Episode 9: When Relief Feels Scary — Learning to Trust Feeling Better

In this episode of Both Sides of the Couch, Kari explores the surprising fear and guilt that can surface when chronic illness symptoms finally ease. After years of struggle, she’s experiencing real relief thanks to a new medication, and discovering that feeling better isn’t as simple as it sounds.

She dives into the emotional complexity of healing, explaining how our brains crave predictability, even when that predictability is pain. Feeling better can trigger an identity crisis (“Who am I without my symptoms?”), anxiety about relapse, or guilt toward others who are still struggling. Kari connects this reaction to trauma responses, showing how the body remembers flare cycles and can mistake safety for danger.

Ultimately, Kari reminds listeners that relief doesn’t mean you imagined your illness, it means your body finally has space to rest and recover. Healing, she says, is learning to let yourself enjoy life again without fear of what might come next.