This EndoLife

This episode isn't technically an episode - there's no guest, no hour long interview. Instead, it's me explaining why there's a slight break in episodes and how it has a lot to do with my mental health.

This episode isn't technically an episode - there's no guest, no hour long interview. Instead, it's me explaining why there's a slight break in episodes and how it has a lot to do with my mental health.

I've toyed with the idea of not putting this out there because it's a real life recording of real life depression and anxiety, but part of me felt it was important for people to hear this and for others to know they're not alone.

Also, I said I wasn't going to edit this episode - but I couldn't do it. The swallows and the sniffs from crying are edited, mainly because they annoyed the hell out of me.

But other than that, this is the one where I get really, really real.

You might remember Paige from an interview I did with her last year, recently after the launch of her podcast The Uterus and The Duderus. Paige is the Uterus half of the show; and she shares her life with endometriosis (and advocates for women everywhere) with her co-host and best friend Nik. On top of that, she also has a YouTube channel; Fireside Chats with The Uterus, which is about the spiritual, mental and emotional side of living with endometriosis and other chronic diseases.

In this episode, Paige and I discuss her recent diagnosis with adrenal fatigue, her intense struggles with chronic migraines and her upcoming surgery, plus the link between endometriosis and chronic migraine syndrome. We also get real geeky about the universe, mindfulness, and changing your mind set around chronic illness and your health; plus we crush out on Gabby Bernstein and chat hormonal acne.

This one is a roller coaster - it's emotional, painful but Paige's positivity, persistence and resilience shine through. She is a truly inspiring woman.

 

Show Notes

The Uterus and The Duderus

Fireside Chats

Gabby Bernstein

Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms

Adrenal Fatigue Causes

Let's get social! Come say hello on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or sign up to my newsletter.

You might remember Paige from an interview I did with her last year, recently after the launch of her podcast The Uterus and The Duderus. Paige is the Uterus half of the show; and she shares her life with endometriosis (and advocates for women everywhere) with her co-host and best friend Nik. On top of that, she also has a YouTube channel; Fireside Chats with The Uterus, which is about the spiritual, mental and emotional side of living with endometriosis and other chronic diseases.

Saschan Fearon-Josephs is the founder of The Womb Room and event series; Real Talk. The Womb Room is an online digital space, which Saschan is currently re-developing, to become a network where women can get access to information, professionals and communities - all related to reproductive issues. The Real Talk series is a 12 month period of events taking this digital space and making it a physical reality, with guest speakers, workshops and an opportunity to connect with other women.

We talk about Saschan's painful and courageous story of diagnosis; not with just endometriosis, but fibroids, uterine polyps and adenomyosis, and the experiences that has inspired her to start The Womb Room. We also talk about how women from BME communities are more likely to suffer with specific reproductive health issues yet receive the least support medically and socially, and what needs to be done to provide services to hard to reach communities and how Saschan is doing that through The Womb Room.

This conversation, to me, is one of the most important conversations I’ve had so far on the podcast – Saschan is full of knowledge, wisdom and experience and I think we can all learn from what she has to share.

Show Notes

The Womb Room

The Womb Room Facebook

Dermoid Cysts

Experiments on black communities and racism in reproductive health references:

https://www.cdc.gov/tuskegee/timeline.htm

http://jme.bmj.com/content/medethics/19/1/28.full.pdf

http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/85scf7fe9780252008740.html

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160932714200202

http://time.com/4081760/margaret-sanger-history-eugenics/

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/23/margaret-sanger-founded-planned-parenthood-on-raci/

 

Saschan Fearon-Josephs is the founder of The Womb Room and event series; Real Talk. The Womb Room is an online digital space, which Saschan is currently re-developing, to become a network where women can get access to information, professionals and communities - all related to reproductive issues. The Real Talk series is a 12 month period of events taking this digital space and making it a physical reality, with guest speakers, workshops and an opportunity to connect with other women.

In episode 9 I'm talking with Anoushka Florence Loftus of The Goddess Space. The Goddess Space is a beautiful physical and digital sanctuary for women to gather together, to get in touch with their mind, body and spirit and tap into their own wisdom, desires and guidance. Anoushka holds workshops where women can feel empowered to not only share their story but find their story, and her work varies from 1:1 sessions, to workshops, retreats and even woodland walks.

Anoushka and I cover a lot of ground in this episode! We get into the complex areas of politics, gender roles and equality and how the election of Donald Trump has seen women rise up and speak out. We also explore the mystical and spiritual world of Anoushka's work; from getting in touch with your inner Goddess, to using tarot, crystals and astrology to support you in your life.

Whilst it may sound hippy, I'm a firm believer that we all should have the right to heal and find happiness in any way that feels right to us (as long as it's not harmful to us or others of course) and a spiritual path can be one of them. Living with endometriosis, or other forms of chronic pain, illness or mental health issues can have such a huge impact on our well-being and sometimes getting in touch with our spirit/soul/inner-self/subconscious can be incredibly powerful, clarifying and comforting.

Great change can happen when we take the time to listen to what our inner-self is trying to tell us and Anoushka has developed an incredible safe space to allow that transformation to take place.

 

Show Notes

The Goddess Space

The Goddess Space Instagram

How To Create Your Own Sacred Space

Anoushka's Wise Woman Teacher

Let's get social! Come say hello on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook 

In episode 9 I'm talking with Anoushka Florence Loftus of The Goddess Space. The Goddess Space is a beautiful physical and digital sanctuary for women to gather together, to get in touch with their mind, body and spirit and tap into their own wisdom, desires and guidance. Anoushka holds workshops where women can feel empowered to not only share their story but find their story, and her work varies from 1:1 sessions, to workshops, retreats and even woodland walks.

This week on This EndoLife Podcast, I'm talking to herbalist, Natasha Richardson, founder of the gorgeous Forage Botanicals.

Forage Botanicals is all about supporting women to have better periods, through herbal medicine and other natural methods of self-care. Natasha has suffered with primary dysmenorrhea for nine years and during this time, she's gone on a journey of trying to mange her pain through herbal and natural remedies and more conventional treatments, like metamorphic acid. As a result of her experiences, her research into the history of women's health and the stories of her clients, Natasha has tailored Forage Botanicals to help women feel empowered about their cycle, to help them to really understand it, work with it and reduce the negative symptoms of conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids and PMS.

In this episode, we're talking about why society rejects women's natural hormonal rhythm, how to use our hormones to our own benefit, how natural treatments can help manage endometriosis and why you shouldn't feel guilty for taking a painkiller!

Natasha has also kindly offered £100 off her The Joyful Period course with discount code: ENDOLIFE. All you have to do is type in ENDOLIFE at the check out to receive your discount. PLEASE NOTE THIS COURSE IS AVAILABLE IN EUROPE ONLY. If you really would like to attend the course but live outside of Europe, please email Natasha via her website and she may be able to arrange something.

Show Notes

Forage Botanicals

The Joyful Period Course

Free Endometriosis and Adenomyosis Guide

Let's get social! Come say hi on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!

If you'd like extra 1:1 support with endometriosis, my mentoring and coaching sessions may be helpful to you. Always feel free to drop me an email with any questions.

This week on This EndoLife Podcast, I'm talking to herbalist, Natasha Richardson, founder of the gorgeous Forage Botanicals.

Forage Botanicals is all about supporting women to have better periods, through herbal medicine and other natural methods of self-care.