Invisible Illnesses

“In terms of our health, I think it becomes about knowing what we need to let go of at this particular point in time. So if our symptoms are such that we can’t operate in the way we used to, we can either wish for things to be the way they were or we can process the ending and become more proactive and positive about how things are now”  We’ve reached the final episode of season one, and we’r...

“There are definitely people who are on the same trajectory I was on; where you learn to value your own success through your achievements. But you come to a point where you can’t just keep striving and striving and striving, you just burn out. For high performers, it can be really hard to let go of that model, once it becomes clear it’s no longer sustainable.” In the penultimate episode of our ser...

“What we find is that often the patient is working as hard as they can, pushing through, so trying to get them to work harder isn’t helpful. We use approaches like Acceptance Commitment Therapy and  Compassion Focused Therapy; often the key ingredient that’s missing is self compassion.”  We’re now at Episode 6 in our eight-part series. In this instalment, we reconnect with Dr Tony Davies...

“If we think of our bodies in terms of a computer, for me it’s about hardware and software problems. Hardware problems are where the components of our body can be broken, worn out and replaced. Doctors love hardware problems. But, like a computer, most of our health problems are software problems; it’s the operating system - communications between all of the parts of our body. There is no single p...

"What do I do differently in order to stay upright? There’s no silver bullet. One of the main things is acceptance that I can’t do all of the things I used to do. Also getting comfortable in asking for and accepting help”  We’re now at Episode 4 in our eight-part series. In this follow-up to Episode 3, Dr Stephen Ward-Booth and I reconnect with Ciaran to reflect on his story, exploring the pr...

In Episode 3, Stevie and I sit down with Ciaran Willcocks, who candidly shares his experience with functional illness and recovery, starting from the upheaval of 2020. His honest, relatable account sheds light on how doing too much - at work AND at home - can take its toll, and what we can all learn from this story.  We believe Ciaran’s story will resonate with anyone facing invisible illness...

In this episode, Alex shares his healthcare story with co-host Stephen Ward-Booth, telling the story about how he ended up stuck in a loop with his health after suffering from Covid. They discuss how this story is more common than you'd think; where short-term illness can become long-term syndromes. Steve gives some detail about how it overlaps with patients he has seen in the past and gives some...

Discover the hidden world of invisible illness. Hosts Alex and Dr Stephen Ward-Booth explore why so many suffer real symptoms without clear test results, bust myths about pain and stigma, and share practical ways to feel better. This trailer gives you an initial overview of what the series will be about.  Listen in for insight—not medical advice. Music: Stephen Ward-Booth

Episode 1: What Are Invisible Illnesses? Alex Ward-Booth speaks with Dr Stephen Ward-Booth, an experienced GP, to uncover why so many people have real symptoms, like pain or fatigue, without any abnormal test results. They discuss what “functional illness” means, why it’s often missed in medicine, and how understanding mind-body connections can lead to better support and practical solutions. Essen...