http://Livewellwithchronicillness.co.uk/

Live Well With Chronic Illness, Stamford (2026)

03/09/2026

There's an important difference between paying attention to your body and becoming trapped in hypervigilance.

Awareness says:

"I'm noticing that my energy is lower today."

“That’s curious, I wonder what my body needs”

Hypervigilance says:

"Something terrible must be happening."

“I must be getting worse”

Awareness helps us identify patterns, and useful information that supports us.

Hypervigilance keeps us constantly searching for danger, and trapped in fear and anxiety.

One is rooted in curiosity.

The other is rooted in fear.

When you've been unwell for a long time, that fear is completely understandable. Your body has a habit of giving you nasty surprised, so of course you want to stay one step ahead.

But I've learned that we can take better care of ourselves and our health when we don’t live on high alert all the time.

This is a real balance, and it takes practice.

But the kindest thing we can do for ourselves is notice what our body is telling us without immediately assuming the worst.

[Image Description: The graphic is split into two. On the left hand side is a tabby cat staring ahead confidently. On the right hand side is one peaking around the corner of the wall, watching. The text reads "Awareness VS Hypervigilance". On bottom left is handle and right is the logo.]

01/09/2026

Living with chronic illness often turns us into detectives.

We become experts at analysing everything.

What did I eat?

Did I overdo it yesterday?

Was it the weather?

Was it stress?

Why do I suddenly feel worse today?

When I first became ill, I was on red alert all the time, analysing absolutely everything.

When symptoms are unpredictable, it’s normal, and necessary, that we start searching for answers. We want to understand what's happening so we can prevent the next flare.

The problem is that, over time, constant monitoring can become exhausting, and also counterproductive.

Without realising it, we can end up spending our lives waiting for something to go wrong and living in a state of constant ‘fight or flight’.

Learning about our bodies is important. It is very important to learn what your triggers are, and understand how to manage your condition.

But living in fear is something very different. That’s not a healthy place to be.

And it’s so easy to get caught out, and slip from one into the other.

Over the next few posts, I’m going to be exploring that difference, because it's one of the things I see happening most in my clients, and one of the things that I think is the biggest trap when we live with illness.

Image Description: [On a purple background sits a magnifying glass. Text reads "Are you living in detective mode... Or are you living in fear?" In bottom left corner is and bottom right the logo.]

27/08/2026

As I prepare to take a break over the next couple of months, I've had to remind myself that stepping back isn’t giving up.

Sometimes it can feel like that, but actually it’s an investment.

I’m choosing to spend my time, energy and attention on the one thing that makes everything else possible – my health.

I don't know exactly what the next few months will bring.

I am feeling nervous and a little bit afraid, which is understandable and normal.

I’m really hoping that the treatment helps.

I hope my body responds to it well.

But there is no way of knowing how it will go. It is a complete step into the unknown for me, and I know that many of you will be familiar with that feeling.

But whatever happens, I know that ignoring what my body needs has never served me well.

I know that I need to take notice of the fact that my body is struggling, and I need to do something about it. And that means I have had to make some difficult decisions.

If you're living with chronic illness, you might have found yourself waiting until life becomes less busy before you start putting yourself first. The ‘right time’ to take a break, to do the things that you know, deep down, you really need to do.

But the right time never comes.

The permission you've been waiting for has to come from you.

You don't have to earn the right to rest. You don't have to justify taking care of yourself.

And sometimes the most courageous thing we can do is stop.

As I prepare to ‘stop’ for a while, I’m going to be reminding myself of this every day.

I'd love to know in the comments: If you had complete freedom to do one thing for your own health, what would you choose to do?

Image Description: [A beautiful landscape photograph of a sunrise coming over a mountain by a lake sits on the background. The text in the centre reads "Only you can give yourself permission to rest... Grant it." In the middle is the Live Well With Chronic Illness logo and in the bottom left the handle.]

25/08/2026

Self-care has become a bit of a buzzword.

It often brings to mind spa days, scented candles and luxurious baths.

And while there's nothing wrong with those things if you like them, that's rarely what self-care actually needs to look like when you're living with chronic illness.

Self care is actually much more about saying no. Setting boundaries. It can look like cancelling plans when you recognise your body doesn’t have capacity today.

It can look like preparing a very quick and simple meal because that's all you have the energy for today.

Sometimes it can look like asking for help, which is often the hardest thing.

It’s listening to our body, to ourselves, and making difficult choices each day that actually support our health and wellbeing, rather than constantly doing things that feel easy, but are actually depleting us.

Resting when you feel tired. Switching off your phone and giving yourself permission to not be disturbed.

Letting the washing or the housework wait until tomorrow. Or the next day.

Real self-care isn't always comfortable or easy. These choices sometimes mean not doing things we really want to do. Or doing things we don’t want to do. Sometimes, it feels really horrible to have to say no to something important to us. And sometimes it disappoints other people, which feels even worse.

It requires choosing what your body needs over what your inner critic is demanding.

To observe real self-care, we have to challenge the expectations that others have of us, and also the expectations we've placed on ourselves.

But if we continually ignore what our body needs, eventually our body finds a way to make itself heard.

Mindfulness is about listening to what we need before we reach that point, and it’s one of the most important things we can do when we live with pain and illness.

What does your body need from you today? Let me know in the comments below. 👇

Image description: [Deb, a fair skinned woman with brown curly hair has her left hand placed gently on a tree as she looks to the right thoughtfully. She is wearing a floral navy top and a light pink cardigan. The text reads "Self-care is listening to your body". In the bottom left is her handle and the bottom right is her logo.]

20/08/2026

One of the biggest changes I've made since becoming ill is letting go of the idea that everything has to be perfect.

When I first became ill, I decided I was going to ‘cure’ myself by adopting the perfect diet. I rushed out and bought loads of fruits and veg and ‘healthy’ foods, and made myself much worse!

I also was determined that I was going to ‘cure’ myself by finding the perfect supplement regime. I spent hundreds of pounds on supplements, and they all made me worse!

I was constantly searching for ‘the perfect’ treatment plan.

Now, I know better, although that wisdom was hard won!

I now understand that good health is usually made through hundreds of small daily choices that gradually support the body over time.

Short practices that release stress.

Drinking enough water.

Supporting gut health.

Opening the curtains and getting some morning light.

Going to bed a little earlier.

Choosing foods that support the body with nourishment.

Prioritising sleeping and rest.

Spending a few minutes outside in nature, breathing deeply.

Doing something that feels joyful and fun.

None of these things seem dramatic. They don’t feel like the ‘perfect cure’.

But most important thing is that they signal to the body ‘I am taking care of you, you are safe.’

This is one of the key principles that sits at the heart of my Health Discovery Framework. Repairing the relationship between us and our bodies, and working together as a team to support our health.

Rather than searching endlessly for one magic thing that will fix everything, I help my clients to make small changes that gradually strengthen the foundations that support their health.

During my period of enforced rest in the coming months, I shall be going back to basics myself and focusing on supporting these fundamental areas in my own life. I know that that’s the best way that I can support myself through this treatment.

Tell me in the comments: What would one small act of kindness towards yourself look like today?

Image Description: [Tiny white flowers sit on a transparent purple background. There's text that reads "What small act of kindness are you showing yourself today". Underneath is a line broken by a star, and the handle. The graphic also showcases the logo.]

18/08/2026

Sometimes self-care is dismissed as being a bit fluffy.

Something nice to do if we have the time.

But for many people living with chronic illness, self-care is not an optional extra.

It's the most essential part of looking after our health.

Research has shown that chronic stress can affect our nervous system, our sleep, our immune system and increase inflammation.

We also know that practices such as mindfulness can improve emotional wellbeing, reduce perceived stress and help people cope more effectively with long term health conditions.

That doesn't mean mindfulness on its own cures illness.

It certainly hasn’t ‘cured’ me of Lyme Disease!

But helping our nervous system spend less time in survival mode and more time feeling safe is not wasted effort.

My work teaching Mindfulness to people living with chronic illness is not about finding a miracle cure.

It's about helping people create the best possible conditions to support their health.

Sometimes that means eating the right foods, sometimes it means relaxation, sometimes it means improving our sleep a little bit, sometimes it means reducing toxins and environmental stressors. .

And sometimes it means giving ourselves permission to rest.

None of these things are magic cures. But when they are all put together they all add up. Just 1% improvement in each of these areas can make a big difference in how we feel.

I’m going to be leaning into my mindfulness practices to support me during this period of enforced rest and medical treatment, because I know that I will find it hard, I will feel guilty, I will feel frustrated. These are normal human emotions. But I know that it’s the right thing to do for my body, and if I can stay present with that wisdom, I know it will help me through.

I'd love to know in the comments below, how do you practice self-care?

Image description for accessibility: [Deborah, a fair skinned woman with dark, wavy hair is wearing a floral top with a pink cardigan over it. She is looking upward thoughtfully against a purple background with the headline "Self-care is part of Healthcare" in blue, pink and green captivating font.
On the bottom left is the handle , and the bottom right the matching logo. ]

11/08/2026

We Can't Outwork Our Biology 🧬

In my previous post, I started to explore how we live in a culture that celebrates pushing through, and that can make resting feel hard.

Society values working harder, doing more, being endlessly productive.

But chronic illness has a way of exposing the limits of that way of living.

I've learned that my body doesn't respond well to pressure.

It responds much better to safety.

To rest.

To nourishment.

To kindness.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you will know that one of the themes I often talk about is nervous system regulation.

When our nervous system is constantly receiving the message that we must keep pushing despite exhaustion, pain or illness, our body remains focused on survival rather than repair, and that can make things worse.

By that, I don’t mean that resting magically cures chronic illness. Of course not (if only!)

But it does mean that resting creates the conditions in which the body feels safer, and when we feel safe, it may support our body to heal and be as well as it can be.

I try not to ask myself "How much more can I get done today?"

Instead, I try to ask,

"What does my body need from me today?"

The answer isn't always what I want to hear.

But it is usually what I need to hear.

I'd love to know in the comments, how can you listen to your body today?

Image Description for accessibility: [A faded purple close up shot of a person sitting cross legged with their arm on their leg. You cannot see their face or features. To the top right it reads "What does my body need today?" in green and blue text. In the centre is the Live Well with Chronic Illness logo. In the bottom left it has the handle for ]

06/08/2026

Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to rest?

Not because you don't need it. Your body is desperately crying out for it!

But because you feel guilty.

In my last post, I shared that I’ve planned some time away from work to focus on some treatment. And as I’ve been putting those plans in place, I've been reflecting on this a lot.

It's interesting how quickly my mind started producing thoughts like:

"I should just keep going, I shouldn’t let people down."

"I can’t rest until everything is finished."

"Perhaps it’s lazy or indulgent to take so much time off.”

“Will people think badly of me?”

Most of us were never taught that looking after ourselves was important.

We were taught to work hard.

To be productive.

To help other people.

To keep pushing.

Anything less was ‘lazy’, and rest was ‘frivolous’.

So when illness forces us to slow down, it can feel deeply uncomfortable. I know that feeling all too well – and it has definitely reared it’s head as I’ve been planning my enforced break.

But I am lucky that I now know better! Mindfulness has taught me that just because I have a thought doesn't mean it's true.

Feeling guilty doesn't necessarily mean I'm doing something wrong. That’s been a really hard lesson to learn.

But sometimes, guilt comes from challenging an old belief, going against an old, deeply ingrained pattern. That can feel very difficult to begin with.

And we all have these deeply ingrained patterns that ‘I must keep going’. ‘My needs don’t matter’. ‘My worth depends on how much I achieve.’

That last one really hits hard, doesn’t it?! I still struggle so much with letting go of defining my worth by how much I’ve achieved. By how much I’ve ticked off the ‘to do’ list today.

But I have learned that real self-care begins when we start to question those old beliefs and patterns, instead of automatically obeying them.

Because the truth is, my value, and your value, has never depended on how busy we are, how rich we are, or how much we have achieved.

As I enter this period of extended enforced rest, I am once again having to confront that demon head-on, and recognise that I still have worth, and value, even if I am ‘only resting’.

I'd love to know in the comments below: What are you postponing because you’re putting other people’s needs first?

04/08/2026

One of the hardest lessons chronic illness has taught me is that sometimes the healthiest thing we can do for ourselves is stop.

That’s why, over the next couple of months, I'll be taking a step back from my business to focus on my own health. I have been advised to start more intensive treatment for Lyme Disease as it has spread and is causing some health issues. While I am undergoing this treatment, I am going to need to rest and allow my body to heal.

This has been a huge blow, as I’m sure you can imagine, after 9 long years of slow, painstaking recovery.

If I'm being honest, making this decision to pause my business wasn’t easy.

Like many people living with chronic illness, my instinct is to keep going. To keep seeing my clients, to push myself to keep going. To keep showing up for everyone else. Not to ‘let anyone down.’

But over the years I've also learned the hard way that pushing through isn't always the right option. While it might feel ‘productive’, brave even, sometimes it’s not what it appears.

Sometimes that need to push through is being driven by fear. Fear of what people will think of us. Fear of falling behind. Fear that if we stop, everything we've worked so hard to build will disappear.

One of the things I teach my clients is that our health has to come first. Not because work isn't important, but because without our health, everything else becomes so much harder.

So this feels like an opportunity from the ‘Universe’ (or whatever you believe in!) to practise what I teach.

I'm not disappearing completely, but I am giving myself permission to slow down, to focus on my treatment, and to allow my body the time and space it needs.

If you're living with chronic illness, perhaps this is your reminder too.

Sometimes you have to put your health and your needs first, and let go of the need to keep pushing.

Let me know in the comments below: What is the hardest decision you’ve had to make to protect your health? 💜

Image Description: [A lime green ribbon lays on a green background... In purple text, it reads "The hard decisions". In the centre is the Live Well With Chronic Illness logo. On the bottom left it has the handle for LiveWellWithChronicIllness ]

30/07/2026

Plastic-Free July: Progress Over Perfection 💚

As we come to the end of Plastic-Free July, I hope one message has come through more strongly than anything else.

This isn't about fear.

It’s about being empowered to make informed choices.

It's not about becoming obsessed with every piece of plastic that crosses your path.

It's about making thoughtful choices where they're realistic, sustainable and right for you.

Throughout this month we've talked about kitchens, bathrooms, hidden plastics, affordable swaps and the science that's helping us understand more about our environment.

The research into endocrine-disrupting chemicals, microplastics and the exposome continues to evolve, and we certainly don't have all the answers.

But we know enough to recognise that reducing unnecessary exposures, where we reasonably can, is a sensible precaution.

The beautiful thing is that many of the habits that reduce plastic exposure often support healthier living too.

🥗 Cooking fresh wholefoods.

🚰 Drinking from a reusable water bottle.

🌿 Choosing durable materials that last.

💚 Living a little more intentionally.

For me, that's what Plastic-Free July is about.

Not perfection.

Not guilt.

Just small, thoughtful choices that support both our health and the world around us.

Because our health isn't created by one dramatic change.

It's shaped by the little things we do consistently over time.

Thank you for following along this month. I hope it's shown you that you don't have to change everything overnight to make a difference.

Just start where you are.

Use what you have.

Swap things one at a time.

And remember...

Small swaps. Kind choices. No perfection required. 💚

Live Well With Chronic Illness

03/09/2026

01/09/2026

27/08/2026

25/08/2026

20/08/2026

18/08/2026

11/08/2026

06/08/2026

04/08/2026

30/07/2026

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