A decade of insight into cutting the Gordian knot of chronic illness
Ten years ago, Lillian embarked on a life-changing quest to unravel the mysteries of chronic illness. Her journey began in the wake of personal challenges: her then-husband’s battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a diagnosis that struck while he was pursuing a PhD in physics and raising their two-year-old son. The doctors’ revelation that this type of cancer often affected highly educated young men sparked a question that defied her biology master’s training: could factors like education—something within our control—play a role in disease?
This question lingered, fueled by stories that challenged conventional medical wisdom. Lillian heard of a man with multiple sclerosis who defied expectations by regaining mobility, a feat that seemed impossible based on her academic knowledge. Driven by curiosity and armed with her new training as a coach and therapist, Lillian set out to explore what was really at play. After a personal loss left her with time to reflect, she dove into a self-described “nerdy” quest to uncover the truth behind chronic illness.
In 2015, Lillian conducted an experiment that would shape her path. She worked with four individuals—a woman with burning mouth syndrome, a man with multiple sclerosis, a man with Parkinson’s, and a war veteran with severe PTSD—offering each five intensive coaching sessions.
The results were astonishing. While she couldn’t cure their conditions, Lillian significantly alleviated specific symptoms. The veteran’s mood improved noticeably, the woman’s burning mouth symptoms subsided, the man with multiple sclerosis regained temporary use of his arm, and the Parkinson’s patient’s tremors consistently calmed during sessions. These outcomes pointed to a common thread: stress.
Lillian’s work with the Parkinson’s patient, who lived in her city, deepened her insights. She observed that his tremors often flared when he thought about work, reinforcing her hypothesis that stress was a critical factor.
When she lost her corporate job to outsourcing, Lillian seized the opportunity to dedicate five to eight hours a day for three years to research. She uncovered studies linking stress to symptoms across various diagnoses, from war veterans mirroring Parkinson’s symptoms to animals exhibiting instinctual stress responses.
Her “aha” moments crystallized: chronic illness symptoms were deeply tied to stress, instinctual responses, and dopamine’s role in the body’s mammalian fight-or-flight mechanisms.
In 2019, Lillian founded a company to share her findings, later partnering with Parkinson’s advocate Gary Sharp to reach more people. She authored books in Danish and English, interviewing clients to provide living proof of her discoveries. By 2024, she launched her “Overcome” courses, initially for Parkinson’s patients and later for other chronic illnesses. These courses empower participants to build their own evidence of the stress-illness connection, understand their body’s responses, and take actionable steps to manage symptoms.
Lillian’s mission is clear: to break the myths surrounding chronic illness diagnoses and highlight stress’s profound impact on long-term health. Her clients have even begun educating their doctors, sparking a grassroots shift in understanding. As Lillian looks to the next decade, she’s optimistic about reshaping how we view and treat chronic conditions.
Ready to explore the stress-chronic illness connection for yourself? Join Lillian’s Overcome courses to uncover the science, build your own proof, and take control of your health. Visit the page where she invites you to a free workshop and start your journey today!
