Unconditional Love – Pets and Mental Health

I am not doing too well at the moment. If you asked me over the past couple of decades what helps my mental health – high up there on the list, if not at the top – would have been my cats. Brother and Sister, Ixxy and Poppy. They have been my world. I don’tContinue reading “Unconditional Love – Pets and Mental Health”

Recovery – Uncovering – Discovery

What is recovery? What does it mean to recover? It depends what we are recovering from of course. And what we are trying to recover. People who are seeking to break free from addiction often talk about being “in recovery”. It’s not a destination, it’s a journey. Is it possible to say one is noContinue reading “Recovery – Uncovering – Discovery”

Cause of Death – not just suicide we need to worry about.

I was just checking to see if there were any updated statistics yet on the number of suicides in the UK – not yet. I wanted to see if last year’s slight reduction was the beginning of a trend or just a blip. Anyway – I found myself perusing the figures, and also those forContinue reading “Cause of Death – not just suicide we need to worry about.”

Down to earth with a bump

Life is full of little surprises. Banana skins. Obstacles. Back at work we would groan each time a manager told us how exciting the “challenges ahead” were. Usually of course meaning more work, less staff or money. Such is life. But we try our best to plan, to avoid unnecessary problems, give ourselves the bestContinue reading “Down to earth with a bump”

Bricks in the stress bucket

MHFA introduced me to the stress bucket. It’s so simple really. That we all have our “buckets” – into which all of the stresses of life flow. And which, if the stress becomes more than our bucket can handle, will overflow – at which point we can start to experience symptoms of mental ill health.Continue reading “Bricks in the stress bucket”