Healthy Illness

Ep. 89 Ever been told to "snap out of it" when dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)? The struggle is real, and host Kelly Marie understands. In this episode, she breaks down the barriers surrounding SAD, offering hope and effective coping strategies for those trapped in the cycle of low mood, fatigue, and dwindling motivation. If you're seeking relief and support, you're not alone, and t...

Ep. 88  Discover how a busy wife, mother, daughter, friend, mentor and auntie can adapt to a radical self-care mindset. My guest Marie Cannon has many roles in her life. Currently, she's the commissioner of the department of social services for Erie County. Having lost several friends in her age group to various health conditions, Marie decided to dedicate herself to her own health. Adopting a min...

Ep. 87 Explore how Marie Cannon, a dynamic Black professional woman excelling in a male-dominated industry, balances her multifaceted life while championing radical self-care. As the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services for Erie County, Marie's journey towards prioritizing her health amid the loss of friends to various health conditions is an inspiring testament to self-care. Embracin...

Ep. 53 Nearly two months after the May 14th terrorist attack, the Eastside of Buffalo is beginning the process of healing from the disaster that killed 10 and traumatized hundreds of Black people in Western New York. In this episode you will hear from an expert in community healing and cultural humility on how to offer support to your community.  In honor of Minority Mental Health Awareness month,...

Episode 54 When a community experiences a crisis such as a mass shooting, hurricane or terrorism, well-intentioned “outsiders” often come in and try to help. But as our guest Rev. Dr. Willard Ashley, Sr. points out, it’s important to learn the language and understand the culture of the impacted community before attempting to meet its specific needs. In this episode, you’ll learn how psychotherapy...

Ep. 77 Advocating for yourself is an important step in taking control of your well-being. It’s one of the tools in the self-care toolbox you can use. In this episode, Kelly Marie gives you her top 10 self-advocacy steps and discusses the ways she used many of them to help her manage her mobility issues, spinal surgery and recovery. Remember, advocating for your health is an ongoing process. Stay p...

Ep. 86🧘‍♀️ Ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and inner peace? 🧘‍♂️ Join us in the world of mindfulness – a life-changing practice that brings clarity, serenity, and resilience. Jon Kabat-Zinn beautifully defines it as "the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment." But what...

Ep. 85 Mindfulness moments can happen in many ways. In episode #85 of the Healthy Illness podcast, host Kelly Marie discusses mental health, mindfulness and advocacy with Dr. Michelle Seay in Buffalo, NY. As a health care worker, it's easy to put the needs of others before our own, but in a tragic twist of fate, Dr. Michelle had to stop, reflect and realize that she needed to implement a self-care...

Ep. 84 Season 6 of Healthy Illness Podcast is all about Mindfulness and today's episode goes deep into a trending topic on TikTok #SilentWalking Silent walking is a new term for an established mindfulness practice called mindful walking or walking meditation. Walking has many physical benefits and mental health benefits as well. Walking in silence has increased benefits like decreasing stress and...

Ep. 83 Up next? Testing! Kelly Marie met with her therapist and they both agree that BPD may not be the correct diagnosis for her symptoms. In this episode, Kelly Marie discusses the autism self-assessments she completed online and the path forward in her mental health journey. Kelly took the ASQ-50 and the Cat-Q. On the ASQ-50 she scored a 33 and on the Cat-Q she had an overall score of 160. Both...

Ep. 82 Running or hiding from a memory or past trauma is often necessary until you are mentally and emotionally equipped to face it. Many times, it’s a necessary coping strategy to protect yourself along your journey to recovery. In this episode, Kelly Marie discusses moving from a hiding place into a healing space. It’s been 10 years since Kelly Marie’s last suicide attempt. This is the first tim...

Ep. 81 In this episode, Kelly Marie dives into the possibility of being misdiagnosed, AGAIN! Does she actually live with borderline personality disorder or is she autistic? Maybe there's another diagnosis that is a better fit, like complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). The goal of this episode is to help you understand your own misdiagnosis and to give yourself grace and the ability to a...

Ep. 80 I was diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes while in the hospital recovering from her back surgery. I remembered the promise I made to myself in 2013 when in the same hospital recovering from a suicide attempt: “I’m going to do whatever I need to not to be here again”. I began to wonder: How does being diabetic affect day-to-day life?  How does my sugar addiction impact my body’s ability to heal?...

Ep. 79 As a society, we are often influenced to do things a certain way because of tradition, social media and even depictions on television. But have you ever stopped to think of who is actually behind those motivations and is there a better way for YOU to accomplish the same goals? For example, does your cleaning and cooking rituals make the food taste better or the housework easier? Or do you s...

Ep. 78 Join Coach Kelly Marie as she confronts her anxiety around the thought of taking her bike out for a ride for the first time in over a year. This powerful episode holds nothing back as she deals with the emotional and physical stress associated with her anxiety. Learn how to implement the tools and ask for the help you need.   My doctor cleared me to ride my bike after back surgery, but my a...

Ep. 76 Learning to set and implement boundaries can be difficult for many people. It’s even more difficult with people you care about. Those closest to us know our strengths and weaknesses and may not believe the boundary you are setting is necessary causing stress to you and your relationship.  However challenging, it is essential for your well-being. During Kelly Marie’s recovery from spinal lam...

Ep. 75 Grab life by the cane. In this episode I shared my journey from having "heavy legs" and trouble walking up stairs to being recommended for emergency spinal laminectomy and fusion surgery. Initially, I was told that the surgery would be quick and not invasive. However, it turned out to be more complicated than expected, not to mention all of the paperwork with insurance and medical jargon. (...

Ep. 74 Kelly Marie is faced with a sense of loss she can't quite identify. As she attempts to process her emotions, she realizes she must confront the possibility of long-term disability after spinal surgery, putting her independence in jeopardy.  If you or someone you know is struggling with a disability, this episode is a must-listen. Grasp the essentials of processing grief and loss connected t...

Ep. 73 How do we get rid of the mean girl persona? How do we become better people in the workplace and amongst our friends and family? How do we become unified as human beings living this life? We start with self-care. Mean Girls exist because there are issues that need to be addressed within each and every one of us. Everyone has issues. These types of mean girl dynamics exist because we have not...

 Ep. 72  Journaling is a powerful tool and can be really effective in assisting you with your mental health. It’s a popular tool used in DBT for emotional regulation. In this episode Coach Kelly Marie shares seven simple steps to help get your thoughts out of your head and onto the paper.  Whether you keep a daily journal or simply jot down notes to yourself when ideas come, this technique can hav...

Ep. 71 See DBT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy in action! DBT is a therapy used to treat people with Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression, and Generalized Anxiety. DBT helps to reprogram your brain by focusing on today and making better decisions based on the information at hand. It also helps with emotional regulation, which is something I have been working on.  DBT can be used at any point...

Ep. 70 Discover the power of emotional regulation to build better relationships with yourself and others with DBT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy. DBT is a therapy used to treat people with Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression, and Generalized Anxiety. DBT helps to reprogram your brain by focusing on today and making better decisions based on the information at hand. It also helps with emotio...

Ep. 69 What's the difference between a mental health condition and a mental illness? A mental health illness has to be diagnosed by a licensed mental health professional or other medical professional. A person cannot diagnose themselves with a mental illness. However, a mental health condition is really any moment in time that someone is dealing with the effects of lower mental health status. One...

Ep. 68 Struggling with clinical depression, a resilient Black woman strives to be seen and heard in a world that demands she be "stronger than everyone else," uncovering research that reveals how Black women experience depression differently than White women.  "Healing is possible, recovery is possible, and you can live a full, complete and healthy life while also managing living with mental healt...

Ep. 67 Learn how host Kelly Marie and her guest, Rah host of Fatha Torch podcast developed their mental health wellness checklists and what they look for when examining their mental health. They have both travelled different journeys but use their unique life experiences to help others on their path of living a healthier life. Kelly Marie and Rah also talk about learning who they are as people and...