Joo Westwood Wellness

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Joo Westwood Wellness

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Integrative Health Coach snd chronic illness advocate with a special interest in Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), Hypermobile Spectrum Disorder (HSD), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTs) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

06/07/2025

A little bandage changed everything but what about the things we can’t see? 👇

A few months ago I sustained a secondary degree burn on my hand and the response was immediate:
“Are you okay?”
“Do you need help?”
“Let me take care of that for you.”

And honestly it felt so good to be supported.
But it also made me reflect…

I live with hEDS and chronic symptoms that most people can’t see such as joint pain, fatigue, migraines, brain fog. Things that don’t always come with a cast or a bandage.

Sometimes we forget how much easier it is to offer care when there’s something tangible in front of us. But invisible things matter too.

✨ For anyone living with invisible illness:
✅ You are not making it up.
✅ You don’t need visible proof to deserve care.
✅ You’re allowed to ask for help even without a bandage.

Let’s keep building awareness not out of blame or from a victim mentality but from a place of connection and curiosity.

💬 Have you ever experienced this contrast? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

25/06/2025

Why does summer hit me so hard?

If you live with POTS, hEDS or MCAS, you might dread the warmer months even if you feel like you should be enjoying them.

💭 I used to wonder what was wrong with me.
From childhood holidays where I felt faint and sick…To now, when the school run or sports sideline can wipe me out!

It took me years to realise:
This isn’t weakness.
It’s nervous system dysregulation.

Your body is working overtime to adapt to heat, dehydration, mast cell triggers, and circulatory strain.

In this post I’m sharing:
👉 Why hot weather is so physiologically hard when you live with these conditions
👉 What’s actually happening in your body
👉 What I’ve learned that helps from electrolytes to pacing

💙 If this speaks to you, I see you. You’re doing your best with a sensitive system in a dysregulating world!

✨ I offer personalised, whole-person support to help you manage symptoms and shine through your chronic condition, not just survive it.
📩 DM me to explore how we can work together.

13/06/2025

“There’s no point in being assessed… it’s just an expensive label.”

That’s what a GP told my client this week, after suffering from severe gastrointestinal symptoms, debilitating fatigue and pain.

Let that sink in.

🧠 The emotional toll of medical dismissal.
💔 The mental health impact of being told “it’s all in your head.”
⏳ The years lost without a diagnosis.
🩺 The physical cost of untreated symptoms.

A diagnosis of hEDS, HSD, POTS, or MALS isn’t “just a label.”
It’s a lifeline, language, clarity, and the start of self-management.

✅ It reduces unnecessary GP visits.
✅ It prevents A&E trips.
✅ It empowers the patient.
✅ And actually it saves the NHS money in the long run.

As a health coach and chronic illness advocate, I see what happens when people are finally heard and what damage is done when they’re not.

That’s why I help my clients prepare, self-advocate, and pursue the care they need whether through the NHS or private support.

Yes, I work in private practice.
But I also give my time for free through support groups.
And I’m part of wider efforts to make care more accessible for all, including an upcoming presentation to local GPs on improving Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome diagnosis pathways.

Even areas lucky enough to have NHS health coaches are now facing cuts.
This role — my role — isn’t being funded.
But it should be.

This fight is bigger than one diagnosis.
It’s about building a system that listens, believes, and responds.

We can and must do better. 💙🦓

03/06/2025

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your recovery. If Ana’s story resonates with you… you’re not alone.

You don’t have to navigate chronic illness or complex care by yourself.

My spaces are now full for June but I’ll be opening up new slots in July.

If you’d like whole-person support tailored to your life,
📩 DM me or book a free discovery call to see if we’re a good fit.

✨ Gentle tools. Real-life strategies. Support that sees the whole of you.

—
👋 Hi, I’m Joo — a mum of four living with hEDS and POTS, navigating chronic illness with a full heart and a lot of pacing.

I’m a qualified Health Coach, Sound Therapist, and EDS UK volunteer, running support group meetings to help others feel seen and supported.

As an Integrative Health Coach, I bridge the gap between overwhelmed clients and a healthcare system that often isn’t built for people like us.

If you’d like support that meets you where you are, DM me. I’d love to hear from you.

💙 Follow for more stories, tools, and reminders: you’re not alone.

01/06/2025

As half term draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to parent while managing an energy-limiting condition like EDS or other chronic illnesses.

When I first became a chronically ill parent, I didn’t have the words for what I was going through.
No guidebook. No support group.
No one telling me how to balance pacing, parenting, and pain.

But over time, I’ve learned to rewrite the story.

That I can show up with presence, not perfection.
That doing less doesn’t make me less.
That my kids are thriving.
Not in spite of me, but because they’re growing up with resilience, empathy, and emotional depth.

💙 To any fellow spoonie parent at the start of this journey:
You’re not broken. You’re brave.

👇 I’d love to hear from you, what’s something you wish you’d known earlier?

21/04/2025

This Easter, I’ve tried to embrace the gentle joys, drawing, cuddles, quiet connection with family.
But chronic illness doesn’t pause for holidays, and neither does the emotional weight that comes with it.

When my son called me “ lazy and boring,” it hit deep. As a parent with a dynamic, energy-limiting condition, these moments remind me just how misunderstood invisible illness can be, even by our closest loved ones.

As a health coach living this too, here’s what I want you to know:
- You are not lazy. You are energy-aware.
- Rest isn’t optional, it’s vital.
- You can educate through example, not just explanation.
- Use everyday moments to build empathy
- Celebrate the connection, not just the activity

You don’t have to be the “fun parent” to be the safe one. You don’t need to perform to be powerful.

To all the parents pacing themselves through pain and parenting…
You are doing beautifully. Happy Easter, and be gentle with yourself. 💙⭐️🦓

09/04/2025

Advocating for yourself at work when you have a poorly understood condition like hEDS can feel almost impossible. But it doesn’t have to be.

Meet Claire, a client who went from dismissed and in pain to empowered and thriving. Through targeted advocacy, clear data, and the right support, she reclaimed her power at work without sacrificing her health.

Whether you’re struggling with a chronic illness or facing barriers at work, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Let’s work together to get the support you deserve and make sure your voice is heard. 💪

Ready to advocate for yourself? DM me to start your journey.

06/04/2025

⭐️ SAVE THE DATE ⭐️ and treat yourself to some well deserved care! Join us for a FREE wellness morning in honour of EDS Awareness Month!

📍 Welcome Church, Woking
📅 Saturday 24 May 2025 | ⏰ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Expect a beautiful blend of movement, relaxation and community:

✨ Seated Pilates with Leanne – gentle, accessible movement for all abilities
✨ Sound Bath Meditation with me – for deep relaxation and nervous system calm
✨ Facial Reflexology with Tracey .uk – a soothing reset for mind + body
✨ Free refreshments, lunch + giveaways
✨ Voluntary donations welcome in support of .danlos.uk

Whether you’re living with EDS, supporting someone who is, or simply want to feel held in a safe, healing space, this is for you!

You can find the link to sign up in my bio. Let’s raise awareness, connect, and come together for our incredible community.

05/04/2025

For so long, I believed success meant pushing through, ignoring exhaustion, working harder, and proving my worth by how much I could get done. Sound familiar?

But with EDS and other chronic illnesses, that mindset doesn’t lead to success, it leads to flare-ups, crashes, and feeling completely drained.

The hardest lesson I had to learn (and now teach my clients) is that resting and pacing isn’t giving up. It’s a skill.

It takes discipline to stop before you hit a wall.
It takes trust to believe that resting now means more energy later.

And once you learn how to work with your body instead of against it? Everything changes. You get more done without pushing yourself into a crash. You start feeling more in control of your energy. You finally have space to live your life, not just recover from it.

This is exactly what I help my clients do, ditch the push-crash cycle and build a life that actually works with chronic illness.

If this is the shift you’ve been needing, drop me in a comment or DM me. Let’s find a better way forward together.

20/03/2025

Sometimes coaching goes beyond goal setting, it becomes about advocacy, compassion, and fighting for someone who’s too exhausted to keep going alone.

When Naomi came to me, she was already doing an incredible job self-managing her Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) symptoms. But the mould in her flat was making her health worse, and despite her efforts, her landlord wasn’t listening.

She was physically and emotionally drained. She needed someone to take the fight on for her.

So I did.

I wrote a letter explaining her diagnosis, the impact of mould exposure on her EDS and MCAS, and reminded them of her legal rights. Suddenly, they listened. They started taking action.

After everything, Naomi wrote me a testimonial — but what I didn’t expect was a poem. Her words touched me deeply and reminded me why I do this work: because no one should feel like they have to fight alone.

If you’re struggling to manage your symptoms, advocate for your needs, or just feel heard I’m here. Let’s figure it out together.

✨ Swipe to see Naomi’s heartfelt poem.

14/03/2025

🌙 It’s World Sleep Day! 🛌

Sleep disruption is a major challenge for those living with chronic illness. Whether it’s Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, fibromyalgia, autoimmune conditions, or chronic fatigue syndrome, a disrupted circadian rhythm often exacerbates symptoms like fatigue, pain, and brain fog.

As an Integrative Health Coach, I specialise in helping you to make the lifestyle changes needed to optimise your wellbeing and improve symptoms. We’re often told to focus on improving our sleep, but aren’t always given clear steps to make it happen.

This process does take time and effort. It’s definitely not a quick fix but with the right support, you can improve your sleep, boost your energy, and reduce your symptoms. If you would like to explore personalised strategies to transform your sleep and feel your best, reach out, I’m here to help! 🌙✨

Address

Woking

Website

https://www.joowestwoodwellness.com/book

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