Who is The Sinsemillier?

 I started the Sinsemillier in 2018 to focus on cannabis for perimenopause as well as other interesting areas of research. Over the next few years, a series of diagnoses shifted my focus. A fiery blog post about experiencing medical trauma as someone living with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) led the way to me giving a keynote talk at a symposium about the neurobiology of CPTSD and the many medical problems that come with it, and my focus shifted to include trauma-informed care.  

I advocate for widespread use of trauma-informed care because it spans far beyond people living with PTSD or complex trauma. Medical conditions can cause trauma as well. According to the CDC, 129 million Americans live with a chronic illness, and 50 million live with chronic pain. It takes an average of 10 years to be diagnosed with a rare disease. It takes about the same amount of time to be diagnosed with endometriosis. It took me nearly 30 years to be diagnosed with endometriosis (they kept telling me it was *anxiety*). By the time I had surgery, I’d waited bedridden for 2 years due to the pain. It doesn’t have to be like this, but better care won’t come unless we make fundamental changes to the US healthcare system. One of the ways we have to start is by acknowledging that bias is baked into medicine from training to practice, and decolonization needs to be a priority for change to truly mean anything.  

The Sinsemillier remains focused on cannabis science for a variety of medical conditions, and I’m currently working on launching an educational platform for trauma-informed care called The Shapeshifting Crone. In ancient Irish stories, the wise woman archetype, who took the form of the Cailleach in the lore, was a healer of crisis trauma (1). As I enter my crone years, I want to build on my experiences as a patient who endured decades of misdiagnosis and dismissive attitudes to help bring about the changes our healthcare system so desperately needs. I want to use my experiences as a patient to advocate for change and to build community and momentum for transformation. It’s time to neutralize the stigmas that have kept so many of us relegated to the margins of quality healthcare and equitable treatment.  

As a digital strategist and writer by profession, I offer freelance services in digital marketing, writing, and data analysis. As a mental health and disability advocate, my aim is to work with like-minded people and organizations of all kinds to advance this mission. Check out my work and send me a query below!  

—Lee Frost, Founder, The Sinsemillier and The Shapeshifting Crone

(1) The Book of The Cailleach: Stories of the Wise Woman Healer, Gearóid Ó Crualaoich. Cork University Press.  

Committee Member, Patients for Patient Safety US (aligned with the World Health Organization)

Committee work includes evaluating AI and patient safety and making recommendations for developers, purchasers, oversight bodies, and the general public. Prepared a presentation on AI and the online patient experience in seeking mental health services. Working with the Project PIVOT team to gather patient experiences and outcomes to improve quality of care.  

Research Advisor & Survivor Expert, ImPACT Virginia, with the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical School

Co-designed educational materials for future healthcare professionals to help them better work with patients who live with complex PTSD. Developed a curriculum for them to work with incarcerated victims of human trafficking. Delivered keynote at annual symposium about the neurobiology of CPTSD and how to work with patients. 

Session Leader and Panelist for online course about trauma-informed care, HealthAdvocateX. 

Contributing Writer, CPTSD Foundation

Published numerous articles about my journey from diagnosis to treatment, sharing personal perspectives as well as research findings, including why women tend to get diagnosed in perimenopause. 

Community Leader, Patients Like Me

Certificates

• Compassionate Inquiry with Gabor Maté (in progress)
• Healer Medical Cannabis Wellness Advisor Training, 2024
• Trauma-Informed Practitioner Certification, Trauma-Informed Training Center, 2024
• US Pain Foundation Patient Advocacy Program, 2023
• The Health Union Patient Leader Certification Program, 2022  
• Certificate in Endocannabinoid Science, American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine, 2021