Is Your Self-Care Working? What Caregivers Need to Know

Not all self-care is created equal. In this episode, Brandy and Emilia sit down with certified senior advisor and author Dannelle LeBlanc to talk about the self-care practices we love (and hate), what it really means to complete the stress cycle, and how chronic illness often shows up in caregiving. Dannelle also shares her deeply personal wellness journey—including years of unexplainable symptoms, spiritual healing, and how she ultimately reclaimed her health through food, movement, and radical self-advocacy. This episode is a must-listen for caregivers carrying both emotional and physical weight.

Chapters & Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome & Icebreaker: Self-care we love (and don’t)

6:45 – Why self-care is different for everyone

10:00 – Completing the stress cycle & why it matters

13:50 – 40% of caregivers have chronic illness

17:00 – Dannelle’s story: Invisible symptoms & food as medicine

23:00 – Disconnection from nature, faith, and wellness

30:00 – Ownership, mindset, and listening to your body

39:00 – What your body is trying to tell you

45:20 – Managing multiple households & health crisis

49:00 – About the book From the Chrysalis

51:00 – Caregiving Community Resource Guide

Resources Mentioned:

Dannelle LeBlanc: https://www.caregivertransitions.com

AskSAMIE: https://www.asksamie.com

Higher Standards Caregiver Training: https://www.higherstandardscaregivertraining.com More Episodes & Info: https://www.carelabpodcast.com