Grief is weird. This piece has been a battle to write. Part of me doesn't want to. Part of me feels guilty about this whole thing... I formally left Reading University for good in January 2008. Almost a dozen years have passed and I can hardly think of a single part of myself that has … Continue reading The Guilt Of Old Wounds
I Don’t Owe You My History
Getting asked what's wrong with you or what happened to you can be an everyday hazard for someone with a physical disability. A few days ago it happened to me. Again. Actually it happened again again. I've no idea how many times I've had this happen, but all I can tell you is that the snarky, scathing … Continue reading I Don’t Owe You My History
Election Special: My Government Radicalised Me
Somebody commented on my previous blog post that it was "interesting until it devolved into a left-wing rant". Whilst I don't consider myself a particularly strident leftwinger, I will acknowledge that I am increasingly angry these days, with my response to political machinations veering between the incandescent to the apoplectic. By the end of today, it … Continue reading Election Special: My Government Radicalised Me
Every Mind Matters: 12 Questions
You may have seen this week that Public Health England has launched a new campaign entitled 'Every Mind Matters'. It is, as ever, backed by a number of celebrities and public figures and is a promoted trend on UK twitter. But what does it actually mean in practice? Well, it would seem to be little … Continue reading Every Mind Matters: 12 Questions
Would You Date A Disabled Person?
Dear reader, you are going to be my bartender for the next thousand words or so...strap in, I'm seething... Do you ever have one of those moments where something happens and you think, "I could really have made use of this years ago..." Well, out of the blue one of those happened to me last night... … Continue reading Would You Date A Disabled Person?
Picking The Lock On Disordered Language
The following is the written transcript of a talk I gave at the launch of the book 'Drop the Disorder!' which I'm delighted to have contributed a chapter to. I urge anyone interested in challenging the medicalised culture of diagnosis to check it out - and to join the 'Drop the Disorder' facebook group to … Continue reading Picking The Lock On Disordered Language
Stop Telling People ‘It Gets Better’
September 10th is the annual World Suicide Prevention Day. Indeed, in the US the entire month is designated suicide prevention month and as someone with an ever lengthening record of speaking openly on the topic of suicide as an attempt survivor, the whole premise of WSPD once again fills me with hope and disquiet... When I (very … Continue reading Stop Telling People ‘It Gets Better’
