Does anyone else read the news and just instantly become confused slash overwhelmed slash lethargic at the concept of even trying to divulge all the information on the millions of topics it covers. Take this morning….I got a notification on Al Jazeera. Clicked on it, tried to read the story but there’s all these other boxes with other headlines all relating to other political things going on…which all seem pretty major in their own right. Corruption, space travel – of billionaires who are clearly billionaires because they own massive corporations that do not pay taxes! Flooding in Europe, some ..read more

Recently, I feel like I have been going through a massive transition. Sometimes it has felt like depression, other times anxiety, anger, despair, loneliness, worthlessness and fear. Other times hope, light, determination and that feeling of fight in your belly. I have for the last 6 year been creating a better version of me. I have engaged in adapting a healthier lifestyle (although I do not always get it right). I have out myself through university to do a degree, which I never thought I would do. Following that I completed a masters in international human rights practice, whilst moving house ..read more

Today, 7th April 2020 I am 35 (+5) weeks pregnant, and only a few weeks to go before my due date. At times I am super excited to meet our baby, especially as we declined to find out the sex. However, with Covid-19 aka Coronavirus currently rampaging the U.K. things are so stressful and my anxiety is off the scale at times. Originally our plan was to have a home birth, this is something I was keen to do as this is my 4th baby and I really was hoping for a very chilled out affair. A home birth, with birthing pool coupled with hypnobirthing was my birth plan. That is until I went to a routine ant ..read more

Out of the darkness comes light – Anon. As we keep hearing, these are unprecedented times. Currently on lockdown in the U.K. apart from essential travel we all either learn or struggle to deal with the new ways of life. In recent days we have seen a lot of creativity with individuals and businesses putting online sessions either for free or to replace their physical classes and or sessions. Places of worship have also gone online to assist the government in promoting social distancing. Gone are the days now that even minimal attendance of 5 people at weddings can go ahead. Volunteers have ..read more

I’m just putting this out there…but anyone else feel like they’re in the Truman show right now? I keep getting this feeling that I am in a movie, and I am not the one directing! It’s the most bizarre feeling. It’s like Boris Johnson and the rest of the world are gearing up for the biggest April fools joke yet! I have been pretty much in self isolating save for a couple of walks since I was placed in the high risk category due to pregnancy. So it is nt the fact that I am not having to adhere to stringent social distancing that is causing this. However, each time I watch the news, or I hear an ..read more

Well, shit is starting to get real is nt it. And today is a stark reminder of how things are going to be for the foreseeable future. This morning I turned on the news to see recorded messages for some mother’s for Mother’s Day from their children who cannot be with them. The reasons were various, some were self isolating, some mother’s were having to isolate, others were unable to travel to see their mum. It made me. Terribly sad for all those mums and grandmas that will be sat on their own today . There is nothing like an event to highlight loneliness. Before I knew what was happening I was ..read more

This is without doubt unprecedented times. I have certainly never experienced anything like this in my 39 years. Whilst a lot of what is going on as a result of this pandemic is driven by fear i.e. people panic buying 27 packs of toilet rolls and the 50 bottles of antibacterial hand wash/sanitiser, I suggest it is time to start looking for positives out of the current situation. I was watching the news this morning with an interview of a woman who was working from home and was complaining that there is no way she can work if her 5 year old, who is now off school, will be coming into the kitche ..read more

Welcome back to Not Freud’s Couch! Today we are considering work/life balance.  When we consider theories such as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the most important are our physical needs such as food, water and air; and secondly our spiritual needs like love, being a part of a community etc.  The need for material things is no where near as important, yet for most people they spend a large proportion of time accumulating material things, thinking this is what will make them happy.  In fact find ‘material things’ in that model if you can! Now I am no rocket scientist, but if we have these theorie ..read more

Mid July I graduated with a degree in Social Psychology.  There was a lot of pressure at university to ‘know’ what your next steps were in your career.  What career path are you taking?  Are you going to go into further study? What is the plan for the rest of your god damn life?! Whilst I have applied to do some postgrad study, I also decided I wanted to keep my options open.  I have applied for some jobs that I have seen both full and part time, whilst I consider may fit around study if I decide to take the plunge.  But one thing I really felt was important, and I mean IMPERATIVE is to take s ..read more