Covid Brain
Life has evolved to a version of normal, with shops, pubs, cinemas and restaurants open again. I've started seeing friends who I've missed terribly during lockdown and it's a joy to reconnect. I'm struggling to be creative; I start writing but then decide that I...
ReadMeds for the Mind
Over the last few years, the conversation about mental health has opened up, especially on social media. Unfortunately, the conversation has got stuck and just 'talking' about it is no longer enough. We need move forward and discuss treatment, therapy and more...
ReadManic Monday
Kanye West's presidential campaign rally has brought the subject of Bipolar disorder into the spotlight. Having Bipolar myself, I understand some of Kanye's apparent mania. I tried to watch the whole speech but I found it too distressing. Kanye scream I almost...
ReadSlight Return
I've been struggling to write this blog recently. My mental health dilemmas seem pretty insignificant in the face of the horror and hardship that has been crammed into the last six months. I'm not particularly hopeful about the immediate future because our country...
ReadAn Education
It's been a few weeks since my last post, I've written a couple of articles but decided not to published them because they felt trite and inappropriate. I can't publish anything else without discussing the Black Lives Matter movement and the protests sparked by the...
ReadFood for Thought
It has been Mental Health Awareness week, and this year feels like a particularly important time to pay attention to our mental health. We’re living through such a strange, frightening, tragic time and it’s unlikely anyone will get through the lockdown without some...
ReadHow to Cope
Since I moved the focus of this blog away from fashion and more on to mental health, I've tried to create work that might be useful; by sharing my own expereince with bipolar I hope to make others feel less alone. However, I'm unsure of what I could add to the...
ReadIf you didn’t laugh you’d cry
This has been a tough week; I'm doing ok but a few of my friends have had very bad news and it looks like the repercussions of Covid-19 will be causing hardship and heartbreak for a long time. I've written a blog post on how to deal with personal disasters, but I...
ReadYou are not alone
The word unprecedented is being bandied around a lot at the moment. I don't think I've seen one news report or governmental press conference where someone doesn't use it to describe the difficult, tragic and bizarre era we're living through. Most people with a...
ReadHome Workouts
It looks like social distancing may continue for a while and so we'll have to do what we can to survive it, with our mental health relatively intact. For me, exercise is integral for managing my moods; if I can't work out, my bipolar makes a nuisance of itself...
ReadCourage, dear heart
Every morning I wake up feeling incredulous. This is the kind of thing happens to other people, in other countries; I'm stumped by my own hubris. The footage of a deserted Wuhan and news that the virus was spreading was unsettling but I assumed that my little world...
ReadWinter Remedies
In my fashion journalist days, I would start the new year with a post on the best buys in the January sales. When I wrote about retail I would often feel dispirited because I felt that my work wasn't meaningful. It would be more lucrative to write about shopping,...
ReadHow to Survive Christmas
As 2019 draws to a close, I've been reflecting on this last year. My mental health was in a pretty dire state for the first few months, but I am now firmly in recovery and feeling more optimistic about the future. Recovery is certainly not linear but it is...
ReadLet it Linger
It's been a while since I have written about grief here on the blog, but recently it has been playing on my mind. It has become easier with time and the sharp edges of my loss have become blunted, like a piece of glass smoothed by the sea. Grief ebbs and flows and...
ReadChemtrails
I write about my bipolar, eating disorder and addictions on regular basis and sometimes I fear my readers might assume that I'm pessimistic and maudlin. When I'm well, which is most of the time these days, I'm pretty cheerful. The trouble with talking about mental...
ReadPrevent and Prevail
After a long period of relatively decent mental health, I've noticed a dip in my mood and a spike in my anxiety. I've been here enough times before to know that soon enough, I will feel calmer. In the past, relatively small incidents have triggered much larger,...
ReadHeartbreak on the Doorstep
A few of weeks ago, I was walking home after dinner with a friend when I heard someone crying. I carried on walking but something made me stop in my tracks. I stood still, listening to this person weeping their heart out and felt compelled to go back; they might be...
ReadTales from the Psych Unit
Today is World Suicide prevention day and in its honour, I am going to share a rather personal story. It is so important that we become comfortable talking about this very difficult and painful subject because while it is shrouded in secrecy and shame, more people...
ReadTribute to a Therapist
My therapist of 16 years died last month. She had been fighting cancer for a long time and, from what I understand, she was ready to go. I was both expecting and dreading the news. I knew she was dying but nothing can soften the heart-dropping reality that someone...
ReadThe Face in the Smartphone
I always assumed that I couldn't wear yellow. This dress from Kitri is out of my comfort zone given its colour, empire line and lack of print. I feel a little odd wearing it, even though it is pretty on brand for me; a long, 70s inspired dress isn't exactly...
ReadHigh and Dry
It's been over six months since I went sober and it's something I'm frequently asked about. People assume that I must have an iron will not to succumb to the temptation of a delicious, mollifying glass of wine. I guess that's true to some extent but the reason I...
Read‘Mastering the art of what I have left’
It was a muggy Saturday afternoon and I felt bleary and bewildered after being up all night with a fractious toddler. I was on my way to interview a woman named Heidi Herkes who I’d never met before. She’d had been introduced by a mutual friend over email. My...
ReadMy eating disorder and me
After a long period of poor mental health, I am now on the way to recovery. I have briefly mentioned that I've not been well, here on the blog and on my social media channels, but I didn't want to write about it at length until I felt things have settled down. I...
ReadThe Acceptance Process
I realised a long time ago that I don't really fit in anywhere. In my various roles as a fashion blogger, actor, author, I've always felt a little out of place. When I was at secondary school I tried to blend in and I did a reasonable job of camouflaging my...
ReadDearly Remembered
Monday April 29th marked the 5th anniversary of my Dad's death, I can't believe it's been that long. Grief has become a little easier with the passing of time; I remember him with deep affection when I think of how funny he was or recognise his smile on my son's...
ReadBe here, now.
I was in a strange mood when these photos were taken. Despite the beauty of the surrounding cherry blossom, I felt pensive and not altogether present. My detachment from reality probably explains why I chose a 70s vintage dress that wouldn't be out of place in a...
ReadThe Upside
My mental health has not been great recently, I've alluded to this in previous blog posts but I don't want to share the details yet because I'm still going through it. Now I've stopped drinking, I've removed a whole spectrum of troublesome behaviour that could...
ReadOpen Doors
I often write about how clothes make me feel, in the context of my mental health. Sometimes I worry this is a little trite, given the severity of my bipolar and various other disorders. After all, putting on a dress is no substitute for proper treatment. However, I...
ReadLove After Death
For one reason or another, I'm speaking a lot about grief at the moment. Yesterday I was interviewed on Build Series, with James Dunmore and Nick Ede, discussing the complicated issue of death and the grieving process. Tonight I'll be speaking at a live event at...
ReadGoodbye Wine
I have recently made the decision to give up alcohol for the sake of my mental health. I've been keeping a mood diary and I've noticed that every time I drink, even moderately, I spend the next few days feeling down and agonising about stupid things that I can't...
ReadThe Strong Tears
Last week Andy Murray held an emotional press conference, announcing that the Australian Open may be his last tournament, due to an ongoing hip injury. Hiding behind his baseball cap, his voice quavering, he revealed that he has been in constant pain for 20 months....
ReadNew Year – Same You
At the start of the New Year, it's customary to make resolutions; lose weight, stop smoking, drink moderately, learn a new language, or any other number of things. I used to pledge to make changes every year, only to spectacularly fail by the start of February. The...
ReadHow to Survive Christmas
2018 is nearly over and I can't quite believe it's gone by so quickly. It's been a mixed bag of a year, with some highs and a few lows and I won't be too sorry to see the back of it. Before that, there is the business of Christmas, which can be a struggle if you...
ReadSelf Love Liv
Social media is often blamed for damaging our collective mental health, there are multiple examples of how Instagram, Facebook, Watsapp and Twitter have caused harm. However social media has has become an intrinsic part of society and altered our lives...
ReadSomething Good
I've been looking back over my blog, trying to summarise it for collaboration with another blogger. It's been quite a journey from writing almost exclusively about fashion, to the content I write now. I don't share absolutely everything about my life with Bipolar...
ReadNewcomers Welcome
Last week I had a conversation with a woman on Facebook who misunderstood the intention of my previous blog post. She took umbrage with the way I had described my own experience of mental illness and to be fair, I hadn't prefaced the post with my diagnosis of...
ReadHow to Be There
The other day a dear friend of mine asked that I write something on how to be there for someone who is living with a mental illness. I've been having a hard time with my mental health recently and he said that he wanted to help but wasn't sure of the best way to go...
ReadThe Birthday
Today would have been my Dad's 76th birthday. I've recently written about how painful I find my grief, even after 4 and a half years. I keep waiting for it to get easier and it just doesn't. But today, I want to remember who he was and not only morn his loss. My...
ReadHow it feels
Anyone with a mental illness will probably be familiar with the well-meaning but misguided comments from friends, family and colleagues. People with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder have to listen to those without the condition saying that they're 'a bit OCD' because...
ReadScent and the Mind
In my last blog post I wrote about how the grief for my Dad has become very painful again. I've had a lot of support from not only my friends but also people I don't know who've got in touch via social media. I really appreciate it, thank you. It seems fitting that...
ReadWhen Pain Comes Back
For a long time, the grieving process has been going about its business quietly, pottering along in tandem with my life. The sharp edges became blunt and although the void my Dad left was still vast, I could live with it. But over the past few weeks, for no...
ReadConfidence Tricks
This week I've learnt a few lessons about self-confidence. To an outside eye, I probably appear pretty self-assured; I'm very comfortable on stage and on camera and I'm happy to speak in public. But at my core, I'm actually somewhat shy. I often find myself...
ReadBare Bones
Over the years, the fashion industry has earned a lot of criticism for using extremely thin models. It seems that the debate over skinny models has been raging since the 90s and the advent of heroine chic, with good reason. The average runway model is 5"9 to 5"11,...
ReadSelf-Care vs Self-Medication
It has occurred to me that some people may feel excluded from my content around mental health, as not everyone has a mental illness. However, I would suggest that taking appropriate care of one's mental health is helpful for all of us. You don't have to have a...
ReadHow to Survive in a Mad World
Earlier this week I wrote about why it can be hard to talk about mental health. Even though I've written extensively and openly about having bipolar, and other auxiliary conditions, I still find it difficult to be honest about how I really feel. I know this is...
ReadThe Eternal Queen
Usually when a celebrity dies it doesn't affect me much. I might briefly think that the news is sad when the death is announced, but that's usually the end of it. However, I was moved when I heard that Aretha Franklin had past away at the age of 76. It's only when...
ReadHow to cope with shame
Over the past couple of years, I've found that talking openly about my mental health has lessened my feelings of shame. I have Bipolar type 2 and I used to suffer from eating disorders and trichotillomania, just for good measure. For those who don't know,...
ReadAbout a Boy
Although I sometimes mention motherhood on my blog, I haven’t discussed it in much detail. My boy turned 1 in May and since my his birthday I've been thinking about how this first year has been. I put off having a baby for a years, primarily because my Dad was...
ReadDeadly Apathy
I was on the tube yesterday afternoon, travelling home from an appointment in East London. The train pulled into West Ham station where a group of young men boarded. There were three hulking lads in their late teens, and a teacher who was about my age. One of them...
ReadToxic Positivity
I was sad and dismayed to hear of Anthony Bourdain's suicide last week, just a few days after Kate Spade took her own life. Two celebrities dying by their own hand in one week is further proof that mental illness does not discriminate and the trappings of fame and...
ReadKate Spade
I was sad to hear of Kate Spade's passing this morning. The iconic designer was found dead in her Park Avenue home by her housekeeper. Spade's death is being treated as an apparent suicide and a note was found in her apartment. When a celebrity commits suicide, the...
ReadTwinkle Twinkle
I've written about I was diagnosed with Bipolar in 2013, and when I had a nervous breakdown in 2009. It occurred to me that both of those incidents were at times of crisis and rather dramatic as a result. Whilst it's been therapeutic for me to write about these...
ReadFashion for Mental Health
I've often wondered if fashion can be a force for good, particularly in relation to mental health. Many people would argue that fashion is an insatiable monster of commerce, continually producing an irresponsible amount of product at the expense of its workers and...
ReadAlternative Minds
Next week I’ll be performing 213 Things About Me at the Battersea Arts Centre, a show that tells the story of an autistic woman who committed suicide at the age of thirty six. Although it’s certainly tragic, 213 is also a dark comedy. The woman who the character is...
ReadThe Darkest Hour
Since including content around mental health on this blog, I’ve revealed a lot about myself. My motivation is to be helpful, but of course there are things I’ve kept back and I’ll never tell absolutely everything. However, it’s with trepidation that I’m going to...
ReadOn the Spectrum
At the start of May I’ll heading to south London again to play Rose in 213 Things About Me at the Battersea Arts Centre. After a short run of sold out scratch performances last November, the lovely people at the BAC have asked us to come back and do a short run of...
ReadLet’s talk about meds baby
Since my Bipolar diagnosis in 2013, I've realised that there is a lot of stigma around medication; most of which is based on the assumption that taking meds is fundamentally unhealthy. Although the subject is complicated to say the least, I'd like to share my...
ReadGunning for Mental Health
Another week. Another school shooting in America. I was surprised to find out that the Parkland massacre is the 18th gun related incident in a school is the US this year, apparently these occurrences are so common now that they don't make the news. It seems it is...
ReadSign of the times
I've been meaning to write about the #MeToo and the #TimesUp movement for a while, but I wanted to give this blog post the time it deserved rather than churning out something glib and rushed. Along with pretty much every other woman I know, I shared #MeToo across...
Read213 Things About Me
Since giving birth to my son in May, this blog has taken a more personal direction. I didn’t think I could get much more personal than my book, in which I chronicled my life with my dad. Writing about him so soon after he’d died was challenging to say the least. I...
ReadThinspirations
It has been far too long since my last blog post, when I promised that I'd write about mental health as I think discussing the subject openly is helpful. Soon after I wrote those posts I suffered a bout of mental ill health. I had postnatal depression, followed by...
ReadGirl on the Pull
In my last post, I wrote about my bipolar diagnosis. I'd like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who commented and gave such positive feedback. I was a little nervous about laying myself bare, but the response was unexpected and lovely. I will continue with...
ReadBipolar and Me
In a post I published earlier this week, I said that I would be discussing issues around mental health and my own experiences. I hope that by doing so, I might play a very tiny role in reducing the stigma and shame that surrounds mental...
ReadBack in Business
Last month, I gave birth to a baby boy who we named Charlie. He’s now 6 weeks old and I feel ready to start writing again. I’ve taken a longer hiatus than I intended, but I found during the last few weeks of pregnancy I was unable to concentrate on...
ReadTake a Stand
I've often heard older people say they were surprised they saw a black president in their lifetime. Now, I feel astonishment that I've seen a despotic demagogue in mine; I'd naively assumed that a man like Trump would never find himself in the Oval Office. I also...
ReadMarch for Freedom
Donald Trump is in the news every day and the stories are becoming increasingly absurd. Alec Baldwin recently said that Trump is the head writer at Saturday Night Live, as the man with orange skin spins comedy gold every time he opens his mouth. However, as his...
ReadWho’s country is it anyway?
Anyone who's read my blog recently will know I'm very concerned about the political shift to the far right. Neo-Nazism is rearing its ugly head all over Europe and the US. Footage hasd emerged of Richard Spencer, leader of white supremacist group the National...
ReadThe World We live in
I've been the thinking about the world I want to live in. I'm reminded of when I went on holiday this summer with my family. It was a few weeks after the Brexit vote and there was an atmosphere of tense uncertainty. I sat with my mother on a bench at Heathrow and...
Read2016: Annus Horribilis?
2016 isn't over yet and it has already been a tumultuous and frightening year. The world of European and American of politics have been dominated by Brexit and the US elections. Donald Trump's performances in the Presidential Debates were inept and petulant. His...
ReadBurkini Beach
People often comment on the clothes I wear, but I don't mind what people think of my look. I know my style is somewhat attention grabbing, so I expect comments (positive or negative) as a par for the course. Living in a Western, cosmopolitan city like London,...
ReadThe Promise
I haven't written anything personal for a while, but what I have to say might be useful. It's been over two years since my Dad died. I've noticed that I've entered a new stage in the grieving process and I'm starting to recover. I think of grief more as a journey...
ReadIn defence of Political Correctness
Since the Brexit vote a few weeks ago, it seems there has been something tragic and worrying in the news every day. The appalling bombings in Baghdad by ISIS, the escalating tragedy of police shootings in the US, and the racism on our home turf. And of course, the...
ReadThe Great Mistake
I woke up this morning and scrabbled to turn on the TV, only to learn the news that the UK has voted to leave the European Union. I then opened my laptop and flicked through my Facebook feed, there was not one post celebrating the result. Everyone is dismayed,...
ReadUnited we stand: Divided we fall
Today is one of the most pivotal days in recent British history. I will be voting to stay in the European Union, but I won't go on about the reasons why. There has been so much coverage and discussion about the pros and cons that my argument seems superfluous. What...
ReadWe are United
As if the massacre in Orlando wasn't enough, the brutal murder of Jo Cox is another blow against liberty and tolerance. In both cases, a mentally unwell individual committed a terrible crime, spurred on by hateful ideologies. Of course, there are unstable...
ReadRemebering Orlando
The barbaric shooting in a gay club in Orlando a few days ago was tragic and egregious, but a sadly frequent occurrence in the US. To a British sensibility, American gun laws seem like an absurd paradox. The NRA and many members of Congress extol the second...
ReadHack Worries
Sheridan Smith has been in the news recently after her absence during the run of Funny Girl at the Savoy Theatre. The press have had a field day with lines like ‘Concerns raised for fragile Sheridan’, ‘Smith's worrying behaviour’ or 'Vulnerable Sheridan pulls out...
ReadHow to cope with heartbreak
A dear friend of mine has recently gone through a break-up. We've talked about it extensively and analysed the situation from every angle. This helps her work through the feelings and gives her a little perspective. I could offer her the clichéd platitudes that are...
ReadThere is Nothin’ like a dame
This week I’ll be trekking all over the place, promoting the book. Today I was on BBC Breakfast, and then I did a Radio Manchester interview. There are lots of other appointments this week, but I’ll write about them as and when. In the mean time I thought I’d share...
ReadIt’s All Going Wonderfully Well: Published Today
Today, my book is being published and I can't believe it's finally happening. There were days when it felt as though the work would never end, and others when it was a pure delight. Visiting my Dad's friends and colleagues was were highlights of the project;...
ReadBare Naked Ladies
Kim Kardashian has recently attempted to 'break the internet' once again, with a couple of nude selfies. I don't have a problem with people sharing naked, or scantily clad shots of themselves; if an adult in full command of their mental and emotional capacity...
ReadThe understated Evils of Passive Agression
I've heard it said that with age, people tend to mellow. I've found this to be true to some extent, however I've become more intolerant of certain behaviours. Spitting in the street, over using the words 'basically' and 'obviously' are a couple of things I find...
Read