The Rest Repair Recover Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Struggling with brain fog, fatigue or returning to work after long Covid? In this in-depth interview, Suzy sits down with neuro specialist occupational therapist Sabina Fife to answer the most pressing questions from the Long Covid community. From understanding the science of cognition and fatigue to practical tips for daily life and self-care, this session is packed with expert advice and relatable experiences.

Sabina shares her insights from working both in neuro rehab and on the frontline of long Covid clinics, helping you understand what's happening in your body, how to pace yourself, and the importance of building your own toolkit for recovery. Suzy also draws from her own long Covid journey, making this an authentic, supportive and informative discussion you won't want to miss.

What You'll Learn in This Video:

• Why fatigue and cognition are so affected by long Covid

• The difference between chronic fatigue, ME and neurological overload

• How to know when to rest and when to rebuild your stamina

• Practical pacing & energy conservation tips

• The real role of cognitive rehab and brain training

• Managing work, routines and the tricky return to employment

• Insights on nutrition, antihistamines, supplements and sleep

• The link between anxiety, neurological changes and recovery

• How to cope with screen strain, sensory overload and more

• Why kindness and peer support are key in the recovery journey

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome & Introductions
01:31 – Sabina Fife's Background in Neuro OT & Long Covid Clinics
03:39 – Are There Reliable Neurological Tests for Brain Fog?
05:18 – Understanding Fatigue: The Hidden Symptom
07:52 – Should You Retrain Your Brain or REST?
10:30 – The Body's Natural Healing: Homeostasis & Recovery
12:48 – The Challenge of Returning to Exercise
14:55 – Sensory Overload: Lights, Noise and Visual Processing
18:13 – What to Do While Waiting for Specialist Support
21:13 – What If Cognitive Issues Persist After Fatigue Improves?
24:06 – Can Covid Cause Anxiety or Depression Physically?
28:28 – Systemic Approaches: Medical, Lifestyle & Supplements
33:14 – Personal Experimentation & Tailored Recovery
38:01 – Returning to Work, Part-Time Routines & Warning Signs
43:39 – Legal Rights, Employer Support, & Practical Resources
47:32 – Finding Hope & Peer Support in Recovery
53:42 – Coping with Screen Usage & Visual Strain
57:46 – Community Insights, Resources & Wrap-Up

🔔 Subscribe for more expert insights, honest conversations, and practical tools to support your long Covid recovery. Don't forget to like, comment and share your experiences below to keep building this incredible community!

#LongCovid #BrainFog #Fatigue #OccupationalTherapy #Cognition #Recovery #ChronicFatigue #Pacing #HealthAndWellness

What happens when Long Covid symptoms look identical to perimenopause?

In this eye-opening episode, Suzy is joined by two brilliant doctors Dr. Tanya Patrick, a GP navigating Long Covid herself, and Dr. Claire Phipps to unravel one of the most confusing questions many women are facing right now:

Is it my hormones… or is it Long Covid?

They explore how the two conditions can blur together the fatigue, the brain fog, the mood swings and where the subtle differences lie. Dr. Tanya shares her real-life turning point of finally discovering she had POTS, and both doctors offer practical steps you can take to get clarity, feel heard, and get the right support.

If you've ever felt dismissed, confused, or unsure what's happening inside your body, this conversation is validation.

You're not "just stressed."
You're not making it up.
And you're definitely not alone.

In this inspiring and heartfelt conversation, I sat down with Holly Johnson Underwood to explore her remarkable journey towards recovery from Long Covid.

Holly has been a member of our Facebook group since just after it began in June 2020, and her experience has been extraordinary. In this episode, Holly bravely shares what it was like at her lowest point, housebound, using a wheelchair, and overwhelmed by the trauma of her illness. She opens up about the isolation, the struggle to cope with even the smallest of daily challenges, and the desperate searches for answers when everything seemed bleak.

Together, we talk about the turning points in Holly's journey: how a simple Zoom call sparked renewed hope, the power of acupuncture and therapy to address both mind and body, and the importance of tracking even the smallest steps forward. Holly discusses finding her own "missing piece" through diet, vagus nerve work, and treating underlying trauma, and shares the wisdom she's gained about hope, tenacity, and the vital importance of mental health in recovery.

For anyone who feels lost or stuck, Holly's story is a testament to the power of patience, self-belief, and finding just enough hope to keep moving forwards. Her honesty and positivity will lift anyone navigating the darkest days of Long Covid.

If you need a reason to keep swimming, let Holly's journey remind you there truly can be light at the end of the tunnel.

In this warm and uplifting conversation, I sat down with the irrepressible Debbie Geraghty to hear her recovery story from Long Covid, and reflect on the crucial role of community, creativity, and kindness along the way.

Debbie shares how her journey began in those uncertain early days of the pandemic, when even the classic Covid symptom of losing your sense of smell was seen as "an oddity" rather than the warning sign we all recognise now. She opens up about navigating months of debilitating post-viral fatigue, brain fog, and a baffling array of symptoms, and why the support of her GP made all the difference.

We talk honestly about the challenges: the rollercoaster of symptoms, being isolated at home, and the struggle to be believed. But Debbie's story is also full of hope and humour. She tells us about the global online community that uplifted her (and even her 96-year-old neighbour, Thelma, who became an unlikely internet sensation!), the joy of creative writing and photography, and the life-changing shift from focusing on illness to rediscovering connection and joy.

Debbie also reflects on the importance of group support like Rest Repair Recover and why laughter, gentle movement, and being witnessed by others in a safe space can transform the recovery process.

If you're feeling lost or hopeless on your own journey, this episode is a gentle reminder: you're not alone, there is a way through, and sometimes the smallest moments of kindness can help us find our way home.

Let us know in the comments what this episode inspired you to do differently, we'd love to hear your thoughts.

In this candid and eye-opening conversation, I sat down with Dr Sarah Glynne, GP, menopause specialist and all-round font of knowledge, for a frank discussion about menopause, hormones and the impact of Long Covid. Together, we tackled the questions so many women have right now about hormone health at every age.

We explored why menopause is only just being talked about openly, despite being a universal part of women's lives, and how Sarah's own journey, along with her husband's work with Long Covid patients, reshaped her perspective on hormones.

From the link between Long Covid and hormonal disruption to what actually happens when Covid throws your cycle off balance, we dug into why perimenopausal symptoms so often overlap with Long Covid.

We also dismantled common HRT myths, especially those around breast cancer, and unpacked everything from plant oestrogen and testosterone's role beyond libido, to the challenges facing women in their 20s and 30s, and the difference between natural and body-identical hormones.

Whether you're wondering if it's "too early" for menopause, navigating baffling symptoms, or simply looking for clarity and reassurance, this episode delivers up-to-date insights, practical advice and myth-busting you can trust.

Key takeaway: Knowledge is power, and it's more than OK to ask for help and experiment with what works for your unique body.

Tune in for expert clarity, compassionate support and the straight talk every woman deserves.

In this inspiring and deeply honest conversation, I sat down with Matt Bromley to discuss his extraordinary journey from the depths of Long Covid in 2020 to a full and vibrant recovery, with a little help from the Rest Repair Recover programme.

Matt was one of our earliest students and, as he shares so openly, his experience was both harrowing and life-changing. At his worst, Matt was housebound for months, unable to climb stairs or even read his children a bedtime story. He describes what it was like to watch life go on without him: family holidays missed, career put on hold, and the heartache of seeing others doing things he once loved.

We talk about:

• The relentless uncertainty and isolation of those early months
• How Matt learned to surrender and pace himself, replacing "pushing through" with rest, acceptance, and kindness
• The power of community, tiny green shoots of progress, and learning to celebrate each small step
• His experiments with everything from diet and supplements to meditation, pacing, and cold water therapy
• The pivotal mindset shifts and nervous system work that helped him finally break free from the boom-and-bust cycle

Matt now has his life back. He is working, travelling, and creating joyful memories with his family. He's emerged not just recovered but, as he says, a better version of himself.

If you're feeling stuck, frightened, or hopeless, Matt's story will reassure you that recovery is possible, and that there is life, and even joy, on the other side.

For anyone on the Long Covid rollercoaster, this episode is a beautiful reminder to never give up hope.

In this uplifting and deeply real episode, I sat down with Gina Short to hear her remarkable recovery story following Long Covid and how joy, love, and connection played a crucial role in her healing.

Gina shares her experience from the early days of standard Covid illness through months of relentless fatigue, neurological symptoms, and the emotional toll of living with Long Covid. She opens up about reaching her lowest point, the helplessness of searching for answers in a world with few solutions, and the pivotal moment she discovered the power of true rest.

We talk about finding accessible support (like free YouTube yoga and gentle movement videos), learning to pause and stop striving, and the shift that comes from approaching recovery differently: focusing on community, kindness, and those tiny sparks of joy that gradually grow into hope.

Gina also reflects candidly on grief, resilience, and how her journey led to an unexpected transformation. She now lives a life fuelled by connection, play, laughter, and compassion for herself and others. She speaks from the heart about learning to rest, pacing with respect, and shedding old stories about what it means to be "productive" or "well."

Whether you're in the thick of Long Covid, just discovering the Rest Repair Recover resources, or needing proof that recovery real, joyful recovery is possible, Gina's story is a beautiful reminder that finding community and making space for joy can be a turning point.

Listen in for a powerful dose of hope, humanity, and inspiration.

You are not alone on this journey.

In this powerful conversation, I'm joined by Dr Boon Lim and Joe Iddison as we explore Joe's remarkable story of overcoming POTS, insomnia, and intense brain fog following Long Covid.

Joe opens up about how his life was turned upside down after contracting Covid in February 2021. From being fit, active, and content in his work in the music industry, he suddenly found himself bed-bound, isolated, and facing debilitating symptoms including palpitations, overwhelming fatigue, insomnia, and night-time adrenaline surges. Despite seeking help through A&E and a series of remote consultations, Joe struggled to find clear answers or real progress.

Enter Dr Boon Lim, an expert in cardiology and autonomic dysfunction, who was able to help Joe understand what was actually happening in his body. Joe was ultimately diagnosed with POTS and autonomic dysfunction related to Long Covid. Dr Lim discusses the science behind these symptoms, the importance of breathwork, and why standard medications don't always help, sometimes even making things worse.

Crucially, Joe shares how discovering the Rest Repair Recover programme provided a turning point. Through regular, gentle yoga, breathwork, and a sense of online community even via replays, Joe experienced hope, empowerment, and incremental recovery. The emotional and psychological aspects of recovery are a big focus in this chat: we discuss the importance of connection, dealing with the fear of the unknown, and the vital role of mindset.

This is an honest and practical episode for anyone struggling with Long Covid, POTS, or fatigue syndromes, especially if you've felt invalidated or alone in your journey. Joe's story proves that with compassionate care, the right tools, and a supportive community, real and lasting recovery is possible.

Find hope, practical tips, and expert insight in this inspiring episode.

In this insightful and reassuring episode, Suzy Bolt is joined by pharmacist Kevin Leivers to delve into the sometimes controversial topic of SSRIs, commonly known as antidepressants. Together, they break down what SSRIs actually do in the body, moving beyond the notion that they're simply "happy pills" or prescribed only for anxiety.

Suzy shares her own experience of recovery, highlighting how SSRIs supported her not just emotionally but also physically, even helping with sleep and immune resilience. Kevin offers his expert perspective on how these medications work to increase serotonin, why there's no one-size-fits-all approach, and what it really means to create a "window of light" for people struggling with depression.

They don't shy away from talking about the risks and the stigma, but also explore the powerful role of nutrition, gut health, and natural supplements such as saffron. You'll hear practical, science-backed alternatives and complements to SSRIs, from vitamin B12 and protein to tackling inflammation and considering probiotics after antibiotics.

If you've ever wondered about the benefits and limitations of antidepressants or felt uncertain when they've been recommended to you, this honest conversation will give you tools, insight, and permission to ask more questions and take control of your own wellbeing journey.

In this heartfelt and uplifting episode, I had the absolute pleasure of turning the tables and interviewing Jackie Baxter, the wonderful host of the Long Covid Podcast. Usually the one behind the questions, Jackie bravely shares her own Long Covid journey, right from the very beginning, through her darkest days, and all the way to finding recovery and a new sense of self.

Jackie opens up about what life was like before she became ill, juggling a busy and active lifestyle, stressful work, and the early days of the pandemic when guidance and understanding were limited. She describes the bewildering onset of symptoms, the push-pull cycle of trying to push through, and the rollercoaster of hope, frustration, and uncertainty that so many people with Long Covid will recognise.

We talk about the key turning points in her recovery: discovering the power of breathwork, the importance of rest, and learning to tune into her own body and mind. Jackie shares how gentle practices like yoga nidra and cold water swimming became lifelines, and how setting up the Long Covid Podcast was not just a way to help others, but also a crucial part of her own healing.

We also dive into the realities of recovery: Tackling persistent fears like reinfection, navigating relationship tensions, and learning to embrace the "new normal" of Jackie 2.0. There are practical tips, honest reflections, and a wonderful sense of resilience and hope running through our conversation.

If you're in need of inspiration to keep going, want a reminder that you're not alone, or are just curious about how to find your way through the ups and downs of Long Covid, this episode is for you.

Thank you so much to Jackie for sharing so openly. As ever, don't give up hope. Recovery is possible, and you might just find silver linings and new strengths along the way.

Listen now for an honest and wise conversation on recovery, resilience, and embracing life after Long Covid.