Living with hidradenitis suppurativa often means carrying more than physical pain — it means carrying it quietly. In this episode of Healing Space, we talk about the part of HS that rarely gets named: secrecy.

Why so many of us hide our diagnosis.
The difference between healthy privacy and punishing silence.
Why your story can feel fragile — like an egg — after diagnosis.
How to recognize who is actually safe to tell.
And what gentle disclosure can look like in real life.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to explain yourself, guilt for staying quiet, or shame for protecting your story, this conversation is for you. You are not weak for keeping HS private — you were surviving.

This episode is paired with a reflective worksheet available at hsconnect.org, designed to help you process secrecy without shame and take one small step toward connection, on your own terms.

Sponsored by UCB, with gratitude for supporting patient-centered conversations and the HS community.

This podcast was made possible by UCB.

If you’ve just heard the words hidradenitis suppurativa, this episode is for you.

A new diagnosis can feel overwhelming, confusing, and frightening — sometimes all at once. In this Healing Space episode, we slow everything down and focus on what actually matters in the very beginning.

We talk about:

• Why your emotions feel big and contradictory
• What a diagnosis really means — and what it doesn’t
• What you don’t need to figure out yet
• How to take your first next step without urgency or panic
• How to protect your mental health from information overload

You are not broken. You are not failing. And you do not need to become an HS expert overnight.

This episode is paired with a gentle “Start Here” worksheet available at hsconnect.org, created to help newly diagnosed patients process, breathe, and find their footing — without pressure.

Sponsored by UCB, thank you for supporting Healing Space and helping ensure newly diagnosed patients don’t have to navigate this moment alone.

This podcast was made possible by UCB.

Special Episode with Brindley Brooks, MD Experts, & UCB

In this special Healing Space episode, Healing Space Host, Cara Nethery, is joined by HS Connect Founder & CEO Brindley Brooks and leading experts. for a powerful conversation on the silent struggles of living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) — and why mental health support is just as critical as physical treatment.

Joined by Dr. Ginette Okoye, Professor and Chair of Dermatology at Howard University, along with Kajal Bhika from the UCB team, this episode explores the emotional toll of HS, including depression, anxiety, shame, isolation, and the impact on relationships, intimacy, and daily life.

Together, the panel discusses:
Why mental health is often overlooked in HS care
The hidden emotional burden of living with a chronic skin condition
How HS affects relationships, self-esteem, and identity
Barriers to accessing mental health support
The importance of community, validation, and patient-centered care
How Healing Space was created to fill critical gaps in emotional and mental health resources for people living with HS

This episode also highlights how Healing Space — supported by UCB — was built to provide accessible, judgment-free mental health tools, alternative therapies, and community-driven support so patients never have to navigate HS alone.
Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or healthcare provider, this conversation offers insight, validation, and hope — and reinforces that HS is more than a skin condition. It’s a whole-person experience that deserves whole-person care.

Learn more and access Healing Space resources at hsconnect.org.

This podcast was made possible by UCB.