In 2022, I became a patient, experiencing palpitations and health anxiety. Previously, I had worked for 15 years in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) specialising in preventative cardiology and stress medicine. This was followed by seven years working on a digital health project at the University of Oxford. After years of helping patients improve their health, I found myself on 'the patient side' of healthcare. The whole experience was confusing, stressful, sometimes scary, and often gloomy. But, as noted by Professor Stephen Hawking, "However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do to improve it". So I started my own self-care journey.
This experience taught me some important lessons:
• to manage my health proactively (self-care)
• to double-check health information
• to cope better emotionally, and
• to prioritise important lifestyle changes
These simple steps made a big difference and my physical and psychological health improved significantly. Now I seek to help others achieve better physical and emotional health, so you too can feel at ease, accomplish your goals, and enjoy your life.
- Dr Richard Williams, Founder & CEO