Writer
The benefits of humour in therapy and recovery I work with some incredibly funny people. Individuals that are able to see the funny side of both the tragedies and trivialities of life. They are not comedians. They are not entertainers of any description. These people are members of a multi-disciplinary team that I co-lead. As … Continue reading I Work With a Bunch of Comedians
I wish I was smart enough to understand this Many of us assume self-deprecating humour is used as a smokescreen for insecurities. However, a study published in 2017 found that making yourself the butt of your own jokes demonstrates higher levels of contentment and self-assurance. I make loads of self-deprecating jokes, but I’m just not … Continue reading Self-Deprecating Humour Linked to Better Mental Health, No Joke
The inconvenient truth of suicide on the tracks Before we embarked on this epic journey, we had been sitting in front of Pearl Jam for over three hours at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. So, however long this trip would take, I was as chilled as a stoner at a weed convention. A taxi to … Continue reading “How Selfish!”
How grateful living can change the world The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word grateful as follows: “Feeling or showing an appreciation for something done or received.” Gratefulness is an abstract noun formed by adding the suffix -ness to grateful. Simple as. But how is gratefulness important in our lives? The world’s entire population could not be … Continue reading The Importance of Gratefulness
And how personal growth came with it A couple of years ago my life was spiralling out of control. I was embroiled in a messy divorce and denial of contact between me and my three children. I was at rock bottom. For several months I spent most of my days wallowing in a state of … Continue reading Being Betrayed by Friends & Family
But sometimes it’s about surviving At its height, the organisation I co-founded was international. We had a head office in London and a satellite office in Ontario, Canada. Via our social media outlets, we had an international reach to millions. We had a radio station, a helpline, a support group and a healthy number of … Continue reading It’s Hard to Give Up the Pursuit of Justice
The gift of a loving childhood The following is my account of why I believe that a happy, healthy and loving upbringing is the most valuable gift one could ever have bestowed upon them. I am a psychiatric nurse. Each and every day I come across individuals who have experienced and been the recipients of … Continue reading The Greatest of Gifts
Overcoming adversities to stay alive The above title refers to the Pearl Jam song Alive. The following paragraphs are an expression of what Alive has come to mean to me and how it has helped me overcome some of life’s recent adversities. Let’s start with the song. Alive was Pearl Jam’s debut single from their … Continue reading I’m Still Alive
Grief and the hopes and dreams that are left behind I heard a song recently on a TV show. The song was When I’m Gone. A song with a mixed history. Better known to most as the Cup Song and featured in the 2012 film Pitch Perfect. Hearing this song reminded me of T. I have three beautiful children and … Continue reading You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone
And using it not just to survive but to grow as a person I consider myself an average Joe. I’m a divorcee, I am now in a loving and healthy relationship. I have three children, one step-son, three rescue dogs and a job I absolutely love. On the surface, all looks good, right? Of course, … Continue reading Discovering Post Traumatic Growth
