Invisible Illnesses

“In terms of our health, I think it becomes about knowing what we need to let go of at this particular point in time. So if our symptoms are such that we can’t operate in the way we used to, we can either wish for things to be the way they were or we can process the ending and become more proactive and positive about how things are now”  We’ve reached the final episode of season one, and we’re finishing with a belter! In this follow-up discussion with executive coach Gill Simpson, we reflect on the journey so far and share some key lessons that apply to anyone thinking about change, health, or personal growth. Highlights from this episode: Barriers to change: Why it’s often ourselves we need to get out of the way The power of self-awareness: How taking time to question our own assumptions can open up new possibilities Remaining open to learning: Embracing insights from wherever (and whoever) they come This conversation shows how much we gain when experts from different backgrounds share and learn together. If you’re new to the series, we hope this episode inspires you to listen back through earlier conversations. And if you’ve journeyed with us, thank you for being part of it—we hope you enjoy this final instalment. There are some books which Gill has recommended to our listeners: The circles of concern/control come from Stephen Covey’s book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”   William Bridges has written a number of books on his model of transition – probably the most relevant one for individuals is “Transitions – Making Sense of Life’s Changes”   And another useful resource might be Dr Windy Dryden’s book “Ten Steps to Positive Living”. It helps you learn new ways of dealing with problems, including some of the topics we touched on: challenging our thinking distortions, taking control of our lives, accepting reality, and coming to terms with change.  

“There are definitely people who are on the same trajectory I was on; where you learn to value your own success through your achievements. But you come to a point where you can’t just keep striving and striving and striving, you just burn out. For high performers, it can be really hard to let go of that model, once it becomes clear it’s no longer sustainable.” In the penultimate episode of our series, Stephen and I sit down with Gill Simpson, an experienced executive coach and business leader. Our discussion reveals surprising overlaps between what drives change and performance in our jobs, and what helps us sustain our health and wellbeing. We feel there are some hugely valuable lessons which come out of our conversation with Gill: Understanding your drivers: How your personal history and learned behaviours shape your approach to work and home, and when those drivers help or hinder Circles of concern: Identifying what you can (and can’t) control, and focusing your energy where it counts most Making progress one step at a time: How even small, consistent changes can shift the trajectory of your work, life, and health for the better There are some books which Gill has recommended to our listeners (links below): The circles of concern/control come from Stephen Covey’s book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”   William Bridges has written a number of books on his model of transition – probably the most relevant one for individuals is “Transitions – Making Sense of Life’s Changes”   And another useful resource might be Dr Windy Dryden’s book “Ten Steps to Positive Living”. It helps you learn new ways of dealing with problems, including some of the topics we touched on: challenging our thinking distortions, taking control of our lives, accepting reality, and coming to terms with change.  

“What we find is that often the patient is working as hard as they can, pushing through, so trying to get them to work harder isn’t helpful. We use approaches like Acceptance Commitment Therapy and  Compassion Focused Therapy; often the key ingredient that’s missing is self compassion.”  We’re now at Episode 6 in our eight-part series. In this instalment, we reconnect with Dr Tony Davies (following Episode 5), delving deeper into his “Body Reprogramming” approach for tackling central sensitisation syndromes like fibromyalgia. Whilst Dr Tony is a specialist in conditions like fibromyalgia, we feel that some of the key themes in this episode are relevant for all of us: Why more effort or more medication is rarely the answer - and how self-compassion and mindfulness can be more effective in recovery Why information and advice alone aren’t enough for complex behaviour change How our past experiences can ‘prime’ us for illness - and why a holistic view is vital for tackling health conditions Whether you’re managing chronic illness or simply want practical strategies for your own wellbeing or those around you, we feel this episode offers actionable advice with wider relevance.Music: Stephen Ward-Booth

“If we think of our bodies in terms of a computer, for me it’s about hardware and software problems. Hardware problems are where the components of our body can be broken, worn out and replaced. Doctors love hardware problems. But, like a computer, most of our health problems are software problems; it’s the operating system - communications between all of the parts of our body. There is no single part to fix.”In this fifth episode of our eight-part series, we’re joined by Dr Tony Davies—senior consultant at Plymouth Pain Management Centre and Associate Professor at Plymouth University. With over 20 years of experience in pain management, Tony is also co-creator (with Professor Michael Hyland) of the innovative “Body Reprogramming” intervention for patients with central sensitivity syndromes such as fibromyalgia. Some useful links are below: A patient guide to Body Reprogramming - has a useful overview for anyone wanting to have a high level summary of his work A preliminary evaluation of the Body Reprogramming intervention conducted by the University of Plymouth - provides a more in-depth, academic overview of the programme and outlines the impact it has had on patients 

"What do I do differently in order to stay upright? There’s no silver bullet. One of the main things is acceptance that I can’t do all of the things I used to do. Also getting comfortable in asking for and accepting help”  We’re now at Episode 4 in our eight-part series. In this follow-up to Episode 3, Dr Stephen Ward-Booth and I reconnect with Ciaran to reflect on his story, exploring the practical strategies he relies on to manage his continued recovery on a day-to-day basis and how stigma shaped his experience of functional illness.  We feel this latest conversation will provide some valuable ideas, hints and tips that anyone can use; whether it’s supporting colleagues or taking gradual steps for your own recovery.  We hope you find it helpful.  NOTE: We are aware of sound issues on this episode. Unfortunately we had a bit of a tech fail and ended up having to re-record some of our audio. I’m hoping you will bear with it on this one; we did our best and hopefully it won’t impact on your listening experience too much! New episodes will be released at the end of every week. 

In Episode 3, Stevie and I sit down with Ciaran Willcocks, who candidly shares his experience with functional illness and recovery, starting from the upheaval of 2020. His honest, relatable account sheds light on how doing too much - at work AND at home - can take its toll, and what we can all learn from this story.  We believe Ciaran’s story will resonate with anyone facing invisible illnesses, and offer new understanding for colleagues, friends, and family, too Music by Stephen Ward-Booth

In this episode, Alex shares his healthcare story with co-host Stephen Ward-Booth, telling the story about how he ended up stuck in a loop with his health after suffering from Covid. They discuss how this story is more common than you'd think; where short-term illness can become long-term syndromes. Steve gives some detail about how it overlaps with patients he has seen in the past and gives some practical hints and tips. Listen in for insight—not medical advice.Music: Stephen Ward-Booth

Discover the hidden world of invisible illness. Hosts Alex and Dr Stephen Ward-Booth explore why so many suffer real symptoms without clear test results, bust myths about pain and stigma, and share practical ways to feel better. This trailer gives you an initial overview of what the series will be about.  Listen in for insight—not medical advice. Music: Stephen Ward-Booth

Episode 1: What Are Invisible Illnesses?Alex Ward-Booth speaks with Dr Stephen Ward-Booth, an experienced GP, to uncover why so many people have real symptoms, like pain or fatigue, without any abnormal test results. They discuss what “functional illness” means, why it’s often missed in medicine, and how understanding mind-body connections can lead to better support and practical solutions. Essential listening if you or someone you know experiences symptoms doctors can’t easily explain.  Listen in for insight; not medical advice. Music: Stephen Ward-Booth References: Within the report, Steve mentions a historical national report which talks about a cost of £3bn to the NHS of these conditions: for further details, please follow this link