This is a very special episode for Dr. Claire, who, despite being a fantastic women’s health specialist herself, battles ongoing debilitating pain from endometriosis and uterine fibroids; 2 very common Gynaecological chronic illnesses that she helps her patients navigate daily.

Once again, hosting the brilliant Mwari Muthaura, a clinical psychotherapist (herself also living with several chronic illnesses as discussed in the episode). The conversation today is a much-needed one, focusing on the emotional and psychological/mental health aspects of chronic illness, especially focused on women. Despite living longer than men on average, it has been found that women spend an average of 25% more years in poor health. This translates to a woman living an average of 9 years of her life in poor health.

The women's health gap refers to the systemic underfunding, lack of research, and biased data that lead to disparities in healthcare access, diagnosis, and treatment for women, resulting in poorer health outcomes and significant economic costs. This gap arises from traditional healthcare systems failing to account for biological and gender differences, leading to conditions like heart attack symptoms being missed in women and adverse drug reactions being more common due to exclusion from clinical trials. This results in a woman struggling with poor health at a time when she should be at her peak, which affects her ability to be present and/or productive at home, at work, and in her community.

Mwari & Dr. Claire discuss several key aspects to chronic illness from common reactions when a difficult diagnosis is confirmed, including the various stages of grief experienced, (including for those notorious type A high-achievers who struggle significantly with accepting their health becoming a limitation to their carefully mapped out goals and success) They explore the stigma, judgment and criticism women face at home and in the work place for failing to perform at 100% even as they juggle medical treatments, repeat surgeries and mental anguish from debilitating illness. They share advice to caregivers and medics looking after these women, to help them support their loved ones and patients better.

This episode is a powerful one, so brace yourself to take some extensive notes and likely shed a few tears. It includes a very vulnerable session where Mwari guides Dr. Claire through an exercise designed to help you, listening or watching at home, to deeply explore your own situation in a meaningful manner. Consider it a first step in the right direction for anyone facing a major health scare or challenging diagnosis.

Mwari is an American-trained, certified Psychotherapist working both in private practice as well as in the corporate space here in Kenya. She is also very artistic & creates her own line of gorgeous #madeinKenya jewellery.

Connect with Mwari on all social media platforms @therapywithmwari & @daintypurplebutterfly 

To purchase her beautiful jewellery pieces, visit @mwari_fiftcottage on Instagram.

CTRH podcast Location partner:

@ashleyfurniturekenya

@fairdealfurniture

Production by @artlight

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