Category Archives: mental health

An Inelegant Deficiency: Anxiety, Writing, & Loss

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Sheila N

“It’s an act of faith. It’s going on when you no longer believe. It’s walking right into that wilderness.” – Natalie Goldberg, “Wild Mind” “I’ve had an elegant sufficiency, and anything else would be flippity floppity.” – my mum-in-law What … Continue reading →

Posted in grief, mental health, Nostalgia, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Tale of Two Libraries

Posted on May 14, 2017 by Sheila N

“There is no love without loss.” When I walked into the British Library, or, later that same day, the Poetry Library, I wasn’t thinking of my sister, who’s a medical librarian. I wasn’t even thinking of my late mother, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, grief, mental health, Poetry, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Lurgy, the Protestant Work Ethic, & Me

Posted on April 18, 2017 by Sheila N

Warnings for: self pity, hacking cough, the smell of onions, strong likelihood of swearing. I spotted the happy looking little chap with the bow tie, and arresting blue eyes, over the weekend, at a writing day with some writerly friends. … Continue reading →

Posted in mental health, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Art & Practice of Being Normal

Posted on April 2, 2017 by Sheila N

“Hide, hide, the cow’s outside!” “I ain’t afraid of no cow.” – final lines to a child’s joke, circa 1960s I’m paid to be normal: compassionate, encouraging, yet normal. Because I work in mental health, and it doesn’t do for … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Bipolar, mental health, Nostalgia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Books v Kebab Boxes

Posted on February 5, 2017 by Sheila N

I was quite glad I hoovered the carpet, the day before we had three paramedics in our bedroom. They weren’t there for any kind of hi-jinks: my idea of a good time doesn’t involve having three ECGs in the course … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Book It!, Books, mental health, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments