Jayshree Adnath: I hope to help others by talking about my abuse
By MITA MISTRYApr 22, 2021
HOW JAYSHREE ADNATH IS USING HER TRAUMA TO EMPOWER VICTIMS
ABUSE is not just violence and comes in many forms. Coercive-control and financial abuse can be so terrifying that it takes many years to heal from the traumatic experiences.
Jayshree Adnath said it took her 24 years to find answers as to why bad things happened to a good woman and this led her on a deep spiritual journey towards healing unimaginable wounds. The determined survivor is now helping others and has newfound courage.
SPEAKING OUT: Jayshree Adnath
She used that bravery to share her story, from being in a deeply abusive relationship to finding her way out, with Eastern Eye.
“I am a migrant woman who moved from Mauritius to the UK. My abusive relationship began when my husband love-bombed me and hurried me to get married within months of meeting him,” explained Jayshree.
The marriage lasted 11 years, but it would become an inescapable hell – the man she married quickly changed and would regularly humiliate her in public, including in front of friends and family, she said. The constant psychological torture led to financial abuse, where she was given only a little money to buy food and nothing for essentials like sanitary products. She had left everything and become dependent on him, and he would go through shopping receipts to check if she had bought any personal items. “I would cry hysterically for money to survive.
It was like he enjoyed me being in distress and not letting me have sufficient money for basic needs like food. He would constantly threaten me that if I did not obey him, he would report me to the police and get my citizenship application cancelled. He would keep saying, ‘you are so stupid and don’t understand UK financial laws’. He took control of my salary when I was working.”
She said that she soon realised her husband was living a double life and secretly meeting gay lovers. But like many women constantly being abused, she was unable to speak to close family and friends, for fear of burdening them and being judged. The few friends she did find the courage to talk to, laughed at her. The constant financial and psychological abuse led to untold trauma, she explained.
Jayshree volunteered at the Citizens Advice Bureau and got to learn more about UK laws. “I sought help from Woman’s Aid and from this I got into the Freedom Programme, run by Clare Walker who is a domestic abuse consultant and expert witness in court. This support group was like a light being switched on in my mind. I was able to share everything I was going through and unburden myself a little,” she said.
Towards the end of the marriage, she told her sister and parents about her situation, but they weren’t in the UK to give support.
Jayshree said she tried leaving him three times, but he played mind games and constantly threatened that he would take his own life if she left. Her caring nature made her stay, but the abuse continued.
One day after a big row, her husband went away without leaving her any money, and with the help of Woman’s Aid, Jayshree finally managed to leave the marital house. “He was away for four days. My parents sent me some money and I had to pawn my gold chain. I had four days to pack and organise a van to carry my belongings away. I went to the bank about a change of address and explained that I was fleeing domestic abuse.”
Leaving wasn’t easy, however, and Jayshree revealed that she was let down by the police, housing officers, her team leader at the volunteering organisation and a close friend. She was on her own in the country with no one to help her except for the UAVA [United Against Violence and Abuse] group and the Freedom Programme.
She said she found surprisingly little sympathy from authorities and faced the headache of dealing with red tape. “I felt lost, numb and in shock when I left, but finally felt safe when I ended up in a refuge after being kicked out by a so-called best friend.”
The trauma of being abused has resulted in ongoing mental and physical ailments, including PTSD, fibromyalgia and anxiety.
“I have got trust issues and am now an introvert. I no longer want to be around people. I miss the girl I used to be – bubbly, trusting and an extrovert,” she admitted.
But despite ongoing problems, Jayshree said she was no longer just surviving but was trying to live life mindfully, with joy and on her own terms. She was being helped by therapy, support workers, mental health recovery college and mindfulness workshops, with others who have suffered similar experiences.
“I have been able to inspire other women to open up when I talk without a filter about my own abusive relationship. I feel more empowered and communicate in a calmer way. I have grown more confident in sharing my own experiences. It has also cemented my determination to put my name and story out there to encourage abused women to be empowered, rise and stand up for themselves in a safe way,” she said.
The advice Jayshree would give those in abusive relationships is to seek help from organisations like Women’s Aid and the Freedom Programme, and not worry about what others may say. She also recommended therapy to heal the trauma. “Remember, the shame was never for us to carry but it should be on those who abused and hurt us, the perpetrators.”
She suggested south Asian women join groups with women from similar cultural backgrounds who had gone through the same experiences and expressed openly what happened to them as it was empowering. She said the Leicester Counselling Centre was “absolutely amazing in an impartial way”, but south Asian groups led by qualified therapists who understood patriarchal culture were better. “It can be difficult to explain to non-Asians how families impact us and how you get revictimised again and again in our community for years for daring to leave an abusive marriage. It is always the woman’s fault and the vile gossips always blame us women.
“But the recovery toolkit delivered by Hope Training and mindfulness from Adhar for black, Asian and ethnic women, created that safe environment where we were with women from our own culture. For the first time in our lives, we were given that safe space to unravel ourselves even further with women from the same ethnicity.”
Looking ahead, Jayshree said she wants to set up an organisation for migrant black, Asian and ethnic spouses so they are aware of their rights in case of abuse and to help them integrate into British society. She is keen to create a safer environment for women from overseas who are abused in the UK, and good aftercare for those who have left their marital house. In terms of her own future, she said she was now living with purpose to empower more women by sharing her experiences.
If you are affected by any of these issues, visit www.womensaid.org.uk, www.adharproject.org and www.hopetraining.co.uk
The Department of Health said the rollout would reduce missed days at nursery and school, cut time parents take off work, and save the NHS about £15 million a year. (Representational image: iStock)
CHILDREN in England will be offered a free chickenpox vaccine for the first time from January 2026, the government has announced.
GP practices will give eligible children a combined vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) as part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule. Around half a million children each year are expected to be protected.
The Department of Health said the rollout would reduce missed days at nursery and school, cut time parents take off work, and save the NHS about £15 million a year. Research estimates chickenpox in childhood leads to £24 million in lost income and productivity annually.
Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, said: “We’re giving parents the power to protect their children from chickenpox and its serious complications, while keeping them in nursery or the classroom where they belong and preventing parents from scrambling for childcare or having to miss work. This vaccine puts children’s health first and gives working families the support they deserve. As part of our Plan for Change, we want to give every child the best possible start in life, and this rollout will help to do exactly that.”
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Most parents probably consider chickenpox to be a common and mild illness, but for some babies, young children and even adults, chickenpox can be very serious, leading to hospital admission and tragically, while rare, it can be fatal. It is excellent news that from next January we will be introducing a vaccine to protect against chickenpox into the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme – helping prevent what is for most a nasty illness and for those who develop severe symptoms, it could be a life saver.”
Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, said: “This is a hugely positive moment for families as the NHS gets ready to roll out a vaccine to protect children against chickenpox for the first time, adding to the arsenal of other routine jabs that safeguard against serious illness.”
The eligibility criteria will be set out in clinical guidance, and parents will be contacted by their GP surgery if their child is eligible.
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WHEN broadcaster and journalist Naga Munchetty began speaking openly about her experiences with adenomyosis and debilitating menstrual pain, the response was overwhelming.
Emails and messages poured in from women who had endured years of dismissal, silence and shame when it came to their health. That outpouring became the driving force behind her new book, It’s Probably Nothing, which calls for women to be heard and to advocate for themselves in a medical system that has too often ignored them.
“For so long, so many women haven’t been listened to by the world of medicine,” Munchetty said. “I knew this from my own experience of not being given adequate pain relief, or waiting years for a diagnosis. My motivation was to help women and people who love women to advocate better for women’s health.”
The book blends Munchetty’s personal journey with the voices of other women who have faced similar struggles, alongside expert insights from medical professionals. Its purpose, she said, is clear: to empower people to fight for their health.
“We need to be unafraid of saying how we have been weakened by our symptoms,” the BBC presenter said.
“Too often, we try to keep afloat, keep our head above water, but we don’t want to seem weak. That needs to change.”
Munchetty’s candour is striking. She describes the shame of being told her excruciating periods were “just normal,” leaving her to feel weak and whiny for struggling.
“You might as well have told me people have heart attacks while I’m having a heart attack,” she said. “Debilitating pain is serious — it may not be lifelimiting, but it is life-impacting.”
Her determination to challenge that culture led to her giving evidence in parliament, contributing to what became a Women and Equalities Committee report, published in December 2024.
The report made headlines for its stark conclusion: medical misogyny exists.
For Munchetty, seeing that phrase in black and white was transformative. “It was almost self-affirming,” she said. “We now know it’s there, so we can challenge it. Women can say: I know my body, I know there’s not enough research, and I am entitled to push for answers.”
The parliamentary report went further than acknowledgement. It called for ring-fenced funding for women’s health hubs, better training for GPs, and greater investment in research into reproductive conditions like adenomyosis and endometriosis.
It highlighted how symptoms are routinely dismissed as “normal,” delaying diagnosis and disrupting women’s careers, education and daily lives. Munchetty wrote in her book — referencing the report — that medical misogyny is not about blaming individual doctors, but about challenging a system built on insufficient research into women’s bodies.
“It gives women the language and the confidence to not just be heard, but to insist on being taken seriously,” she wrote.
Her book also tackles the additional barriers faced by women from minority communities, who may be discouraged by stigma or embarrassment from speaking about menstruation or menopause. To them, Munchetty has a clear message: “You are so much more valuable than you realise. If you don’t prioritise your health, you are lessening your ability to hold up everyone around you.”
Those featured in the book are friends, colleagues, charities and everyday women who contributed their stories, many for the first time. “I was surprised at how many friends are in that book with such powerful experiences,” Munchetty said.
“It told me all the more that we’re not speaking about it, and that it is sadly so very common.”
At a launch event for the book, contributors, family and experts filled the room with what Munchetty describes as an “electric and inspiring atmosphere.”
She said, “It was full of joy, of women who felt safe to speak up and be heard. This is not a whiny book — it’s a positive book. People felt they were part of making things better, part of this women’s health revolution.”
For Munchetty, writing the book was exhausting, but transformative, she said.
“I never thought I’d be an author. I’m a journalist. But this is journalism — facilitating people’s stories to be told powerfully and truthfully. People trusted me, and I’m proud of that.”
And Munchetty’s aim is for the book to be a tool for change: arming women with the language, confidence and strategies to advocate for their health.
“It’s not easy to admit you need help, and it’s not instinctive for women to prioritise themselves,” she said. “But this book will help you do that. It’s the silent friend who has your back and gives you strength.”
It’s Probably Nothing - Critical Conversations on the Women’s Health Crisis is now available in all good bookshops
The Shree Kunj Bihari Vrindavan (UK) Temple has officially launched its project to establish a grand home for Shree Banke Bihari in London.
The inaugural event, held in Harrow from 4 pm, featured devotional chants, the Deep Pragtya ceremony, and a presentation outlining the temple’s vision. Speaking at the gathering, Shalini Bhargava described the planned temple as “a spiritual home promoting bhakti, unity and seva for generations to come.”
Several dignitaries were honoured at the ceremony, including Cllr Anjana Patel, Mayor of Harrow; Anuradha Pandey, Hindi and Cultural Attaché at the High Commission of India; Kamakshi Jani of the Royal Navy; Councillors Janet Mote, Nitin Parikh and Mina Parmar; Krishnaben Pujara, Chairperson of ALL UK; and Truptiben Patel, President of the Hindu Forum of Britain.
Organisers said the launch marks the beginning of a new spiritual and cultural hub for London’s Hindu community, offering a centre for devotion, learning and community service.
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Williams explained that her weight challenges began after the birth of her first daughter
Serena Williams reveals she has lost more than 31lbs using a GLP-1 medication
The tennis legend says the treatment enhanced her existing healthy lifestyle
She stresses that weight loss should not change self-image or self-confidence
Serena Williams has revealed she has lost more than 31lbs after turning to a weight-loss medication, saying the treatment has transformed both her body and her mindset.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion, 43, told PEOPLE that using a GLP-1 medication — a type of injection that works by regulating appetite — has helped enhance the healthy lifestyle she already maintained through diet and exercise.
“I feel great,” Williams said. “I feel really good and healthy. I feel light physically and light mentally.”
Postpartum struggles
Williams explained that her weight challenges began after the birth of her first daughter, Alexis Olympia, in 2017. Despite training intensively and eating healthily, she found it difficult to return to her preferred weight.
“I never was able to get to the weight I needed to be, no matter what I did, no matter how much I trained,” she admitted. “It was frustrating to work so hard and not see results.”
She experienced the same plateau after giving birth to her second daughter, Adira River, in 2023. Although she initially shed weight quickly, progress soon stalled. “I never lost another pound,” she recalled.
Turning to treatment
Determined to try a new approach, Williams consulted doctors through Ro, a direct-to-patient healthcare company, and began a GLP-1 course once she had finished breastfeeding. The medication, also known as a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, is commonly marketed under brand names such as Ozempic and Mounjaro.
“I did a lot of research before I started,” she explained. “I wanted to know if it was a shortcut or if it could really help me. In the end, it felt like the right decision.”
Williams, who is now a patient ambassador for Ro, said the injections made a noticeable difference. “I lost over 31 pounds and was really excited about that weight loss.”
Feeling better than ever
The Olympic gold medallist says she now feels stronger and more energetic.
“I can do more. I’m more active. My joints don’t hurt as much. Even simple things like moving around are easier. I feel like I have a lot more energy.”
She emphasised that GLP-1 was not a substitute for discipline but a way to support her existing healthy habits. “GLP-1 helped me enhance everything I was already doing — eating healthy and working out, whether as a professional athlete or just at the gym every day.”
Confidence and body positivity
Despite her transformation, Williams stressed that her self-confidence has never depended on her size.
“Weight loss should never really change your self-image,” she said. “Women are judged about their bodies at any size, and I’m no stranger to that. I’ve always loved myself at every stage. The difference was that my body didn’t feel good carrying that extra weight after having children.”
She added that she encourages her daughters to embrace body confidence too. “It’s important to teach them to be confident at any size, just as I try to be. Looking back, whether I was smaller or heavier, I always felt confident — and I looked great too.”
Looking ahead
Williams says she plans to continue with the weekly GLP-1 injections as needed, alongside training for a half marathon. The gym remains her “favourite place to be” — and she intends to keep sharing her workouts with fans online.
Olivia Dunne starred in a viral bubble bath shoot for a new Fanatics series.
The 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model revealed the not-so-glamorous side of filming.
Her TikTok showing behind-the-scenes chaos has gained over 700,000 views.
Fans and family flooded the comments with jokes and questions.
Fanatics partnership and viral moment
Retired gymnast and 2025 SI Swimsuit cover star Olivia Dunne has gone viral again, this time thanks to an unusual shoot for Fanatics.
The brand announced its new digital series, Explained by Livvy Dunne, where the influencer takes on complex topics in a playful style. The launch video showed Dunne in a bubble bath—similar in style to Margot Robbie’s cameo in The Big Short—but with a twist: the tub was set up in the middle of a football field.
On Tuesday, Dunne gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at the shoot on TikTok. The clip, which has already attracted more than 700,000 views, showed her sitting in the bath for hours while production staff worked around her to keep her covered with bubbles.
“I sat there for 3 hours😭 @Fanatics #fanatics #football #sports #rosebowl #sportsbetting,” she wrote in the caption.
The video was set to the viral “Jet2 Advert” soundtrack, often used to highlight chaotic twists during seemingly relaxing moments.
Fan and family reactions
The post quickly filled with light-hearted comments. Her sister Julz joked: “I can feel the bath water comments from miles away,” to which Dunne replied, “2021 all over again.”
Others joined in with their own humour, including:
“Did they warm the water up at least?”
“And my mom said bubble technician was a job with no future.”
“Football and bubble baths are the best things in life.”
Fanatics Betting and Gaming’s Chief Marketing Officer, Selena Kalvaria, said:
“As a disruptor brand, Fanatics Sportsbook is rewriting the category playbook. By working with a cultural force like Livvy, we’re telling our story in a way that expands our reach with existing betting audiences—and speaks to new ones, too.”