DiscoverThe Aspiring Psychologist PodcastWhy ME/CFS Isn’t Just Tiredness: A Psychologist Breaks It Down
Why ME/CFS Isn’t Just Tiredness: A Psychologist Breaks It Down

Why ME/CFS Isn’t Just Tiredness: A Psychologist Breaks It Down

Update: 2025-05-26
Share

Description

ME/CFS isn’t just tiredness, it’s a life-changing, often misunderstood neurological condition that impacts everything from mobility and cognition to emotional wellbeing. In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr Beth Godwin shares her powerful lived experience with ME/CFS, including how it affected her career, identity, and day-to-day life. We discuss spoon theory, post-exertional malaise, pacing, and how to offer meaningful support to those living with chronic fatigue. Whether you’re a psychologist, aspiring psych, or someone navigating illness yourself, this episode is an honest, compassionate guide to understanding ME/CFS better.

#chronicfatiguesyndrome #MECFS #PostViralFatigue #MentalHealthPodcast

Whether you’re a psychologist, aspiring professional, friend, or someone navigating chronic illness, this episode is a must-listen.

⏱️ Timestamps:

  • 00:00 – What is ME/CFS and what does it affect?
  • 04:16 – Long COVID vs ME stigma
  • 06:47 – Identity loss and emotional grief
  • 08:14 – Perfectionism, pressure, and post-viral burnout
  • 13:57 – What a bad day with ME/CFS might look like
  • 17:20 – The emotional toll of having to cancel plans
  • 19:55 – How to support someone living with ME/CFS
  • 22:46 – Can aspiring psychologists train with this condition?
  • 24:44 – Spoon theory and pacing explained
  • 30:49 – What not to do: graded exercise therapy
  • 33:18 – Life after diagnosis: how Beth reshaped her career
  • 36:17 – Free resources and where to follow Beth

Links:

📚Grab your free Diet Culture Guide:

https://lifeforeverybody.co.uk/dietcultureguide

& Connect with Dr Beth here:

📲 https://www.facebook.com/share/1ByzRm4Rxp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.instagram.com/life_for_every_body?igsh=MXFhOGx1a3A3bXlsdA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-beth-godwin-155562175?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

🫶 To support me by donating to help cover my costs for the free resources I provide click here: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support

📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0

📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97

💡 To check out or join the aspiring psychologist membership for just £30 per month head to: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/membership-interested

🖥️ Check out my brand new short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/short-courses

✍️ Get your Supervision Shaping Tool now: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/supervision

📱Connect socially with Marianne and check out ways to work with her, including the Aspiring Psychologist Book, Clinical Psychologist book and The Aspiring Psychologist Membership on her Link tree: https://linktr.ee/drmariannetrent

💬 To join my free Facebook group and discuss your thoughts on this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aspiringpsychologistcommunity

Like, Comment, Subscribe & get involved:

If you enjoy the podcast, please do subscribe and rate and review episodes. If you'd like to learn how to record and submit your own audio testimonial to be included in future shows head to: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/podcast and click the blue request info button at the top of the page.

Comments 
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
1.0x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Why ME/CFS Isn’t Just Tiredness: A Psychologist Breaks It Down

Why ME/CFS Isn’t Just Tiredness: A Psychologist Breaks It Down