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In Sickness

In Sickness

Allison Breininger and Justin Bajema

Listen in as Allison Breininger and Justin Bajema, millennial caregivers for their chronically ill spouses, speak honestly about what life is like when there are more days spent in sickness than in health.
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Top 10 In Sickness Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best In Sickness episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to In Sickness for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite In Sickness episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

In Sickness - 96: The Myth of the "Perfect Caregiver"
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10/01/24 • 50 min

Some caregivers feel there is an unspoken expectation that we only share the positive aspects of our role; that we appear to be brave and strong and grateful. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about where that misperception may stem from, the damage it can cause, and how supporters can help.

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We will all experience grief in our lives, but there are unique and extra layers of emotions often felt by the person who had been the caregiver for the one who has passed. In this episode, we talk with Aisha Adkins, caregiver for her parents, about the loss of her mother and Eric Schlueter, caregiver for his wife, about his experience with grief since her passing.

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In Sickness - 98: When Our Closest People Don't Show Up
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10/29/24 • 51 min

There are people in our lives who, because of biology or proximity, we would expect to show up for us in our times of need, and it can be especially painful when they don’t. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about the grief and disappointment when people close to us don’t show up, but also the beauty when other, less expected connections, do.

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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Monday, November 4, from 6:00 - 7:15 pm CT. Sign up here!

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Episode 100 is coming up and we'd love for you to be a part of it. You can call us at (360)389-2334 and leave a message sharing a favorite moment, memory, or episode, what the podcast has meant to you, or anything else you'd like to share. We'll collect the messages and share some as part of our 100th epsiode. Thanks for listening!

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In Sickness - 67: Anticipatory Grief
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07/05/23 • 45 min

There are things that we may grieve even before they happen. The death of a loved one is one such event, but it's certainly not the only. In this episode, Justin and Allison discuss the role this type of grief plays in their lives and how supporters can help.

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In Sickness - 66: Anger

66: Anger

In Sickness

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06/06/23 • 47 min

Of all the emotions caregivers experience, anger isn’t one that is spoken of very often. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about why it is that caregivers feel they aren’t able to speak about their anger, triggers that may cause anger to occur, and strategies that may support caregivers as they process these feelings.

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In Sickness - 17: In Between a Diagnosis and a Plan
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03/02/21 • 39 min

Allison found out about her husband's most recent cancer diagnosis when an alert popped up in his MyChart account announcing a new Test Result. Listen in as she describes to Justin what the moments and days after opening that message have been like as her family sits with a diagnosis but not yet a plan.

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In Sickness - 03: What Do We Tell the Kids?
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06/30/20 • 27 min

Allison and Justin talk about how as caregivers, we aren’t just caring for our spouses, but also navigating how to support the kids in our lives. What and how much do you tell them and how much do you involve them?

https://linktr.ee/readlikearockstar

T his episode was recorded on May 23, before the murder of George Floyd, which is why this important issue wasn’t discussed. We’ve added an additional note at the end of this episode in which we provide resources connecting today’s topic of talking with children about chronic illness to having conversations with kids about racism. Thanks for listening.

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Allison and Justin talk about grief, discussing what they miss about the lives they had before their partners were diagnosed, the mourning over the lives they thought they would have but don’t, and the anticipatory grief they carry when thinking about the future. They connect their experiences to the collective feelings of grief being felt by many around the world during this time.

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In Sickness - 90: The Trauma of Medical Spaces
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07/09/24 • 50 min

Caregivers and their loved ones frequently have to revisit the same buildings and rooms in which they previously experienced traumatizing procedures, treatments, or news. In this episode, Justin and Allison share what this has been like for them and how they handle going back time after time.

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In Sickness - 97: Our Needs Matter Too
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10/15/24 • 53 min

Caregivers regularly put the needs of their loved ones far above their own, even when that comes at a cost to their own wellbeing. In this episode, Allison shares how, after 14 years of accompanying her husband to a procedure he has regularly, she has made the decision to not attend for the sake of her own mental health. Listen in as she and Justin discuss the steps leading up to this decision, the complexities that surround it, and how supporters can help.

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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Tuesday, October 22 from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Sign up here!

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Episode 100 is coming up and we'd love for you to be a part of it. You can call us at (360)389-2334 and leave a message sharing a favorite moment, memory, or episode, what the podcast has meant to you, or anything else you'd like to share. We'll collect the messages and share some as part of our 100th epsiode. Thanks for listening!

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FAQ

How many episodes does In Sickness have?

In Sickness currently has 98 episodes available.

What topics does In Sickness cover?

The podcast is about Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Medicine, Podcasts, Caregiver and Caregiving.

What is the most popular episode on In Sickness?

The episode title '89: The Catch 22 of Caregiver Fatigue' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on In Sickness?

The average episode length on In Sickness is 45 minutes.

How often are episodes of In Sickness released?

Episodes of In Sickness are typically released every 14 days.

When was the first episode of In Sickness?

The first episode of In Sickness was released on Apr 27, 2020.

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