Arthritis Life

Finding Acceptance and Community with Chronic Illness, with Nitika Chopra, CEO of Chronicon

Episode Summary

Nitika Chopra shares how she went from lonely and isolated as a teen living with severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, to her current state of self-acceptance and purpose.

Episode Notes

Nitika and Cheryl discuss how acceptance is an ongoing journey when living with multiple chronic health conditions, and share insights into how they cope with uncertainty. Nitika shares how and why she founded the incredibly impactful Chronicon conference and online community which inspires and uplifts people living with chronic illness around the globe. Nitika and Cheryl also discuss what brings them joy and how they balance present moment acceptance with hope for the future. 

Episode at a glance

• Nitika’s emotional journey with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in childhood
• How acceptance of chronic illness is an ongoing journey: Nitika shares how a new diagnosis last year challenged her, but she eventually concluded that “acceptance and hope aren’t not mutually exclusive.” Cheryl & Nitika discuss how acceptance can sometimes bring up grief or other uncomfortable emotions.
• Uncertainty: Cheryl & Nitika explore how they have coped with uncertainty
• Listening to your body & nurturing yourself: Nitkka shares how she learned the importance of listening to her body and how she integrates nurturing self care into her daily routines
• A discussion about how to accept the need for medications along with utilizing non-medicinal disease management tools
• The “a-ha” moment that inspired Nitika to start the event & community Chronicon !
• Community: Cheryl & Nitika discuss the importance of supportive and uplifting communities when you live with chronic illness

Medical disclaimer:

All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Episode Sponsors

Rheum to THRIVE, a community support & education program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. Join the waitlist for the next group!

Rheumatoid Arthritis Roadmap, a self-paced online course Cheryl created that teaches you how to confidently manage your physical, social and emotional life with rheumatoid arthritis.

For Full Episode Show Notes + Transcript

Go to the episode show notes page at the Arthritis Life website.