Unity Physiotherapy & Wellbeing

🌿 Sjögren's - Awareness, Understanding & Recognition

I've been spending some time watching the excellent Sjögren's Summit organised by Kara Wada MD.

It has been a valuable reminder of how important it is to keep learning. I’ve learnt a lot, especially from the menopause and Sjogrens talk. One of the messages I've taken away is this:

Sjögren's is far more common than many people realise, and it is frequently missed or diagnosed years after symptoms begin.

It disproportionately affects women, and whilst it’s most common over 40 it can affect anyone.

Different factors such as viral infections, hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause, genetics, immune and nervous system dysregulation may all contribute in different ways for different people.

Although many people associate Sjögren's with dry eyes and dry mouth, it is a systemic autoimmune condition that can affect multiple body systems, contributing to symptoms such as:
* fatigue
* brain fog
* muscle and or joint pain
* gastrointestinal symptoms
* dry, itchy skin
* dental problems
* and much more

What has particularly struck me is how varied the condition can be — there are 60+ ways Sjögren's can affect the body! The most common system has been suggested to be fatigue.

Like many persistent conditions, no two people present in exactly the same way.
Several of the talks also highlighted the growing understanding of the immune system, nervous system and gut. There are exciting developments in more targeted immune therapies that may become available in the future (currently in different phases of research).

As someone working with people living with persistent pain, ME/CFS, Long Covid, fibromyalgia, post viral fatigue, PoTS, and other long-term conditions associated with pain and fatigue, these conversations are incredibly relevant. They reinforce how important it is remain curious and consider all the different factors that could be contributing to symptoms.

Something I learned from the summit has already informed my clinical reasoning this week.

If you're a healthcare professional, or someone living with Sjögren's, I would recommend taking a look at the summit. It’s available to watch free until 27 July, with an option to purchase longer access if you wish.

https://www.sjogrenssummit.com

Have you watched any of the sessions?

💭 I'd be interested to hear which talks you found most valuable.

Register — 5th Virtual Sjögren's Summit 2026 Stronger With Sjögren's: Thriving in the New Era of Treatment & Self-Management. Claim your complimentary Live Access Pass to VSS2026, July 16–18, 2026.

🌿 Chronic Illness & Possibilities

When we’re living with chronic illness, it’s understandable for our world to become narrowed by symptoms, uncertainty and loss. What feels possible can become limited.

Yet even within these challenges, possibilities can still exist. They may look different to before, and they often gradually emerge.

Compassionate awareness, curiosity and supporting nervous system regulation can help us recognise choices and new possibilities.

How we talk to ourselves and relate to ourselves can either narrow or widen our sense of possibility.

Increased self-criticism is very common in chronic illness. It’s an understandable protective strategy that often brings other protective responses with it, such as anxiety, overdoing, or avoiding things altogether.

When our threat system is more activated, our attention naturally becomes drawn towards danger, problems and limitations. We may find ourselves focusing on what we can’t do rather than what is possible today. This can further narrow our sense of choice and possibility, creating a cycle that’s understandable but often difficult to step out of.

Compassionate communication with ourselves doesn’t deny that life can be incredibly hard at times, nor does it minimise our suffering or add to it. Instead, it gently acknowledges what is here with kindness and honesty. It can create space for new possibilities to emerge by supporting exploration with care, courage and curiosity.

Possibilities don’t always arrive all at once, and they don’t always look the way we expected. Sometimes they begin with something much smaller:
* A different way of approaching the day or a task
* A compassionate word to ourselves
* A moment of rest
* A conversation
* A tiny step towards something that matters

These moments may seem small, yet over time they can gently widen our world again.

💭 I’m curious — what possibility, however small, have you noticed recently?

Sure this will be a wonderful discussion with Paul Gilbert from The Compassionate Mind Foundation and Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff, Ph.D.

Join Prof Paul Gilbert OBE on Wednesday, August 5th for a Self-Compassion Community webinar.

He’ll be speaking with Kristin Neff about the science of self-compassion, the impact of shame, and the therapeutic tools that help us cultivate inner kindness and psychological wellbeing.

While this event is normally exclusive to members of the Self-Compassion Community, we’re inviting you to join for free. Use this code when registering: PaulandKristin2026.

Can’t attend live? Don’t worry, everyone who registers will receive a recording of the event afterward.

Sign up here: https://self-compassion.org/event/conversation-with-paul-gilbert-august-5-2026/

🌿 Exploring Possibilities

For the last few months, my word has been Possibilities.

It’s been gently explored through meditation, yoga, somatic practice and journalling.

As this exploration has unfolded, I’ve realised that possibilities aren’t complete when they remain only an idea or a feeling. They come alive as they’re expressed and embodied.

I’ve also noticed that openness invites possibility. At times, courage is needed to stay present with all that’s here rather than turning away. For me, that courage feels deeply connected to compassion — it isn’t about pushing forward or forcing change, but about meeting our experience with openness, curiosity and care. In that allowing, space is created for unfolding, awareness and insight.

One reflection that emerged in my journal this morning was this:

Possibilities emerge from all that is. Through deep listening and compassionate responding, they find their form.

Sometimes that form is a poem.

Sometimes it’s a yoga posture that unfolds in a new way.

Sometimes it’s an act of kindness, a conversation, a different choice, or an unexpected opportunity.

Perhaps possibilities are always present, quietly waiting to be listened to, gently welcomed, and expressed in ways that are true to who we are.

🌿 What possibilities have been quietly unfolding for you recently?

🌿 Before we speak, we communicate.

Our nervous system, our presence and our awareness, along with previous experiences, are already shaping every interaction before any words are spoken.

When we’re stressed or overwhelmed, without awareness communication often becomes more reactive. We may interrupt, become defensive, rush to solve problems, or struggle to listen with curiosity. This isn’t because we’re bad communicators it’s a reflection of our physiology, nervous system state and previous experiences. Communication is more likely to arise from a place of threat rather than a settled connection.

Compassionate trauma-informed communication begins with awareness.
✨ Awareness of our nervous system and that of the person or people we are communicating with
✨ Awareness of what we’re feeling
✨ Awareness of what we’re bringing into the conversation
✨ Awareness of our values and how we wish to be in the world
✨ Awareness of the other person’s experience

When we can pause, regulate and connect with our compassionate self and with our values, we create the conditions for clearer communication, deeper listening and wiser responses.

Compassion isn’t only expressed through our words. It’s expressed through our posture, facial expressions, tone of voice, presence and how we listen.

I’ve explored this further in my latest blog on compassionate trauma-informed communication, which I’ve linked in the comments.

💭 What have you noticed about the relationship between your nervous system state and the way you communicate?

Before your next conversation, perhaps pause for a moment and ask yourself:

“How am I arriving in this conversation?”

It’s really important to understand post exertional malaise (PEM) which is a hallmark symptom of ME/CFS. If you’d like to learn more about this check out the webinar below with Action for ME

📢 Reminder – join our third PRIME webinar about post-exertional malaise (PEM)!

🗓️ Date: Thursday, 30 July

🕑Time: 2pm-5pm, GMT

📍Location: online via Zoom

PEM, the hallmark symptom of ME, is the worsening of symptoms following physical or mental activity. Unlike normal tiredness, PEM isn’t relieved by rest and recovery can take days, weeks or longer.

This workshop will ask various questions about PEM, including what it is, what causes it, and how can it best be explained and defined?

Expert speakers include Maree Candish (Science for ME), Professor Mark Faghy (University of Loughborough), Marjon Wormgoor (independent researcher), Professor Todd Davenport (University of the Pacific) and Professor Maureen Hanson (Cornell University).

Register here to attend 👇

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_l39rWIMYTlqqTF7nXixo1Q #/registration

🌿 What is Compassionate Trauma-informed Communication

It brings together compassionate and trauma-informed communication. It is about much more than the words we use. It includes our presence, tone of voice, nervous system state, attunement, somatic awareness, what we are embodying, and how we listen and relate to one another.

Compassionate trauma-informed communication matters in workplaces, relationships and communities. It is especially important in healthcare, where communication can profoundly influence people’s experiences of care and the wellbeing of staff.

It’s more than what we say. It’s how we are in relationship with ourselves and others.

Before we choose our words, how we arrive in a conversation is already shaping it.

Compassionate trauma-informed communication helps create the conditions for clear communication, understanding, safety, trust, respect and meaningful connection.

It matters for many reasons including: helps cultivate compassionate relationships — with ourselves and others — helps people feel seen, heard and understood, strengthens team working, and in healthcare can improve engagement in care and the quality of care people receive.

I’ve written a new blog exploring compassionate trauma-informed communication. It ended up being longer than I’d planned! I considered splitting it into two articles but decided to keep it together so everything is in one place. You can dip into the sections that interest you most, and there’s a summary at the end.

📌 I’ve linked the blog in the comments.

💭 I’d love to hear your thoughts.

🌿 Welcoming the Day

This morning I started my day with some gentle yoga outside while it was still lovely and cool.

It’s been a challenging week for many with the heat, myself included. I’m grateful that although it’s predicted to reach 26°C today, that’s around 10 degrees cooler than some of this week.

For me yoga outdoors is so nurturing, especially in the early morning.
✨ Moving
✨ Breathing
✨ Being

With the buzz of bees now and then, birds singing, blue skies, a cool breeze, and gentle morning sunshine — bliss.

Now it’s time for breakfast outside. 🙂

However you start your day, may it be nurturing for you.

🌿 Happy Saturday. May you find some ease today