“Whenever I am dealing with extreme emotions, I read” – The Mental Health Book Club Podcast
A re-post of our previous interview with with the fantastic Sydney Timmins, founder and co-presenter of the Mental Health Book Club podcast. At the time of this feature Sydney and Becky has just released the 29th episode. Two years later, still going strong, they are now on episode 104! Listen to the latest one here. […]
How I learnt that my mental health affects my chronic pain
An insightful post by Community Correspondent Ann-Marie D’Arcy-Sharpe, who is a passionate mental health advocate and writer. You can follow Ann-Marie on Twitter and Instagram. Mental illness has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. A few years ago, I finally got an accurate diagnosis of bipolar disorder. From […]
“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 […]
“My life is very different, but different isn’t bad” – Angela McCrimmon
A beautiful poem by mental health advocate and writer Angela McCrimmon, sharing her experience of coping practically and emotionally with social distancing. The world as we know it has all been torn away, The things I do to keep me well as I navigate each day, The routine that I follow to keep me on […]
“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 […]
New Action for Happiness April Calendar
April is here and Action for Happiness have launched another lovely monthly calendar. This month the theme is ‘Active Coping’, with daily actions to help us look after ourselves and each other, as we face this global crisis together. Simply save the photo to your phone or visit AFH website for different versions of the […]
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 […]
“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 & […]
Does your book group make you as happy as an extra £40k a year? #WorldBookDay
A re-post for World Book Day 2020 by our Project Manager @rosiehopes I remember reading that doing something you enjoy once a month with people you like adds as much to your happiness as earning an extra £40,000 a year. I say I remember reading it, but despite frantic googling, I can’t find a source, so […]
‘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 […]
