Natalie Gould shares her journey from severe Long Covid to full recovery, revealing how nervous system regulation transformed not only her Long Covid symptoms but also pre-existing chronic conditions like psoriatic arthritis and migraines.

• Life before illness included working as a CFO and living on a small farm
• Initial Covid infection in July 2021 was mild but led to severe post-viral symptoms
• Main symptoms included PoTS, tachycardia, severe insomnia, cognitive impairment and sound sensitivity
• Within six months, she was essentially bedbound but continued working remotely
• Stabilized symptoms through extreme pacing but remained severely ill for over a year
• Found hope after hearing recovery stories and trying the ANS Rewire program
• Leaving her stressful job was a turning point in her recovery journey
• Used play and creativity as powerful tools for nervous system regulation
• Created characters to personify stress patterns and developed dialogues with them
• Recovery process led to healing of multiple pre-existing conditions
• Now enjoys swing dancing and a fuller life than before illness
• Continues nervous system regulation practices not out of necessity but enjoyment

Check out "Farm Stories" for more insights on recovery techniques & nervous system regulation.

Links:

https://www.sparrowcrowfarm.com/

https://sparrowcrowfarm.substack.com/ - Farm Stories

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2pSH8og5Ho&t=1981s - self recorded recovery video

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

Podcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook @LongCovidPodcast
Instagram Twitter @LongCovidPod
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

Please get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

Recovery from Long Covid & ME/CFS involves exploring ways to move forward when you're nearly there or making progress but unsure how to reach the next level. Finding your own path is essential as there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to healing.

• Jackie's recovery had 3 phases: denial & pushing through, education & strategy-building, and gentle building
• Healing isn't a destination but a soft place to land—embracing the journey puts less pressure on your nervous system
• Consistent practices that show your body it's safe build confidence & trust
• The liminal space between illness & wellness allows for exploration without pressure
• Recognizing small signs of recovery counteracts negativity bias
• Celebrating small wins & bringing play into activities helps maintain regulation
• Reclaiming identity is challenging
• Getting unstuck from "80% recovered" place often requires gently challenging yourself
• Re-engaging with life in small ways demonstrates to your body that it's safe
• Recovery is built on small, consistent practices rather than dramatic interventions

Links:

"Setting an Intention for Healing" track on Insight Timer

Safety in movement/activity track

Suzy's Fern program

#77 "Managing the fear of reinfection" episode

#94 Jackie's recovery story

#100 Michelle Irving episode

#169 Recovery Themes

Work with Jackie

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

Podcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook @LongCovidPodcast
Instagram Twitter @LongCovidPod
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

Please get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

Dr. Robert Groysman returns to discuss the mechanisms behind Long Covid, focusing on mitochondrial dysfunction and its role in symptoms like fatigue and brain fog.

• Dr. Groysman identifies six major mechanisms in Long Covid: dysautonomia, mitochondrial dysfunction, gut dysbiosis, endothelial dysfunction, mast cell activation syndrome, and hormone imbalance
• Most Long Covid patients experience multiple mechanisms simultaneously, requiring comprehensive treatment
• Mitochondria are cellular organelles responsible for energy production, with different cell types having varying densities based on energy needs
• COVID-19 not only damages mitochondria but uniquely impairs the body's ability to repair and replace them
• Post-exertional malaise occurs when damaged mitochondria burst during overexertion, triggering inflammatory processes
• Recovery requires gentle, patient approaches rather than aggressive interventions that can cause setbacks
• Dr. Groysman's two-step protocol involves daily antioxidant support followed by seven days per month of carefully managed mitophagy
• Complete recovery typically takes 3-12 months and cannot be rushed without risking relapses
• Dysautonomia often needs treatment before other mechanisms can be successfully addressed
• Pacing is critical to avoid crashes that cause additional mitochondrial damage

Check out my previous episodes with Dr. Groysman to learn more about the Stellate Ganglion block and other treatment approaches for Long Covid.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/longcovidsgb https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553548547314 https://www.longcovidfamily.com/

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

Podcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook @LongCovidPodcast
Instagram Twitter @LongCovidPod
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

Please get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**