216 - More Than Just Covid: Stress, Grief, and Jacqui’s Journey to Recovery

I talk with Jacqui from New Zealand about dropping from a high-energy, ultra-active life into severe Long Covid, then building her way back to running, swimming and full work. Mel Abbott joins us to explain why calming the stress response comes before increasing activity, and how tools like breathwork, visualisation and emotional processing can change the trajectory. • Jacqui’s pre-illness pace as a high achiever and endurance athlete • Catching Covid during grief and prolonged stress, then dismissing the risk the second time • The slide into dizziness, dysautonomia and post-exertional malaise after pushing through • Hitting a severe crash, insomnia and becoming bedbound with full-time care needs • The first shift: education about the nervous system, threat responses and prediction loops • Practical regulation: frequent calming exercises, breathing, meditation and timers • Using visualisation to rebuild safety and confidence before returning to exercise • Gradual return to normal life: walking, driving, swimming, cycling and running • Handling setbacks and symptom flares by reducing fear and regulating stress • Maintaining wellness long-term with compassion, flexible movement and emotional tools Links:https://www.curablehealth.com/ https://thesteadycoach.com/ https://unlearnyourpain.com/mind-body-syndrome/ Alan Gordon - The Way Out, Mel's website: https://empowertherapies.co.nz/The webinar that Jacqui talked about: https://empowertherapies.co.nz/pages/webinarThe Switch Programme: https://empowertherapies.co.nz/pages/the-switchMessage me! (I can't reply to these messages) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Thankyou for joining me in The Recovery Room. If you found this episode useful & are able to, you can support the show by buying me a coffee or checking out the merchVisit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com Follow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom **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**