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What if the challenges of living with autoimmune conditions could actually lead to personal Growth and strength? That’s the journey Deanna deBara shares in this conversation. Living with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and rheumatoid arthritis, Deanna has transformed her experiences with chronic pain and fatigue into sources of resilience and inspiration.

She opens up about managing her health while running a business, finding acceptance, and learning to advocate for herself. Deanna shares the powerful tools she uses to get ‘unstuck,’ such as rewriting negative stories, practicing vulnerability, and setting boundaries to honour her needs.

Her story resonates with anyone who has felt stuck or overwhelmed by life’s challenges. Through methods like releasing emotions and reframing difficult situations, Deanna shows how embracing acceptance and openness can lead to true freedom and resilience. Tune in to discover how she’s breaking barriers and learn lessons you can apply in your own journey.

Takeaways:

• Stuckness as a Shared Experience 
• Impact of Invisible Conditions 
• Acceptance and Reframing 
• Vulnerability as Connection 
• Practical Tools for Self-Care 
• Creating Compassionate Spaces 

“When you let the right people in, like the people that love you, they're going to be there to support you. And that vulnerability isn't going to create distance; it's going to bring people closer.” – Deanna deBara

About Deanna:
Deanna deBara is a writer whose work has appeared in Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Men's Health and more. 

She is also a podcast host; her podcast, Season of Stuck, explores the all-too-human experience of feeling stuck: how and why we get stuck, what stuckness feels like, how to learn and grow from it, and ultimately, how to get unstuck and step into the next version of ourselves and our lives. 

Contact Links:

• Season of Stuck website: https://www.seasonofstuck.com/ 
• Subscribe to newsletter: https://www.seasonofstuck.com/subscribe  
• Season of Stuck Instagram: https://instagram.com/seasonofstuck
• Season of Stuck on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/season-of-stuck/id1751171964
• Season of Stuck on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6AgTNPhjXlawdmtxvN5X8v
• Season of Stuck on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2373423

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Email: tim.reitsma@gmail.com
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Tim Reitsma Disability Inclusion Advocate, Founder at Invisible Condition

Tim helps individuals with non-apparent illnesses become better self-advocates through podcasts, articles, mentoring and coaching. He also supports organizations in creating accessible workplaces where everyone feels safe to share through workshops, advising and project work.

Aside from working on Invisible Condition, Tim is a Podcast Host and Advisor with a leading HR and Leadership digital publication and is a Master of Arts in Leadership Student.

With over 15 years of experience in strategy, operations, HR, and content creation, Tim brings a blend of coaching, mentoring, leadership, and process improvement to every organization he partners with.