There is often a certain smugness attached to the minimalists presented in popular culture. The subtle implication of “I’m better than you are”. Maybe because they have reached the type of epiphany that us mere muggles — who enjoy a frivolous purchase — could only dream of. I cringe at the image of someone sleeping […]Read More
There is no escaping it, this has been a tough time for us all. Whether it be this period of lockdown number 3 or for a longer period beyond the last year. We are facing a health pandemic, economic, and personal struggles. So why should we feel guilty about rewarding ourselves? A great majority of […]Read More
What seems worse, being stranded on a deserted tropical island or stuck in a global pandemic? I may have picked the pandemic, but after watching the ‘Unsinkable Eight’ struggle in The Wilds, I’d happily choose the comfort of my own home and luxuries; shark attacks, food poisoning, trauma, and lack of resources doesn’t sound all […]Read More
This year has proven to make itself a struggle for those like myself at university, and despite the growing dialogues about mental, physical and emotional wellbeing, there are still some things worth learning. Students are often placed under the stereotype of being all about the party life, and caring little about their work. For the […]Read More
Bristol-based Suchy Sha has taken the tender psyche of soul music and instilled it with hip-hop’s raw attitude on her new single, ‘Let’s Talk’. The track centres around the subject of suicide, focusing on the millions of people that have been affected by a loved one taking their own life. A weighty, and often neglected topic, but […]Read More
In cartoons, when someone is hit over the head, their vision blurs and they see three of everything. Sound is distorted and even just moving requires a great deal of effort. Of course, for these characters, a quick shake of the head solves everything. But for me, the aftereffects of discontinuing my antidepressants meant even just laying down, I felt like the room was on a high-speed carousel. It was like the worst hangover of my life, without the fun of drinking the night before.Read More
Before the pandemic, working from home was a luxury I enjoyed for one day most weeks. It was a chance to escape interruptions, have an opportunity to focus on specific projects and act as a mental health fire-break. When the first lockdown meant we had to stay at home, I envisaged it would just be […]Read More
Instagram is a digital minefield for mental health – and its danger is increasing through online trolls, super-toned celebrities, and perfect holidays to Dubai, to name just a few. 40% of the world’s population is now on social media. That’s a huge three billion people jeopardising their mental health for an average of two to […]Read More
When the catastrophic storm of COVID-19 hit the world was unprepared, it left huge destruction in its wake. With the number of cases rising at an alarming rate within the week of March 16th – 23rd, with the total infections rising to almost 100,000, drastic action needed to be taken in a bid to control the virus. […]Read More
DISCLAIMER: I am not a qualified health professional. This article describes my personal experience with emotional blunting and antidepressants. If you are seeking advice on your specific situation, please seek help from a medical professional. Emotional blunting was the first thing to appear when I ‘googled’ how I was feeling after two weeks of taking […]Read More
They say ‘a dog is for life, not just for Christmas.’ Given the huge surge in ‘pandemic’ puppy sales they may need need a new slogan; ‘a puppy is for life, not just for lockdown.’ Registrations of new puppies jumped 26% between April and June. With many buying dogs as lockdown companions, there is a […]Read More
Trigger Warning: This article contains references to suicidal thoughts. If you are affected by any of the issues mentioned please contact a mental health support line. In November 2018, I sat in the harsh light of a university counselling office and told the lady sitting opposite me, through tears, that I was thinking about ending […]Read More
This World Diabetes Day we need to talk about the psychological and emotional impact of type 1 diabetes. Primarily there needs to be a discussion about how the current NHS care system doesn’t offer enough support for struggling diabetics and about how and why this drastically needs to change. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune […]Read More
Students were sent back to university in Autumn term with nothing but uncertainty on how this academic year would unfold. With teaching being conducted predominantly online, our university experience has been vastly different to the one we expected. Being confined to cramped university accommodation and spending most of our days in our bedrooms is detrimental […]Read More
My two remaining grandparents both passed away during my final year of university. My granddad at the very start, in October, my grandma at the very end, in June. It was the first time in my adult life that I really experienced loss. It was a shock to my system. My family lives in Germany, […]Read More
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