The festivities begin, the nights draw in and the heating kicks in...with an awkward thud and a familiar sense of warm dust tantalising your nostrils. It's finally here! Chunky old knits and crochet scarves re-surface. The coffee's topped with cinnamon sprinkles. And kitchen cupboards wink at you, enticing you with maple syrup and roasted nuts, … Continue reading Autumn bliss
Pilled Up
Trigger warning - the anti-psychiatry movement are at risk of foaming with fury at this one... Sorry if the headline feels like click bait. Because no, this 40 year old is not pilled up in that sense. I spent my Saturday night reading my new Christmas magazine and wearing my new pink slipper boots (with … Continue reading Pilled Up
If you haven’t experienced anxiety as an illness, please read this
This was originally a thread I posted on Twitter one night about the reality of anxiety as an illness (hence the strange snippet like style!) Feel free to read on Twitter via the link if you prefer 🙂 I don't know what a heart attack feels like. But I've had palpitations. I don't know … Continue reading If you haven’t experienced anxiety as an illness, please read this
A step by step guide to the beer fear
(in a nostalgic setting...because...why not) It's 2001. You're off on a night out. You've slipped your cheap heels on, the fake tan is positively glowing and your handbag's packed with Marlboro menthols (cos you want to smoke the night away but you're hoping for a cheeky snog). You're all set - and so is your … Continue reading A step by step guide to the beer fear
Anxiety – it aint what you think it’s the way that you think it
You rock up to your new therapist's office, settle into your new regular perch for weekly outpourings of angst and believe that this time, THIS TIME, you'll kick anxiety's butt once and for all... Then your therapist says... "We're not going to try to get rid of your anxiety completely...that's a tall order" What!? "You'll … Continue reading Anxiety – it aint what you think it’s the way that you think it
Social scaredy-cat
It's like I've gone full circle. As a child, I was the little girl that said nothing in class. As a teen, I said nothing in the pub. Until I found Diamond White and Lambrini that is, but I wouldn't recommend those as social aids. In my early 20s I wouldn't miss the chance to … Continue reading Social scaredy-cat
Publication week, anxiety and media love
It's been a strange few weeks. I've been off with the worst bout of anxiety that has afflicted my tired brain in almost two decades. I've probably been far more sociable in a virtual sense - but given I've been off work, missed the pub quiz (again), missed my other half performing in Sunday for … Continue reading Publication week, anxiety and media love
A charity gala and my first Christmas dinner
OK, so it was vegetarian and smothered in tomato sauce rather than gravy, but I had my first Christmas dinner of the year last night at a wonderful even hosted by Anxious Minds North East - a charity that I am proud to be a trustee of. And I want to shout about these guys. … Continue reading A charity gala and my first Christmas dinner
We shouldn’t shy away from the ugly side of mental illness
1 in 4 of us experience mental illness at some point in our lives – but its prevalence doesn’t make it an easy ride. We have the US president tackling the ‘stigma’ of guns by blaming mass shootings on mental illness instead. But the image of violent mentally ill people is untrue. According to Time … Continue reading We shouldn’t shy away from the ugly side of mental illness
It’s fine to be flawed
I had a big cry-baby snot fest the other night. First time in ages. Other than, perhaps, the sporadic slightly fizzy nose that occurs when happening upon 'suggested for you' Facebook videos of cute 'n' cuddly animals loving each other despite their differing species'. It's hard work spitting all those tears out. But even though … Continue reading It’s fine to be flawed
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