Tips for coping with SAD over winter
Like the rest of Britain I’ve spent the last week weeks commuting to work in the pitch black and complaining about the sudden drop in temperature. It’s easy to see how so many of us can start to get a little down in December. As soon as the schools go back and the...
5 easy ways to feel more calm
I'm pretty stressed sometimes. Did I pay that bill? Did I leave the oven on? When is that doctors appointment again? These are the thoughts that plague most of us throughout the day and they tend to build up and can feel a tad overwhelming at times. I'm working hard...
10 dieting habits I’ve given up in 2016
One thing that went unnoticed when I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety was my fixation on food. As my condition got worse I was obsessed with fitness and eating healthily, two obsessions which are often seen positive factors in someone's life. For this reason...
What does depression look like?
"She isn't depressed. She goes to work everyday and I see her out at the weekend" This is the kind of thing I hear muttered again and again about people with mental health issues. Everyone says they are more 'aware' of mental health problems, but when push...
10 little luxuries to help boost your mood
Dealing with low moods and the physical effects of depression and anxiety can be a full time gig. I feel lucky that I don't deal with my issues on a daily basis any more and I'm currently going through what I would call a 'good spell'. I am however hyper-aware that...
5 things you shouldn’t feel guilty about when you’re depressed
Depression and guilt go hand in hand for many people. Let’s get one thing straight; you’re not to blame for your mental illness! Just like you wouldn’t be to blame if you contracted pneumonia or developed arthritis. The mind and body are open to injury and it’s nothing to feel guilty about, but I know from experience it’s not that easy.
Thoughtful gifts for people with anxiety
Anxiety sucks The unwanted symptoms that accompany anxiety are feelings of depression, worthlessness and inability to function. When asked what I want for Christmas or my birthday I often say 'nothing', because I feel like I don't deserve any presents. It's not a cry...
When you think I’m being rude, here’s what’s really going on
I've just returned from a busy weekend in Scotland. It was our first visit back home since we moved to Birmingham and I was really excited to see my friends and family for the first time in 4 months. Unfortunately for an introvert like me, being constantly...
Why it’s absolutely OK to cry about stupid stuff
I'm a crier. I like a good sob, normally in private and more than likely about things that are really not important. I've been known to weep uncontrollably when I've fucked up my make up, when the bag splits on the way home from the shops and when my...
How to tell your friends you have depression
I told some of my friends that I had depression as soon as I got diagnosed. The reason being; I knew I couldn't hide it from them any more. My mood was unpredictable, my actions out of character and I was unfit for work. As far as my Facebook friends were concerned...
Are you caring for someone with depression?
I wanted to pop on quickly and let you know that one of my most popular blogposts was spotted and picked up by a UK mental health charity this week. The lovely people at Heads Together asked me to expand on my experience and write a more detailed post which I was over...
10 things only a diet addict will understand
I'm done with dieting. I've been on a diet for the last ten years and I'm so exhausted from it all. I got thin. Now I'm a bit chubby. Life goes on. There are so many worries in the world that I don't have the will power to count calories and fight cravings any more....