When Family Is Unsupportive
An insightful article exploring why some families are unsupportive, particularly towards invisible disabilities like OCD, and offering practical, compassionate ways to protect emotional well-being and move forward.
Guide To Blue Badge Parking
There is no single national rule for residents’ bays. The national Blue Badge concessions do not automatically include resident-only bays; councils set local rules. Some allow Blue Badge parking in resident bays; others prohibit it. What this means: If your street is “Permit Holders Only” (or similar), check the sign and your council’s website. If resident bays aren’t listed among places Blue Badges can be used, you’ll likely need a resident permit/exemption or a dedicated disabled bay issued by the council.
Struggling Mental Health After Trauma
Trauma can change a person’s world in an instant. Whether it stems from domestic violence, childhood abuse, loss, betrayal, or a sudden life-altering event, trauma leaves emotional imprints that can last a lifetime. It doesn’t simply fade away with time, instead, it lingers in the subconscious, replaying through intrusive memories, flashbacks, or emotional triggers that can feel impossible to escape.
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.
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.
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.
Link Between Trauma, MS, Financial Stability & OCD
If only we could erase bad memories and achieve financial stability for the rest of our lives, our mental health would no doubt improve. A reflection on trauma, OCD, MS, and the importance of stability for wellbeing
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.
Travelling Abroad, A Guide for Abled and Disabled Passengers
Traveling with a disability or hidden condition takes planning, but it shouldn’t stop you from seeing the world. Whether you’re worried about customs, the DWP, or managing OCD while abroad, being informed and prepared can make all the difference. Remember: not all disabilities are visible, and you have every right to ask for support from airlines, and airport staff,.
From Adversity to Advocacy: Charities Volant Trust & Lumos.org
How one woman’s journey through grief and hardship led to the creation of two powerful charities – and why her story continues to inspire global change. When we think of JK Rowling, most picture the global Harry Potter phenomenon. But behind the fame is a woman who once lived on state benefits, writing in cafes while caring for a young child as a single mother battling grief after losing her mother to Multiple Sclerosis.