Vi and Steph – on endometriosis and mental health.

Endometriosis is now recognised as a whole-body condition, not just a pelvic one – but discussions around how living with a chronic physical health condition can affect our mental health are still rare.

From being ignored, dismissed and gaslit to traumatic diagnosis stories and the ups and downs of learning to live with an incurable illness – we talk about how endo makes us feel “in ourselves”, as well as in our bodies.

As well as living with endo, Steph is also a clinical psychologist – and offers some thoughts on trying to access mental health support for coping with endo.

For more details on NHS talking therapies, see: https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/talking-therapies/

If you’d like to be in an episode of Endo Club, contact me at maryannemorgan@gmail.com.

Tasha and Meg – on finding and creating community for people with endometriosis.

Neither of them knew many people, in real life, who had endo. So Tasha set up a staff network within her organisation, for people with endometriosis and adenomyosis. It's a support group people living with the conditions – plus, as a collective, they are trying to raise awareness amongst colleagues, and improve working conditions for people living with chronic conditions.

Meg is using Instagram to connect with endo people around the world – check out her account: @endowithmeg.

In this episode, we swap advice for finding and connecting with others who have endo, and we talk about how to look after our own wellbeing whilst connecting with others in these communities.

Esh and Genevieve - swimming for chronic pain, mental health and social connection.

We all swim outside, all year round, in nature – as one way to try to cope with the impacts of endo.

In this episode, we discuss what it is we are trying to cope with: from cancelling plans and social isolation to the difficulties of finding and managing work whilst living with unpredictable health. We talk about identity and what it means to be disabled, plus the hidden costs of living with a chronic health condition.

Plus we talk about our shared love for swimming – and how cold water, and nature, makes living with endo that little bit more manageable.

In the episode, Esh mentions artist Mab Graves - @mabgraves on Instagram.

She also mentions Endometriosis UK and their excellent check list of symptoms: https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/symptom-checker

Sunflower lanyards indicate hidden disabilities – details at https://hdsunflower.com/

In the UK, “please offer me a seat” badges can be requested for free from Transport for London: https://tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/please-offer-me-a-seat

We are all regular swimmers at the Kenwood Ladies Pond on Hampstead Heath in London: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/hampstead-heath/where-to-go-at-hampstead-heath/kenwood-ladies-pond

If you liked this episode, you might also like another of my podcasts, Taking the Plunge – which explores cold water swimming for mental health and recovery from trauma: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1QErWvcGc3mZhoHDbUYUis