Nobody should have to feel weird, ashamed, rejected, excluded, isolated due to their sexual orientation or their gender expression, nor due to their disability or neurological differences, nor any other human characteristic, but sadly this happens all the time. Young people, especially teenagers, can be particularly affected by lack of acceptance and support. An alarmingContinue reading “Iggy’s Initiative Introduction”
Category Archives: Mental Health
Lockdown 2, home schooling while home working day 1
12 November 2020 8:25: Me “I’d better get up”. Si “Why?”8:30: Me “Shit, where is Jess’ Teams log-in?”8:32: Jess “Mum can I have crisps for breakfast?”8:50: 6 kids are in the Teams meeting, but neither teacher is8:51: Jess “Bye Izzy ha ha, you have to go to school and I don’t”8:56: Kids speculating about well-beingContinue reading “Lockdown 2, home schooling while home working day 1”
Autistic working mum, juggling in a pandemic
As a working parent, I am quite used to the juggling act of family life and work life, balancing the needs of my family, my job, and my own needs… usually in that order. Usually I can just about keep those juggling balls in the air. Working from home during a pandemic has certainly putContinue reading “Autistic working mum, juggling in a pandemic”
World Mental Health Day 2020
“It’s OK not to be OK”… It’s not OK to not be OK, not for a prolonged period anyway. What that phase actually means is, it is good to be open about not being OK. Yes we all have bad days and low moods, but if you are often full of dread, you have aContinue reading “World Mental Health Day 2020”
You’ll never run alone
I was due to run with two friends, but one pulled out due to sore calf muscles, the other with bad hayfever. “Sorry to let you down, Charlie” says one in the group chat. “That’s fine”, I replied, thinking “it is sometimes easier to run solo anyway, as I can play the route by earContinue reading “You’ll never run alone”
Week 12 of lockdown, reflecting on Day 1
For me this is now week 12 of lockdown, as I have not been in the office since Monday 16 March. That was a unsettling day with people on the train eyeing each other with suspicion, reluctant to press the button to open the train doors, and an uneasy atmosphere in the office. This weekContinue reading “Week 12 of lockdown, reflecting on Day 1”
Lockdown survival tips
Pretty much all of my lockdown survival tips are here in one post. A very British pot of tea and a packet of hot cross buns (from the freezer, so ignore the March “best before” date). And if ever there’s a time to treat yourself to proper butter, this is it, on toasted hot crossContinue reading “Lockdown survival tips”
Day 1 Home-working while home-educating
Day 1 Home-working and home-educating 23 March 2020 “I’ve got this all figured out”, I thought. “This will be a piece of cake. I am only part-time, and I am lucky to have my husband (a musician) around every day to help…” First up I Skyped my line manager about temporarily changing my hours to startContinue reading “Day 1 Home-working while home-educating”
Anxiety and bereavement
I’m struggling with anxiety again, even though I felt strong over the weekend. Example 1: When our cat Ermy goes out for longer than usual, then there’s a post on the village Facebook page about a cat that has been run over. My immediate thoughts “Ermy is not coming back this time. My daughters areContinue reading “Anxiety and bereavement”
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”
Ausome Charlie 