London paramedic has liquid thrown in face by masked men

As someone who works within the emergency services in the UK this one really, really gets to me. Diverting an ambulance from an emergency, then attacking the onboard paramedic. It really doesn't get much worse than that.  It is getting worse day by day. I see it every day that I work. It is getting …

Coping with anxiety

I know how it feels. Like nothing can take it away. One irrelevant, random thought and we're off. Our hearts are pounding, the worry is overwhelming and it feels as if the world is ending. No one knows how it feels. No one takes it seriously. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm just predisposed to this …

5 reasons you should start writing: from a newbie

I've always been a fan of writing. I've always liked putting pen to paper, or in this case, fingers to keys. Doesn't sound right does it. Sounds quite weird actually. Anyway. I think I've progressed a long way from my teenage 'hey wuu2' online messenger days. I knew quite early on that I liked to …

Making friends: A squirrel called Steve

It's not every day I make new friends, walking alone in woods. I live rurally, so it's not exactly rare to see squirrels running up and down trees, or hedgehogs shuffling through leaves and mud. Today I walked through some woods, stopping at a cafe to grab a latte before I drifted off. Anyway. I …

That Friday night feeling

It's Friday night. It's the end of the working week. You walk out of that door with a smile on your face, leaving the stress behind. Until next week that is. Anyway. It's time to relax, put your feet up, grab yourself a glass of wine and settle in. Or, maybe it's time to head …

The damage of growing up with an alcoholic parent

Doors banging, screaming, crying. A nightly occurrence. It's normal, right? Everyone's parent drinks can after can of beer every night. That's what I thought for the first 13 years of my life, anyway. I grew up with an alcoholic mother. Every night of my life, and even years before I was born, she has drunk …

Walking with anxiety

I've always been a fan of walking. As long as it's not too long, or too dark.. or too hot. Anyway.  It helps me put things in perspective and gives my mind time to think things through without interruption. I am lucky enough to live close to rural English countryside, so I have plenty to …

5 things I’ve learned home alone and injured

We all have days alone. Some might throw in a lazy day, some might have a to-do list saved for their rare free time, some might head out to enjoy the outdoors. When your days alone are limited - those days becomes precious. That choice to do whatever you choose to do is sacred. When …

You, your mind, and world news

Owing to technology, we can keep in touch with the world wherever we are, whatever time of day. It seems entirely unavoidable. TV, social media, smartphones, advertisements, those large-printed headlines you see taunting you down every high street news stand, that one friend consistently updating you with unwanted, unsubstantiated facts they read on the internet …

Thoughts of an anxious insomniac

It's that time already. Where has the day gone? Here we go again. From the moment my head hits the pillow, my brain hits the roof. Suddenly I question reality and everything I have come to learn over the past 24 years. The 'what if's' take over and suddenly I'm not myself anymore, I'm an …