Living with a chronic condition like Crohn’s or endometriosis is a full-time job, yet many of us add the weight of being “the strong one” on top of it. We push, we perform, and we pretend that our bodies aren’t screaming for a break.
In my latest video, Crohn’s, Endometriosis and Burnout: How Stress Hits the Body, I’m pulling back the curtain on my own journey and sharing the scientific link between the stress we carry and the flares we experience.
The Science of “Pushing Through”
For years, I believed I could out-organize or out-think what was happening in my body. But stress physiology doesn’t work that way. When we are under constant pressure, our brain activates the HPA Axis (Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal axis) [02:30].
While cortisol is protective in short bursts, chronic stress keeps this system switched on. For those of us with conditions like Crohn’s, research shows this can actually change how our gut works, making the lining more permeable and ramping up inflammatory markers [03:22]. My worst flares have almost always lined up perfectly with seasons of intense stress—big projects, leadership transitions, and family crises [03:41].
4 Shifts for Sustainable Wellness
As I prepare for my next surgery and navigate this season, I am actively practicing four shifts to move from being an adversary to my body to becoming an honest partner.
- Redefining Capacity: Instead of asking “How much can I do?”, I’m asking “What is my real capacity today?” [06:08]. Our capacity isn’t a fixed number; it changes based on our sleep, pain levels, and nervous system health.
- Micro-Regulation Practices: We don’t always have an hour for yoga. I’m focusing on “tiny nervous system resets”—like 60 seconds of intentional breathing or a short walk between meetings—to tell my brain we aren’t in an emergency 24/7 [07:22].
- Compassionate Symptom Tracking: Using data to find patterns, not to judge myself. I’m looking for how a difficult conversation or a lack of sleep shows up in my body days later [08:14].
- Letting Support In: This is the hardest one for high-performers. Part of managing chronic illness is accepting that you don’t have to be the entire solution. It’s okay to receive support from your medical team, family, and coaches [08:42].
Join the Conversation
If you’ve ever felt your symptoms spike after a stressful season, you aren’t imagining it. There is a real biological connection there, and your story matters just as much as any journal article.
Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/M90BlqlU4xU?si=7u_LSErRKiC8dCPO
I’d love to hear from you in the comments: What patterns are you starting to notice between your stress and your symptoms? Let’s learn to flourish together.
PS- By the time this blog post publishes, I will have gone through surgery (March 27th). I look forward to sharing the inside scoop with a glimpse into my surgery via a VLOG. Stay tuned…