Blog Posts

On paper, it looked like I was living the dream, but in reality, I was a bit of a mess!

It was in this decade I found out I was already pregnant. This wasn’t good news. But, I got married ….. and got divorced soon after. My job wasn’t fulfilling me. The relationship I originally thought was good, turned out to be abusive.

Childhood anxiety is now an epidemic with 1 in every 6 children experiencing anxiety, and a 70% increase in the last 25 years. There are many contributing factors but researchers have also found a link between anxiety and the overprotection of our children.

Recognise that any change, positive or negative, may be perceived as a threat and can trigger unhelpful anxious thoughts. Remember they are just thoughts though, and they will not physically harm you. Right now, remind yourself that you are ok. Find some calm time and think back over all the times you have been resilient and coped in the past.

With lockdown restrictions slowly being lifted, I've been thinking about all the things I've been enjoying recently, and I have realised there are far more benefits to lockdown than I would have thought possible.

If you are feeling unprepared for the changes that are coming, recognise that there was no ‘normal’ response when we went into lockdown either, so it is understandable if we feel anxious again now.

Volunteering can be a great way of reducing stress and anxiety as it takes the focus off of ourselves and puts it onto others. Thinking about how you want to benefit from volunteering is a good start to finding an opportunity that's right for you.

Gardening not only improves our mental health, but it can also give us a sense of pride and achievement. It enables us to learn new skills, enjoy the benefits of being in nature, and we get to watch life grow.a

Children can be sensitive to everything going on around them, and it is not unusual for children to blame themselves for something happening in their environment, such as challenges at home or school, or with their friendship group. We can help our children by offering reassurance, and explaining they are not to blame.