I saw this image recently of an ‘anxiety iceberg’, and this metaphor perfectly illustrates how anxiety presents externally, and the complexity of feelings beneath those presentations. Anxiety has been a feature of many of our lives at some point. Stressful life events can pepper our waking moments with worry and panic. But sometimes, long after the stressful situation has passed, the anxiety lingers, and you can’t shake off that unease. Worrying has become a new habit that ha

I have often witnessed people talking about their physical health concerns in detail with trusted others, and their peers / friends respond with empathy and understanding, and the conversation about these concerns flows with ease. But when people share their experiences of mental health concerns (or maybe, just exhibit signs of them), the reactions are mixed: Some are empathic and caring, but some may not acknowledge the severity of mental health conditions, so the appearance

It's that time of the year: We wake up in the morning, look out of the window and we feel subdued by the sight of malted trees, and smoky grey skies; and the chill in the air makes us want to retreat back under the quilt. With depleting levels of daylight and hospitable warmth comes depleting energy levels, and we may struggle to maintain our busy lives, so we may feel more prone to sadness and depression. Winter blues (or SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder) is common, and mo