Hello friends! Welcome to The Rest Room: a place to explore what it means to live (and live well) with chronic illness.
Here you’ll find slow, in-depth content about chronic illness that goes beyond an Instagram caption.
Whether it’s the Rest Room podcast, my weekly essays, or our community chat threads, The Rest Room is for people living with chronic illness, the people who love them, and the people who work with them.
Why “The Rest Room”?
A diagnosis is supposed to open up doors to treatment and support, but for so many people that simply isn’t the case. Through my work as a BBC journalist, health writer and consultant, I’ve had access to some amazing experts in the field and have worked with and advised companies and medical professionals around the world on how to translate medical advice to patients.
There’s so much simple advice that most patients do not receive that could help them better understand their health, their body, and how to safely and sustainably find ways of living with often challenging and debilitating conditions. I didn’t really get it when I needed it, and when I finally did, it changed my life.
That’s why I love working with experts to create resources on topics like a guide on pacing for people who would rather be doing other things and an exploration of what actually is brain fog, as well as wider explorations of issues relating to the care and treatment of chronic illnesses.
Things like why we need to rethink what we mean when we’re talking about recovery, and the problem with how “self-management” is currently thought about in the NHS. In fact, many NHS clinicians now recommend The Rest Room to patients in their clinics.
I also share personal essays about my own experiences living with chronic illness, like why the warrior narrative does nothing for me, how I’m learning (over many years) to not be so scared of my own body, and the fear of disappointment that comes alongside the hope of new treatment.
Ultimately, I write the content I needed to read when I first got diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome when I was 21.
Please note: I have paused paid subscriptions for the foreseeable future. Previously, paid subscribers received…
✍️ At least two additional posts in your inbox every month, featuring original writing, interviews, and articles, as well as my personal insights into topics we’re discussing. I’ll also be sharing some of my favourite things I’ve learned or read in the last few weeks, reviews, recommendations, and more!
💬 Ability to comment on posts, share your experiences and shape The Rest Room, as well as access to community discussions and Q&As. PLUS access to our private community group chat only for paid subscribers!
📚 Access to the full archive on the Substack site
Here are some lovely things readers have recently said about The Rest Room:
“Having worked in this area for a decade, I can say The Rest Room is the best health related podcast I’ve listened to. I’ve long said Natasha has given me better advice through her work than the NHS! She takes her years of lived experience and cleverly chosen experts and discusses the issues that really matter to people with long term conditions but no one else is talking about.” - Frances Ryan, The Guardian
“If you or someone you know is living with a chronic illness, The Rest Room by Natasha Lipman comes highly recommended. Delving into what it means to live a fulfilled life with chronic illness, Natasha drops bi-weekly episodes covering various topics. From navigating work and chronic illness to rethinking recovery, this insightful and inspirational podcast is a must-listen.” - Content Is Queen
“Thank you Natasha, this membership is the best investment I’ve made into my health and the advice the chronic illness community needs. I recommend it to everyone asking about pacing.”
“You have created something valuable in that space between what is said/not said at a doctor's clinic and how life happens.”
“I just wanted to say a big thank you for what you are doing. Your podcasts and articles and the wisdom of the experts you have interviewed are helping me to better manage my conditions. Just for context, I’m 50 so this support is coming decades into my life. And I’ll be honest and say that yes, with healthier finances I could have accessed this support all along. So what you are doing is invaluable.”
“This is so beautifully written, and I love that you showcase what the reader can do as well. I love how you showed understanding and compassion to those at every stage, this brought joy to my day. I really appreciate you.”
Who am I?
I’m a former BBC staff writer, and current podcaster and journalist, specialising in chronic illness, disability, and health. I’m also a voracious reader, potato aficionado, and learner of Yiddish.
In February 2022 I went freelance, and decided to launch this newsletter to accompany my podcast. When I’m not working on my own projects, I’m the Content Lead for Visible, who are building an activity tracking platform for illness, not wellness.
In 2019, I was named one of the most influential disabled people in the UK by the Shaw Trust. I also have a bit of a habit of collecting what I like to call “vaguely obnoxious do-gooder titles”, having been named a Global Changemaker, Rhize Emerging Catalyst, and Virgin Media Pioneer (where I was one of the winners of their trip to India to meet Richard Branson).
Some old jobs I’ve done include: “entrepreneurship content guru” at Virgin Unite, co-founder of the internationally recognised Libyan Youth Movement (as part of the IPF, a youth journalism project I founded), as well as working on various international youth projects.
I’ve been writing about chronic illness and disability online for years and years. My experiences and thoughts have changed (and changed me) over that time. But what has stayed the same is my desire to create content that helps and informs others.
I hope you’ll join me.
