EAGG meets Dr. Terry Loong, Integrative Doctor specialising in hormonal health, burnout recovery, aesthetics & skin treatments
- Eileen Wada Willett
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
EAGG is delighted to have a doctor in the house, especially when it is Dr. Terry Loong, whose deep interest and expertise in areas of health that skew female have helped many. She is an award-winning medical doctor, author, speaker, mother, wife and someone who has experienced two periods of severe burn-out. She takes us on her journey through the curves, bumps, peaks and troughs of her personal and professional life thus far.
Terry grew up in Malaysia before moving to London at 19 to study medicine, a path chosen at 16 to honour her traditional Chinese family, and one that took on deeper meaning when her mother passed away just three weeks into her first term abroad.
After training as a surgeon she suffered burnout at 30, and despite a diagnosis of early-stage cervical cancer, she retrained in Aesthetic Medicine, Functional Medicine and Hormone Balancing. She went on to build an award-winning Mayfair clinic, publish a book on clearing hormonal adult acne without medication, and has been featured in Tatler, Vogue, Elle and The Sunday Telegraph.
The birth of her son at 38 prompted a move to Bali for a better work-life balance, though living the "good girl, good wife" role led to a second burnout at 42, and three years in rebuilding her health, confidence and identity.
Now 48, we are speaking with a Terry who has found her balance as an Elite Trainer for DermaMedical while running a boutique practice focused on hormonal health, burnout recovery and regenerative skin treatments and throwing herself into fitness, dance and creative performance.
1. You are an award-winning medical doctor, author, speaker, mother, wife and someone who has experienced two periods of severe burn-out. What has been the key to resetting your life each time?
Each burnout episode was caused by different stressors and recovery involved rebuilding safety in my body and with myself before building safety with other people.
My first burnout at 30, I approached it more intellectually as I dived into understanding the biology of my burnout… how it affected my skin, hormones, gut and nervous system. Things became less scary when I understood what was going on. I also spent time in an ashram in Pune which helped me reconnect with my body after a sexual assault incident with an ex-boyfriend which contributed to the burnout.
Healing led to me meeting my now husband, writing my book incorporating what I learned and building my career to its height. It was a good season of growth and celebration.
My 2nd burnout at 42 took me twice as long to recover. I was a new mother, the main breadwinner of the family and also in Perimenopause. There were huge shifts in identity, priorities and biology.
Intellectually I knew what to do to rebuild my health but emotionally… that was really hard. I had to learn how to hold space for all the emotions that came up from loss and betrayal. I had to rewire my nervous system so I wouldn’t wake up in the middle of the night with panic attacks. My marriage almost didn’t make it. Therapy, acupuncture, nature, art, BodyCombat and strength training helped. I learned how to listen and trust myself again.
Turning 48 this year, I am healthier and more confident in myself. More importantly I feel more at peace with who I am. I’m currently in a rebuilding phase in many areas of my life knowing whatever comes my way, I will be okay.
2. As someone of East Asian heritage, what can you tell us about your experience living and working in the UK as a young adult onwards and how it has changed in your lifetime? What changes and hopes do you wish for your young son?
It was a culture shock for sure when I came over at 19. I’ve been sheltered in Malaysia all my life up until then so I was torn between exploring what being “free” in a foreign country felt like to being the good daughter who’s just lost her mother. I’m sure I rebelled as a way of processing the grief. I had some support from family members who lived in UK to keep me “straight”.
I loved meeting different groups of people, experimenting with style and culture. Being in the UK, I was able to be different and find my place in this world. Unfortunately, with that freedom also came being in vulnerable positions which my good-girl demeanour was too afraid or didn’t know how to respond to. I had a lot of growing up to do.
Working in the UK opened my eyes to having a better work life balance, meeting women from all walks of life reinventing and designing their life. There is a celebration of individuality in the UK which I love. My son having been brought up in UK is confident in himself as he mixes with kids/adults of different backgrounds. He is being exposed to sports and culture that he wouldn’t have prioritised if he grew up in SEA. That I am very grateful for.
3. You lost your mother at a very early age. How did this tragic and life-changing event shape your thoughts on your own life and ambitions?
I didn’t have much time to grieve to be honest. I am the eldest daughter of 5 and my youngest brother was 9 when she passed. I subconsciously took on the maternal role, worrying about my father and siblings, coming back home to Malaysia every holiday while my university friends were exploring Europe. It wasn’t until my father remarried that I felt I could let go a little.
I was also 19 just starting university with no female role model to help me be an adult woman - to navigate through relationships, heartbreak, insecurities and the trappings of being a young East Asian woman in a foreign country. There were many life lessons I had to learn the hard way.
Being a mother and not being able to share the experience with my own mother, that was difficult. I’m grateful to have a close relationship with my mother-in-law.
When I was recovering from my 2nd burnout, an epiphany came one morning in the gym - I was trying to live up to the perfection of my mother all these years. I had to be the good daughter, the good wife, the good sister, the good friend because my mother sacrificed to be all that. I didn’t realise I was still mourning even after 20 years. Letting go of the ideals of my mother to find out what I really wanted and who I really was outside of being a doctor and an eldest daughter healed the younger parts of me.
I’m now past the age my mum passed which still feels surreal. I feel I understand my mother better being a working mum, supporting the family. I still think of her and wonder about the conversations we would have.
4. What does the Year of the Fire Horse mean for you personally and professionally?
I’m an Earth Horse so this year is special to me as Fire is about rebirth, creativity and carving a new path. Having the Earth element helps me feel grounded within the fiery energy, creating environments and containers to channel it without burning out.
Personally for me, it’s about having the energy and creativity to pursue new goals.
Professionally, it’s about being focused, magnetic and attracting new opportunities.
5. As someone trained in traditional medicine as well as Integrative Nutrition and Hormone Balancing, your practice is about caring for ourselves holistically, both inwardly and outwardly. What are your top tips that we can all do to help improve our whole selves on a daily basis?
1. Eat enough and eat food that nourishes and delights. Our body and mind works better when we’re not nutrient deficient.
2. Chew your food and take few deep breaths before you eat. It’s not just what we eat but also what we absorb. Our digestive system works best when we are in the rest/digest/repair phase rather than fight/flight.
3. Move your body daily - 30mins Zone 2 activity (leisure walk, cycle, swim or climb the stairs). It helps to boost circulation, immunity and improve sugar regulation.
4. Build muscle (resistance/strength training) 2-3x a week. It’s firms our skin, increases metabolism, energy, builds resilience, protects our bones and brain.
5. Optimise the quality and quantity of your sleep. Our body and brain repairs during sleep. See a doctor to do a blood work including hormones if necessary.
6. Spend time on a project even if it’s just 10 minutes a day that stretches your creativity or self-expression outside of work. It boost brain function, feeds the soul and helps to strengthen our nervous system pursuing our interest without the need for permission.
7. Skin care is soul care. Do not underestimate the power of touch and taking care of your skin.
8. Decompress at the end of the day e.g walking barefoot on the grass, journalling, dancing, shaking, breath work or stretching helps us to release what’s not ours to carry. Chronic stress speeds up ageing, diseases, dementia and death.
6. East Asian Girl Gang is all about celebrating a shared cultural and ethnic heritage. What does it mean to you and why did you join?
Even though we come from different backgrounds, there is a shared understanding and appreciation of upbringing, values and stories. There is respect for the dreams we hold for our ancestors, the sacrifices made and the new path being carved ahead. I joined EAGG because a big part of me misses the stories my mother would have told me, the connection with my roots and the camaraderie with my kin.
Connect with Terry: