For a really long time, I’ve had a playlist on YouTube of videos I like to watch when I’m not feeling well, and the first section of this playlist is all about chronic illnesses (both mental and physical). I’ve shared the list with a few people and have been working on making a public version for other people and a private version for myself (since I want to add some unlisted Patreon videos), but they’re both under construction at the moment, so in the meantime, I’d like you guys to have this post full of links to specific illness-related videos!
(Adding a cut because this ended up getting really long)
Living with a Chronic Disease | hankschannel | This is a video I stumbled upon around the time I got sick with eosinophilic bronchitis, it was really helpful at that time, and it became helpful again when it turned out that I have a connective tissue disorder as well. I remember talking with a therapist about me using YouTube to cope and specifically citing the bit where Hank says that becoming chronically ill is like becoming a parent.
SILENT HILL 2 AND DEPRESSION* | Jordan Underneath | The second installment of Silent Hill Month. Jordan talks about Silent Hill 2 being his “depression game” and how the game feels like depression to him. This was the introduction of the character Sad Jordan.
Living with Chronic Pain and EDS | Simon and Martina | This was the first Eat Your Kimchi video I ever watched, and I found it when I was searching around one day for stuff about chronic illness/chronic pain/Ehlers-Danlos/hypermobility.
On Mental Illness (and the end of Pizzamas) | vlogbrothers | The last day of Pizzamas 2015, where John talks about obsessive-compulsive disorder and life with chronic illness.
Tips on Interacting with a Sick Person* | The Clairity Project | Another channel I found while searching for videos and channels about chronic illness. I’m putting this video here because I want to include Claire on this list. She has cystic fibrosis but some of this advice could apply to other illnesses.
NEW YEARS DIY - Ideas to make goals in spite of your chronic illness* | Gifted Life | Like Claire, Lauren has cystic fibrosis, I found her while looking for videos/channels that cover chronic illness, and I’d like to put her here. In this video, she talks about setting multiple small goals for yourself throughout the year instead one big New Year’s resolution.
Chronic Illness: An honest discussion w/ Hank Green & Kati Morton | Kati Morton | Hank talks with Kati, a licensed marriage and family therapist, about living with ulcerative colitis.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Invisible Illness | Simon and Martina | Simon made this in May 2016 for EDS awareness month, and he’s by himself here because Martina was in Canada at the time and it’s a topic she doesn’t like discussing.
Animal Crossing (Edgiest Game)* | Jordan Underneath | This was originally titled “Animal Crossing + Depression.” Sad Jordan makes an appearance and Anxiety Jordan is introduced. Jordan talks about playing Animal Crossing as an adult with anxiety and depression, Tom Nook’s capitalism, and the villagers mocking him for being up late. Funny enough, he uploaded this video while I was laying in bed and unable to sleep at 10pm because anxiety and anorexia were having a field day in my brain; I sat on the couch with a cup of tea and watched this a few times over before becoming tired enough to go back to bed and fall asleep.
Chronic Illness and Mental Health | Kati Morton | Kati talking about how having a chronic illness can affect your social life and mental health.
Framing | vlogbrothers | John talks about OCD again and how what you see on someone’s social media isn’t the whole story of that person’s life.
LIMBO: How I Fight Depression, Anxiety, and OCD - Jordan’s Basement | Jordan Underneath | One of the let’s plays Jordan’s made available for people who don’t support his Patreon. Here, he shares tips that he’s found helpful in coping with generalised anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and major depression.
Draw My Life - Martina’s Story* | simonandmartinabonus | Martina talks a bit about how she got diagnosed with EDS and the car accident she was in, as well as a bunch of non-pain-related topics.
Your Illness is Not Your Fault | vlogbrothers | Hank talks about receiving unwanted advice on how to “cure” your chronic illness and the feeling that you did something to deserve or cause your disease.
PTSD - I’m Not Perfect | Stef Sanjati | Stef discusses her diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
KIRBY: The Making of Silent Hill 2 (100 Patron Special!) - Jordan’s Basement* | Jordan Underneath | Another one of the let’s plays Jordan has made available to non-Patrons. Among a few other topics, Jordan talks about depression and the making of “Silent Hill 2 and Depression.”
Here’s What I Can do with my Elbows! Thanks EDS!* | Open the Happy | Martina doing a hypermobility “trick.” I can do this, too! I was doing it on the back (or was it the arm?) of a patio chair at a Canada Day party last summer! I’ve shown people this video to help them understand what being hypermobile means.
Reflections: Day 70 | 100days | John explains what intrusive thoughts and OCD are and talks about finding some of the things in 100 Days helpful for his mental health.
10 Things I Wish People Knew About Living With Chronic Illness (Cystic Fibrosis) | Mika Chan Cosplay | Hannah Rose talks about what she wants people to understand about having cystic fibrosis. Her humor feels kinda Millennial to me and I love it.
Mario 64 vs Depression | Jordan Underneath | In which Jordan bickers with Sad Jordan while playing Mario. “Animal Crossing (Edgiest Game)” was made to be in the same vein as this video.
*These videos aren’t actually on my “feel better” playlists right now, but they’re still about illness, I still enjoy them, and I still feel like sharing them here
