In this penultimate episode of this season of Chronic, host Lucy Pasha-Robinson is joined by New York Times best-selling author Esmé Weijun Wang, who lives with schizoaffective disorder.

In this candid chat, we tackle some of the common misconceptions around psychosis – namely that sufferers are violent or dangerous. In fact, those with a diagnosis of a schizophrenic disorder are much more likely to be victims of violence.

Esmé shares what it’s like to live with delusions, hallucinations, both auditory and visual, and other psychotic symptoms that are so often misunderstood.

We talk identity when you live with mental illness, judgement by others, support networks and coping strategies. And address the big question – have the collective schizophrenias been left behind in our conversations around mental health?

Follow Esmé @esmewang

Stay tuned for more on all things Chronic by following host @LucyPasha on Twitter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Chronic, host Lucy Pasha-Robinson is joined by Ali Gaspar, AKA A Star, a rapper and grime artist who lives with sickle cell anaemia. 

We dive headfirst into why we know so little about this cripplingly painful disease – could it be because it predominantly affects Black and Asian communities?

We also talk dating etiquette when you live with a hereditary illness, masculinity and learning how to show vulnerability when living in chronic pain, music as a form of self-expression, religion and the role of faith in feeling hopeful, and the life-changing importance of good therapy. 

Follow Ali @AStarMusicUK

Stay tuned for more on all things Chronic by following host @LucyPasha on Twitter.

Want to reach the team? Drop us a line at chronic@huffpost.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Lucy Pasha-Robinson is joined by Robin Hatcher, a comedian and MS Society ambassador who was diagnosed at the end of last year.

Just a few months later, he found himself self-isolating in lockdown as the world grappled with a deadly viral pandemic.

We talk about coming to terms with a degenerative diagnosis, living with uncertainty, family planning and why it’s so important to cultivate a truly “no fucks given” attitude when living with chronic illness.

Follow Robin @orangenextdoor

Stay tuned for more on all things Chronic by following host @LucyPasha on Twitter.

Want to reach the team? Drop us a line at chronic@huffpost.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re serving you a bumper episode of Chronic, with not just one incredible guest, but two. 

Host Lucy Pasha-Robinson is joined by Chloe Elliot, AKA Chloe In Curve – a plus sized fashion blogger who lives with psoriatic arthritis.

Also on the line is Sukhjeen Kaur, founder of Chronically Brown – a platform that focuses on South Asian experiences of chronic illness that she set up after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. 

For both these women, smashing stigma is all in a day’s work. We talk about what it’s like to be young, living with an “old person’s” disease, the dangers of not being believed when you’re plus-sized and in pain, and the complex attitudes towards illness in certain South Asian communities.

Follow Sukhjeen @ChronicallyBrown and Chloe @chloeincurve_

Stay tuned for more on all things Chronic by following host @LucyPasha on Twitter.

Want to reach the team? Drop us a line at chronic@huffpost.com

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Lucy Pasha-Robinson chats with gender discombobulist and drag queen Rory O’Neill, AKA Panti Bliss, who lives with HIV.

In 1995, when Rory was diagnosed, his doctor handed him a death sentence. Now, it’s a medically managed condition that Rory barely thinks about. In this episode, we explore the dangers of the enduring stigma around HIV, in spite of the huge strides in treatment that have happened over the past three decades.

We talk about how not to lose yourself in a diagnosis, and what helped Rory stay grounded.

And we dive into the healing power of drag, and taking ownership of the narrative around your condition through comedy.

Follow Rory O’Neill on Twitter @PantiBliss.

Stay tuned for more on all things Chronic by following host @LucyPasha on Twitter.

Want to reach the team? Drop us a line at chronic@huffpost.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.