So the recent Panorama has caused some controversy. It was entitled 'A prescription for murder' and was supposedly an investigation into the dangerous effects of antidepressants. In my view, it was wholly unfair and served to reinvigorate stigma around medication. Of course, I'm not suggesting that taking SSRIs is a risk free business, and I … Continue reading Panorama – a prescription for propaganda
Psychology – I’m a believer!
Psychology has long fascinated me. But I never truly believed that psychological approaches would work for me in quite the way they seem to be right now. I never believed they could have a long-lasting, deep rooted effect. But much like The Pixies, Courtney Love and, sadly, Sun-In spray-on hair bleach (my locks haven't been … Continue reading Psychology – I’m a believer!
Show me purpose and I’ll raise you a fighter
Anyone who's in the not-so-exclusive club of the 9 million peeps who have read 'Man's search for meaning' by Viktor E Frankl will totally get this. I've not even finished it, but I'm finding it as inspirational as Madonna's Virgin Tour was to the eight year old me. But unlike the queen of pop, the … Continue reading Show me purpose and I’ll raise you a fighter
Review: Gale is Dead
Part of the 'Man Alive' series on BBC iPlayer I hadn't heard of this series before but it gives you more than one issue to ponder. There's the subject of the particular episode and then layering on top of that is the 1960s/70s perspective of said subject. Fundamentally, however, some things never change. People without … Continue reading Review: Gale is Dead
Psychiatry v Psychology
I'm neither a psychiatrist or a psychologist, but I'm a consumer of both ideas. So I reckon I can say something on the subject... Have you seen the Twitter war? The psychologists v psychiatrists war of words in 140 characters. It can be as caustic as JK Rowling v Donald Trump, except in this war, … Continue reading Psychiatry v Psychology
I look at Katie Hopkins and think ‘you are nothing like me’
I think I reflect the national viewpoint here. Anyone who watched Ian Hislop's 'Who should we let in?' will no doubt have Hopkins' arrogance ringing in their ears. Of immigrants she said 'You look and them and think you are nothing like me'. Thank God for that. Because I would have a serious problem with … Continue reading I look at Katie Hopkins and think ‘you are nothing like me’
It’s not a party lifestyle that drives stars to self-medication, it’s the pressure to carry on regardless
The media has reported that Ant McPartlin is undergoing treatment for depression and addiction issues. He's certainly not the first celebrity to have fallen foul of self-medication. But why do stars head down this path, when surely they have access to the best doctors and treatment programmes in existence? Think about it this way. You've … Continue reading It’s not a party lifestyle that drives stars to self-medication, it’s the pressure to carry on regardless
It’s time to ponder the big stuff
I have a new counsellor. I was referred because, during my counselling assessment, it was suggested that online CBT and management of symptoms probably wouldn't cut it. I'd done all that. It got me through but it didn't move me forward. It was time to tackle the big stuff. Was I ready? As ready as … Continue reading It’s time to ponder the big stuff
Debating 13 Reasons Why with Woman’s Hour
I was invited to join a debate on Woman's Hour recently which was broadcast today. It wasn't politics this time though. We were debating the controversy surrounding the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. I was invited to take part after the producer spotted my Huffington Post piece discussing the show. I think it was an … Continue reading Debating 13 Reasons Why with Woman’s Hour
Stop using mental health as bait
We all love to boo a pantomime baddie, but that's usually because they're stealing a magic lamp or weaving destructive magic spells. We know it's all made up and we know they'll get their comeuppance. But yet again, Katie Hopkins and Piers Morgan are enjoying the boos and hisses by taking their pantomime into real … Continue reading Stop using mental health as bait
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