Struggling with sleep while living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)? You’re not alone. In this episode of the Empowered EDS Podcast, Dr. Jason Cole and Lauren Prince explore the essential connection between quality sleep and overall health—especially for those navigating chronic fatigue and complex conditions like EDS. From understanding why sleep feels elusive to uncovering practical lifestyle medicine approaches, this episode offers science-backed strategies, tips, and fresh insights (including an introduction to our new sleep specialist!) to help you reclaim restorative rest.

What if better sleep was the missing link in your wellness journey?
In this illuminating episode, Lauren Prince and Dr. Jason Cole take a deep dive into the often-overlooked pillar of health: sleep. Together, they unpack the impact of disrupted sleep on people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), share actionable strategies to improve sleep hygiene, and highlight how fatigue can become a chronic companion without proper rest.

Whether you’re tossing and turning every night or wondering how to set up the perfect sleep environment, this conversation offers compassionate, real-life guidance and introduces a new sleep specialist who’ll bring fresh expertise to future episodes.

• Sleep is foundational to recovery, health, and daily function.

• Non-restorative sleep is a common struggle for people with EDS.

• Simple sleep hygiene practices (like routine and environment tweaks) can make a big impact.

• Your sleep environment—temperature, light, noise—matters more than you think.

• Magnesium and other natural supplements may support better sleep.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can offer long-term help for insomnia.

• Tracking your sleep can reveal patterns and triggers worth addressing.

• Addressing underlying health concerns is vital for sleep quality.

• Small, consistent lifestyle changes lead to big improvements over time.

00:00 – The Importance of Sleep
11:14 – Challenges of Sleep in EDS
15:31 – Improving Sleep Quality
24:15 – Common Sleep Challenges for Chronic Illness
31:04 – Addressing Fatigue and Sleep Disorders
33:21 – Introducing a Sleep Specialist
35:02 – Welcome to Empowered EDS
35:06 – Health and Wellness Insights

Episode Title: Risky Substances & Total Body Burden in EDS

Episode Summary:
In this episode of Empowered EDS, Lauren Prince explores how everyday exposures—from tobacco and alcohol to household products and environmental toxins—can increase the total body burden for those living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), chronic illness, and invisible conditions.

Through the lens of holistic wellness and functional health, Lauren shares how even small, consistent exposures can lead to inflammation, dysregulation, and symptom flare-ups. She dives into the histamine bucket theory, personalized wellness strategies, and how to tune into your body’s unique sensitivities and thresholds.

Whether you’re navigating mast cell activation, chronic fatigue, or simply trying to reduce your toxic load, this episode offers empowering, real-life tools to help you move toward balance.

You’ll walk away with insight, clarity, and a deeper understanding of how mindful shifts in your daily environment can support your nervous system, lower inflammation, and foster a more resilient body.

Key Takeaways:

• Substances like tobacco and alcohol can worsen chronic symptoms and hinder healing.

• The total body burden concept explains how cumulative exposures—from air quality to skincare—can affect connective tissue disorders like EDS.

• Environmental toxins and histamines often add to invisible health stressors.

• Identifying personal triggers is essential for managing chronic inflammation.

• A gentle, low-tox lifestyle supports nervous system regulation and long-term wellness.

• Small, consistent changes often lead to sustainable progress.

Sound Bites:

• “Water can be a risky substance too.”

• “Air quality in our homes matters.”

• “Cumulative burden affects our health.”

Chapter Breakdown:
00:00 – Social Navigation: Birthday Parties & Community Connections
00:25 – Lifestyle Health & Understanding Risky Substances
17:58 – Total Body Burden: Environmental & Product-Based Toxins
27:52 – Balance Over Perfection: Personalized, Sustainable Wellness
32:51 – A Look Ahead: Empowered EDS Insights & Reflections

SEO-Friendly Title Options:

• Reducing Toxins with EDS: Total Body Burden & Chronic Illness Tips

• Chronic Illness & Low-Tox Living: A Functional Health Approach

• EDS, Alcohol & Histamine: Exploring Invisible Triggers

In this episode of Empowered EDS, Lauren Prince explores the deeply personal and often overlooked connection between stress, chronic illness, and healing. Through the lens of lifestyle medicine and mental health, Lauren dives into the unique stressors faced by those living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and chronic illness.

Together, we unpack how chronic stress impacts the body on a physiological level—fueling pain, inflammation, and emotional fatigue. Lauren shares how cultivating awareness, supportive relationships, and individualized self-care strategies can help shift how we carry and respond to stress.

This conversation is a reminder that resilience isn't about pushing through—it’s about honoring what you need. Tune in for compassionate insights on managing stress, reframing resilience, and embracing the full spectrum of your emotional experience.

Key Takeaways:

• Stress management is foundational in lifestyle medicine, especially for EDS and chronic conditions.

• Individuals with EDS often face invisible and compounding stressors that deserve validation.

• Chronic stress isn’t just emotional—it creates real physiological responses that can increase pain and inflammation.

• Awareness is the first step in transforming your relationship with stress.

• Self-care is not one-size-fits-all—your body knows what it needs.

• Meaningful, supportive relationships can act as a buffer against daily stress.

• Even “positive” stress can take a toll on your body.

• You don’t need to earn rest or wellness through resilience.

• Happiness isn’t a choice—it’s a journey rooted in compassion, context, and connection.

Sound Bites:

“It’s not just in your head.”
“We shouldn’t just squash it all down.”
“It’s okay to feel every emotion.”

Chapters:
02:56 – The Impact of Chronic Illness on Stress
09:03 – The Complexity of Chronic Pain
14:54 – Building Positive Relationships for Stress Management
20:38 – Navigating Relationships with Chronic Illness
29:37 – The Burden of Resilience
37:43 – Choosing Happiness vs. Reality
42:50 – Introduction to Empowered EDS
42:55 – Health and Wellness Insights