If you throw around the words 'psychotic' or 'delusional' to describe someone you disagree with, or roll it out when you've been hurt or upset - then you can't call yourself a mental health advocate, or say that you care about mental health. There, I've said it. People have said to me, "But surely delusional [...]
Tag: Mental health
Hiding Behind A Smile
What do these photos say to you? You probably see a happy, smiling young person, enjoying life. The reality is I was ill in each of these photos. I'd either just had a diagnosis of bipolar, or was about to be diagnosed. You can't see it, but I was all over the place mentally - [...]
How to Help Someone with Bipolar Disorder
I've had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder since 2012. It's been a rough journey and I'm still learning more about the condition, even now. My loved ones have been on the ride along with me, and we've had to learn together how they can best support me. I've put together what I believe helps - [...]
How To Help A Friend With Depression
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 [...]
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 [...]
