The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast

Why ME/CFS Isn’t Just Tiredness: A Psychologist Breaks It Down


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ME/CFS isn’t just tiredness, it’s a life-changing, often misunderstood neurological condition that impacts everything from mobility and cognition to emotional wellbeing. In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr Beth Godwin shares her powerful lived experience with ME/CFS, including how it affected her career, identity, and day-to-day life. We discuss spoon theory, post-exertional malaise, pacing, and how to offer meaningful support to those living with chronic fatigue. Whether you’re a psychologist, aspiring psych, or someone navigating illness yourself, this episode is an honest, compassionate guide to understanding ME/CFS better.

#chronicfatiguesyndrome #MECFS #PostViralFatigue #MentalHealthPodcast

Whether you’re a psychologist, aspiring professional, friend, or someone navigating chronic illness, this episode is a must-listen.

⏱️ Timestamps:

  • 00:00 – What is ME/CFS and what does it affect?
  • 04:16 – Long COVID vs ME stigma
  • 06:47 – Identity loss and emotional grief
  • 08:14 – Perfectionism, pressure, and post-viral burnout
  • 13:57 – What a bad day with ME/CFS might look like
  • 17:20 – The emotional toll of having to cancel plans
  • 19:55 – How to support someone living with ME/CFS
  • 22:46 – Can aspiring psychologists train with this condition?
  • 24:44 – Spoon theory and pacing explained
  • 30:49 – What not to do: graded exercise therapy
  • 33:18 – Life after diagnosis: how Beth reshaped her career
  • 36:17 – Free resources and where to follow Beth

Links:

📚Grab your free Diet Culture Guide:

https://lifeforeverybody.co.uk/dietcultureguide

& Connect with Dr Beth here:

📲 https://www.facebook.com/share/1ByzRm4Rxp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.instagram.com/life_for_every_body?igsh=MXFhOGx1a3A3bXlsdA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-beth-godwin-155562175?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

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📱Connect socially with Marianne and check out ways to work with her, including the Aspiring Psychologist Book, Clinical Psychologist book and The Aspiring Psychologist Membership on her Link tree: https://linktr.ee/drmariannetrent

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The Aspiring Psychologist PodcastBy Dr Marianne Trent