Pink and orange clouds
OCD, Anxiety and Everything Else

Six Years On: The Ups and Downs (but Mainly the Downs) of OCD Recovery

Rewritten from 17 March 2019 - formerly 2 Years On 17 March 2017, I had my final session of high-intensity CBT after previously being diagnosed with OCD. My OCD was largely contamination based, but I also experienced intrusive thoughts around harming others, as well as health-anxiety related compulsions (long story short, I had major health… Continue reading Six Years On: The Ups and Downs (but Mainly the Downs) of OCD Recovery

Blurred gold and red Christmas lights
The Grief Diaries

The First Christmas

Today has been a shitty day. After a few (okay, a lot of) drinks last night, I started crying, and I don’t remember stopping. I just remember waking up this morning, feeling tired, drained, and empty. Most days I consider my biggest achievement getting out of bed. Today was one of those days. It took… Continue reading The First Christmas

Close up of hands resting on a notebook and holding a pen
OCD, Anxiety and Everything Else

3 Lessons I’ve Learned in My OCD Recovery

March 2022 will mark five years since I was discharged from the mental health service after undergoing high-intensity CBT for OCD. A lot has changed in those five years - I’ve bought a house, I’ve changed jobs, I’ve gotten tattoos, I’ve spent two years living through a pandemic - you know, usual life stuff. I… Continue reading 3 Lessons I’ve Learned in My OCD Recovery

Plastic brain sat on top of four surgical masks against a blue flatlay
Mental Health Awareness

Seven Mental Health Lessons I’ve Learned Since My Diagnosis | Time to Talk Day 2022

I’ve suffered with some form of anxiety my entire life. Emetophobia (the fear of vomit) hit me in my early childhood, gradually turning into a severe phobia of germs that, over time, destroyed my hands, my bank balance, a friendship, and worst of all, my personality. Eventually, I was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)… Continue reading Seven Mental Health Lessons I’ve Learned Since My Diagnosis | Time to Talk Day 2022

Clorox, Lysol wipes and hand sanitiser
OCD, Anxiety and Everything Else

Lessons I’ve Learned From Having Contamination OCD

Today, I’m talking about the things I’ve learned since getting diagnosed with OCD. Of course, I realise now that I’ve suffered with OCD for way longer than I realised, but these are things that I’ve learned over the years since getting my diagnosis in 2016, and more importantly, since the start of the pandemic. I… Continue reading Lessons I’ve Learned From Having Contamination OCD

OCD spelt out on a white background with multicoloured letters surrounding it
OCD, Anxiety and Everything Else

Things OCD Has Genuinely Made Me Think

Anyone who’s followed my blog for a while will know I have OCD, but for those who are new followers, here's a little back story. I have OCD. It’s largely based around contamination fears (obvs bags of fun being in a pandemic), but I also struggle with compulsive checking and intrusive thoughts. I believe my… Continue reading Things OCD Has Genuinely Made Me Think

Earbuds in case against laptop
Music & Podcasts

Another Four Podcasts You Should Listen To Right Now

Listening to podcasts has been a key part of my working from home day for quite a while now, and I’ll be honest, I’m worried how I’ll be able to keep up the momentum when I start my new job. In recent months though, I’ve realised that they’ve not just become part of my WFH… Continue reading Another Four Podcasts You Should Listen To Right Now

Cranky Octopus Toys
Mental Health Awareness

Mental Health Update: I’ve Started CBT Again

Apologies for my lack of post last week, and also for my delay in the one before that. It’s been a busy couple of weeks and a lot has happened. I’m attempting to get my shit back together though - although, I think I’ve done pretty well considering I’ve stayed consistent with two posts a… Continue reading Mental Health Update: I’ve Started CBT Again

MHAW 21
Mental Health Awareness

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 | #ConnectWithNature

The 10th May marked the start of Mental Health Awareness Week,  a yearly event started by the Mental Health Foundation that encourages us to talk about mental health. This year, the theme is #ConnectWithNature - aimed at encouraging us all to stop and appreciate the nature around us every day, something more and more of… Continue reading Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 | #ConnectWithNature