The Empowered Patient: Scripts, Questions, and Communication Frameworks

In this episode of Seen Not Fixed, host Nicole Pedra is joined by chronic illness advocate Anja Vesterhus Knustad and clinical hypnotherapist Lucy Seligman ACC, CCHT for an honest conversation about living with invisible illness. Anja shares her experience growing up with ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) and the profound ways it reshaped her life from childhood, while Lucy reflects on decades of living with fibromyalgia and how that journey led her to become a practitioner supporting others with chronic pain.

Together they explore the emotional weight of not being believed, the misconceptions that surround fatigue and chronic illness, and the reality of advocating for yourself within healthcare systems that often struggle to understand invisible conditions. The conversation also highlights the role of hope, self compassion, pacing, and nervous system based healing practices in building a meaningful life alongside illness.
This episode offers listeners validation, practical insights on self advocacy, and a reminder that even in the face of chronic illness, connection, understanding, and purpose are still possible.