Jules Rogers returns to the podcast to discuss the essential role of boundaries in chronic illness recovery and everyday wellbeing, sharing how learning to protect our energy can be transformative.

• Boundaries are conscious protections we put in place to maintain our energy and ensure we're not giving beyond what feels right
• Different types include physical, emotional, material, mental, and time boundaries
• Setting boundaries becomes crucial when dealing with chronic illness as a way to preserve energy for healing
• The biggest barriers to maintaining boundaries are guilt, discomfort, and the belief that putting yourself first is selfish
• Jules created a powerful recovery mantra: "Is this going to help me heal?" as a guiding decision-making tool
• Even small boundaries can be beneficial - consistency matters more than size
• Boundaries naturally evolve throughout recovery and life as our needs and capacities change
• Starting with boundaries around the most energy-depleting activities provides the greatest benefit
• Learning to say no without over-explaining ("That doesn't work for me") can be more effective
• The skill of setting boundaries learned during illness becomes a valuable tool for living well after recovery

https://www.julesrogerslifecoach.com/post/10-boundaries-i-ve-put-in-place-so-i-can-live-a-balanced-healthy-and-joyful-life

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

Podcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook @LongCovidPodcast
Instagram Twitter @LongCovidPod
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

Please get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

Dr. David Clarke shares his 40-year journey as a medical consultant specializing in neuroplastic conditions—real physical symptoms generated by the brain in response to stress, trauma, or emotional challenges. He explains how these conditions affect 20% of adults and 40% of doctor visits, yet remain frequently misdiagnosed despite being highly treatable.

• Neuroplastic symptoms are physical manifestations created by the brain in response to stress or trauma
• These conditions affect strong individuals carrying burdens they've normalized, not "weak" or "neurotic" people
• Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can create lasting impacts through stressful personality traits, triggers, and unrecognized emotions
• Brain circuits physically change with chronic stress and can change back with appropriate treatment
• The brain creates all sensations—even with physical injuries, pain signals originate in the brain
• Long Covid and similar conditions may involve neuroplastic mechanisms that maintain symptoms after initial triggers
• Recovery includes reframing self-perception from weakness to strength, setting boundaries, and processing emotions
• Transformation extends beyond symptom relief to improved relationships and becoming "who you were meant to be"

Visit Symptomatic Me to take a 12-item questionnaire assessing for neuroplastic symptoms, and check out "The Story Behind the Symptoms" podcast where Dr. Clarke interviews patients about their recovery journeys.

Symptomatic.Me

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

Podcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook @LongCovidPodcast
Instagram Twitter @LongCovidPod
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

Please get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

Alishia shares her powerful Long Covid recovery journey—from a highly active farm worker to being couch-bound for over a year, and ultimately back to health through finding safety in her body.

• Worked long weeks in manual farm labour & enjoyed being active before catching Covid in 2020
• Experienced extreme anxiety, heart palpitations, shortness of breath after first infection
• Second COVID infection in 2021 led to complete debilitation with 15+ symptoms
• Functional medicine doctors provided multiple diagnoses & supplement protocols without improvement
• Discovered mind-body work through Dan Buglio and Dr. Sarno
• Somatic tracking meditation, self-Reiki, creating feelings of safety helped
• Learned to set boundaries, let go of perfectionism, & practice self-compassion
• Gradually reintroduced short walks & yoga sessions, surrounding them with joy
• Session with coach Rob Ensor helped eliminate remaining symptoms
• Now works as a mind-body coach & works part-time in farming
• Maintains balance between activity & rest, continuing to practice boundaries & self-care

If you're struggling with Long Covid or ME/CFS, remember that wherever you are in this moment, you are completely lovable right now—your worth isn't tied to your productivity or ability to function.

Links:

Alisha website

Dan Buglio - 24 ways to feel safe

Rob Ensor

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

Podcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook @LongCovidPodcast
Instagram Twitter @LongCovidPod
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

Please get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

Rachel Rock shares her powerful Long Covid recovery story, detailing her journey from initial illness to healing through understanding and supporting her autonomic nervous system.

• Contracted COVID in May 2022 & developed long COVID whilst attempting to train for a cycling event
• Discovered she was experiencing Dysautonomia & significant blood pressure regulation issues
• Used tracking tools including Welltory app to gather data about HRV & autonomic nervous system function
• Built recovery on four pillars: autonomic nervous system regulation, functional medicine, dietary changes & trauma processing
• Worked with practitioners including Dr. Lydia Knutson who combines chiropractic medicine with energy healing techniques
• Addressed previously unresolved childhood trauma through EMDR therapy & made profound connections to physical symptoms
• Successfully completed bike ride by consciously downregulating instead of pushing through physical challenges
• Learned to recognize bodily signals that indicate nervous system dysregulation
• Found community connections with fellow long COVID sufferers around the world through online classes & support groups
• Continues daily practices to maintain ANS health even after recovery

Links:

Rachel's website

Rachel's LinkedIn

Lydia Knutson episode

Long Covid Breathing course

Work with Jackie

Ed Yong

Recovery themes episode

James Nestor "Breath"

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

Podcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook @LongCovidPodcast
Instagram Twitter @LongCovidPod
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

Please get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

Karl Robottom shares his remarkable journey from Long Covid symptoms to running marathons, offering hope and practical insights for those still struggling with the condition.

• Former PE teacher whose active lifestyle was completely derailed by Long Covid despite having only mild initial Covid symptoms
• Experienced breathlessness, severe fatigue, significant weight gain, dysautonomia, and cognitive difficulties that placed him in the bottom 7% nationally on tests
• Endured 18 months of inconclusive medical testing before being referred to a Long Covid clinic
• Found relief through cold water immersion, beginning with morning swims in a natural seawater pool in Devon
• Developed a comprehensive recovery protocol including breathing techniques, yoga nidra, electrolytes, and fasting
• Breakthrough came through participating in a clinical trial using Simproof, which he later supplemented with homemade kefir
• Gradually returned to exercise through careful listening to his body, eventually completing his first marathon
• Now training for a 45-mile challenge around Bristol, marking the complete circle of his recovery

If you've found hope or inspiration from Karl's story, please consider sharing this episode with someone who might be struggling with Long COVID. Your support helps us reach more people who need to hear these recovery stories.

More info & support Karl on the Green Man Ultra Marathon Bristol - 45 miles - week beginning 26/5/25:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/k-robottom-1717842870657?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

Podcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook @LongCovidPodcast
Instagram Twitter @LongCovidPod
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

Please get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

Cold water immersion - friend or foe?

One of the things that helped Jackie the most in her recovery - cold water immersion - and one of the most commonly asked questions from listeners.

But it doesn't work well for everyone. In this episode, Jackie dives into the science behind the power of cold water, as well as discussing her own expertise and her own journey - why did it work for her? And how could you make it work for you?

As always - this isn't medical advice - always speak to a trusted medical professional before considering cold water, or indeed any new treatment.

Links:

Join breathing courses: www.LongCovidBreathing.com

Work with me options: https://www.longcovidpodcast.com/workwithme

My Insight Timer profile (free): www.Insightttimer.com/longcovidpod

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

Podcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook @LongCovidPodcast
Instagram Twitter @LongCovidPod
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

Please get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

Uroš shares his inspiring recovery journey from long COVID, revealing how addressing hidden emotional patterns and learning self-compassion transformed not only his health but his entire approach to life.

• Prior to illness, Uroš appeared to be living his best life following a 15-month sabbatical, with a fitness routine and new career mentoring entrepreneurs
• After contracting COVID for the second time, Uros experienced severe post-exertional malaise, brain fog, and eventually became bed-bound
• Finding online recovery stories provided the first ray of hope during a period of despair and medical uncertainty
• Breathing techniques helped regulate his nervous system, with yoga nidra becoming a daily practice that brought surprising mental peace
• Discovery of his unhealthy relationship with emotions became a turning point – Uroš had been "putting poisonous snakes in a bag" for decades
• Self-compassion meditation triggered unexpected emotional release, allowing him to process suppressed feelings
• Identifying limiting core beliefs about always needing to "give everything" transformed his relationship with himself and his family
• Recovery progressed from bed-bound to house-bound to gradually increasing physical activity over approximately 6 months
• Rather than returning to his previous life, Uros is now focused on creating "Uroš 2.0" – integrating recovery lessons into building a more authentic life centered on passion
• The recovery journey revealed five phases: calming the nervous system, removing stressors, gradual reexposure to life, leaving the sick mindset behind, and integrating the lessons learned

Links:

Long Covid Breathing Courses: www.LongCovidBreathing.com

Dr Becca Kennedy: https://resilience-healthcare.com/

Dr Becca Kennedy on the Long Covid Podcast:

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

Podcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook @LongCovidPodcast
Instagram Twitter @LongCovidPod
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

Please get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

Dr. Diana Driscoll shares her remarkable journey from bedridden POTS patient to pioneering medical researcher developing treatments for autonomic dysfunction. Motivated by her own ten-year battle with post-viral dysautonomia and her children's similar struggles, she created patented solutions when conventional medicine offered no answers.

• POTS is not a disease but a presentation of symptoms related to inflammation affecting the cardiovascular system
• Dr. Driscoll's "Driscoll Theory" identifies high intracranial pressure as a common factor in POTS and dysautonomia
• Her research uncovered neurotransmitter deficiencies, particularly acetylcholine, leading to the development of Parasym Plus
• Inflammation creates oxidative damage, worsening symptoms and creating a vicious cycle that must be broken
• Many POTS patients show signs of blood vessel leakage and blood-brain barrier disruption
• Female patients often face additional challenges due to hormonal fluctuations increasing inflammatory responses
• Recovery requires consistency and understanding your personal inflammatory triggers
• Patients can maintain recovery by being proactive about their health and recognizing early warning signs
• Genetic factors influence inflammatory responses and understanding these can prevent relapse

Parasym Plus Info

www.drdianadriscoll.com

www.potscare.com

www.vagusnervesupport.com

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

Podcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook @LongCovidPodcast
Instagram Twitter @LongCovidPod
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

Please get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**