Too Sick for School, Too Sick for Fun? Chronic Illness Guilt and the Rebellion of Joy

I’m back on the mic this week after a little solo pod pause — and I’m kicking things off with something I’ve been thinking about (and living) a lot lately: joy guilt. You know that old rule: “If you’re too sick to go to school, you’re too sick to have fun?” Yeah, that one. Turns out, it doesn’t translate to life with chronic illness. But we still carry it — and it quietly shapes how we see ourselves, how we mask, and how we justify joy when we’re supposed to be struggling. In this episode, I dig into: 💭 Why we fear being seen laughing or “doing too well” 😰 The guilt spiral when symptoms shift — and the fear of not being believed 🎭 How chronic illness can force us to perform misery to protect our empathy 🔥 The lies we were taught about rest, pain, and productivity 🩵 And the truth: Joy is not a betrayal. It’s part of the healing You don’t need to earn your joy. You don’t have to be falling apart to rest. You are not required to apologize for your life, your sparkle, or your softness. So f*@k it — I’m having fun. And I hope you will too. Thanks for Calling in Sick with me 💛 xx, Alex 💬 Comment : Have you ever felt like you had to downplay your joy just to be taken seriously? TIMESTAMPS: TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling In Sick! (Baby I’m Back for a SOLO!!) 00:02:55 Alex Life Updates! 00:4:08 Alex’s Picks of the Week! (discount code & links below) 00:6:12 Why does having fun feel WRONG when you’re chronically sick?! 00:11:02 How to shed the guilt we feel when we have fun! 00:14:16 Why it’s important to live a full life, in my humble opinion ;) 00:15:42 My number one tip for spending happy spoons!! 00:19:40 One Brain Cell TV: Conan O’Brian Award Ceremony 00:22:22 LOVE YOU GUYS! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Stay connected and follow social: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568 • Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: ✨Ursa Major’s Facial Wipes — https://go.shopmy.us/p-19427967 ✨Oliva Flora’s Entire Face Care Set — https://go.shopmy.us/p-19668471 ———- callinginsick10 for 10% off at checkout! #podcast #podcastclips #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicPain #ChronicFatigue #SpoonieLife #HealthJourney #CallingInSick #SpoonieSupport #ChronicIllnessAwareness #MedicalJourney #DisabilityAwareness #SurvivalMode #IdentityShift #medicalgaslighting #womenshealth #selfadvocacy #medicalbias #vasculitis #mixedconnectivetissuedisease #ibd #irritableboweldisease #trauma #ptsd #mentalhealthmatters #findjoy #glimmers #guiltforjoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices