(image: World Bipolar Day) Today is World Bipolar Day and for those of us living with bipolar disorder we know that living with it every day, year round is more accurate. However today is our day to talk about life with mental illness and to try and eradicate the stigma around the illness… ‘crazy lady’ ‘nuts’ ‘drama queen’. World Bipolar Day is designed to raise awareness worldwide of bipolar conditions and to work to eliminate social stigma whilst providing information to educate and help people understand the condition. Even though I live in remission/recovery with the illness, I am medicat ..read more

(pexels: Andrea Piacquaido) Work-related stress catches up to us all eventually. Whether you are experiencing anxiety due to large workloads, or you are finding it hard to adjust to a new role, it is very normal to experience bursts of stress now and then. Knowing how to deal with stress is not common knowledge for many of us, and it is unheard of for workplaces to encourage mindful practices to reduce the symptoms of stress. Chances are if you are reading this you have hit rock bottom, or at least the levels of stress are starting to have impacting effects on your life. Reducing stress in al ..read more

(image: free image) It’s no secret that physical and mental health are closely linked. When you’re physically healthy, you tend to feel better mentally and emotionally. The reverse is also true; when your mental health is suffering, your physical health often declines as well. That’s why it’s so important to take care of your physical health, especially if you’re struggling with mental health issues. Here are five ways that good physical health can improve mental health. Improved Mood When you’re physically healthy, you tend to have more energy and feel better overall. This can lead to an imp ..read more

Pexels Image – CC0 Licence Being part of a family is one of the most natural things in life. However, sometimes that family isn’t so great for your mental health! It’s an unfortunate truth, but it affects so many people around the globe, even if we don’t talk about it.  The silence involved can make you feel like such an outsider. Sometimes, your family who are supposed to love and cherish you , aren’t quite doing their job, and it’s hard to explain that. So what can you do in a scenario like this? Build an External Support System If your family isn’t there for you, you’ll need to build ..read more

(image: Unsplash: Zachary Kyra- Derksen) Living with a disability can be difficult, but with the right services and resources, it doesn’t have to be. There are a variety of services available that can help people with disabilities live more comfortable and independent lives. Here are five services you should consider if you have a disability. Medical Equipment Loan Closets Many organisations throughout the world offer loan closets for medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches. These organisations often partner with hospitals or healthcare providers in order to provide loane ..read more

Job hunting is never easy, and it can be especially challenging in this current climate. With more people competing for fewer jobs, the pressure to find a job can really take its toll on your mental health and morale. But there are steps you can take to help keep your spirits up during your job search. Here are six tips to help you maintain a positive outlook while job hunting.  Maintain Your Physical Health  Ensure you eat healthy meals, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly. Taking care of yourself physically will give you the energy and strength you need to stay motivated thro ..read more

(Image: Brooke Cagle: Unsplash) Considering the wellbeing of employees has never been more important, or more timely. With world events like the coronavirus pandemic having a serious impact on global mental health, more and more employers have begun to more seriously consider the overall wellbeing of their employees, not simply their productivity in the workplace.  In fact, many employers are beginning to understand how the two are intimately connected.Indeed, it is reported that healthy employees are 74% more likely to be satisfied with their current job than unhealthy employees. It is ..read more

On the 1st March 2016, I started this blog as a way to provide therapy for myself- as I was going through panic attacks, (caused by trauma). Can you believe that was 7 years ago?! I can’t! Since then I have had several years of therapy and my life changed so much too for the better- I met my husband, we got married and moved to our first home. The blog has turned into a book Bring me to Light (with Trigger), writing for Metro.co.uk, Glamour, the Telegraph, Happiful, Rethink Mental Illness, Mind and other incredible organisations, I have partnered with large and small brands, charities, busine ..read more

(image: James Lindsay/Cherish Editions) I first ‘met’ my Twitter friend James Lindsay online when he was first starting to talk about his schizoaffective disorder and psychosis. James also works for Mind doing important work in the mental health sphere and we both live locally to one another. I am really proud of James’s determination, not only in his own life, but to help others through his writing and his new book ‘Befriending My Brain’ with Cherish Editions (Trigger Publishing). An eye-opening memoir about a young man’s descent into schizoaffective disorder– and the steps he took to regain ..read more

(image: Ivan Samkov, Pexels) We all – if we are so privileged – age enough to become ‘old’. We grow into our faces, our experiences and our futures and we do so over a long period of time. Not everyone is afforded the chance to grow old, of course, but those who do are lucky to get there. When you have senior parents that have reached an advanced age, you have to expect there to be changes in your relationship dynamic. As parents age they may need more help, they may be more aggressive, they may be resistant to any help or support. The worst part is that when you try to help your parents, you ..read more