Ever gotten something you’ve really wanted? Something you’ve dreamed about, schemed about and worked your socks off for? And then finally when it’s all yours, you feel…nothing. Instead of elation, there’s only numbness, flatness and confusion. That’s post achievement comedown, better known as PAC. And it can be confusing, sad and even scary. If this … Read more
Hear the words, ‘single parent’ and what does it conjure up for you? Struggles with money, a frantic woman failing to cope with feral children, or the loss of a fairy tale future? Such negative views of single motherhood can play their part in keeping us stuck in relationships that aren’t working. The conscious or … Read more
This week, it’s London Fashion week (16th – 21st September). A huge event in the sartorial calendar. And although I’m not a massive follower of fashion myself, I do appreciate it as a form of self expression. Just look at Rhianna’s street style. The bold colours, daring hemline and creative styling all suggesting a woman … Read more
Which celebrity’s got good self esteem, do you think? Could it be Kim Kardashian with her body confidence? Greta Thunberg with her fierce and fearless speeches or Victoria Beckham’s drive and determination? Taking her from Spice Girl to international fashion designer within one lifetime. The answer is: It could be all of them. Or none … Read more
“No man ever threw away life while it was worth keeping.” said philosopher David Hume. And although he was writing about suicide, he could just as easily have been referring to romantic relationships. Home working throughout the pandemic has proven to be a real relationship wrecker. Research from law firm Stewarts, showed a 122% increase … Read more
Trigger warning – discussion of suicide. Are you a fan of Dicken’s Christmas Carol? If so The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, may be right up your street. Both books, although written centuries apart, involve main characters who have a deep sleep, leading them to reflect on their life and rethink their future. This time … Read more
A friend of mine recently attended her first counselling session, and then returned dismayed, disappointed and down-heartened because her counsellor didn’t give her any advice. She complained, loud and long, that she’d paid upwards of £50 a session, and come away with nothing. Not even a crumpled leaflet. Far from empathising with her plight, I … Read more
After a little holiday last week, I’m back. Feeling fully refreshed and raring to go with another fiction review. This week I present to you Other People’s Clothes. The background to the book This novel promised to be right up my street. I judged it not by its cover, but by its title and blurb, … Read more
There seems to be a collective feeling, even though it’s the middle of summer, that life is actually flat and grey. Lockdown’s long gone, and the freedom we’d all fantasised about is finally here. But there’s no big relief. Instead many people are feeling apathetic, regretful and isolated. I, for one, am still working at … Read more
Today I am in a buoyant mood, because I’ve spent a lovely week reading Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason. It’s a character based story. So no complex plots, no narrative arc and no unexpected twists. Just an honest, yet surprisingly comedic look, at generations of a family impacted by mental illness. Sorrow and Bliss … Read more
Every Tuesday evening I go and see my counsellor. He is a skillful, compassionate and generally excellent therapist. At the end of our sessions together, I feel better. Better for having spoken about my feelings, faced my fears and explored my emotions. But the next day… The next day is often awful. I am weepy, … Read more
The summer holidays are here, so for the next three weeks I’ll be relaxing and reviewing non- fiction with a mental health theme. First up is The Therapist by B A Paris. It’s a murder mystery. The pretty blonde therapist, Nina, is dead and the reader needs to keep awake while the plodding plot reveals … Read more