Depression is common, but it's also common for people to freak out and not know how to support a friend. Below, I've listed a few ways in which you can help a friend with depression. Listen Listening, real, active listening, can be your superpower. Hearing what someone has told you means you can then validate [...]
Tag: Mental health
How To Sensitively Talk To Someone Having Suicidal Thoughts
It can feel incredibly tough to talk to someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts, but it's so important to have these conversations. We often worry about making the situation worse if we talk about it, but actually, we could just end up alienating that person by not talking about it. Language is a powerful tool, [...]
Stop Romanticising Mental Illness
Mental illness should never be something to aspire to. Making it seem cute, romantic, or beautiful distorts what it actually is; scary, lonely and ugly. When I see someone in the public eye talk about how an illness is beautiful, or whatever other positive word they want to use, it cultivates the idea that mental [...]
Managing Sleep
I know a ton of us, especially right now when we're under lockdown, are struggling to get a good night's kip. How can a lack of sleep affect us? I'll also look at some tips and advice that have helped me along the way. Why is sleep so important? Sleep refreshes us, it keeps us [...]
We’re being told to ‘reach out’, but what does this mean, and how do we do it?
When you live with mental illness you're often told to 'reach out' for support. But how do you actually do this? I'm a mental health writer and advocate, and often find myself telling people to 'reach out' when they're struggling. I stress how honesty and openness is important, that you can't move forward without sharing [...]
How to help someone before and during a manic episode
Make a Plan. Before an episode of mania starts, make a plan together. First off, they'll be more receptive to your ideas. They'll be more in control and be able to look objectively at previous episodes of mania. Decide together what will help them, and what support and help they want when they are seriously [...]
Ideas To Help Someone With Psychosis
I've listed on the blog before about what not to say to someone with psychosis, and although that's important, I realised I didn't go into much detail about what helps. As I've mentioned before, psychosis covers experiences from hearing, seeing, or feeling things that aren't really there, and delusions. Delusional thinking causes us to believe [...]
To all the people that pulled me through a mental health crisis
Through the years I've had many mental health crises. I've been on the brink of ending it all, of no longer wanting to fight, of no longer wanting to exist. Although I owe the NHS a great deal, they've also let me down when I've been at my most desperate. But there are people in [...]
I’m Writing A Book!
Yep, the secret is out! I've been offered a publishing contract with Jessica Kingsley Publishers to write a book about bipolar disorder. The book is going to be a practical guide to bipolar disorder. I'll offer tips and advice on how to navigate daily life and how to manage symptoms. All of this will [...]
Bipolar and Credit Cards, Loans and Debt
Mania for me always leads to overspending. I'll spend an exorbitant amount of money on useless, meaningless stuff. Shoes, bags, clothes, collectible toys, lego figurines (yes, really), games consoles, hotel rooms - I could go on and on. I'm not a materialistic person by nature, but with mania I just can't help myself. It's an [...]
