A stylized drawing of a black woman glances to the side with the light hitting her face. Text to the side reads Chronic Pain: Black women Vs the Healthcare System

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

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

Brain Fog poster

About the author: Anais is an Occupational Therapy student from Coventry. She’s neurodivergent and has experienced brain fog herself.

A faded image of weights, a phone, waterbottle and resistance band on a table. The text over the top reads 'Exercise for hypermobility'

Exercise for Hypermobility

Exercise is an activity known to have a positive impact on holistic wellbeing. According to Geneen et al (2017) when living with chronic pain, exercise can reduce pain severity and improve quality of life. Before taking part in exercise there are 4 things to consider: Helpful tips when exercising 1. Reduce range of motion –…Continue reading Exercise for Hypermobility

Women and ADHD

About the author: Anais is an Occupational Therapy student from Coventry uni. She’s neurodivergent herself and her Neurodivergent students support group recent won an award for ‘Achievement of the year’.

Functional Neurological Disorder Fact Sheet

About the author: Anais is an Occupational Therapy student at Coventry University. She has a specialist interest in Neurological conditions.

Sex and Occupational therapy written in black over a faded image of peoples hands interlinked. One person hugs another from behind.

Sex & Occupational Therapy

The past few weeks I’ve been focusing on the topic of sex and disabled people’s experiences of sex. A couple of weeks ago I posted a survey to support my research into sexual wellbeing of disabled people. The link to this survey can be found here: sexual wellbeing of disabled people  Sex survey results Firstly,…Continue reading Sex & Occupational Therapy

chronic fatigue & baby weaning recipes written in red over an image of rainbow coloured fruit and veg.

Chronic fatigue & baby weaning recipes…a match made in heaven?

What do baby weaning recipes and chronic fatigue have in common? Absolutely nothing. And perhaps I am the first person on the planet to write that sentence? But bear with me…. Background I’m coming towards the end of my last placement of my occupational therapy degree and spending the last 10 weeks with Jo as…Continue reading Chronic fatigue & baby weaning recipes…a match made in heaven?

Gut issues and OT intervention written in black over a drawing of a brain with one side coloured in rainbow watercolour splotches

Gut issues and OT intervention

Occupational therapy (OT) interventions cover a wide range of strategies and techniques. The aim is to help an individual achieve optimal functioning when participating in daily activities. But what if your mind is keen to partake in the interventions but your gut issues are saying no!! In March 2023 Ronnie, a student doing their placement…Continue reading Gut issues and OT intervention

A red stop sigh with the word 'go' spray painted on it is faded into the backgroun. Medical Gaslighting is written over that in bold black font.

Medical gaslighting

Medical gaslighting is a term that refers to The dismissal or invalidation of a patients symptoms, concerns or feelings by a medical professional. The patient isn’t taken seriously, and the healthcare professional does not properly investigate. Instead, they usually attribute the symptoms to being psychological. After spending time on placement with Jo I felt a…Continue reading Medical gaslighting