True Story London Podcast 11 - The Knowing w/Clair Whitefield
How Ignoring Your Body's 'Knowing' Led to Life-Altering IBS
Clair Whitefield reveals how ignoring a clear inner voice—a "knowing"—warning her not to eat a Greek salad triggered a severe, chronic case of IBS. Despite initial dismissal, she came to understand this voice as a critical safety signal that she had often overridden throughout her 20s.
Her experience underscores how chronic stress and trauma can deeply affect the gut, leading to urgent symptoms like hers. Clair found healing through a specialized naturopath who connected emotional health with gut microbiome balance, using targeted supplements and lifestyle changes.
She emphasizes the importance of tuning into our bodies' subtle signals—even those we might initially ignore—and the power of storytelling and humor in breaking feelings of shame and isolation around taboo health issues like IBS.
Clair's IBS Journey
- Clair Whitefield shares her personal journey through sudden, severe IBS triggered by ignoring her gut's warning about a Greek salad.
- She describes the physical and emotional toll, including shame and the impact on daily life.
From Teen to Performer
- Clair discovered her passion for performance as a teenager inspired by the Edinburgh Fringe.
- She later developed her poetry into a touring show, blending her writing and performing talents.
