In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David speaks with Dr Sally Doust, GP and women’s health specialist, about premenstrual distress, including premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The conversation explores how hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle can affect mood, energy, sleep and emotional sensitivity – and why these patterns are often overlooked or misunderstood.

They discuss the wider context of women’s health inequalities, including the lack of research and the ways this can affect recognition and treatment. Sally explains how changes in oestrogen and progesterone interact with the brain and body, and why premenstrual symptoms can look very different from one person to another.

The episode also looks at how to tell when symptoms may be cyclical, why tracking patterns can be so helpful and how recognition itself can reduce self-blame. There is thoughtful discussion of PMDD, including the severity of symptoms some women experience and the importance of feeling believed and supported.

Lee and Sally also explore practical support, from cycle tracking and self-compassion to lifestyle changes, supplements and medical treatment options. This is a grounded conversation about understanding patterns, widening choice and responding with more care and clarity.

Key moments
00:37 Introduction
02:48 Women’s health inequalities
04:27 Hormones across the cycle
08:52 Hormones and the brain
11:16 What PMS can look like
14:22 Cyclical patterns and timing
16:42 Choice Pause – changing mood and energy
25:35 Understanding PMDD
31:35 Supportive choices for PMS
35:29 Treatment options
41:52 Cycle tracking takeaway
42:50 The 30 – 30 – 30 approach

About the guest

Dr Sally Doust is a GP with a specialist interest in women's health and medical educator. She works in the NHS, in private practice, and at Brighton and Sussex Medical School. In her GP work she found many women had adverse experiences of healthcare because of gender biases and lack of research into women's health - this inspired her to specialise in this area and remains the key purpose of her career. She holds diplomas in obstetrics and gynaecology (DRCOG) and sexual and reproductive healthcare (DFSRH). She is a member of the Primary Care Women's Health Society and the British Menopause Society. For the past two years she's been a delegate for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

You can connect with Sally on LinkedIn.

Here is a link to the NAPS PMS guidelines

About the host

Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn. You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here: https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David speaks with Nic Malcomson, integrative psychotherapist, about the success trap – the pattern where strengths that once helped us thrive can gradually become rigid and exhausting.

The conversation explores how early success, positive feedback and high standards can shape identity over time. When life becomes more demanding or circumstances change, the same qualities that once worked well can begin to create pressure, self-doubt and a fear of slipping.

Lee and Nic discuss how this can show up in different ways – from ongoing over-striving and perfectionism to a deeper sense of feeling stuck after a setback. They reflect on the link between performance and self-worth, and how difficult it can be when identity becomes tied to always coping, achieving or getting things right.

The episode also explores Nic’s idea of fallible flourishing – a more compassionate and realistic way of thinking about growth, motivation and thriving. Together, they consider the value of naming the pattern, recognising the role of environment and finding space for being human rather than endlessly performing.

This is a thoughtful conversation about pressure, identity and self-worth, offering a kinder and more sustainable way to think about success.

Key moments

00:00 Why naming it matters
00:29 Introducing the success trap
01:30 Nic’s own experience
04:27 How identity develops
06:37 Burnout and breakdown
07:03 Chronic, acute and stuck patterns
11:01 Why setbacks can help
13:37 Ideal lived self and feared self
19:08 The importance of normalising
26:54 Under, over and optimal motivation
31:49 Fallibility and connection
33:18 Environment and supportive change

About the guest

Nic Malcomson is an integrative psychotherapist who has delivered more than 5,000 therapy sessions for doctors through NHS Practitioner Health and in his private practice, Eudemedics: Well-being for Doctors. He developed the Fallible Flourishing Model, which explores how early experiences of success can later create psychological traps around performance, identity and self-worth, and how these patterns can shift towards more sustainable flourishing.

You can connect with Nic on LinkedIn or through his website: www.eudemedics.com

About the host

Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn. You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here: https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David speaks with GP and menopause specialist Dr Carys Sonnenberg about the complex ways menopause can affect emotional wellbeing, physical health and everyday life.

Menopause is often described in terms of hormones alone, yet the experience is rarely that simple. In this conversation, Lee and Carys explore how hormonal changes interact with sleep, stress, lifestyle habits and wider life pressures. Many women find themselves navigating fluctuating moods, disrupted sleep and changes in concentration at the same time as managing work, family responsibilities and other demands.

The discussion highlights how menopause is highly individual. Some women experience few symptoms, while others notice significant changes in mood, anxiety or energy. Understanding these differences can help create a more compassionate and personalised approach to care.

They also explore practical ways of supporting wellbeing during this time – including the role of lifestyle medicine, cognitive behavioural strategies, nutrition and hormone treatment where appropriate. Rather than focusing on a single solution, the conversation reflects on how multiple approaches can work together to support women through the menopause transition.

This is a thoughtful conversation about complexity, choice and self-understanding during a significant stage of life.

Key moments

00:00 Emotional symptoms in menopause
02:22 Mood changes and mental health
04:01 The six pillars of lifestyle
09:10 Habits, coping and awareness
12:21 Hormones and brain chemistry
20:27 CBT approaches for menopause
28:35 Hot flushes and thoughts
32:28 Breathing and stress regulation
37:37 Nutrition and neurotransmitters
41:01 A small wellbeing choice

About the guest

Dr Carys Sonnenberg is an NHS GP and British Menopause Society menopause specialist. She founded Rowena Health, an online service providing holistic menopause care for women. She is trained in CBT and nutrigenomics and is co-author of Women’s Health Made Easy, due to be published in 2026. Carys is also a member of the Primary Care Women’s Health Society wider committee and contributes to education through national conferences and webinars.

You can contact her via her website, or on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram: @drcaryssonnenberg

About the host

Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn. You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here: https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

Modern family life can leave parents feeling pulled in all directions – trying to support their children, manage daily pressures and make the right decisions in a world full of advice, expectations and opinions about getting it right. In that context, the idea of being a good enough parent can feel both reassuring and like an important reset.

In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David is joined by clinical psychologist and author Dr Tara Porter to explore what good enough parenting really means, and why it matters for children’s mental health and family wellbeing.

They discuss how modern parenting has become increasingly outcome-focused, with pressure around education, activities, behaviour and getting things right. Tara reflects on how these pressures can make parenting feel like something to optimise or perfect – and how aiming for the messy middle instead can help families find more flexibility, balance and connection.

The conversation also explores relationship-based parenting, including the importance of showing up, staying present and allowing for rupture and repair. Rather than aiming to be endlessly calm or perfect, Tara highlights the value of authenticity, emotional competence and adjusting as children grow and change.

They also discuss the idea of being firm and kind – holding boundaries in a way that is guided by values rather than control. From phones and screens to everyday family life, the episode looks at how parents can stay connected while still offering structure, guidance and care.

This is a thoughtful conversation about easing pressure, focusing on what matters and finding a more compassionate, realistic way to parent.

Key moments

00:21 Good enough parenting
02:16 Where the idea comes from
03:33 Pressure, culture and modern life
06:39 The messy middle
13:13 Relationship-based parenting
19:26 Rupture and repair
29:46 Being firm and kind
32:04 Values and boundaries
36:13 Emotional competence
42:18 Lead with relationship

About the guest

Dr Tara Porter is a clinical psychologist and author with 28 years’ NHS experience working with children, adolescents and families, specialising in eating disorders. She now works privately in London, with a particular focus on the adolescent and young adult years. Tara has a strong interest in mental health in schools, contributing to the Anna Freud Centre’s Schools in Mind project, writing for TES and teaching in schools. She is also an Associate Tutor at UCL and the author of several books including You Don’t Understand Me and Good Enough: A Framework for Modern Parenting.

Connect with Tara via LinkedIn or Instagram @drtaraporterpsychologist

About the host

Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn. You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here: https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

Spending time in the mountains can offer something rare in modern life – space to think, to feel and to see our lives from a wider perspective. For many, the outdoors provides not only challenge and adventure but also regulation, clarity and meaning.

In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David is joined by adventurer and Mind Over Mountains founder Alex Staniforth to explore how time outdoors can shape resilience, perspective and everyday choices.

They discuss how early experiences of illness, bullying and feeling different can shape self-belief, and how discovering the mountains offered Alex a sense of safety, possibility and purpose. The conversation explores how stepping beyond familiar limits – outdoors or in daily life – can build confidence and coping capacity.

The episode reflects on Alex’s experiences on Everest and the lasting impact of the Nepal earthquake, including making sense of trauma and finding meaning through helping others. Rather than viewing resilience as toughness alone, the discussion highlights values, connection and self-compassion in sustaining wellbeing.

They also explore nature’s role in mental health – widening perspective, supporting presence and creating opportunities for connection. Alex shares how this led to Mind Over Mountains, combining outdoor activity with psychological support to help people build lasting tools for wellbeing.

This is a grounded conversation about finding strength through challenge, living in line with what matters and using small, intentional choices to support resilience and wellbeing.

Key moments

00:33 Challenge, perspective and resilience
03:18 Early experiences and self-belief
07:29 Finding safety and possibility in the mountains
11:50 Values, purpose and challenge
15:15 Connection, solitude and restoring energy
20:14 Creating space through the outdoors
23:07 Everest, survival and the Nepal earthquake
27:12 Trauma, meaning and long-term recovery
35:59 Nature as therapy and Mind Over Mountains
39:14 Nature's impact on wellbeing and connection
42:14 Supporting mental health with time outdoors

About the guest

Alex Staniforth is a record-breaking adventurer, ultra-runner, speaker and founder of the mental health charity Mind Over Mountains. By 19, he had survived two Mount Everest disasters, and has lived with epilepsy, mental ill health, a stammer and bullying since childhood. He is the fastest person to climb all 446 mountains in England and Wales under human power and is the author of Icefall and Another Peak.

Connect with Alex:

Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram @alexstaniforth_

Mind Over Mountains

About the host

Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn. You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here: https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

In a world of constant notifications and competing demands on our attention, many of us feel too busy to read. Yet books and stories offer something increasingly rare – a quiet, immersive space where we can reflect, feel and make sense of our experiences.

In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David is joined by Dr Charley Baker, Associate Professor of mental health at the University of Nottingham, to explore how literature helps us understand psychological distress, identity and experiences that do not fit neatly into clinical language.

They discuss reading as an active process that can restore energy, broaden perspective and deepen empathy. Stories allow us to encounter complex emotions, stigma and trauma from the inside, in a space that feels safer and more intimate than other media.

The conversation explores how literature can help us find language for difficult experiences, challenge preconceptions and strengthen connection – with others and ourselves. They reflect on the role of fiction in clinical understanding, the value of poetry and shorter forms when concentration is low, and how sharing books can become an act of care that strengthens relationships.

Rather than presenting reading as something we should do, this episode invites a gentler approach – noticing what draws us in, allowing ourselves to stop when a book does not connect, and recognising that stories can meet different needs at different times.

This is a grounded conversation about how literature can support understanding, connection and emotional wellbeing.

Key moments

00:57 Why reading offers a different kind of space in a fast-paced world
02:18 Charley’s journey into literature, mental health and the health humanities
04:18 How stories build empathy and broaden perspective
06:03 Immersion, representation and feeling understood through fiction
10:58 Literature and understanding self-harm
15:11 Finding language for trauma and complex experiences
17:19 Choice Pause – opening space for creativity and curiosity
19:57 Reading as nourishment and active recharge
23:32 Sharing books as connection and enacted kindness
31:07 Listening to our needs and finding our own relationship with reading
33:48 Audiobooks and new ways of accessing stories
39:44 Permission to stop reading what doesn’t connect

About the guest

Dr Charley Baker is an associate professor of mental health at the University of Nottingham. Her work explores literature, mental health and the health humanities, focusing on how stories support understanding of distress and lived experience. Her clinical interests include domestic abuse, violence against women and girls, self-harm, suicide and OCD, and how narrative approaches can support people experiencing distress.

Instagram: @CharleyBakerTheBookPusher

About the host

Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn. You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here: https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

For many people, the word selfish is linked with guilt and a sense of having done something wrong. It’s often understood as putting yourself first at the expense of others, which can lead to a habit of placing your own needs last.

In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David is joined by Suzy Reading, psychologist and author of How to Be Selfish, to offer a different perspective. Suzy reframes selfishness as allowing your needs, feelings and limits to matter, rather than being overridden by everyone else’s.

Together, they explore why many caring people label themselves as selfish for resting, setting boundaries, expressing emotions or asking for support. Guilt is examined as a signal of values and care, not proof that something is wrong, and how quickly self-criticism can take hold when expectations feel relentless.

They discuss how selflessness is often learned early, shaped by family roles, cultural messages and ideas about being “good”, particularly for women and parents. Lee and Suzy reflect on how neglecting our needs can lead to exhaustion and burnout, and why attending to ourselves supports healthier relationships.

The episode also explores boundaries as practical ways of taking responsibility for wellbeing. Suzy shares simple tools drawn from psychology, movement and nervous system regulation, alongside a Choice Pause to help listeners check in during moments of pressure.

This is a reflective conversation about developing a kinder relationship with yourself and letting go of the idea that worth is earned through self-sacrifice.

Key moments

00:00 Why selfishness is associated with guilt
04:09 Reframing selfishness as allowing your needs to matter
05:27 Selflessness, identity and putting yourself last
07:09 Guilt as a signal of care and values
09:32 Depletion, exhaustion and burnout
11:43 Where fear of selfishness comes from
13:24 Parenting and modelling emotional honesty
16:06 What boundaries are and how they work
18:38 Requests, agreements and responsibility
26:06 A simple grounding practice
31:49 Noticing nourishment and awe
37:27 Kind self-talk

About the guest

Suzy Reading is a chartered psychologist and self-care and self-advocacy expert with three decades of experience across psychology, yoga and personal training. She supports people to develop sustainable habits and heal their relationship with self. Suzy is the author of The Little Book of Self-Care, The Self-Care Revolution, Self-Care for Tough Times and her latest book, How to Be Selfish.

You can connect with Suzy on LinkedIn and Instagram - @suzyreading

About the host

Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn. You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here: https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

Concerns about our bodies are common and part of being human. For some people, they remain occasional worries. For others, they begin to take up more attention, influence mood and shape everyday choices about food, movement, relationships and confidence.

In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David is joined by Joanna Silver, a psychologist specialising in eating disorders and body image difficulties, to explore why appearance-related distress can become so persistent – and what can genuinely help.

They discuss body image as something that exists on a continuum, from everyday dissatisfaction to more intense distress that narrows attention and reduces quality of life. Joanna explains how self-worth can become overly linked to weight or shape, why comparison often increases distress, and how cultural messages, family language and social media all shape how we relate to our bodies.

Rather than framing body image as something to fix or eliminate, the conversation approaches it as a relationship – one that can soften and become more balanced over time. They explore why change is rarely linear, how shame thrives when concerns stay hidden, and why curiosity and kindness are often more helpful than self-criticism.

The episode also includes a Choice Pause – a short, guided moment to help create space from comparison and reconnect with what matters in the present moment.

This is a compassionate, practical discussion about understanding body image distress and finding steadier ways to care for our bodies, even on difficult days..

Key moments

00:39 Why body image concerns are common and when they become more distressing
03:50 When self-worth becomes tied to appearance
07:12 How family, culture and language shape body image
09:16 Comparison, social media and increased distress
11:26 Signs body image concerns may be affecting daily life
15:27 Shame, secrecy and the value of talking
19:31 The Choice Pause creating space from comparison
22:04 Relating to body image as a relationship
28:47 Shifting focus from appearance to function
35:15 Body distress as a signal
40:34 Small steps towards a kinder relationship with the body

About the Guest

Joanna Silver is a Counselling Psychologist who specialises in working with people affected by Eating Disorders, Body Dysmorphic Disorder and body image problems. She works as the Lead Psychological Therapist at Orri, a treatment centre for people with Eating Disorders. I am passionate about bringing compassionate, evidence-based conversations about mental health and body image into the public space.

You can connect with Joanna via Linked in

Beat eating disorders charity

About the host

Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn. You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here: https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david