Category Archives: Alexithymia

Rant about NHS mental health support

Please just indulge me this rant, without any overwhelming flurry of concerned personal messages. I’m basically OK today, and about to get stuck into some rock painting. This rant concerns NHS mental health services for adults in my area (Worcestershire). In the months following my son’s death last April, I realised I require some specialistContinue reading “Rant about NHS mental health support”

Masking thread 2 (TW suicide)

From Twitter 28/12/2019 I talked yesterday about my “enjoying a night out with the girls clubbing mask”. I have got to be honest, I have a much thicker mask. I weld it to my face, and it doesn’t just slip when it fails – it cracks wide open. I put this mask on when IContinue reading “Masking thread 2 (TW suicide)”

Side-eye conversations with Iggy

TW CW suicide child death bullying Note: Media interest in our story is not welcome. Names have been changed, so don’t bother googling us. My first-born son killed himself earlier this year, out of the blue, aged just fifteen. For background, since starting high school in 2017 Iggy had been struggling increasingly with anxiety. InContinue reading “Side-eye conversations with Iggy”

‘Tis the season to be overwhelmed tra la la la la fuck off fuck off

There are numerous friends and acquaintances with whom I’ve suggested meeting up for a chat over a run, walk, coffee. Just might take me a while to get around to it. This time of year is always overwhelming for me – balancing the demands of the busy period at work, the pressure of family birthdaysContinue reading “‘Tis the season to be overwhelmed tra la la la la fuck off fuck off”

Izzy’s birthday (TW CW child suicide)

CW TW child death suicide bullying These are not my children’s real names. Media attention is not welcome, thanks. I do not consent for my words nor images to be republished anywhere else. Izzy’s birthday is on Monday, but she’s with her dad, my first husband, for half-term. This evening I took her out forContinue reading “Izzy’s birthday (TW CW child suicide)”

Toxic Positivity

I’ve been hearing this phrase banded around on Twitter. Usually directed at the neurodiversity movement, or more specifically at “Pollyanna Autism advocates”, by our critics. I had a taste of toxic positivity yesterday, and now the meaning and consequences are clearer to me. I’ve been struggling with IBS worse than ever since my son IggyContinue reading “Toxic Positivity”