(This blog speaks from anecdotal evidence as well as discussions with vet). Having been raw fed as a puppy, my then 4 year-old Labrador ‘Action’ began scratching his face and head a lot in May 2020; at this point in time we had been feeding a fairly high quality…

When the good times don’t last Having had three severely hypomanic episodes and one full blown manic episode (discounting mixed episodes), most people I imagine, would be hard pressed to see its appeal. After all, the last bout landed me in A&E, hearing and seeing things, head-butting the walls, and feeling trapped. So why then do…

Trigger warning: mention of suicide In 2016 my life fell apart. Literally It had been brewing for some time anyway. I had been suffering with depression on and off for 7 years by then, and in 2015 I reached a tipping point when, in the space of a single week, I was involved in 3 highly traumatic experiences. I had managed to…

You cannot be 'a little OCD' Whether it’s referring to somebody as being ‘triggered’ because they get annoyed during an argument, or declaring yourself ‘depressed’ because you are having a bad day, we as a society need to stop appropriating and misusing mental health terms. Being tidy does not mean you have ‘OCD’, and bein moody…

Finding humour in sleep deprivation I read a lot about co-sleeping when my kids were younger. For those unfamiliar with the concept it is about sharing your sleep space with your baby or child; either in bed in your arms, on the bed, or in other co-sleeping devices such as a nest, pod, or crib…

I pose a question to anybody who attends therapy/counselling/psychology – however you chose to phrase it. Do you know how to decide you have found a good psychologist or therapist? For my American friends I assume you can shop around – a freedom less open to us Brits, who are…

Last year, during the first wave of the coronavirus, a series of advertisements were released by the National Cyber Security Centre backed through the Government, for a programme called ‘Cyber First’. They were to encourage more young people into technology related careers; the campaign was titled ‘Rethink, Reskill, Reboot’. …

My oldest daughter was in Year Six when the pandemic hit in 2020. Consequently, all her Year Six SATS exams were cancelled, and I ended up schooling her at home during the lockdown. Her school was very proactive in setting up a learning environment online for both my children, but…

I’ve been under the care of a lot of doctors in my time — primary care, emergency care, dermatology, neurology, rheumatology, psychiatry and more. And there is always one thread, one theme that runs through all the appointments and care episodes. …