Self Caring After Trauma
Self-care is a vital aspect of maintaining mental and physical well-being. It involves activities and practices that we engage in regularly to reduce stress, enhance our health, and restore our balance.
Understanding OCD: Breaking Down Misconceptions
People with OCD don’t “choose” their thoughts or compulsions. Telling someone to “just get over it” is dismissive, harmful, and perpetuates ableist attitudes. If someone has lived with OCD for decades and tried all known interventions, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), medication, counseling, and even alternative therapies such as hypnosis, it is unjust to boil their suffering down to a fad.
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Universal Credit Reforms
Labour is facing the prospect of another mass rebellion from its own MPs as concerns mount over proposed reforms to the universal credit system. The focus of unease is on changes to the assessment process for disability benefits, particularly the health element of universal credit (UC).
Understanding Invisible Disabilities & Ableist Attitudes
Invisible disabilities deserve recognition, understanding, and respect. Ableist attitudes rooted in ignorance and dismissiveness create barriers that can be just as disabling as the condition itself. Instead of questioning someone’s reality or minimising their struggles, we should listen, believe, and support. The lived experiences of those with invisible disabilities, like the editor who has battled OCD for decades, remind us that what cannot be seen can still have profound impact. True inclusivity means dismantling ableism and embracing empathy.
Facing Inner Demons: Why Trauma Survivors Turn to Drugs and Alcohol
Trauma leaves lasting wounds, but numbing pain with drugs and alcohol only deepens the suffering. Although self-medication may seem like an escape, it damages the body and creates new chains of dependency. The path to healing is not easy, but it is possible. With therapy, support, and healthier coping mechanisms, people can face their fears, overcome their inner demons, and take back control of their lives.
Can Forgetting Compulsions Help Heal OCD and Trauma?
Stress can play a major role in memory lapses, especially for people living with OCD and trauma. When the mind is overwhelmed by anxiety, daily pressures, or too many competing tasks, it can become harder to focus on intrusive thoughts or compulsions. Preoccupation with other responsibilities may naturally push the urge into the background, allowing it to fade over time. In this way, stress and distraction, although challenging, can sometimes disrupt the cycle of OCD by creating moments where the compulsion is forgotten.
Why You Should Write a Book Before You Die
Everyone has a story worth telling. Whether your life has been filled with triumphs, challenges, wisdom, or humour, documenting your journey in a book is one of the most powerful ways to preserve your legacy. Writing a book before you die not only gives your loved ones a cherished memory but it also serves as a personal tool to reflect, heal, and leave your mark on the world.
Coping with the Loss of a Pet or Service Animal
The bond between humans and animals, especially service animals, is sacred. Their passing can feel overwhelming, but their love, loyalty, and legacy live on. With time, support, and self-compassion, healing is possible — and so is rediscovering your own strength.
Trichotillomania and PIP Eligibility
Trichotillomania, also known as Hair-Pulling Disorder, is a serious mental health condition classified under Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders in the DSM-5. It involves repetitive hair-pulling that leads to noticeable hair loss, emotional distress, and social or occupational impairment.
Overprescribing Anti-Depressants: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Antidepressant use has soared over the past two decades, with the UK alone seeing a doubling in prescriptions since 2008. While medication can be life-changing for some, concerns are growing around its overprescription, especially for patients who may not need long-term pharmacological treatment. From the reluctance of GPs to offer fast-acting relief to the alarming trend of children being medicated, it’s time to ask, are we medicating emotion at the expense of wellbeing?