The Recovery Room with Jackie Baxter
- Episodes
- 235
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 12, 2026
About the podcast
Welcome to The Recovery Room with Jackie Baxter - a gentle, grounded space for anyone navigating a health challenge.
For five years, this show was known as The Long Covid Podcast, supporting thousands of listeners through the uncertainty of post‑viral illness. After my own lived experience and recovery from Long Covid, the conversations naturally grew wider — into ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Dysautonomia, Trauma, Burnout and the deep nervous‑system work that underpins so many healing journeys.
This reimagined podcast honours that evolution.
Each week, I explore the science, stories, and small, steady practices that help the body feel safer and more supported. You’ll hear from clinicians, researchers, practitioners and people walking their own recovery paths through the power of honest conversation.
Whether you’re at the beginning of your journey or somewhere in the long, winding middle, you’re welcome here.
Take a breath. Settle in. This is your recovery room.
This podcast will always remain free, but if you like what you hear and are able to, please head along to www.buymeacoffee.com/JackiesRecoveryRoom to help me cover costs.
~ Follow me on socials @JackiesRecoveryRoom
~ Website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com
Do get in touch - I love to hear from you!
Contributors
Episodes 235
233 - "One More Race": How Matt Fitzgerald Found His Way Back
I talk with endurance coach and author Matt Fitzgerald about losing running to Long Covid, discovering hidden heart disease, and facing months where both pushing and resting make symptoms worse. We explore how …
Show notes
I talk with endurance coach and author Matt Fitzgerald about losing running to Long Covid, discovering hidden heart disease, and facing months where both pushing and resting make symptoms worse. We explore how he shifts from hunting for a single cure to building a personal patchwork of pacing, symptom support and nervous system tools that helps him return to meaningful movement.
• Life as a lifelong endurance athlete and how identity shapes recovery
• Fitness versus health and how medical testing uncovers underlying issues
• Catching Covid around marathon racing and the delayed Long Covid crash
• The frustration of worsening symptoms despite strict rest and reduced activity
• Symptom management that improves daily life without “fixing” everything
• The “high bar effect” and why a challenging goal changes motivation
• Pacing as a skill, using tiny test doses and waiting for delayed PEM
• Tracking a six-point PEM scale alongside HRV to find the moving line
• Functional recovery versus lingering symptoms and redefining what “better” means
• Why recovery is often a patchwork rather than a magic bulletLinks:
Matt's Book - Dying to Run: https://8020books.com/product/dying-to-run/
Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters (9)
232 - Dr Michael Bagnell - Brain Health Beyond the Crisis: Finding a New Way Forward
I catch up with Dr Michael Bagnell and dig into what recovery really means when you cannot go back to who you were before. We connect mindset, brainwaves, sleep, and tiny daily choices to build agency and real …
Show notes
I catch up with Dr Michael Bagnell and dig into what recovery really means when you cannot go back to who you were before. We connect mindset, brainwaves, sleep, and tiny daily choices to build agency and real hope for brain health.
• Functional neurology and neuroplasticity as a route to restoration for Long Covid, Dysautonomia, Concussion, ADHD and cognitive issues
• Recovery as redesign rather than a return to the past, with a story of rebuilding life after major disability
• Meeting ourselves where we are, balancing acceptance with hope and personal agency
• The brain’s negativity bias, pattern prediction, and why support and empathy change outcomes
• Why mindset matters without reducing healing to positive thinking, including measurable brainwave patterns
• Software versus hardware, upgrading beliefs and habits alongside training brain rhythms
• Proactive brain health basics: sleep, breathwork, nutrition and movement as foundations
• Practical starting points at home, including simple tracking and aiming for small wins over all-or-nothing change
Connect with Dr Bagnell: www.BagnellBrainCenter.comMessage 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters (13)
231 - Marisa Renee Lee - The Self That Remains: Identity and Hope Through Illness
I talk with Marisa Renee Lee about Long Covid, identity, and what it takes to endure a season where answers are slow and uncertainty is constant. We explore grey grief, reality based hope, and the practical …
Show notes
I talk with Marisa Renee Lee about Long Covid, identity, and what it takes to endure a season where answers are slow and uncertainty is constant. We explore grey grief, reality based hope, and the practical choices that help us keep moving towards healing even on the hardest days.
• Getting ill after being highly capable and reliable
• Rewriting a book when life flips the premise
• Authenticity when capacity shrinks and priorities shift
• Defining identity through values rather than job titles
• Learning from a parent’s long illness and lasting impact
• Naming “grey grief” as the grief of uncertainty
• Holding hope without denying pain or setbacks
• Firing dismissive healthcare providers and seeking better care
• Finding hope through community and recovery stories
• Combining modalities like prescriptions, supplements, acupuncture, and therapy
• Taking tiny baby steps and focusing on consistent basics
WAITING FOR DAWN: LIVING WITH UNCERTAINTY
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/marisa-renee-lee/waiting-for-dawn/9781538770191/Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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230 - Dr Mel Houser - From Shame to Belonging: Making Room for Every Brain
I sit down with Dr Mel Houser to rethink neurodiversity as a normal fact of human life and to name how shame, masking, and burnout can build when the world expects one way of being. We connect those realities …
Show notes
I sit down with Dr Mel Houser to rethink neurodiversity as a normal fact of human life and to name how shame, masking, and burnout can build when the world expects one way of being. We connect those realities to Long Covid and ME/CFS, showing how access needs, cognitive pacing, and community support can change what recovery and participation look like.
• Neurodiversity as the full range of human brains, not a rare exception
• Why “one size fits all” environments create struggle and shame
• Autistic burnout, loss of tolerance to stimuli, and loss of skills
• Masking as a survival strategy and what happens when it collapses
• Universal design in healthcare, offering choices proactively for everyone
• Access needs as a practical way to support full participation
• Cognitive pacing and balancing physical, cognitive, emotional and orthostatic energy
• Dopamine, regulation, and why illness disrupts protein, hydration, movement and sleep
• PEM-aware approaches and avoiding harmful graded exercise advice
• Patterns in complex chronic illness where treatments can backfire
• The double empathy problem and communication gaps in healthcare
• Resources from All Brains Belong Vermont including toolkits, Brain Club and the bookLinks:
- Everything is Connected to Everything: Improving the Healthcare of Autistic & ADHD Adults: https://allbrainsbelong.org/all-the-things
- Free community programs and educational resources: https://allbrainsbelong.org/get-connected
- A Failure of Imagination: How the Healthcare System Fails Neurodivergent People--And What We're Doing Instead: https://allbrainsbelong.org/book
- Brain Club® (free virtual community education program): https://allbrainsbelong.org/brain-club
- Universal Design Toolkit for Healthcare, Workplaces & Community Events: https://allbrainsbelong.org/universal-design-menus/
Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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229 - “Just for Now”: Pamela Rose Helps with Pacing for Recovery
I'm joined by Fatigue Coach Pamela Rose as we dig into why pacing feels so hard and why “energy management” is a better, more practical way to think about it. We share how to find a steadier baseline …
Show notes
I'm joined by Fatigue Coach Pamela Rose as we dig into why pacing feels so hard and why “energy management” is a better, more practical way to think about it. We share how to find a steadier baseline, account for cognitive and emotional load, and start increasing activity without tipping into PEM.
• Defining pacing as shaping the day around available energy
• Prioritising needs and wants over ‘shoulds’
• Using consistency to create capacity for healing
• Learning the nuance behind physical, cognitive, emotional and social exertion
• When wearables and apps help and when they backfire
• Spotting early warning signs and adjusting before a crash
• Reverse pacing and safe, gradual activity increases
• Pacing the week, planning around appointments and hormone shifts
• Making progress with kids or caring responsibilities by optimising what you can
Links:- Work with Pamela: https://pamelarose.podia.com
Use voucher code 'LCPOD' to get 33% off the full price of 'Fatigue Reset: how to crack pacing once and for all!' course.
- Our first episode on "Difficult Conversations" https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/14502430
Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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228 - Commandos to Curious: Chris Sykes-Popham's Journey from Scepticism to Openness and Recovery
Chris Sykes-Popham shares how he goes from an adventurous Royal Marines career into a brutal ME/CFS crash, then back to full recovery and a life rebuilt around balance and self-trust. We explore perfectionism …
Show notes
Chris Sykes-Popham shares how he goes from an adventurous Royal Marines career into a brutal ME/CFS crash, then back to full recovery and a life rebuilt around balance and self-trust. We explore perfectionism, invisible illness, and why nervous system regulation can feel like the least popular answer yet still be the most practical path forward.
• Early warning signs like post-exertional payback and brain fog
• Losing a former identity and rebuilding meaning after recovery
• Balance as a daily check for kindness and sustainability
• Extreme striving and the hidden costs of perfectionism
• Gender, emotional expression, and the pressure of invisible illness
• Responsibility versus blame and finding agency again
• Openness, curiosity, and why timing matters for mind-body work
• Nervous system regulation as a common thread in recovery stories
• Studying the recovered and looking for repeatable trends
• Testing the nervous system theory symptom by symptom
We would love to continue this conversation - or have the one we originally planned - so please do get in touch with thoughts, questions & scepticism!Links:
- Try Freeme FREE for 6 sessions https://freemehealth.com/getfreeme
- CONNECT WITH CHRIS:
Website — https://freemehealth.com/getfreeme
Instagram — / the.freeme.app
Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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227 - Dr Heather Wilde - Listening with Hands: Healing Speeds Up When You Find The Blockage
I talk with Heather Wilde, a doctor of physical therapy, about why Long Covid and ME/CFS symptoms can be downstream of blocked drainage and disrupted nervous system signalling rather than a single “broken” …
Show notes
I talk with Heather Wilde, a doctor of physical therapy, about why Long Covid and ME/CFS symptoms can be downstream of blocked drainage and disrupted nervous system signalling rather than a single “broken” part. We follow her plumber and electrician framework from real client stories into craniosacral therapy, inflammation, and why hope often returns when someone finally finds the true restriction.
• Heather’s hands-on manual therapy approach and why she keeps expanding her toolkit
• A personal recovery story after decades of ME/CFS and what changed
• The plumber mindset for fluid flow and the hidden source of symptoms
• The electrician mindset for nerves, especially the vagus nerve and gut function
• A case study where a neck restriction links to GI pain and hyperventilation
• How covid-related inflammation can lock down the head and thorax
• Lymphatic drainage, sympathetic regulation and the Perrin theory in plain language
• Why breathwork and manual therapy are hard to research yet powerful in practice
• What craniosacral therapy is anatomically and what “dura restrictions” mean
• Touch, listening and rebuilding a healthy relationship with the bodyLinks:
- Connect with Heather: thewildeclinic.com
- The Perrin Technique: theperrintechnique.com
- My interview with Dr Perrin: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/16397354
Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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226 - Dan Neuffer - Out of the Box: Living Your Own Blueprint
Dan Neuffer and I explore authentic living as a practical way to honour our needs without abandoning responsibility, and why that balance matters even more when we are unwell. We look at how fear …
Show notes
Dan Neuffer and I explore authentic living as a practical way to honour our needs without abandoning responsibility, and why that balance matters even more when we are unwell. We look at how fear, perfectionism, and people-pleasing create inner conflict, drain our energy, and can keep our nervous system stuck in threat.
• Defining authentic living as self-honouring with balance
• Why constant selflessness can become self-neglect
• How childhood patterns and social approval shape our “shoulds”
• Telltale signs of inauthentic living such as resentment and emotion management
• The link between internal conflict, safety, and chronic illness recovery such as Long Covid and ME/CFS
• Perfectionism, social media pressure, and the fear of judgement
• Practical steps: honesty with ourselves, clearer communication, and boundaries
• Choosing small wins over drastic decisions to create lasting changeConnect with Dan:
- CFS Recovery Stories: https://cfsunravelled.com/me-cfs-recovery-stories-patient-me-cfs-stories-with-a-difference/
- ANS REWIRE Free Lessons: https://ansrewire.com/info-request/
Connect with Jackie:
- The Recovery Room website: https://www.jackiesrecoveryroom.com/
- Breathing Classes: https://longcovidbreathing.com/
Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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225 - 25,000 Chances to Heal: Making Every Breath Work for You
I explore breath as a practical healing tool, especially when breathlessness, air hunger, or panic keeps the body stuck in survival mode. I share why “appropriate breathwork” is gentle, flexible, and powerful …
Show notes
I explore breath as a practical healing tool, especially when breathlessness, air hunger, or panic keeps the body stuck in survival mode. I share why “appropriate breathwork” is gentle, flexible, and powerful enough to support both recovery and everyday health.
• Why breathing patterns change during illness and can stay dysfunctional afterwards
• The vicious cycle where breath discomfort signals danger and escalates symptoms
• How better breathing supports efficiency and frees energy for healing and life
• Nervous system regulation through functional breathing and micro moments of safety
• Why a one-size-fits-all protocol can backfire and what “meet yourself where you are” looks like
• What to avoid in recovery, including deliberate hyperventilation and breath holds
• Easing into practices, adjusting dose, and using breath to support pacing and emotions
• Resources for safe breathwork including courses, blogs, videos, and Insight Timer tracksLinks:
- Breathing for Long Covid & ME/CFS breathing courses: www.LongCovidBreathing.com
- Breathing blogs: https://longcovidbreathing.com/blogs
- Breathe with me on Insight Timer: https://insig.ht/mqSr1s0245b (or search "Jackie Baxter" on the app
- More info about working with me: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com/WorkWithMe
Message me! (I can't reply to these messages)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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224 - From Data to Body Wisdom: When to Use (and Ditch) Heart Rate Monitoring
In part two of Jackie’s conversation with physiotherapist and Long Covid patient Robin McNelis (“Robin the Physio”), they dig into how heart rate monitors and wearables can support (or sabotage) pacing in Long …
Show notes
In part two of Jackie’s conversation with physiotherapist and Long Covid patient Robin McNelis (“Robin the Physio”), they dig into how heart rate monitors and wearables can support (or sabotage) pacing in Long Covid and ME/CFS. Robin shares both clinical and personal examples of using tech as a behaviour-change tool, not a dictator, and how it can help people eventually trust their bodies more, not less.
In This Episode:- When heart rate monitoring is helpful and when it becomes stressful and counterproductive
- Robin’s concept of “counterintuitive” heart rate monitoring and why some people need to start with higher alert thresholds
- Real-life examples of unexpected triggers (like showering, stairs, and bending) and how tiny tweaks made big differences
- Using devices first to learn your boundaries, then turning down or off alerts to lean more on body awareness
- How to decide if tech is right for you right now: What is it helping you change? Is it reducing crashes or just adding pressure?
Key Takeaways- Tech is optional: it’s the right tool for the right person, at the right time, in the right way.
- The goal isn’t perfect data—it’s better awareness, steadier pacing, and fewer boom-and-bust crashes.
Links:
More about Robin: http://www.robinthephysio.co.uk
Check out Part 1 of this discussion: 223 - Holistic Detective Work: Unpicking Breath, Pacing & Fatigue with Robin the Physio
Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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223 - Holistic Detective Work: Unpicking Breath, Pacing & Fatigue with Robin the Physio
Jackie is joined by Robin McNelis (Robin the Physio), a cardio‑respiratory physio and Long Covid specialist, who went from running marathons and leading hospital services to his own Long Covid recovery …
Show notes
Jackie is joined by Robin McNelis (Robin the Physio), a cardio‑respiratory physio and Long Covid specialist, who went from running marathons and leading hospital services to his own Long Covid recovery journey.
In this episode:
- What happens when all your tests are “normal” but you’re clearly not.
- Robin’s role as a “holistic detective” for complex breathing, fatigue and Long Covid cases.
- How ideas from elite sport and marginal gains translate to people just trying to shower or get to the bathroom without crashing.
- The reality of post‑Covid personal bests and why “small” wins matter.
- A practical, compassionate look at pacing across physical, cognitive, emotional and social exertion, using the FITT principles.
- Real‑life stories of patients reclaiming reading, hobbies and daily life through tiny, well‑timed adjustments.
This is Part 1 of the conversation - hear part 2 for more on pacing, heart rate, breathing, and tools to support recovery.
Links:
More about Robin: http://www.robinthephysio.co.uk
Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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222 - Jake Hollis - What If Validation Is A Treatment Too
I talk with clinical psychologist Dr Jake Hollis about recovering from ME/CFS and Long Covid, and why the nervous system offers a more useful frame than the tired “mind versus body” argument. We explore how …
Show notes
I talk with clinical psychologist Dr Jake Hollis about recovering from ME/CFS and Long Covid, and why the nervous system offers a more useful frame than the tired “mind versus body” argument. We explore how validation, language, and recovery stories can shift the brain’s predictions and open up real possibilities for change.
• Jake’s lived experience of long-term illness and a slow recovery path
• How neuroplastic recovery therapies fit alongside biology rather than replacing it
• Why recovery stories can create a visceral nervous system shift
• The harm caused when recovered people are disbelieved or silenced
• How the mind body divide shows up in healthcare systems and culture
• Biomarkers, legitimacy, and why absence of a test is not absence of illness
• Mental health stigma as a hidden driver of conflict and miscommunication
• Emotional suppression, shame, and “keep calm and carry on” conditioning
• Blame versus responsibility as a more compassionate recovery frameworkLinks:
More about Jake: www.fatiguepsychologist.com
Unlearn Your Pain in the US and in the UK
Howard Schubiner chats to Rangan ChatterjeeMessage 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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221 - A New Room, The Same Heart. Welcome to The Recovery Room
Five years after starting the Long Covid Podcast, Jackie introduces The Recovery Room – a wider, gentler space for anyone navigating Long Covid, ME/CFS, Dysautonomia, PoTS, Trauma, Burnout, nervous system …
Show notes
Five years after starting the Long Covid Podcast, Jackie introduces The Recovery Room – a wider, gentler space for anyone navigating Long Covid, ME/CFS, Dysautonomia, PoTS, Trauma, Burnout, nervous system overwhelm, and long-term recovery.
In this episode, Jackie shares:
- Why the podcast is evolving and what “The Recovery Room” means.
- How her own recovery showed that healing is about more than symptoms.
- How Long Covid overlaps with other conditions, and why this space now holds many experiences, not just one diagnosis
- What’s staying the same: evidence-informed conversations, recovery stories, nervous system insights, and honest, vulnerable discussions held in a way that feels safe.
She closes with a short grounding practice you can use anytime:
- Noticing your breath
- Gently checking in with how you feel
- Asking, “What would help me feel 1% safer right now?”
- Remembering that small, consistent, gentle shifts are the foundation of recovery.
Practical updates:
- The podcast is now called The Recovery Room with Jackie Baxter
- Social media, visuals, and app names will update over the coming days
- The new website is live: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com
Message me! (I can't reply to these messages)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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Welcome to The Recovery Room, with Jackie Baxter
Welcome to The Recovery Room with Jackie BaxterThis space is the natural evolution of a journey that began during my own recovery and through 5 years of the Long Covid Podcast.A place for anyone navigating a …
Show notes
Welcome to The Recovery Room with Jackie Baxter
This space is the natural evolution of a journey that began during my own recovery and through 5 years of the Long Covid Podcast.
- A place for anyone navigating a health challenge where they feel misunderstood, isolated and uncertain of the future.
- A place where science and lived experience sit side by side.
- A place where fear can soften, and hope can feel realistic again.
- Gain actionable insights and tools through honest stories, conversations and the power of connection
Listen to The Recovery Room wherever you get your podcasts or at www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comMessage me! (I can't reply to these messages)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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220 - Deepak Ravindran: Recovery Is Not Either/Or: Bridging Biology and Neuroplasticity
I catch up with pain consultant Dr Deepak Ravindran on what four years of Long Covid clinic work and research has taught him about why people get stuck with fatigue, pain, brain fog and autonomic symptoms. We …
Show notes
I catch up with pain consultant Dr Deepak Ravindran on what four years of Long Covid clinic work and research has taught him about why people get stuck with fatigue, pain, brain fog and autonomic symptoms. We argue for a practical middle path that validates biological change while using neuroplasticity and whole-person support to help the system relearn safety and move forwards.
• Deepak’s shift from pain medicine into leading a Berkshire Long Covid clinic and what patterns stood out over time
• Why most Long Covid patients were not hospitalised and why symptoms can still be severe
• The pressure on UK primary care and the case for better signposting to high-quality resources
• Why “either biology or brain” is the wrong frame and how the neuro-immune system acts as one unit
• What central sensitisation and predictive processing explain about persistent symptoms
• Evidence and theories: cytokines, neuro-inflammation signals, auto-antibodies, viral reservoirs and micro-clotting
• Treatment principles: combining medication trials with nervous system regulation and paced rehabilitation
• The STIMULATE ICP study approach and why integrated care pathways can outperform single-drug hopes
• Practical “waiting well” strategies: sleep, movement, breathing techniques, mindfulness and confidence-building
• Why recovery is individual, slow, and built from consistency rather than quick fixesLinks:
- Our previous episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/11277564
- Ami Banerjee episode (Stimulate ICP): https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/12209909
- Berkshire Pain Clinic: https://theberkshireclinic.com/consultants/deepak-ravindran/
- Deepak's blog on Living Proof: https://www.livingproof.org.uk/post/book-review-pain-free-mindset
- Pain speak Podcast: https://deepakravindran.co.uk/podcast/
Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom
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219 - Boundaries, Breath, and Belonging - Foundations for Recovery
I'm joined by Bal Matharu to talk about how breathing links the nervous system, stress biology, and Long Covid symptoms, and why recovery often begins with creating a genuine felt sense of safety. We share …
Show notes
I'm joined by Bal Matharu to talk about how breathing links the nervous system, stress biology, and Long Covid symptoms, and why recovery often begins with creating a genuine felt sense of safety. We share practical ways to assess and change breathing patterns, plus the role of co-regulation, boundaries, and carefully held breathwork support.
• Bal’s path from advanced respiratory physiotherapy and ICU work to lifestyle medicine and PhD breathwork research
• The six pillars of lifestyle medicine and why stress management often underpins the rest
• Acute stress versus chronic stress and how the body shifts blood flow, hormones, and immune function
• Cell danger theory, mitochondria, ATP, and why fatigue can be a protection signal
• Safety as a felt sense through neuroception rather than a purely cognitive idea
• Breath assessment basics, posture, high chest breathing, diaphragm use, and longer exhales
• Overstimulation, silence avoidance, and letting emotions move through the body in short windows
• Co-regulation, practitioner capacity, and building safe spaces for nervous system work
• Boundaries, people pleasing patterns, and choosing relationships that support regulation
• Selecting credible breathwork practitioners and avoiding unsafe cathartic methodsLinks:
Bal's Website: https://www.bodymind-iq.com
Embody Ecosystem: https://go.bodymind-iq.com/embody-ecosystemMessage 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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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 …
Show notes
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-madeley
Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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217 - Three Common Recovery Traps (and How to Avoid Them)
I share three common recovery traps and how we can find our way out of them without blame. Today's episode focuses on pacing, nervous system safety, and emotional processing so your body can stabilise and …
Show notes
I share three common recovery traps and how we can find our way out of them without blame. Today's episode focuses on pacing, nervous system safety, and emotional processing so your body can stabilise and move forwards.
• Pushing too hard on a better day and triggering the boom and bust cycle
• Banking energy for healing by spending some, enjoying some, and saving some
• Stepping off the symptom-fixing merry-go-round and reducing pressure
• Creating safety through kindness, gentleness, and small consistent cues
• Recognising the emotional load of long COVID, ME/CFS, and health challenges
• Finding a safe place to feel emotions without judgement
So do let me know how you get on, if these resonate with you, and if you've noticed any other common recovery traps that you might be getting waylaid by.Links to relevant practises (free tracks)
- Finding Emotional Safety: https://insig.ht/A7bEwwAXF3b
- Meeting your body kindly: https://insig.ht/Jlnf2P0w32b
- STOP: From overwhelm to ease: https://insig.ht/1UCyrM2w32b
Message me! (I can't reply to these messages)
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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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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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 …
Show notes
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 toolsLinks:
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/webinar
The 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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215 - Overwhelm 101: Why Your System Says “Too Much” (and What to Do Next)
In this episode of the Long Covid Podcast, I explore one of the most common — and often most confusing — parts of recovery: overwhelm.Overwhelm can feel like your whole system suddenly says “too much”:too much …
Show notes
In this episode of the Long Covid Podcast, I explore one of the most common — and often most confusing — parts of recovery: overwhelm.
Overwhelm can feel like your whole system suddenly says “too much”:
too much noise, too many sensations, too many decisions, too many feelings, too much uncertainty. It can build slowly over time or arrive out of nowhere — and in Long Covid, ME/CFS, & other post-viral conditions, it often shows up faster and more intensely than before you were ill.In this gentle, practical episode, I look at:
- What overwhelm actually is
- How overwhelm shows up in the body
- Why overwhelm is so common in recovery
- Reframing overwhelm as communication, not failure
- Practical tips to avoid overwhelm, and to meet it when it hits
By the end of this episode, my hope is that you feel less alone, less confused by your own reactions, and more equipped with language and understanding that can help you navigate overwhelm with more compassion for yourself.
Links:
- Breath Awareness: https://insighttimer.com/LongCovidPod/guided-meditations/gentle-breath-awareness-from-loch-ness-with-waves
- Reset Button - 2 mins to tranquility: https://insig.ht/xee2ILEGaZb?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=live_stream_share
- Gentle Somatic Tracking: https://insig.ht/Jlnf2P0w32b
- STOP: From Overwhelm To Ease: https://insig.ht/1UCyrM2w32b
- Amy Davies episode on Internalised Pressure: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/19021956
Message me! (I can't reply to these messages)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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214 - Out of the Long Covid Maze: How Lalita Found Her Way Back to Health
We hear Lalita’s Long Covid recovery story, from tachycardia and air hunger to a steady return to health by focusing on nervous system safety. We share practical tools for regulating symptoms in the moment …
Show notes
We hear Lalita’s Long Covid recovery story, from tachycardia and air hunger to a steady return to health by focusing on nervous system safety. We share practical tools for regulating symptoms in the moment, plus the mindset shifts that make self-compassion possible when you’ve been dismissed or frightened.
• Early signs after COVID including raised blood pressure, numb lips and fatigue
• Second infection followed by tachycardia, dizziness, vertigo, chest tightness, brain fog and air hunger
• Repeated emergency visits and the impact of being told it is anxiety
• Understanding Dysautonomia and the autonomic nervous system as a unifying explanation
• Combining nervous system work with naturopath-guided supplements and gut support
• Using Bowen therapy, Craniosacral work and sleep practices such as yoga nidra
• What bioresonance is and why some people use it to check for layers of stressors
• Breathwork as the main anchor, including longer exhales and quick calming techniques
• Stacking breath with tapping, somatic tracking and reassuring self-talk to build “proof of safety”
• Emotional processing with body scans and EAET-style exploration of deeper patterns
• A client case study showing how addressing stress and trauma can reduce symptoms fastLinks:
Lalita's Website: www.stressfreefast.com.au
Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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213 - East Meets West: A New Paradigm for Long Covid Healing
I'm joined by Pierre Brunschwig & Margaret Hampton as we explore how Chinese medicine and conventional western medicine can work together to treat Long Covid, where symptoms are complex and constantly …
Show notes
I'm joined by Pierre Brunschwig & Margaret Hampton as we explore how Chinese medicine and conventional western medicine can work together to treat Long Covid, where symptoms are complex and constantly shifting. We focus on subtypes, nervous system safety, immune recovery and the practical foundations that help people feel like themselves again.
• Why combining medical “languages” can fill treatment gaps
• Subtyping Long Covid and treating the person rather than the label
• The five foundations: sleep, diet, inner life, outer life and movement
• Acupuncture as a way to calm the nervous system and restore hope
• Adrenaline versus oxytocin and why safety enables healing
• Trauma, adverse childhood events and the role of somatic therapy
• Vagus nerve practices including breathwork, humming and self-soothing pressure
• Latent virus reactivation plus T cell exhaustion
• Rebuilding immune competence alongside antivirals and targeted therapies
• Building nutrient-rich blood, protein needs and why cooked food can help digestion
• Gut health basics including stomach acid support, H. pylori and probiotics
• Creating a care team that listens, pivots and fits your real life
Links:More about Margaret & Pierre and their work:
http://www.heliosintegratedmedicine.comMessage 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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212 - Amy Davies - Internalised Pressure in Recovery: Letting Go Of Your Inner Drill Sergeant
We talk about how internalised pressure can keep the nervous system in threat mode and make recovery from Long Covid, ME/CFS and other health challenges harder, even when we are doing “all the right things”. We …
Show notes
We talk about how internalised pressure can keep the nervous system in threat mode and make recovery from Long Covid, ME/CFS and other health challenges harder, even when we are doing “all the right things”. We explore perfectionism, shame, and control, then land on practical ways to create space and choose small steps that help us feel a bit more okay.
• what internalised pressure means and why it matters for nervous system regulation
• why stress responses are meant to be short bursts, not a constant state
• how external pressures differ from unconscious inner demands
• perfectionism in recovery and how helpful practices become overscheduled
• self-criticism, shame spirals and the idea of mental self-harm
• stepping out of comparison culture and fear-driven fixing
• learning to tolerate not knowing and loosening the need for control
• using tiny actions and body-based cues to reduce overwhelmLinks:
Connect with Amy: https://amydavies.co.uk/
Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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211 - Nora Rodden - What If Your Symptoms Are A Signal, Not A Sentence
Nora shares her journey from years of back pain, gut troubles, and crushing insomnia to a calm, steady baseline by retraining a sensitised nervous system. Her story blends science, practical tools, and honest …
Show notes
Nora shares her journey from years of back pain, gut troubles, and crushing insomnia to a calm, steady baseline by retraining a sensitised nervous system. Her story blends science, practical tools, and honest moments of fear, relapse, and quiet wins.
• linking pain, GI symptoms and insomnia through fear-based conditioning
• what "psychophysiologic symptom relief therapy" taught her
• outcome independence and reducing sleep pressure
• practical insomnia steps using soothing phrases and data
• gentle exposure to feared foods and spotting inconsistent triggers
• expressive writing and creative outlets to access emotion
• personalising tools rather than copying blueprints
• measuring progress by life, not daily symptom scores
• maintenance habits to stay well and handle flares
• redefining success as wise interpretation of body signalsLinks:
Nervana app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nervana-chronic-symptom-coach/id6754898332
Back pain study (2021): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34589642/
Books mentioned: Scarcity Brain by Michael Easter & The F*ck It Diet by Caroline Dooner
Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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210 - Roddy Schrock - Old Medicine for a New World: Is It Time to Revisit Homeopathy?
I talk with board-certified homeopath Roddy Schrock about what homeopathy is and why it can appeal to people recovery from Long Covid, ME/CFS and other complex, hard-to-explain symptoms. We dig into symptoms as …
Show notes
I talk with board-certified homeopath Roddy Schrock about what homeopathy is and why it can appeal to people recovery from Long Covid, ME/CFS and other complex, hard-to-explain symptoms. We dig into symptoms as messages, the power of deep listening, and how homeopathy can sit alongside Western medicine as one piece of a bigger recovery puzzle.
• Roddy’s path from chronic pain and insomnia to studying classical homeopathy
• Homeopathy as an energetic intervention and why the full symptom picture matters
• Dilution and succussion and what “gentle” treatment means in practice
• Using how you feel as a primary marker of progress
• Creating space to be heard as part of healing
• Working alongside GPs and specialists rather than replacing them
• A real-world case example with fatigue, migraines, cycle disruption and inflammation markers
• Avoiding protocol-driven Facebook advice and choosing a trained practitioner
• First steps including research and trusted sources like the Homeopathic Research InstituteLinks:
Homeopathy Research Institute: https://www.hri-research.org
Find Roddy's website at: ultradilute.com
And his substack at: https://ultradilute.substack.comMessage 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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209 - Beyond Lying Down: What Rest Really Means in Recovery
In this solo episode, Jackie Baxter unpacks what rest really is during Long Covid and ME/CFS recovery—and why simply lying down often doesn’t feel restorative. She reframes the struggle to rest as your body’s …
Show notes
In this solo episode, Jackie Baxter unpacks what rest really is during Long Covid and ME/CFS recovery—and why simply lying down often doesn’t feel restorative. She reframes the struggle to rest as your body’s way of protecting you, not failing you, and introduces the idea of “banking energy for healing”.
Jackie explores the different types of rest we need—physical, mental, sensory, emotional, social, creative, and nervous system rest—and how safety cues and nervous system regulation make deeper rest possible. She shares practical tools like soft exhales, visual anchors, contact points, sound cues, micro rests, pre-emptive rest, and co-regulation with supportive people or pets.
The episode closes with a gentle grounding and rest practice and affirmations to help you feel just a little softer, safer, and more present—one small step at a time.
LINKS:
- Yoga Nidra (voice only): https://insig.ht/p11in6GLO1b
- Yoga Nidra (with music): https://insig.ht/ryTWpwOLO1b
- Yoga Nidra (nature sounds): https://insig.ht/qGIWLqKLO1b- Opal app for screen time: https://www.opal.so/
- Work with me page: https://www.longcovidpodcast.com/workwithme
- The 2 practises in this episode can be found with background music on Insight Timer:
- 2 Minute Safety Cue (with music): https://insig.ht/DO2f3U7LO1b
- Rest without Guilt - A Compassionate Pause (with music): https://insig.ht/LkTy9ifMO1bMessage 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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208 - From ME/CFS to a Full Life: A Mother’s Perspective on Her Son’s Recovery
Clare shares how her son went from a viral crash at thirteen to full, active living through pacing, autonomic nervous system retraining, and Mickel Therapy. We trace the medical dead ends, the messy middle, and …
Show notes
Clare shares how her son went from a viral crash at thirteen to full, active living through pacing, autonomic nervous system retraining, and Mickel Therapy. We trace the medical dead ends, the messy middle, and the simple joy‑based habits that tipped him into lasting recovery.
• early sensitivity shaped by stress and frequent infections
• onset at secondary school, loss of attendance and friends
• visible and invisible symptoms including brain fog and dizziness
• NHS pathway, helpful GP, limits of NICE‑aligned care
• colour‑coded pacing and activity management to 40 percent
• ANS Rewire lifting function to about 80 percent
• relapse at university, boundaries and motivation to recover
• Mickel Therapy linking emotions, boundaries and symptoms
• play, novelty and joy as daily nervous system tools
• caregiver strain, what to skip, what to double down on
• life beyond illness with work, travel and climbingClare's Facebook Group for parents of children with Long Covid, ME/CFS:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Ch4nxkujg/?mibextid=wwXIfrMessage 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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207 - Dr Nathan Keiser - Stop Chasing Labels, Start Fixing Mechanisms
We explore a mechanism-first approach to Long Covid & ME/CFS, shifting from labels to measurable neural and vascular bottlenecks that can be retrained. We share how to use dose, recovery, and sleep …
Show notes
We explore a mechanism-first approach to Long Covid & ME/CFS, shifting from labels to measurable neural and vascular bottlenecks that can be retrained. We share how to use dose, recovery, and sleep consolidation to build capacity through precise, small inputs that compound over time.
• reframing diagnosis as a map to mechanisms, not a label
• why cerebral perfusion and autoregulation drive symptoms
• concussion lessons that translate to Long Covid recovery
• structural vascular traps and simple tests that reveal them
• pacing versus targeted micro dosing for plasticity
• using DIY tools as experiments with clear signals
• breathing, CO2 balance, and baroreflex sensitivity
• reading feedback, spotting plateaus, shifting bottlenecks
• linking progress to recovery capacity rather than feelingsLinks:
https://www.youtube.com/@dockeiser
Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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206 - Ashley's Recovery Story: I Stopped Pushing, Listened To My Body, And Started To Heal
We share Ashley’s journey from bedbound to rebuilding a joyful life, showing how belief, somatic work, and gentle pacing opened a path out of long COVID. The body is not the enemy; safety, connection, and …
Show notes
We share Ashley’s journey from bedbound to rebuilding a joyful life, showing how belief, somatic work, and gentle pacing opened a path out of long COVID. The body is not the enemy; safety, connection, and consistent practice turn symptoms from threat to guidance.
• fast pre‑illness life and early warning signs
• collapse after pushing through infection and isolation
• lack of medical answers and disbelief from clinicians
• finding recovery stories and protecting hope
• moving from trigger‑hunting to nervous system healing
• brain retraining, visualisations, somatic practices and EFT
• pacing within a true window of tolerance
• progress through consistency and self‑compassion
• redefining recovery, processing trauma and shifting limits
• life rebuilt with nature, community, creativity and workLinks:
Connect with Ashley: www.embodimentwithashley.co.uk
Message 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)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 merch
Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.comFollow 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**Chapters
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205 - Nadyne McKie: When Care Becomes Co‑Regulation And Recovery
We look squarely at the invisible load of caring for people with Long Covid and ME/CFS, why carers’ nervous systems shape recovery, and how boundaries and communication protect both sides. We share clear …
Show notes
We look squarely at the invisible load of caring for people with Long Covid and ME/CFS, why carers’ nervous systems shape recovery, and how boundaries and communication protect both sides. We share clear, humane steps that reduce burnout and build co‑regulation at home.
• Defining the carer role across partners, parents and adult children
• Why caring is invisible, isolating and exhausting
• Boundaries that prevent “fixing” and conflict
• Fluctuating illness, hypervigilance and control
• Co‑regulation and why a calm carer accelerates recovery
• Practical resets that aren’t a self‑care to‑do list
• Sharing the care, advocacy and admin load
• Vicarious trauma in carers and how to spot it
• Simple communication that honours both sets of needs
• Giving and receiving grace while recovery unfoldsLinks:
Connect with Nadyne: https://nadynemckie.co.uk/how-I-can-help-you
Our previous episodes:
"Embracing Kindness" https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/15968082
"Empowering through Compassion & Play" https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/16104655
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For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com
(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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**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**Chapters
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