General
Domains: Professionalism, Leadership & Accountability
No CPD Points
Welcome to Sound Optometry, a podcast from Docet hosted by Michelle Hanratty, an IP optometrist with over 20 years’ experience in both high street and hospital settings. Each month, through case studies and in-depth conversations, we explore the topics that matter most to you as an optometrist and are relevant to everyday practice.
Episode 47 - Chronic Stress: The brain-body connection
Following on from our recent episode, Burnout in Optometry, we now focus on the systemic and neurological effects of chronic stress and its long-term impact on our health.
Like so many healthcare professionals, optometrists are highly susceptible to stress. Recognising when to take action is crucial in preventing the potential harm that can accumulate over time.
In this episode, Professor Anna Whittaker delves into the body’s physiological response to stress and shares strategies to counter its negative effects. We also hear from Professor Vanja Duric, whose research explores how stress impacts the brain, influencing both short-term behaviour and long-term brain health.
This discussion serves as an important reminder that maintaining our own mental well-being is essential—not just for ourselves, but for the care we provide to our patients, now and in the future.
An additional reading element consolidates the learning on this topic.
Subscribe to the series on your preferred podcast player so you don’t miss an episode. You can access all episodes of Sound Optometry here.
First published: March 2025
Last reviewed: December 2025