LAST month’s Mental Health Awareness Month (1–31 May) saw Muscular Dystrophy UK spotlighting mental wellbeing in a powerful episode of its Muscles Matter podcast — a platform supporting over 110,000 children and adults across the UK living with one of more than 60 muscle-wasting and weakening conditions.
In the third episode, 26-year-old host Rebecca Torricelli from Sussex speaks candidly about her own mental health experiences, having been diagnosed with Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) at just 18 months old.
Rebecca Torricelli. Photograph credit: Muscular Dystrophy UK/Teri Pengilley.Rebecca is joined by two guests who also live with neuromuscular conditions:
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Louise Halling, a psychotherapist from Poole diagnosed with limb girdle muscular dystrophy in 1988, and
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Joe Logue, a writer and Community Manager at the disability charity Euan’s Guide, who lives with Becker muscular dystrophy and speaks openly about once having suicidal thoughts.
Together, they discuss the mental health challenges that come with muscle-wasting conditions, the emotional weight of physical decline, and how they’ve each found ways to cope. Louise brings insight from her work as a therapist, while Joe highlights the importance of creative expression and, crucially, talking.
Louise Halling. Photograph credit: Muscular Dystrophy UK/Jo Ritchie.Louise said:
“With muscle-wasting conditions, the losses come in waves. You adapt to one challenge, and then another comes. It’s a constant cycle of grieving and adjusting — a lifelong process that’s emotionally exhausting.”
Joe Logue. Photograph credit: Muscular Dystrophy.Joe added:
“The best advice I can give is one simple word: TALK. Sharing your feelings not only helps you release them, but also helps others connect with what you’re going through. It normalises what we all feel — and it should be legitimised.”
This honest conversation brings to the forefront an often-overlooked aspect of disability management: the impact on mental health. It reminds listeners that behind every diagnosis is a deeply human story of resilience, emotion, and adaptation.
You can listen to the Muscles Matter podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music and more.
If you need support, contact Muscular Dystrophy UK’s FREE helpline on 0800 652 6352 (Mon–Thu, 10am–2pm) or visit musculardystrophyuk.org.
