Ep. 4 - Living With Chronic Illness And Choosing Resilience With Brianna Greenspan Artwork

The Present Moment Project

This podcast, hosted by Jill Bershad — a psychotherapist, EMDR and hypnotherapist, Reiki master, and sound healer — is a heartfelt space for healing, growth, and connection. With a blend of authenticity and compassion, Jill invites listeners to join her in real conversations about resilience, trauma, addiction, and self-discovery. Through shared stories and gentle wisdom, she reminds us that while pain is inevitable, suffering is optional, and that we can all “grow through what we go through.” More than just a podcast, it’s a supportive community built to help listeners rediscover joy, laughter, and their most authentic selves — one present moment at a time.

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The Present Moment Project

Ep. 4 - Living With Chronic Illness And Choosing Resilience With Brianna Greenspan

December 16, 2025 • Jill Bershad

In this powerful episode of The Present Moment Project, Jill Bershad sits down with her friend Brianna Greenspan, an author, speaker, and wellness pioneer who has transformed a lifetime of complex chronic illness into a mission of healing and hope.

Brianna shares what it was like growing up with confusing and painful symptoms, bullying, learning challenges, and feeling like everything was wrong with her. She opens up about a pivotal moment when she questioned whether she even wanted to keep living, and how one life changing question shifted everything

“Is there anything else out there that can help me with the way that I am suffering and if so where can I find it”

From that moment of curiosity, Brianna began exploring neuroscience based tools, mindset work, and self supportive practices that helped her walk again, release limiting beliefs, and build what she calls her resilience toolbox.

Together, Jill and Brianna talk about:

The Book of Questions Living With Chronic Illness and how self reflective questions can change the trajectory of a day
The core question Brianna asks herself in every hard moment
“Despite how I am feeling in this exact moment what can I do to best support myself starting now”
Moving from shame and hiding symptoms to self advocacy and self compassion
Why many people with chronic illness feel like a burden and how to practice asking for and receiving help
The spoon theory and how to protect and manage limited energy
How small daily choices water, clothing, rest, tiny check ins can prevent symptoms from becoming “the whole day”
Gratitude in the hardest moments and learning to see symptoms as teachers rather than punishments
How Brianna now coaches schools and the education system on wellbeing and resilience for children and teens

This conversation is a deeply honest look at invisible illness, anxiety, grief, and the very real work of choosing empowerment over victimhood. If you live with chronic illness or love someone who does, this episode will help you feel less alone, more resourced, and more hopeful about what is possible in your present moment.

You can find The Book of Questions Living With Chronic Illness on Amazon and https://thebookofquestions.com/ for bulk and support group use, along with Brianna’s other resilience focused books for kids and teens.

Contact Jill K. Bershad, LMHC, CAP