The Polyvagal Theory, developed by Stephen Porges, explains how the autonomic nervous system influences our feelings of safety and emotional connections. It identifies three states: safety, high alert, and shutdown. For those with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, understanding these states can help manage pain and stress through various therapeutic approaches.
Tag: Health
Travelling with a Hypermobility Syndrome
Travel and days out are meant to be enjoyable — a break from routine, a chance to explore, connect, and rest. But for people living with a hypermobility syndrome, travel can feel overwhelming before it’s even begun. Pain, fatigue, joint instability, and unpredictable symptoms can turn what should be a positive experience into a source of anxiety. …Continue reading Travelling with a Hypermobility Syndrome
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Self-advocacy in healthcare
Hi, I’m Emilia, a BSc Occupational Therapy student currently on placement with JB Occupational Therapy. I also have many years of lived experience of being chronically ill. I wanted to write a blog post about self-advocacy, as I have consistently found within my own experiences and on this placement the importance of being able to…Continue reading Self-advocacy in healthcare
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Celebrating Disability Pride Month
JB Occupational Therapy Recognises Disability Pride Month What is Disability Pride? It’s not about being proud of pain, it’s about being proud of surviving, adapting, and refusing to shrink yourself in a world that wasn’t built with you in mind. “Disability is natural. It’s part of diversity. It’s part of the human condition” Judy Heumann…Continue reading Celebrating Disability Pride Month
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Enabling Participation through positive risk: An OT Approach to Chronic Illness
Hey everyone, my name is Tegan and I’m currently on a placement with JBOT. I’m studying an MSc apprenticeship in Occupational Therapy. This is my final placement out of three. My first being in adult social care, and my second being in an inpatient intensive care mental health hospital. During my time as a student,…Continue reading Enabling Participation through positive risk: An OT Approach to Chronic Illness
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Fatigue Is More Than Feeling Tired: Confronting Chronic Fatigue and Crohn’s Disease Through an Occupational Therapy Lens
By Nima – MSc Occupational Therapy Student (JB Occupational Therapy) I’m Nima, an MSc Occupational Therapy student currently on placement with JB Occupational Therapy. Throughout this placement, I’ve been exploring the lived experiences of people managing chronic illnesses, with a particular focus on how invisible symptoms affect daily life, identity, and occupation. This blog continues…Continue reading Fatigue Is More Than Feeling Tired: Confronting Chronic Fatigue and Crohn’s Disease Through an Occupational Therapy Lens
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Chronic Pain and Black Women in the U.K vs The Healthcare System
I’m Shantel, a final-year MSc Occupational Therapy student currently on placement with JB Occupational Therapy. My work focuses on the intersection of chronic illness, medical injustice, and occupational loss, especially for marginalised communities. Through this blog and our podcast This Is My “Normal,” I aim to reflect lived experience through an occupational therapy lens. Chronic…Continue reading Chronic Pain and Black Women in the U.K vs The Healthcare System
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Neurodivergence, Hypermobility and Exercise
Authors: Amanda Carey and Holly Graham What do hypermobility, neurodivergence and emotional regulation have in common? More than you may expect. Over the last six weeks we have been looking into hypermobility and connective tissue disorders. We have created 3 podcasts: We have decided to share our fourth and final topic, exploring the link between…Continue reading Neurodivergence, Hypermobility and Exercise
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Sex, Chronic Pain, and Intimacy: How Sensate Focus Can Help
Chronic pain extends beyond physical symptoms; it can significantly impact emotional well-being, relationships and sexual intimacy. Persistent pain often interferes with the ability to engage in or enjoy physical closeness, leading to reduced sexual activity and emotional disconnection. Many people with chronic conditions feel disconnected from their bodies. Some worry about how their partner perceives…Continue reading Sex, Chronic Pain, and Intimacy: How Sensate Focus Can Help
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The Mental Health Maze of Neurodivergent LGBTQIA+ People
Queer & Neurodivergent: Let’s Talk! Welcome to a wordy blog about “things that makes life wild and wonderful but also really really hard”: Being LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent or what I like to say ‘neurospicy’. For people who are both LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent (think: ADHD, Autism or somewhere fabulously off the neurotypical map) everyday can feel…Continue reading The Mental Health Maze of Neurodivergent LGBTQIA+ People
