What does “flow” mean when your body has other plans?

We hear athletes at the Winter Olympics talk about being “in the zone” - moments where time disappears, movement feels effortless, and everything just clicks. But for people living with chronic health conditions, those versions of flow can feel distant, lost, or even painful to hear about.

In this episode of But You Look So Good, Sally and Seona explore the psychology of flow and gently reimagine what it can look like in a chronically ill body. We talk about the kinds of flow many people had access to before diagnosis - sport, dance, intensity, productivity - and how flow often changes shape after illness.

This isn’t about pushing through or getting back to who you were. It’s about noticing quieter moments of absorption: listening to music, cooking a familiar meal, being fully present with someone you trust. Flow doesn’t disappear — it adapts. And sometimes, it meets us exactly where we are.

Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠

Who stays, who fades, and how to grieve that (and come out the other side).

Friendships can be for a reason, a season or for a lifetime.  Living with a chronic health condition can make navigating friendships seem more difficult sometimes.

Chronic illness doesn’t just change bodies - it changes relationships. In this episode, we explore what happens to friendships after diagnosis: why some deepen, why some drift, and how to cope with both the loss and the evolution. 

We talk about expectations, boundaries, reciprocity, and the quiet grief that isn’t always acknowledged. This is for everyone who’s ever wondered, “Why don’t they call anymore?”

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠

We often talk about diet, movement and medication when it comes to health - but what about where we spend our time?

In this episode, we explore blue spaces (oceans, rivers, lakes) and green spaces (parks, forests, gardens) and why time in nature isn’t just “nice” - it’s genuinely good for our physical and mental wellbeing.

With a particular focus on people living with chronic health conditions, we unpack how nature can support nervous system regulation, reduce stress, improve mood, and offer connection - even when capacity is limited.

This isn’t about hiking mountains or doing more. It’s about noticing what helps — and finding gentle, accessible ways to bring nature into your life.

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠

In this episode, psychologists Sally and Seona unpack why so many people with chronic health conditions fall into people-pleasing, over-functioning, or peacekeeping roles — and the huge emotional and physical cost that comes with it.

We explore where these patterns come from (spoiler: childhood roles, culture, trauma, gender expectations, and fear of conflict), why they often intensify after a chronic illness diagnosis, and why shifting out of them feels both necessary and terrifying.

Most importantly, we talk about what healthier boundaries actually look like, how to start disappointing people in small, safe ways, and why reclaiming your energy is not selfish — it’s survival.

If you’ve ever found yourself saying yes when every fibre of your body was saying no… this one’s for you.

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠

In this re-released episode, Sally and Seona sit down with dietitian Marnie Nitschke to dig into the tricky relationship people with chronic health conditions often have with food. Marnie shares her expertise on balanced eating, myth-busting around specific diets, and why “one-size-fits-all” nutrition rarely works. They explore popular diets like anti-inflammatory and Mediterranean, discussing the value of an individualised approach and why a dietitian can be an essential part of your care team. Plus, Marnie tackles common food misconceptions and wraps up with a round of rapid-fire questions. A must-listen for practical advice and fresh insights!

Marnie Nitschke, Dietitian

https://www.forkthatnutrition.com/

Instagram @forkthatnutrition

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠

Re-release of this insightful and entertaining episode of But You Look So Good, Seona and Sally sit down with GP Melanie Tait, who brings a unique perspective as both a doctor and someone living with a chronic health condition. They dive into the often misunderstood dynamics of the GP-patient relationship, sharing tips on how to make the most of your GP visits, what to expect (and not expect) from your doctor, and why finding a great regular GP can make all the difference.

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠

In this episode, Sally and Seona unpack what introversion and extroversion really mean — and why understanding your social energy becomes even more important when you’re living with a chronic health condition.

They explore how chronic illness can change your social battery, why socialising may feel more draining or complicated than it used to, and how this isn’t a personal failing but a nervous system reality. The conversation offers language for guilt, grief, and shifting capacity, and practical ways to pace social connection more kindly.

Whether you need more solitude, crave connection but tire quickly, or feel caught between the two, this episode helps you better understand your energy, set gentler boundaries, and honour both who you are and what your body needs.

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠

As 2025 comes to a close, Sally and Seona invite you to pause, breathe, and reflect — gently. In this episode, they look back on the year that was and talk about why reflection can be especially meaningful (and complicated) for people living with chronic health conditions. Together, they explore how to acknowledge challenges, honour invisible effort, and make sense of change without slipping into self-blame or pressure.

The conversation then turns toward 2026, with a focus on setting intentions rather than rigid goals. Sally and Seona share their own reflections and intentions, and discuss how values-based, flexible intentions can better support fluctuating energy, health, and capacity.

This episode is a compassionate end-of-year check-in — a reminder that rest is productive, pausing is allowed, and growth doesn’t have to look loud or linear. Wherever you’re landing at the end of this year, you’re welcome here.

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠

In this re-released episode (recorded Christmas 2024), Seona and Sally delve into the whirlpool of the festive season, sharing personal anecdotes and exploring strategies to help you manage the stress and chaos of Christmas. From dealing with grief during the holidays to navigating the pressure of social expectations, they offer practical tips and psychological insights. Tune in for a candid discussion that prioritises connection over perfection, and learn how to create a joyful season, even amidst the holiday madness. Perfect for anyone looking to transform their Christmas from a time of endurance to a time of genuine enjoyment.

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠

As 2025 comes to a close, Sally and Seona invite you to pause, breathe, and reflect - gently. In this episode, they look back on the year that was and talk about why reflection can be especially meaningful (and complicated) for people living with chronic health conditions. Together, they explore how to acknowledge challenges, honour invisible effort, and make sense of change without slipping into self-blame or pressure.

The conversation then turns toward 2026, with a focus on setting intentions rather than rigid goals. Sally and Seona share their own reflections and intentions, and discuss how values-based, flexible intentions can better support fluctuating energy, health, and capacity.

This episode is a compassionate end-of-year check-in - a reminder that rest is productive, pausing is allowed, and growth doesn’t have to look loud or linear. Wherever you’re landing at the end of this year, you’re welcome here.

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠