When Stress Isn't Just Stress: An Academic's MS Journey with Catrina Mitchum
We explore the challenges of recognizing chronic illness symptoms when life is already demanding, how healthcare providers sometimes miss critical signs, and finding clarity through articulating our experiences. Catrina shares how she managed dissertation writing in 15-minute increments while dealing with early MS symptoms and what ultimately led to her leaving higher education.
Key discussion points include:
- How chronic health conditions can be misattributed to stress or other common causes
- Navigating diagnosis while teaching, parenting, and completing a PhD
- The importance of finding community who understand your specific challenges
- How to communicate limitations to family members when cognitive symptoms arise
- Transitioning from academia to entrepreneurship with purpose
For those managing chronic illness, working in higher education, or navigating significant career transitions, this conversation offers validation and practical insights for creating systems that work when traditional support structures aren't available.
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Mentioned in this episode:
Buoy Hydration
Cubtail
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