218 - Learning to Listen: Neurodiversity, Trauma, and Long Covid Recovery

We hear Ana’s honest recovery story, from a gradual slide into Long Covid to the moment her nervous system finally stopped treating everyday life as a threat. We talk through neurodivergence, trauma, hypermobility and the practical tools that helped her rebuild a calm, creative life. • The slow build of stressors that leads to a major crash • Hypermobility and why intense workouts can backfire • ADHD and autism discovery and how it reframes burnout • Tests, uncertainty and how fear can keep symptoms loud • Restrictive diets, supplement spirals and removing fear around food • Nervous system regulation using polyvagal ideas and body listening • Meditation with music, creative visualisation and breathing• Trauma as unmet safety needs plus small experiences that stack up • The “spreading” practice and learning to handle activation • Returning to work slowly and dropping all-or-nothing thinking • Creativity as a recovery pillar and building a life that fits Links:Ana's Substack: https://becomingcreative.substack.com/Somia Heal: https://somiainternational.com/heal/ Jackie's Insight Timer (as mentioned by Ana at the start) https://insig.ht/sT6iUelAR3b Ed the Osteopath who Ana found super helpful: https://movementandwellbeingclinic.co.uk/about-us/#ed-madeleyMessage 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**