Where science meets lived experience
Some of us become researchers because living in our own bodies leaves us with more questions than answers.
Between motherhood, chronic pain, nervous-system symptoms, appointments and everyday responsibilities, I’ve learned how important it is to understand what may be happening beneath the surface.
This is where I share the research I discover, the questions I’m asking, the patterns I’m noticing and the lessons my own body continues to teach me.
Not every answer is simple. Not every treatment works for everyone. But every question deserves thoughtful exploration.
Verified studies, evidence classifications, plain-language findings and honest limitations.
Open the library →02Personal observations, patterns, experiments and questions—clearly separated from clinical evidence.
Visit the body journal →03Pregnancy, parenting, work, faith, family life and sustainable rhythms in a body that needs care too.
Enter this room →Begin with a body system
These categories overlap, but they are not interchangeable. A connective-tissue disorder is not automatically autoimmune; an autonomic disorder is not simply anxiety.
hEDS, HSD, fibromyalgia, widespread pain, neck symptoms and pelvic health—kept distinct rather than placed under one diagnostic label.
hEDS · Hypermobility spectrum disorders · Fibromyalgia · Chronic pain →POTS, dysautonomia, palpitations, brain fog, regulation, concussion and whiplash recovery.
POTS · Dysautonomia · Palpitations · Brain fog →Autoimmune disease, mast-cell and histamine questions, inflammation, liver health, thyroid function and nutrient status—with categories named accurately.
Autoimmune disorders · Mast cell conditions · Histamine · Inflammation →Hormonal patterns, pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, pelvic health and the work of mothering in a body that also needs care.
Menstrual cycle · Pregnancy · Postpartum · Breastfeeding →Featured research
2021 · United States / Canada
Whether a high-sodium diet changed upright heart rate, the rise in heart rate on standing, blood volume and standing norepinephrine compared with a low-sodium diet.
Read what it found—and what it didn’t →2023 · United Kingdom / United States / Australia / Canada / New Zealand / Ireland
Pregnancy, birth and postpartum outcomes reported by people with hEDS or HSD, compared descriptively with rates commonly reported in general populations.
Read what it found—and what it didn’t →2012 · Norway
Whether self-reported sleep problems in women without baseline pain were associated with later fibromyalgia reporting.
Read what it found—and what it didn’t →Connecting the Dots
When symptoms change across a cycle, what is established—and what is still only a hypothesis?
Separate knowledge from hypothesis →Is sleep a cause, a consequence, or part of a two-way loop?
Separate knowledge from hypothesis →What do large datasets and lived-experience surveys each contribute?
Separate knowledge from hypothesis →The Living Research Journal shares scientific research, personal experiences, and educational wellness information. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. My personal observations are not clinical evidence, and individual experiences may differ. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions.
About Lissa and this journal’s standards →Sunday Letters
A quiet note for your Sunday — something for your faith, your heart, your home, or your health. No pressure. No noise. Just encouragement from our Village to yours.
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The other door
Nobody hands you the manual.
The fathers' side of this house. Written for him, in his language — so you can send him something rather than summarize it.
The Workshop · The Forge · The Watch · The Field
Show him The GateThe other door
You don't have to do motherhood alone.
Lissa's side of this house, and where most of it began. If she sent you here, this is what she has been reading.
The Well · The Table · The Garden · The Chapel · The Home
Go into the Village
