Today we take a detour from our examination of mental illness, and instead look at the impact of chronic physical illness on our lives. I've had Crohn's disease for more than twenty years. Physical illness is so often intertwined with one's mental health. And my severe case of Crohn's left me running scared and desperate to avoid a disfiguring surgery.
Dr. Ava, a physician and friend, explains Crohn's disease and autoimmune diseases, that ignite inflammation and often exacerbate mental health issues. My life became a dance of managing bipolar illness and Crohn's disease and resulted in back-to-back hospitalizations for both.
I felt forced to seek out unconventional healers, like the notorious John of God, who has drawn people from around the world with his unorthodox methods. In this episode, I answer the question as to why I would put myself in a risky situation to achieve healing.

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Music composed and performed by guitarist, JD Cullum
Recorded at Modern Tone Studios the highest ranked recording studio in the San Francisco East Bay.
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