Is My Teen Lazy or In Pain? Navigating Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) | Teens: No Cap Ep.28
Teens Uncharted: the PodShow Notes
Is your teen constantly exhausted, struggling with joint pain, or labeled as "lazy"? In this episode of Teens Uncharted, host Charity Chaffee sits down with therapist and mom, Becky Shaulis, to discuss the complex reality of raising a teenager with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS).
Becky shares her personal journey of fighting for a diagnosis after realizing her daughter’s extreme flexibility and pain were not "normal". We dive deep into the intersection of chronic illness, medical gaslighting, and the mental health toll invisible illnesses take on teens.
In this episode, we cover: 🎧The Early Signs: How hyper-flexibility and "party tricks" can actually be symptoms of EDS. 🎧Lazy vs. Chronic Fatigue: Understanding that a teen sleeping after school might be physical survival, not a behavioral issue. 🎧Medical Gaslighting: The struggle to get doctors to listen when a teenager's pain is invisible. 🎧The Neurodivergent Link: The high correlation between EDS, ADHD, and Autism. 🎧Parenting Strategies: Why modeling rest and apologizing to your teen are crucial skills for parents of chronically ill kids.
Guest Information: Becky Shaulis is a licensed therapist in Texas and a mother navigating the world of EDS and neurodivergence. She specializes in trauma, ADHD, and supporting families through chronic pain journeys.
#EhlersDanlosSyndrome #ParentingTeens #ChronicPain #EDS #MedicalGaslighting #Neurodivergence #TeenMentalHealth #InvisibleIllness #TeensUncharted #HyperMobility
More from Teens Uncharted: the Pod
In Episode 69 of Teens Uncharted: the Pod, host Charity Chaffee sits down with Oklahoma City-based licensed clinical social worker Laura Jacobs to discuss the nuances of doing authentic therapy with adolescents. Laura shares her personal journey through teen mental health struggles and how it inspired her 21-year career in the field.
Have you ever had a brilliant, articulate teen in your office who can explain exactly why they do what they do, but absolutely cannot stop doing it?
If you work with or raise a neurodivergent teen, you know that finding the right support can be challenging. In Episode 67 of Teens Uncharted: the Pod, host Charity Chaffee sits down with Dr. Diane Hudson. Dr. Hudson is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and former school psychologist who specializes in helping older autistic kids, teens, and their people.
What if the very things that make a teenager feel "weird" are the exact traits we should be protecting? In episode 66 of Teens Uncharted: The Pod, host Charity Chaffee sits down with author Cynthia Baseman to discuss her new young adult novel, Weirdos Welcome. Drawing from her personal experiences raising neurodiverse sons and witnessing her niece's journey with a late diagnosis, Cynthia explores the complex realities of high school for teens navigating autism, ADHD, OCD, and anxiety. This conversation challenges the traditional parenting goal of helping kids "fit in" and instead advocates for helping them become so comfortable with themselves that fitting in no longer matters.
Raising teenage girls can feel like an emotional rollercoaster, especially when you are simultaneously navigating your own hormonal changes like perimenopause. In Episode 65 of Teens Uncharted, host Charity Chaffee sits down with pediatric nurse, seasoned dance mom, and author Amy Young to discuss the reality of the mother-daughter relationship.