Gum on My Shoe

In the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to. — Dave Hollis A few weeks ago I was talking with a colleague about England’s road map out of lockdown. He said he felt cautiously optimistic and that he’d made a wish list of things he wants to do again when it’s possible. He asked if I’d made a list. I said no, it hadn’t occurred to me. That wasn’t entirely true. It’s not so much that it hadn’t occurred to me. At some level it feels wrong to me, even unhealthy, to make a list like that because I’d be wishing for things that are no longer possible or available. Like most of us, I suppose, I spent the first months of lockdown imagining a time when things would start getting back to normal — or at least to something resembling how things were before. Being back in the office. Holidays. Meeting friends for coffee, drinks, meals, or days out. Hugs. As the weeks and months passed those hopes receded, but they still f...

To mark World Bipolar Day 2021 Fran and I are offering our books for FREE on Kindle for five days between Monday March 29 and Friday April 2, inclusive. In High Tide, Low Tide: The Caring Friend’s Guide to Bipolar Disorder we share what we’ve learned about growing a supportive, mutually rewarding friendship between a “well one” and an “ill one.” With no-nonsense advice from the caring friend’s point of view, original approaches and practical tips, illustrated with real-life conversations and examples. Buy it here . Friendship is a beautiful part of life and an important component of long-term wellness. No One Is Too Far Away: Notes from a Transatlantic Friendship is a collection of articles from our blog which shows that mental illness needn’t be a barrier to meaningful connection; indeed it can be the glue that holds people together. Buy it here . Once the free offer is over the prices will go back to normal. World Bipolar Day is celebrated each year on March 30...

It’s ok if you don’t want to make the best of it It’s ok if you don’t want to bake banana bread. It’s ok if you don’t want to craft with Kirstie. It’s ok if you don’t want to do a scavenger hunt around your home. It’s ok if you don’t want to learn a new language. It’s ok if you don’t want to have a quiz night with your colleagues. It’s ok if you don’t want a movie night with your buddies. It’s ok if you don’t want to have themed evenings with your beloved, your family, or your friends. It’s ok to miss how it used to be. It’s ok to feel afraid. It’s ok to hate it. It’s ok to be overwhelmed. It’s ok to do this your way.   Photo by Alexas_Fotos on Unsplash.  

In my recent article 11 Things I Am Grateful for This Week I revealed “I’ve been experiencing a good deal of stress lately one way or another.” I thought it would be useful for me — and hopefully interesting for others — to explore what was going on for me at that time and how I handled things. Why Was I So Stressed? I sometimes get stressed about work or relationships, but this time the trigger was discovering the hot water tank (immersion heater) at home had stopped working. Looking back, I can see there were several strands to my stress and anxiety. The first was the immediate, practical issue of not having any hot running water and having to find someone to deal with it. I have a poor track record finding reliable tradespeople. I felt under pressure to engage someone who would do a good job for a reasonable price. There were several other plumbing jobs which needed doing about the house, including drippping taps in the bathroom and kitchen, and a kitchen was...

With great sadness, we have learnt that Jules Clare, aka The Jewelster, passed away on February 15, 2021. We are resharing this article in tribute to his great spirit. Originally published May 2015. Jules Clare was born in Wales in 1963. He is a Welsh Brummie Mackem poet. He supports Aston Villa. He is a born survivor. He has lived through and with a brain haemorrhage, ulcerative colitis, bi-polar affective mood disorder, acute rheumatoid arthritis and a deep vein thrombosis. He smiles a lot, especially in the face of adversity. He is strong willed. He has been barred from the Surtees, The RAFA Club, The Kings and The Fat Brewer. All of these are shady drinking establishments in Crook. Nobody messes with The Jewelster! He started writing poetry nine years ago during a mental health recovery phase at The County Hospital in Durham. He has not looked back since! People love his sense of humour, his poetry’s directness, his delivery and his dress sense. Jules puts himself out...

I’ve been experiencing a good deal of stress lately one way or another, and I thought it might help to focus on what’s been going well , and things I am grateful for. This blog post is the result and, yes, it did help. Creative Focus Fran and I recently announced we’re working on a new edition of our second book, No One Is Too Far Away: Notes From a Transatlantic Friendship , as the first edition is now out of print. The project has been a useful distraction from other things which have not been going so well. Last week I finished the Kindle conversion of the book and ordered a proof copy of the printed version which came the other day. My friend and fellow blogger Aimee Wilson asked if I was as excited about seeing it as I was with High Tide, Low Tide . I hadn’t really thought about it, but yes, I really was! There’s nothing quite like seeing your book in physical form and holding it in your hands for the first time. Memes When I’m struggling I tend to pull back from social...

Check out our top posts for the past month. Posts are listed by the number of page views they attracted during the month, most popular first. How to Write the Best Acknowledgement Page for Your Book The Awkward Armadillo: A Journey Into Writing I Don't Need Them Any More: The Day Fran Relinquished her Stash of Meds High Tide, Low Tide: The Caring Friend's Guide to Bipolar Disorder (Revised edition) Team Marty (Because No One Can Be Everything for Everyone) Exploring Bipolar Disorder and the Sister Diagnosis of Schizoaffective Disorder. Is My Friend or Sibling Underdiagnosed? How To Understand People and Be Understood Our Top Posts of the Month (January 2021) Announcing a New Edition of No One is Too Far Away: Notes from a Transatlantic Friendship I'm on My Way: Thoughts Inspired by Ed Sheeran's "Castle on the Hill" Our most visited pages were: Our books Contact Us Resources News and Appearances About Us Testimonials