
Welcome to the website of author & composer, Patrick Ussher.
About
Greetings!
I originally hail from Dublin, Ireland.
I am an author of books on both philosophy and health and you can learn more about my book projects below.
I am also a composer of contemporary classical music. I am delighted to be part of the Artlist catalogue, a leading online music library for filmmakers. I have around 60 tracks on that library and have had over 100,000 downloads of my music there. I am also glad to be part of Sonata and Motion Array.
My music can also be listened to on Spotify.
.
I'm delighted to announce the publication of my new book, Understanding ME/CFS & Strategies for Healing.
The book explains the breakthrough ME/CFS research of Prof Klaus Wirth and Prof Carmen Scheibenbogen. I'm honoured also to have the Foreword written by Prof Wirth about his work on developing the world's first potential medication for ME/CFS and Long Covid, 'Mitodicure'.
The book also talks about my own health journey and the strategies that I have used to improve my quality of life.
The book is available in e-book and paperback from most major online retailers (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc). It is also available as an audiobook (on both Kobo and Amazon). Click on this link to see the main options for buying the book.
Follow this link for the book's offical website.
Review/collaboration copies and interviews? Please get in touch via the contact form below and I would be glad to discuss this with you.
Want to read a sample? Get chapter two here.
Books
In addition to the books below, I have also written a popular but pseudonymous political satire.
POTS: What It Really Is & Why It Happens
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a debilitating and often disabling autonomic illness that affects at least one million people worldwide. In the book, I argue that the condition's cause stems from a misfiring in the limbic system in the brain and that this can be corrected through neuroplasticity. I had this illness some years ago but recovered from it (although I subsequently developed ME/CFS after several years of good health, unfortunately).
Stoicism & Western Buddhism
A comparison of two philosophical ways of life, Stoicism, the ancient Greco-Roman philosophy, and Buddhism as practised in the West. Although there is no direct influence of the one on the other, I argue that both philosophies share many similarities and could also learn from each other. This book stems from research I did during my MA at the University of Exeter. This book has been featured on Shepherd.
Following the Pink Ribbon Path
This is a new edition of The Pink Ribbon Path, originally written by my late mother (Mary Redmond-Ussher). It is spiritual path for those facing serious illness, originally compiled by my mother during her six years with breast cancer. This new edition includes additional writings by those touched by my mother's original book as well as an introduction by myself on how I saw my mother live during her years of illness. I spoke about the book and my mum on Irish radio station, RTE.
Stoicism Today Vol I
In 2012, I founded the Stoicism Today blog, which I then ran for four years. These two books are compilations of some of the best pieces from that time. The Stoicism Today project, now known as Modern Stoicism, is a collaboration between academics and psychotherapists working on developing Stoic resources for the modern-day. I was part of the team from 2012-2016. Every year, the project runs 'International Stoic Week' which is followed by thousands of people worldwide.
The Myth of Primary Polydipsia
This is a hypothesis in which I challenge the condition known as 'psychogenic water drinking' (aka 'Primary Polydipsia'). This condition is currently regarded as involving the overconsumption of fluids as a result of mental illness. However, the cause is also acknowledged as unknown. In this book, I suggest that the typical clinical presentation of dilute urine, hyponatraemia and unquenchable thirst can mainly be explained with reference to the low blood volume, and the thirst this creates, in illnesses such as ME/CFS, POTS and Long Covid. Available as a free download here.
Writing / Talks / Media
A selection of recent blogs, talks and media about ME/CFS
Irish Times feature on my work: 'Is there a comprehensive understanding of ME/CFS?'
The Living with Long Covid Podcast to discuss my book
The Dr Eleanor Stein podcast on neuroplasticity - strengths & limitations
The Long Covid Podcast on excessive thirst (with Prof. Peter Deen)
YouTube Channel: Understanding ME-CFS
My channel focusses on presenting the research into ME/CFS and Long Covid in a simplified and accessible way as well as sharing my own approach in trying to improve from ME/CFS.
Voice Messaging Service / Video Consultations
Relating to ME/CFS, POTS and related illnesses
Over the years, I have been contacted for advice in relation to ME/CFS, POTS and related illnesses. I have now decided to offer a formal service for this advice.
The consultations can be via video call or via voice messaging.
Voice messaging: you write an email to me with your questions/the context of your situation and/or a voice message if you want and then I respond with a voice message.
The pricing for each 'round' of this service depends on the amount of work involved. For more information, please read this document.
I also have a YouTube video in which I describe how the voice messaging consultations work and the kind of topics I normally talk about.
If you'd prefer to schedule a video chat instead (60 euro per hour), please contact me with the kinds of topics you'd like to discusss (to make sure they are the kinds of things I can help with) and we can set up a call.
Music
Starting at the age of 18 and all through my time at university, I composed music in my spare time. In the past five years, I have had the opportunity to work on my music much more and this led to me composing new pieces, polishing up older ones and producing around 60 tracks of music in a contemporary classical style. Wherever my pieces have strings, whether cello or violin, these are live.
I did study music in the Irish school leaving certificate but I have not studied music theory since then and I have no formal training in composition: all of my music is composed 'by ear'.
Below you will see summaries of all the albums I have released on Spotify. Additional tracks can also be found on my Artlist profile.
Remembering my Mum (1950-2015) and her most beautiful smile throughout her years on The Pink Ribbon Path.
Contact / Newsletter
If you wish to subscribe to my newsletter for updates relating to my ME/CFS work, please fill in your details below and just write 'newsletter' in the message box.
Patrick Ussher © 2023