The Dr Louise Newson Podcast29 Jul 2025

18 - Hayley and Jay: a 30-year battle for the right diagnosis

In what Dr Louise Newson calls ‘the most impactful podcast I've ever recorded’, this powerful episode shares the extraordinary story of Hayley and her son, Jay.

Hayley spent nearly 30 years in and out of psychiatric hospitals. She was diagnosed with postnatal psychosis, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), depression and treatment-resistant mental illness. She was prescribed antipsychotics, antidepressants and even received electroconvulsive therapy. At one point, she was told she might have dementia.

After years of watching his mum, Hayley, struggle with severe mental illness, hospital stays, and treatments that never truly helped, her son Jay came across an episode of the Dr Louise Newson discussing the impact of hormones on mental health. For the first time, things started to make sense.

It led him to question whether hormones could have been the missing piece all along. With persistence and care, he pushed for Hayley to be given HRT, and the results were life changing. Together, Jay and Hayley share their emotional story of misdiagnosis, misunderstanding, and the powerful difference hormone treatment made after decades of suffering.

This episode is not just a story: it's a call to action. It highlights the often-ignored link between hormones and mental health, the systemic failures in women's healthcare, and the critical need for change.

Please listen, reflect and share. Because not everyone has a son like Jay.

We’re delighted to have been nominated in the Listeners’ Choice category for the British Podcast Awards. There’s still time to vote - click here

Email dlnpodcast@borkowski.co.uk with suggestions for new guests!  

Disclaimer:

Please note: This episode contains discussions around suicide, self-harm, and severe mental health struggles, which some listeners may find distressing. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that help is available.

In the UK, you can contact Samaritans 24/7 at 116 123 or visit samaritans.org. If you're outside the UK, please reach out to a local crisis support service or emergency medical help.

The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr Louise Newson or the Newson Health Group.    

LET'S CONNECT   

Website: Dr Louise Newson  

Instagram: The Dr Louise Newson Podcast (@drlouisenewsonpodcast) •Instagram photos and videos 

LinkedIn: Louise Newson | LinkedIn  

YouTube: Dr Louise Newson - YouTube

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(383)

83 – Why are women still leaving work because of their hormones?

We’re losing experienced, talented women from the workforce because hormonal symptoms are still being overlooked, misunderstood and too often left untreated.In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined...

14 Jul 28min

82 – The hidden link between epilepsy and hormones

For women living with epilepsy, times of hormonal changes can all bring unexpected changes in seizure patterns. Yet many are never told that fluctuating hormones could be playing a role.In this episod...

9 Jul 20min

81 – The hormone confusion that’s affecting millions of women

What’s the difference between natural and synthetic hormone treatments, and why does it matter?In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by pharmacist and hormone expert Sara Hover, who has spent mo...

7 Jul 29min

80 – What if we’ve misunderstood hormones all along?

Many people only think about hormones in relation tomenopause, puberty or fertility. But hormones influence every cell in yourbody, affecting everything from your energy and metabolism to inflammation...

2 Jul 32min

79 – ”I knew it wasn’t depression”: Jenny’s PMDD story

For years, Jenny was wrongly told she had depression. She was prescribed antidepressants, saw multiple healthcare professionals and even underwent a hysterectomy, yet no one addressed the underlying h...

30 Jun 29min

78 – Primodos: The forgotten synthetic hormone scandal

Millions of women were prescribed Primodos as a pregnancy test even though there were concerns that it was associated with many different and often devastating birth defects. More than 60 years later,...

25 Jun 33min

77 – Hormones after cancer: why women deserve a choice

For many women diagnosed with cancer, conversations about hormones end before they’ve even begun. They’re often told they can never take hormone treatment again, without being given the evidence, the ...

23 Jun 31min

76 – Why migraine is so much more than a headache with Dr Eli Sader

Migraine is one of the most common causes of disability worldwide, yet it’s still widely misunderstood and often dismissed as “just a headache”.In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by neurologi...

18 Jun 33min