Stronger Still

Dr Theshanka Hibbert is a UK-based General Practitioner with over a decade of experience across NHS and private healthcare settings, including urgent care centres and major London hospitals. Alongside her clinical work, she is a clinical researcher and has a specialist interest in preventative medicine, women’s health, and the impact of stress on the body.She holds a medical degree (MBBS) from Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Medical School, a BSc in Physiology from King’s College London, and postgraduate qualifications including MRCGP and DRCOG. She has also completed a Level 5 Diploma in Life Coaching with distinction, reflecting her commitment to supporting patients beyond traditional medical models.Dr Hibbert has worked in a wide range of clinical environments, from A&E departments and out-of-hours services to private practice, including roles within organisations such as Bupa and Goldman Sachs. Her work as a GP and clinical researcher continues to inform her holistic and patient-centred approach.Passionate about health education, she is a medical expert for Agora Health, a platform dedicated to empowering women through better understanding of their health. She has been featured in national publications including Stylist, Tesco Magazine and Bella, and has appeared as a guest GP on BBC radio, sharing accessible, evidence-based health advice with a wider audience.Through her clinical work, media presence @doctor.tesh and coaching, Dr Hibbert has developed a deep interest in how stress, adversity and life experiences shape physical health. Stronger Still brings together her medical expertise, patient stories and personal insight to explore how the body responds to stress and how we can learn to work with it, rather than against it.Michelle Mildenberg Lara is an illustrator from Bogotá, now living in Amsterdam. Michelle works digitally, with a focus on figurative drawing. Her particular interests lie in history and social sciences, particularly the representation of women and the multiple ways to embody or be identified as a woman.Her clients include UNESCO, The New Statesman, Penguin Random House, Quarto, The New York Times, Thames & Hudson, DK, The Royal Society of the Arts, The New York Review of Books, Dyson, The Financial Times, de Volkskrant, The New Yorker, the Platform for International Cooperation of Undocumented Migrants, NPR, The Marshall Project, VANS, Make a Wish Foundation. https://michellemildenberg.com@michellemildenberg

• IntroductionWhat Stress Really Is How stress works in the body: when it helps, when it harms.Wired for SurvivalHow stress impacts the brain and nervous system. Emotional memory, anxiety, and burnout. What helps: breathwork, CBT, understanding medication, complementary therapies.Matters of the HeartCardiovascular strain from stress. Hidden symptoms in women. What helps: diet, movement, heart meds, meditation.Hormone Highs and LowsStress and hormone balance across the life cycle. Sleep, metabolism, periods, menopause. What helps: HRT, herbal supplements, rest strategies.When Defences Go DownImmune dysregulation and autoimmune flare-ups. Stress-related inflammation. What helps: probiotics, medication detailed, Ayurvedic and energy-based therapies.Tension That Builds UpMuscle and nerve pain, migraines, and postural issues. What helps: physiotherapy, posture work, pain relief, body-based therapies.Gut Feelings That Don’t Go AwayDigestion disrupted by stress; IBS and intolerances. What helps: elimination diets, medical, herbal and heat remedies.Cycles That Go Off TrackStress and the reproductive system. Period changes, fertility, pregnancy outcomes. What helps: hormonal support, cycle tracking, ovulation care.When Stress Shows Up on the OutsideSkin conditions and hair loss linked to stress. Self-image and emotional wellbeing. What helps: gentle routines, dermatological care, emotional tools.Index / Further reading / Acknowledgements