcare #movement #transcenDance #transformation #confidence
Quotes: 03:52 "Our purpose is there, we just don't uncover it. It's there speaking to us, and we're not listening." —Didi Selwa 09:01 "You have to find what works for you, what speaks to you and your soul, in order for it to actually have a transformational impact in your life." —Didi Selwa 12:19 "With transformation, it has to have an anchor— and it's uncomfortable." —Donna Piper 13:05 "Just being you and being authentic makes people feel safe to do the same." —Didi Selwa 25:26 "Transcendance is about moving to honor how your body wants to move in that moment. By doing that, you get more in touch with your body to what they need." —Donna Piper 35:50 "Honor and love your body where you are and yourself where you're at, still giving yourself that freedom to transform it as well." —Didi Selwa 36:17 "Affirmations and what you tell yourself 100% affect how you do your life. However, just by saying certain things doesn't always make them come true." —Donna Piper 37:46 "There's more to manifesting than just saying these things and putting them up on your vision board. And what it really comes from is our energy, becoming a vibrational match to that affirmation. So, it's not only saying the words, but also envisioning it." —Didi Selwa 44:18 "I like to tap into the creative aspect, because spirit loves fun, our body loves fun, our mind loves fun. And a lot of times, we don't really give ourselves enough time to do that creative expression." —Didi Selwa 50:38 "Move forward, take action. It may happen, it may not, but it's just about putting one step in front of the other— doing that is so important. When you go forward, you realize, 'oh, that's not for me', but in the process, you discover what is." —Didi Selwa
Découvrez des podcasts liées à Dear body, I'm listening. Explorez des podcasts avec des thèmes, sujets, et formats similaires. Ces similarités sont calculées grâce à des données tangibles, pas d'extrapolations !
