Journaling

When something keeps happening with your mental health, it's completely natural to want to know why. Why do I feel worse on some days than others? Why was I absolutely fine in that situation last week, but completely overwhelmed by it today? Why does my brain apparently decide that 11:47 pm is the ideal time to revisit an embarrassing conversation from 2014? And perhaps the biggest question of all: What is actually causing this? It's one of the reasons people start looking fo

If you've ever bought a beautiful new notebook with every intention of journaling, opened it to the first pristine page and immediately thought ...now what?, you're not the only one. Journaling is regularly recommended as a way to reflect on how we're feeling, get thoughts out of our heads and understand ourselves a little better. But there's a fairly significant detail that's sometimes glossed over: you still have to know what to write. That's where a mental health journal c

When anxiety is high, advice can feel exhausting. Breathe. Meditate. Think positive. Let it go. While some of these suggestions help some people, many are left feeling frustrated when nothing seems to stick. This is often when people start searching for an anxiety journal. Not because they want to write perfectly, but because their thoughts feel loud and tangled and they need somewhere safe to put them and give them some clues on what the hell is going on! Journaling for anxi

If you have ADHD, you've probably been given plenty of advice about getting organised. "Just use a planner." "Make a timetable." "Be more disciplined." If only it were that simple. The reality is that most organisational systems are designed for neurotypical brains. When those systems do not work, many ADHD students assume they are the problem. In reality, it is often the system that needs changing, not the student. Organisation with ADHD is not about becoming perfectly tidy

Starting university is often described as one of the most exciting chapters of your life. You are told it will be full of new friendships, independence, unforgettable experiences, and opportunities to discover who you really are. While all of those things can certainly be true, they only tell part of the story. For many students, the reality is much more complicated. Moving away from home, meeting hundreds of new people, managing your own finances, navigating unfamiliar surro

Have you ever noticed that your mood seems to change with the seasons? Perhaps you feel motivated and energised during spring, more relaxed in summer, unsettled in autumn, or completely drained during the darker winter months. If so, you are certainly not imagining it. Our brains and bodies are constantly responding to the environment around us. Changes in daylight, temperature, routine, sleep, and even the amount of time we spend outdoors can all influence how we think, feel

For many teenagers, going back to school is exciting. Seeing friends again, starting new subjects and looking forward to clubs, sports, and new experiences. But for others, the return to school can bring something very different. A racing heart, a knot in their stomach, sleepless nights, constant worry, or even a complete refusal to go through the school gates. School anxiety in teenagers is becoming increasingly common, and while a certain amount of nervousness is perfectly

If you have ever tried traditional journaling and thought: "This isn't working for me." You aren't the only one. Myself included. Many journaling guides assume that everyone processes information, emotions, and experiences in the same way. They encourage long daily entries, consistent routines, and sitting quietly with your thoughts for extended periods of time. For many neurodivergent people, that advice can feel frustrating, unrealistic, or even impossible. Perhaps your tho

Have you ever felt the need to double-check that the door is locked or wash your hands repeatedly until they feel just right? While these behaviours may seem like a normal part of everyday life for some, for others, they can be debilitating symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCD). I'll be exploring the truth behind OCD, debunking myths and shedding light on the reality of living with this condition, as I do every day. From understanding the signs and sympt

Menopause. It's a word that carries so much weight yet is often shrouded in secrecy and taboo. But actually, this natural phase of a woman's life can be empowering, transformative, and full of potential. In our recent interview, we delved into perimenopause, nutrition, body image, and the pervasive influence of diet culture. We talk to specialist Laura Clark - The Menopause Dietitian, about this fundamental stage of life as well as the development of what went on to become Di

You know that feeling when someone asks how you are, and your answer is simply: "Fine." Even though you are definitely not fine. Maybe you feel stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated, anxious, exhausted, disappointed, or a strange mixture of all of them. But when asked to explain how you feel, the words never quite come. For many people, emotions are surprisingly difficult to identify. We know when something feels wrong. We know when we are struggling. But understanding exactly wh

When you have been living with anxiety for a long time, calm can feel strangely unfamiliar, alien even. In some cases it might even make you anxious...bizarre I know. Not because you do not want it, but because your body has spent so long operating in survival mode that slowing down can almost feel uncomfortable at first. Many people imagine healing as a dramatic transformation where anxiety disappears completely overnight. But in reality, recovery is often slower than that.

If you struggle with anxiety, chances are you have spent a lot of your life worrying about other people's feelings. You might replay conversations, avoid conflict, or say yes when you want to say no. You take responsibility for problems that were never yours to solve and you worry about disappointing people, upsetting people, or being perceived as selfish. Over time, this creates a heavy mental overload. Your mind becomes crowded with other people's expectations, emotions, a

There are moments when anxiety feels less like a thought and more like a full body experience. Your chest feels tight. Your breathing changes. Your body feels tense, restless, or overstimulated. Even when you try to relax, it can feel like your system refuses to settle. This is often a sign that your nervous system is overwhelmed. A lot of people think anxiety exists only in the mind, but anxiety is deeply physical too. Your nervous system controls how your body responds to s

One of the hardest parts of anxiety is not always the anxiety itself; it is the feeling that nobody else understands it, understands you. You can be surrounded by people and still feel completely alone in what you are experiencing. You may smile, go to work, reply to messages, and carry on as normal while internally feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or mentally consumed. And because anxiety is often invisible, many people assume they are the only ones struggling this way. But t

There is a point where your mind stops feeling productive and starts feeling overstimulated. Too many thoughts. Too many tabs open mentally. Too many things to remember, process, reply to, or figure out. When this happens, even small tasks can suddenly feel difficult. You might find yourself: rereading the same message several times forgetting simple things jumping between thoughts without finishing any of them feeling mentally exhausted before the day has properly started An

One of the most unsettling things about anxiety is how physical it can feel. People often expect anxiety to stay in the mind, but for many, the body is where it becomes impossible to ignore. Your chest feels tight. Your stomach feels unsettled. Your muscles ache with tension. Your heart suddenly becomes something you are constantly aware of. And after a while, you stop trusting your body. Instead of feeling like somewhere safe to exist, your body begins to feel unpredictable,

Anxiety can make life feel smaller and tougher. Things that once felt manageable suddenly feel difficult. Decisions become harder, your thoughts become louder, and even simple tasks can start to feel overwhelming. When anxiety builds over time, many people reach a point where they feel completely stuck. Not necessarily because they do not want to feel better, but because they no longer know where to begin to make it stop, that is one of the most difficult parts about anxiety.

There is a particular kind of anxiety that feels the most confusing. Nothing obvious has happened. There is no clear trigger. You are not in immediate danger. And yet, your body feels unsettled, your thoughts feel heavier, and something just feels off. It often leads to the same question: Why do I feel anxious for no reason? It can be frustrating because you cannot point to anything specific. You might even start questioning yourself, wondering if you are overreacting or imag

There is a point where anxiety stops being a background feeling and becomes something you cannot ignore. It might start subtly, a shift in your mood, a sense of unease, a feeling that something is not quite right. Then it builds. Your thoughts become louder and more frequent, your body feels tense, and it becomes harder to focus on anything else. In those moments, the question is simple. What do I do right now? How can I stop this feeling? Not later. Not in theory. But in the