Dr Sula Windgassen. PhD researcher with over 30 published academic papers. An honorary researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience holds five degrees, from King’s College London and the University of Leeds, and is currently conducting research with both King’s and University College London.Chartered Health Psychologist & Mindfulness Practitioner. Author of It’s All In Your Body. Dr Sula on InstagramDr Sula on LinkedinDr Sula's book It's All In Your Body on Amazon In this episode, we explore the intersection of chronic illness, stress, identity, and women’s health advocacy.We begin with Sula's health story which was recently featured in the Daily Mail and unpack how chronic pain and stress often collide for women who are used to putting everyone else first. We discuss why stress can feel invisible or “normalised,” what the nervous system and allostatic load actually mean, and how chronic stress can quietly drive pain and long-term health issues.A major theme of the conversation is medical dismissal. Many women begin questioning their own symptoms after not feeling heard by healthcare professionals. We talk about validation, self-trust, and advice for anyone currently navigating a diagnostic journey, as well as how partners, friends, and family members can better support someone advocating for their health.We also dive into the complex relationship between identity, achievement, and illness including the challenge of slowing down when your self-worth has been tied to productivity, exercise, or performance, and how to balance mental wellbeing, financial reality, and a temporarily reduced stress tolerance.Community emerges as a powerful healing tool. We explore the role of in-person connection, how to find supportive spaces without traditional “networking,” and what an ideal one-day women’s health experience could look like.From there, the conversation shifts to innovation and fundraising in women’s health. Drawing on experience building a large women’s health community and working closely with hundreds of clients, we discuss the gap between real patient experiences and the narratives often reflected in startup funding announcements — and what needs to change in the ecosystem.We also touch on Sula's work with Seemira and her broader perspective on the future of health psychology and women’s health innovation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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