Author Archive | editor

“Nothing is the same, yet everything is the same” – @verbisan on ordinariness in a time of crisis

A very special feature on the blog by guest contributor Lynn Blair. Lynn is an Ayrshire-based lecturer and writer who home-educates four girls. She has been published in numerous anthologies by the Scottish Book Trust and Mother’s Milk books. You can read more of Lynn’s work on her Verbisan blog, as well as follow her […]

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“What are you saying to yourself? Because you are listening” – a self kindness video from COPE Scotland

We are living in uncertain times at the moment which, for many people, will be a great source of anxiety and distress. We may be more likely to be hard on ourselves for not being productive, or to ruminate over past mistakes. In this encouraging short video, COPE Scotland have some comforting words and useful […]

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How to give yourself a Butterfly Hug!

A beautiful and helpful video from Trauma Busters, with Amelie demonstrating how we can give ourselves a ‘Butterfly Hug’. This is a self-soothing technique which can bring a sense of calm and help us to process difficult emotions. It might be particularly useful for anyone who is having to self isolate alone, who won’t be […]

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“Parts incomplete” – A Community Correspondent Poem

  A poem by our Community Correspondent Robert Terry  I ain’t no programme running wild Calm myself until all is still Freestyle surfing my energies Finding quiet between my ears Styling free my conscious self Free my mind from every day fears I ain’t no programmed child falling away all that’s ill Freestyling streams & […]

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‘The worst thing about stigma is not being able to celebrate’ – why we hide good days as well as bad when it comes to mental illness.

A post by our Project Assistant, Marie. I recently had a diagnosis of an unusual type of migraine. After weeks of strange symptoms, pain, inconvenience, misdiagnosis and worry, I was so relieved to have an answer and a way forward. I was straight on the phone to some family and friends sharing my happiness about […]

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person wearing a blanket to stay warm, face not visible

Keeping warm in cold weather (when you’re disabled in a society that won’t afford you the dignity of turning on the heating)

A post from our Community Correspondent Robert Terry When you can’t afford your heating, keep yourself well fed and lots of regular hot drinks. Fill your kettle up, so each time you have a regular hot drink, it costs less re-boiling already warm water. During the summer, fill your kettle one cup, or so at […]

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“School isn’t for everyone” – Iona on choosing her own path to happiness as a young apprentice #BestDecision

An inspiring post by Iona Brownell, one of our previous workshop participants. I left school last year and went into an apprenticeship. The ‘normal’ step after completing school is college or university. I felt that neither of these options were for me. I think gaining experience is just as important as receiving the certificate. I […]

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