The Recovery Room with Jackie Baxter

Welcome to The Recovery Room with Jackie Baxter - a gentle, grounded space for anyone navigating a health challenge. ​ For five years, this show was known as The Long Covid Podcast, supporting thousands of listeners through the uncertainty of post‑viral illness. After my own lived experience and recovery from Long Covid, the conversations naturally grew wider — into ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Dysautonomia, Trauma, Burnout and the deep nervous‑system work that underpins so many healing journeys. ​ This reimagined podcast honours that evolution. ​ Each week, I explore the science, stories, and small, steady practices that help the body feel safer and more supported. You’ll hear from clinicians, researchers, practitioners and people walking their own recovery paths through the power of honest conversation. ​ Whether you’re at the beginning of your journey or somewhere in the long, winding middle, you’re welcome here. Take a breath. S

The Recovery Room with Jackie Baxter is a health podcast hosted by Jackie Baxter, with 229 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Jackie Baxter hosts The Recovery Room with Jackie Baxter, a health show with 229 episodes published.

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  Episode #228

  228 - Commandos to Curious: Chris Sykes-Popham's Journey from Scepticism to Openness and Recovery

  Sep 30, 202651 minS1

  Chris Sykes-Popham shares how he goes from an adventurous Royal Marines career into a brutal ME/CFS crash, then back to full recovery and a life rebuilt around balance and self-trust. We explore perfectionism, invisible illness, and why nervous system regulation can feel like the least popular answer yet still be the most practical path forward. • Early warning signs like post-exertional payback and brain fog • Losing a former identity and rebuilding meaning after recovery • Balance as a daily check for kindness and sustainability • Extreme striving and the hidden costs of perfectionism • Gender, emotional expression, and the pressure of invisible illness • Responsibility versus blame and finding agency again • Openness, curiosity, and why timing matters for mind-body work • Nervous system regulation as a common thread in recovery stories • Studying the recovered and looking for repeatable trends • Testing the nervous system theory symptom by symptom We would love to continue this conversation - or have the one we originally planned - so please do get in touch with thoughts, questions & scepticism! Links: Try Freeme FREE for 6 sessions https://freemehealth.com/getfreeme CONNECT WITH CHRIS: Website — https://freemehealth.com/getfreeme Instagram — / the.freeme.app Message me! (I can't reply to these messages) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thankyou for joining me in The Recovery Room. If you found this episode useful & are able to, you can support the show by buying me a coffee or checking out the merch Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com Follow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom **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**

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  Episode #226

  226 - Dan Neuffer - Out of the Box: Living Your Own Blueprint

  Sep 16, 202657 minS1

  Dan Neuffer and I explore authentic living as a practical way to honour our needs without abandoning responsibility, and why that balance matters even more when we are unwell. We look at how fear, perfectionism, and people-pleasing create inner conflict, drain our energy, and can keep our nervous system stuck in threat. • Defining authentic living as self-honouring with balance • Why constant selflessness can become self-neglect • How childhood patterns and social approval shape our “shoulds” • Telltale signs of inauthentic living such as resentment and emotion management • The link between internal conflict, safety, and chronic illness recovery such as Long Covid and ME/CFS • Perfectionism, social media pressure, and the fear of judgement • Practical steps: honesty with ourselves, clearer communication, and boundaries • Choosing small wins over drastic decisions to create lasting change Connect with Dan: CFS Recovery Stories: https://cfsunravelled.com/me-cfs-recovery-stories-patient-me-cfs-stories-with-a-difference/ ANS REWIRE Free Lessons: https://ansrewire.com/info-request/ Connect with Jackie: The Recovery Room website: https://www.jackiesrecoveryroom.com/ Breathing Classes: https://longcovidbreathing.com/ Message me! (I can't reply to these messages) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thankyou for joining me in The Recovery Room. If you found this episode useful & are able to, you can support the show by buying me a coffee or checking out the merch Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com Follow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom **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**

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  Episode #225

  225 - 25,000 Chances to Heal: Making Every Breath Work for You

  Sep 9, 202621 minS1

  We explore breath as a practical healing tool for Long Covid and ME/CFS, especially when breathlessness, air hunger, or panic keeps the body stuck in survival mode. I share why “appropriate breathwork” is gentle, flexible, and powerful enough to support both recovery and everyday health. • Why breathing patterns change during illness and can stay dysfunctional afterwards • The vicious cycle where breath discomfort signals danger and escalates symptoms • How better breathing supports efficiency and frees energy for healing and life • Nervous system regulation through functional breathing and micro moments of safety • Why a one-size-fits-all protocol can backfire and what “meet yourself where you are” looks like • What to avoid in recovery, including deliberate hyperventilation and breath holds • Easing into practices, adjusting dose, and using breath to support pacing and emotions • Resources for safe breathwork including courses, blogs, videos, and Insight Timer tracks Links: Breathing for Long Covid & ME/CFS breathing courses: www.LongCovidBreathing.com Breathing blogs: https://longcovidbreathing.com/blogs Breathe with me on Insight Timer: https://insig.ht/mqSr1s0245b (or search "Jackie Baxter" on the app More info about working with me: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com/WorkWithMe Message me! (I can't reply to these messages) Support the show ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thankyou for joining me in The Recovery Room. If you found this episode useful & are able to, you can support the show by buying me a coffee or checking out the merch Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com Follow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom **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**

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  Episode #224

  224 - From Data to Body Wisdom: When to Use (and Ditch) Heart Rate Monitoring

  Sep 2, 202637 minS1

  In part two of Jackie’s conversation with physiotherapist and Long Covid patient Robin McNelis (“Robin the Physio”) , they dig into how heart rate monitors and wearables can support (or sabotage) pacing in Long Covid and ME/CFS . Robin shares both clinical and personal examples of using tech as a behaviour-change tool , not a dictator, and how it can help people eventually trust their bodies more, not less . In This Episode: When heart rate monitoring is helpful and when it becomes stressful and counterproductive Robin’s concept of “counterintuitive” heart rate monitoring and why some people need to start with higher alert thresholds Real-life examples of unexpected triggers (like showering, stairs, and bending ) and how tiny tweaks made big differences Using devices first to learn your boundaries , then turning down or off alerts to lean more on body awareness How to decide if tech is right for you right now: What is it helping you change? Is it reducing crashes or just adding pressure? Key Takeaways Tech is optional : it’s the right tool for the right person, at the right time, in the right way . The goal isn’t perfect data—it’s better awareness, steadier pacing , and fewer boom-and-bust crashes. Links: More about Robin: http://www.robinthephysio.co.uk Check out Part 1 of this discussion: 223 - Holistic Detective Work: Unpicking Breath, Pacing & Fatigue with Robin the Physio Message me! (I can't reply to these messages) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thankyou for joining me in The Recovery Room. If you found this episode useful & are able to, you can support the show by buying me a coffee or checking out the merch Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com Follow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom **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**

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  Episode #223

  223 - Holistic Detective Work: Unpicking Breath, Pacing & Fatigue with Robin the Physio

  Aug 26, 202636 minS1

  Jackie is joined by Robin McNelis (Robin the Physio) , a cardio‑respiratory physio and Long Covid specialist, who went from running marathons and leading hospital services to his own Long Covid recovery journey. In this episode: What happens when all your tests are “normal” but you’re clearly not. Robin’s role as a “holistic detective” for complex breathing, fatigue and Long Covid cases. How ideas from elite sport and marginal gains translate to people just trying to shower or get to the bathroom without crashing. The reality of post‑Covid personal bests and why “small” wins matter. A practical, compassionate look at pacing across physical, cognitive, emotional and social exertion , using the FITT principles. Real‑life stories of patients reclaiming reading, hobbies and daily life through tiny, well‑timed adjustments. This is Part 1 of the conversation - tune in next week for more on pacing, heart rate, breathing, and tools to support recovery. Links: More about Robin: http://www.robinthephysio.co.uk Message me! (I can't reply to these messages) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thankyou for joining me in The Recovery Room. If you found this episode useful & are able to, you can support the show by buying me a coffee or checking out the merch Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com Follow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom **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**

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