Whether you hate Mondays or your mother-in-law, we all get sucked into a complaining vortex from time to time. But when it comes to chronic illnesses like MS, the pressure to be a palatable patient–plucky, upbeat, optimistic–is pervasive. If you need to vent, you’re in the right place. We’re talking about how keeping it real and occasionally complaining about MS can be normal and even healthy.

Highlights

• Show Open (00:00)
• The Complaining Vortex (00:29)
• Alex Hajjar: Thoroughbred Moaner (01:57)
• The Pressure to be a Palatable Patient (03:42)
• The Benefits of Venting (04:12)
• Why Swearing is Good for You (05:32)
• The Complainers Companion (07:36)
• Marital Love Language (10:09)
• “Misery Loves Company” / Sharing Our Struggles (11:06)
• Advocacy Through Complaining (13:04)
• “It’s Good to be Challenged” (17:46)
• Articulating Impact of MS on Partners & Relationships (19:54)
• Toxic Positivity & Loveable Curmudgeons (23:21)
• Spiraling Support Groups (24:56)
• Keeping it Constructive (28:06)
• Au Revoir Mes Râleuses / Show Close (30:25)

About Ardra Shephard & Tripping On Air

Tripping on Air is a monthly video podcast that brings Ardra Shephard's part-confessional, part-informational blog Tripping on Air to the podcast airwaves! Ardra and co-host Alex Hajjar discuss what it's like to live with MS, from the best products for those with chronic illness, to successfully navigating a disability benefits claim.

Ardra Shephard is a writer, consultant, and speaker, whose award-winning blog Tripping On Air, enjoys an international reach and reputation.

Ardra is the creator and host of AMI-tv's lifestyle series Fashion Dis. Ardra has a regular column with BezzyMS (Ask Ardra Anything), and is a reporter with LivedHealth where she leads informative and educational conversations with leading MS specialists.

Ardra is on a mission to change minds about what it means to live with chronic illness and to have disability positively reflected as part of a diverse society. Accessible bars in Toronto would also be nice.

Follow Ardra on Twitter: @tripping_onair and Instagram: @ms_trippingonair

About Alex Hajjar

Alex Hajjar is the host, producer, and creative overthinker behind Social Animals, a podcast about friendship.

A civil engineering technologist by trade, Alex is also a punk-rock bass guitarist whose hobbies include world travel, hanging with his cat Nacho, and figuring out how to find chill about his beautiful wife Nicole's MS diagnosis.

Get More "Tripping On Air"

The Tripping on Air podcast airs monthly on AMI-audio. For more information, visit www.ami.ca/Tripping-On-Air.

And be sure to visit Ardra's website & blog: https://trippingonair.com/