There are days when I occasionally wake up with a feeling of intense dread in the pit of my stomach, a large lump in my throat and an elephant-sized weight on my heart so heavy that I wonder whether I can make it out of bed. This thankfully happens much, much less than it used … Continue reading Is Happiness A Choice? (And Other Important Life Questions)
WARNING: Potentially triggering. If you are having any thoughts around seriously injuring yourself or ending your life please talk to someone immediately, or ring Samaritans on 116 123. Every year since starting this blog in 2016, I've planned to write a post on self-harm for self-injury awareness day. And every year it passes … Continue reading Courageous Conversations – Self-Injury, Shame and Stigma.
Here we are on the cusp of a new decade and, if you're anything like me, reflecting on the past ten years. At the start of the previous decade I was 15 years old, thinking I knew everything there was to know about life, with a fierce belief that the only things in life worth … Continue reading A Comprehensive List Of Things I Wish I’d Known At The Start Of The Decade.
Working in the field of mental health, I can see just how much progress has been made in terms of reducing the stigma around the subject. Individuals of all different ages, genders, cultures, religions and abilities are now standing up and speaking out more than ever before about their own stories and struggles, their obstacles … Continue reading Language Matters: World Mental Health Day.
Fat days. We all have them. One day you look in the mirror and see an "average" sized human being and the next day you look at that same person who seems to have doubled in size. You tug at the soft rolls of your belly, shake your bingo wings from side to side, sigh … Continue reading Does My Bum Look Big In This? What “I Feel Fat” Is Really Telling Us.
The 2019 theme of ED Awareness, Come As You Are, 'highlights NEDA's movement towards inclusivity in the greater eating disorder community and sends a message to individuals at all stages of body acceptance and eating disorders that their stories are valid.' For me and I'm sure thousands of others either suffering or in recovery, this … Continue reading Come As You Are – ED Awareness Week 2019.
Rewind 5 years (top two photos) and, to the outside, I looked like the healthiest person on the earth. Whilst it seemed everybody else at university were going out nearly every night of the week followed by hungover takeaways the morning after, I was going to the gym 6 times per week, eating mainly vegetarian, … Continue reading Why I No Longer Choose To Prioritise Physical Health
I started my 2017 reflections blog post last year asking whether I should have my life together by now - and again, at 24 years I find myself asking the same question as the people around me start their big careers, buy houses, get engaged, settle down. I can’t even go on Facebook for 5 … Continue reading 2018 Reflections.
These were two of my diary entries, a couple of months after taking the big decision to pack my bags and leave home to go to Leeds University. As you can see from the words I poured on to the page, I struggled. A lot. I was already going through a pretty tough time before … Continue reading To The One’s Struggling To Enjoy Uni: You Are Not Alone.
A few years ago, one of my very best friends was in a pretty bad car crash whilst driving to my house late at night from work. Although absolutely horrific, thankfully she is here to tell the tale, and got away with a badly broken leg and lots of cuts and bruises. Another friend and … Continue reading #NationalBestFriendDay: An Appreciation Post For My Favourite Humans.
The Kirsty Way 