This is not the kind of article I normally write. But I feel that right now there are some things which need to be said. We live in a dangerously divided world. If we question authority, we are labelled 'conspiracy theorists' by the very people we had hoped might support us. People who claim to... Continue Reading →
Sometimes, the great bones of my life feel so heavy, and I wonder, where on earth does it come from, all this weight? There is a song lyric: ‘what’s that secret sorrow that your carryin?’ But it’s no great secret: bereavement, separation, loss. I feel bereaved by every memory which hijacks my senses unexpectedly from... Continue Reading →
By now, I should be an old hand at new beginnings. I've learned to recognise those 'watershed moments' before they arrive. First time was losing my mum as a child; no way I could have seen that coming; no way that anything would ever be the same again, afterwards. Then it was moving away from... Continue Reading →
This near-winter time of year when the nights draw in: I never was a big fan. In fact, typically sadness, fear and age-old anxiety would always hit around this time. I had a taste of it in October, when many days were overcast and cloudy, but oh, what a cold and crystal clear November we've... Continue Reading →
I haven't written about PMDD for a while, because I've been trying out a new approach for dealing with my symptoms. I wanted to make sure this was working before reporting back and sharing my experience with fellow sufferers. It is important to note that this is not medical advice, I am most certainly not... Continue Reading →
My Grandma used to say, look for a crack in a cloudy sky: if there's enough blue sky to make a pair of sailor's trousers, it would turn out to be a sunny day. Has anyone else heard this maxim? I took it far too literally of course, agonising over whether the dress pattern for... Continue Reading →
It's been used so much in the self-help world that it's become something of a cliche: the analogy of putting your own mask on first as a metaphor for self-care. However, this analogy has a special significance when it comes to recovery from alcoholism, or any other kind of addictive behaviour, particularly as this relates... Continue Reading →
I promised an update on my latest PMDD treatment 'about the time I would normally be entering "hell week,"' but as the treatment has not lasted that long, I thought it would be more appropriate to give that update now. This post is intended to offer help and support to other sufferers. Please be advised,... Continue Reading →
Well, today is the kids' first full day at school. And after a brutally early start (they had to be at the school gate at 08:30), I have to say that I am filled with excitement and trepidation. I'm excited for them both, starting new schools in a new country; and I worry about them... Continue Reading →
This is a PMDD post. I write these from time to time, mainly to help other sufferers, and to raise awareness of the condition. Also out of sheer exhaustion and exasperation at trying to find some kind of treatment that works. What is PMDD? PMDD is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. It is often described as 'a... Continue Reading →
