stephc2021

The start of my attempt at Agoraphobic recovery

Although this website focuses mainly on the positive impact creativity can have on both mental and physical health, the interest in my personal story tends to focus instead on one element of my many challenges – not leaving home for 986 days. To briefly explain, what started as a number of problems mobilising myself physicallyContinue reading “The start of my attempt at Agoraphobic recovery”

Hold humour part 12 – jokes about valentines

Hi everyone, welcome to the 12th edition of awful jokes as part of the Hold Humour distraction project in the COPE campaign. For this collection of 5 jokes, I’ve chosen to focus on Valentine’s Day again because it’s right ahead and I can’t be arsed with it. I’ll get my other half a card, butContinue reading “Hold humour part 12 – jokes about valentines”

Crap poem 56 – Chronic Stigma

Hi everyone, and welcome to my 56th Crap Poem as part of the COPE campaign. This poem is a serious one, despite the rhyming. Let me start by explaining my reason for getting so worked up about this. As some of you will know, some of my more disabling diagnosis are ME/CFS, Ehlers Danlos SyndromeContinue reading “Crap poem 56 – Chronic Stigma”

Sick of guilt – being the ‘cared for’

***TRIGGER WARNING*** This post will talk about grief, family, mental health, chronic pain and the role of carers. Please only read on if you feel strong enough. For more information on organisations and charities that can support these issues, visit my mental health and suicide prevention support lines page, or my Get Support page forContinue reading “Sick of guilt – being the ‘cared for’”

Haiku hope 33 – Sleep

Hi everyone and welcome to my 33rd Haiku Hope – part of the COPE campaign bundle of creative distractions. This time I thought I’d write about sleeplessness, because it’s something I’ve been living with for years, and it seems to be getting worse. I was pretty unsurprised when I read earlier this week that aContinue reading “Haiku hope 33 – Sleep”

Crap poem 55 – Missing

Hi everyone, and welcome to my 55th Crap Poem as part of the COPE campaign. This crap poem was written recently, around the date of my mums birthday, and it’s dedicated to her memory. She’s the person who’d be happiest to see me using my creativity for something worthwhile and positive, so the irony thatContinue reading “Crap poem 55 – Missing”

Haiku hope 32 – Nerves

Hi everyone and welcome to my 32nd Haiku Hope – part of the COPE campaign bundle of creative distractions. This time I thought I’d write about nervousness, because it’s something I battle with constantly. We all get that annoying imposter from time to time, but I wish he’d bigger off during the moments that matterContinue reading “Haiku hope 32 – Nerves”

Hold humour part 11 – jokes about valentines

Hi everyone, welcome to the 11th edition of awful jokes as part of the Hold Humour distraction project in the COPE campaign. For this collection of 5 jokes, I’ve chosen to focus on Valentine’s Day. I’ve noticed the adverts for roses and chocolates are slowly starting to trickle into the telly and my phone, andContinue reading “Hold humour part 11 – jokes about valentines”

Early pregnancy conversations – our body, our choice.

My body, my choice, right? It’s a buzz-phrase but, for me at least, it’s one of the few important ones. As someone who is fully pro-choice, for a myriad of reasons, I’m proud to live in a country where it’s a choice we can all truly make. Let’s face it, for many women around theContinue reading “Early pregnancy conversations – our body, our choice.”

Pocket money – the newest enemy of my financial and mental wellbeing

Two pounds and fifty pence. It went up to £3 when I was twelve years old. You already know I’m referencing something that formed the introduction to financial planning for most of us in the 80’s and 90’s – pocket money. And yes, I started at half of a five pound note (which is howContinue reading “Pocket money – the newest enemy of my financial and mental wellbeing”