Gum on My Shoe

TW: Mention of suicidality, trauma, and addiction

I’m a gypsy, Marty. No matter how hard the traveling is I still go, again and again. You are a comfort creature traveling vicariously. — Fran Houston One of my father’s favourite aphorisms was “If a thing’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly.” In this, he (perhaps unknowingly) echoed Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, who in 1774 wrote to his son “Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.” These words of paternal wisdom came to mind as I began gathering my thoughts for a blog post about vicarious living. I’ve arguably lived more through other people’s lives than my own. “If a life’s worth living,” I pondered, “it’s worth living vicariously.” I’m going to focus on my experience of relationships, health, and travel. I’ll explore a few of the pitfalls, and what, if anything, I live for myself. Relationships The Cambridge Dictionary defines vicariously as “experienced through the activities of other people, rather than by doing something yourself.” This ...

Hosted every May by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) is an annual UK event offering an opportunity to focus on achieving good mental health. The theme for this year’s MHAW (May 15 – 21) is anxiety, which is something that affects many of us. In a survey carried out by the Mental Health Foundation one in four adults said they sometimes felt so anxious that it stopped them from doing things they wanted to do. I’d like to share my experience of anxiety and a few things I find helpful. Anxiety and Stress The terms anxiety and stress are often used interchangeably, but there are some important differences. Understanding which condition we’re dealing with helps us figure out how best to respond. The following is taken from the Anxiety UK website . Most people experience stress and anxiety at some point in their lives. Generally, stress is a response to an external cause, such as a tight deadline at work or having an argument with someone, and usually...

Learning to drink a coffee and learning to code is the same thing. — Waren Gonzaga This post was inspired by a conversation with a friend who works at my local coffee shop. It was a busy Saturday morning and she was on her own after a colleague had phoned in sick. In between customers we got talking about team working, staff turnover, and the challenges of bringing new team members up to speed. Despite never having worked in hospitality, I could relate to what she was saying. It got me thinking about my experience of training and being trained, the things I learn relatively easily, and those I struggle to master. Working in a busy coffee shop would definitely fall into the latter category! KT in the Workplace My friend was amused that I couldn’t immediately recall my job title, but Intermediate Information Technology Service Manager reveals little about what I actually do. I explained that I’m part of a team responsible for ensuring the computer systems we support are up whe...

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. Exploring Bipolar Disorder and the Sister Diagnosis of Schizoaffective Disorder. Is My Friend or Sibling Underdiagnosed? ECT: A Patient’s Perspective Our Top Posts of the Month (March 2023) Exploring the Depths of Mental Health: Who Are You, Alone, Yourself, and Nameless? Time to Care: A Curated List of Posts for Mental Health Awareness Days and Events How to Use a Spreadsheet for Wellness and Self-Care Left or Right? Nine Strategies for Making Wise Decisions Ten Things I Want You to Know: An Open Letter from a Supportive Friend How to Write the Best Acknowledgement Page for Your Book Effective Strategies to Manage Paranoia in Bipolar Disorder and Schizoaffective Disorder Our most visited pages were: Resources Contact Us About Us Our books News and Appearances Testimonials   Photo by Martin ...

By Emma Jane McDade Disassociation episode inbound. I thought I was just tired recently. It’s scary when you start to feel distant from your own thoughts and senses. Trying to desperately shake out of that seemingly empty day dream you disappear into. I have to constantly stroke something or tap something, to try and keep in reality. No matter how hard I try, the sensation changes to it feeling like I am touching a different surface, no longer my own self. A different self. To feel your vision is not your own anymore, like you have taken a step back and are watching through someone else’s eyes. You can see what this body can see but can no longer feel or smell what it can. You no longer have the emotions or humanity it encased. Until the vision just stops, the lights turn off. The most terrifying part, “waking up” minutes or hours later, not knowing how you got to where you are. Where even are you? What time is it?   Image by Irene Giunta at Unsplash.   ...