ADHD, Chronic Illness & Hypermobility: The Hidden Link? | Dr Jess Eccles
About this episode
Dr. Jessica Eccles discusses the physical aspects of neurodivergence and its links to chronic illness and hypermobility.
Psychiatrist, researcher and brain-body medicine specialist Dr. Jessica Eccles joins Ben for a fascinating conversation about the overlooked physical side of neurodivergence - and why ADHD and autism are often talked about as “brain-only” experiences when the body is deeply involved too. Dr Jess is an Associate Professor in Brain-Body Medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, a Consultant Psychiatrist within the Sussex Partnership NHS Neurodevelopmental Service, and co-leads the world’s first Neurodivergent Brain-Body Clinic. Her pioneering research explores the links between neurodivergence, hypermobility, chronic illness, inflammation, autonomic dysfunction, pain, fatigue and mental health - challenging the long-standing divide between “physical” and “mental” health. Dr Jess explains the growing research linking neurodivergence with chronic illnesses, pain, hypermobility, fatigue, inflammation, eating disorders, nervous system dysregulation and temperature sensitivity. Together, they unpack why so many neurodivergent people describe feeling physically overwhelmed, burnt out or “unsafe” in their own body - and why those experiences are so often misunderstood or dismissed…
People in this episode
Host: Ben
Guest: Dr. Jessica Eccles
Topics covered
- ADHD
- chronic illness
- hypermobility
- neurodivergence
- mental health
- brain-body connection
Keywords
- ADHD
- autism
- neurodivergence
- chronic illness
- hypermobility
- mental health
- inflammation
- fatigue
- nervous system dysregulation
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Sussex Partnership NHS Neurodevelopmental Service, Neurodivergent Brain-Body Clinic, hidden20.org
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