Welcome! | Connection in Shared Experiences
Welcome to the first episode of "Maybe This Will Be The Cure"! I'm your host, Megan, and this podcast is a space to talk about navigating chronic pain, mental health, and the unique experience of parenting neurodivergent children.
If you've ever felt that unmistakable nudge to speak up in a crowded room, you'll understand the mix of excitement and nervousness I'm feeling right now. But I’ve been blessed by others willing to share their stories, so picture me, tucked away in my dimly-lit closet, pouring my heart out into the mic.
From PDA Autism to unschooling to Type 1 Diabetes to exploring different healing modalities and more, I'm sharing my experiences, hoping to connect, and, just maybe, find a bit of healing along the way.
In this episode I'll discuss:
Why I'm starting a podcast
The power of sharing our stories
What to expect from this podcast
The realities of making choices between imperfect options
My nuanced view of health and wellness
So, grab a comfy seat, and let's dive into the candid conversations that make life's challenges a little more manageable and help us feel a little less alone. Because maybe this will be the cure.
More of a reader? I got you…
Welcome to Maybe This Will Be The Cure Podcast!
A podcast where the wisdom of a healing journey meets the warmth of shared experiences. Join as we explore the topics of healing, living with chronic conditions, chronic pain, neurodiversity, mental health, and parenting kids with disabilities.
Feeling the Nudge to Share My Story
Have you ever been sitting in class or church or a meeting, and you feel the nudge to speak up and share your thoughts? You know that undeniable feeling that you need to add your voice to the discussion?
When I feel the nudge to say something, it’s always accompanied by all the nerves—my heart races, I get butterflies, my face feels flushed—suddenly I'm winded, parched, and my armpits are soaked through, all at the same time.
And I have to be honest, I kind of feel like that right now, starting this podcast. Who am I to share my thoughts? But for whatever reason, I have this feeling that I need to. And somehow that conviction is pulling stronger than the urge to sit down or throw up. So here we go.
Hey! I’m the host, Megan!
If you’ve made your way here, I’m guessing you know me in real life (Hi, Mom!) or maybe you follow my Instagram @maybethiswillbethecure.
Why I’m Starting a Podcast
Last year, I was feeling this pull to share my experiences with chronic pain, mental health and parenting pda autistic kids, one with Type 1 Diabetes, and so I started @maybethiswillbethecure. As I started sharing there, I realized that the format wasn't the best fit for me to share some of my stories. Taking videos or photos is not my forte. But talking, that's my thing. I'm a chatty girl.
Have you seen that animated movie on Netflix called Leo, featuring Adam Sandler and Bill Burr as the voices of class pets—a tortoise and a lizard? Anyways, there’s a part in the movie where one of the girls in the class is rambling on to her classmate. Adam and Bill’s characters turn to each other saying: “First child. No filter. Never heard the word enough." I couldn't stop laughing because that's me—I’m the oldest of seven kids and turns out, I've got a whole lot to say.
A podcast is perfect in that I can sneak into my closet while everyone else is sleeping and record an episode. No need for good lighting or glam. It's just me and the mic in a dimly lit, cozy (read: cramped) closet, talking to myself. What a dream.
Finding Wisdom and Connection Through Podcasts
I love podcasts. I’m a podcast junky and listen to them often. I'm so grateful to others that shared their stories and experiences. I've learned a lot and I’ve felt less alone in some of my life’s challenges.
Solace on My Parenting Journey
For example, I'm a mom of two PDA autistic kids. PDA stands for pathological demand avoidance. And one feature of PDA, is a very sensitive threat response. Long before I had a name for what was going on, I remember feeling like I couldn't really relate to others' parenting experiences. Things always felt so hard for us.
And then I came across a podcast called the PDA Parents podcast. It was by two moms of PDA autistic kids. When I came across that podcast, I had just started learning about PDA. I had seen a few posts about PDA on Instagram and was curious about it. Maybe it was my intuition. But anyways, I remember listening to this podcast and crying through every single episode because I could finally relate to someone else’s parenting experiences. I felt seen and less alone.
Diabetes Tips
To give another example, almost two years ago, my oldest was diagnosed with type one diabetes. Suddenly here I was, without a medical degree, with a huge responsibility of making a million medical decisions for my kid every day to keep him alive. It was so overwhelming and a big learning curve.
About a year into his diagnosis, I came across the Juicebox Podcast, started by a dad of a girl with T1D. It has tons of helpful tips and information on managing diabetes and dosing with insulin. (I especially love the Pro Tips series.)
I've learned so much from that podcast and from lots of different podcasts. I am so grateful for people that share their stories and their experiences so I can learn and feel less alone.
Why the name “Maybe This Will Be the Cure”?
About five years ago, I started getting nightly back pain. I'd be fine all day, then up in so much pain in the night. I was desperate for relief.
I started trying a bunch of different things to try to get better. And each time I'd try a new therapy, treatment, or supplement, I'd say to my husband, “Maybe this will be the cure.”
But each thing I tried was not the cure. So it became this joke between us.
But I think it captures the hope and optimism we hold on to in the face of uncertainty and challenges. As a mom navigating chronic pain and mental health, while parenting and homeschooling kids with PDA, autism, and type one diabetes (among other things), I face unique challenges.
I’m Here in Solidarity
I’m here exploring different healing modalities, living with chronic conditions, supporting PDA autistic children through burnout, and navigating the nuances of parenting children with disabilities. Navigating health challenges, accommodations, therapies, learning, and healing are all a big part of my daily life.
A Nuanced Perspective on Health
I think I have a unique perspective when it comes to health.
Partly Because of Health Challenges
I'm really interested in all things health and wellness. Between my own health challenges—febrile seizures as a kid; mental health struggles: OCD, anxiety, and depression; skin issues: acne, eczema, itchy rashes, dandruff; gut issues; headaches; period problems; chronic pain—and the health challenges of my little family—both my kids are PDA Autistic with ADHD, OCD, SPD, Anxiety, my oldest has Type One Diabetes, and my husband has his own health issues—my life is impacted daily by health challenges. It's on my brain a lot.
Partly Because of My Upbringing
But part of my interest stems from my childhood. I grew up knee-deep in the health and wellness world. My dad's a chiropractor, and in our house, health and wellness was basically a second religion. I love the holistic health world and all the tools it offers.
Landing in a Middle Ground
But then we were thrown a major curveball when my oldest was diagnosed with type one diabetes. And currently, there's no cure. Trust me, I searched.
In the alternative health world, I've witnessed incredible healing stories for various conditions. But people with type one diabetes, ultimately need insulin. And insulin is a western medicine, produced by the infamous big pharma.
So now I'm navigating this middle ground, where I appreciate chiropractic, acupuncture and herbal remedies. But I'm also completely dependent upon western medicine in order to keep my kid alive. So it's a weird spot to be, but it lets me understand and empathize with different perspectives.
Living in the Gray
Several experiences throughout my life have given me a nuanced perspective. For example, during my freshman year in college, I faced health challenges that had me feeling awful. I moved back home, to prioritize my health, and started on a healing journey with a specific diet and supplements.
It worked. I felt a lot better, and that experience showed me the healing power of nutritious food. And so I was committed to prioritizing healthy eating for our family.
Imperfect Choices
But shortly after my son’s diabetes diagnosis, he started to avoid eating, because it meant more shots. He went longer and longer between meals, sometimes refusing to eat more than once a day. He was so hungry all the time, which really affected his behavior, and also posed a risk for him as a kid dependent on injected insulin.
So I stopped pushing our usual balanced, organic meals, and I surrendered to whatever he'd agreed to eat, be it sugary cereal or ice cream bars. And of course, my past self cringes at the glyphosate, the dyes and the added sugar, and the diabetes mom in me is worried about the impact of those foods on his blood sugar.
But at that point, it was better that he was eating something than him not eating anything at all.
So here I am, finding myself living in the gray, making decisions between imperfect choices. I’ve realized that life's nuanced, and we're all navigating our own complex circumstances. With these experiences and others I might share someday, I've gained a deep appreciation for different perspectives and want to share that nuanced view.
What to Expect on This Podcast
On the podcast, we’ll discuss wellness, homeschooling, parenting, caregiving, the journey to radical acceptance, and the ongoing pursuit of supportive therapies. I hope this podcast brings you comfort, practical insights, and helps you feel seen. I know what it's like to navigate your own health, while caregiving for another, and I've felt the weight of challenging life circumstances. So whether you're a parent, a caregiver, or on your own healing journey, this podcast is created just for you. You're not alone.
Connect and Stay Tuned
I'd love to hear from you. You can send me a DM or leave a comment on Instagram.
If this podcast sounds like your kind of thing, please subscribe/follow so you can easily catch new episodes. (It's free to subscribe.)
