Stop doing what hurts you. Stop other people from hurting you. Get out of the situation that hurts you. But it’s not always that easy, is it?

Last weekend, we had the pleasure of discovering Hawkshead, Cumbria. There are good reasons why this charming village has been uknown to me, being an immigrant and all. However, I might not have been the first immigrant to visit. I’ll return to that. My wife, on the other hand, is virtually a local. She has… Read more: Discovering Hawkshead

Choosing change might be the most important decision of your life. So make it. Decide to leave your anxiety or depression behind.

Your journey out of anxiety and depression will be a personal journey of trial and error because no one has ever done YOUR journey before.

Self-compassion is essential if you suffer from anxiety or depression. But don’t be too kind. Too much short-term kindness is long-term cruelty towards yourself.

My big decision in the spring of 1989: I would buy myself a Personal Computer. This might not seem like a life-changing event today, but it was for me back then.

‘Simplicity prophets’ are people who stubbornly claim they have a simple solution that will solve a complex problem for everyone. Can we trust them?

7 good reasons why you should educate yourself about your condition if you suffer from anxiety or depression.

The towns up in the Lakes are charming but way too busy for my taste. Last weekend, we went for a quieter alternative: a stay at Near Howe.

I couldn’t remember when I watched Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. I remembered the film affecting me in one way or another, but I didn’t remember how.

If you’re still flogging yourself for being weak, decide to stop doing that. You’re not. And decide to stop all the other negative self-talk as well!

In a world that presents abundant challenges to every human, we need all the niceties we can collect—even the bright yellow face of this year’s first dandelion.

If you suffer from anxiety or depression, it’s essential to know if you no longer can handle the situation on your own. But how can we see that thin red line?

On a chilly Sunday in February, we took a trip to Grange-over-Sands. Like many coastal villages here in Cumbria, Grange started out as a fishing village but became a popular seaside resort after the railway was built in Victorian times. While the village still has a lovely promenade along the seafront, the previous beaches have… Read more: A chilly winter Sunday walk in Grange-over-Sands

Whether you’re slightly miserable or seriously ill, you are your own most important healthcarer – and, in most cases, the only one you’ll need.

The ‘big day’ arrived – my 60th birthday. We had a trip to County Durham and back again to celebrate the day.

Getting an anxiety or depression diagnosis can be both a shock and a relief. Understand what a diagnosis is and how to handle both the negative and positive sides of it.

Will lazy content ‘creators’ use Artificial Intelligence to drown us in worthless rubbish? Yes they will, and that’s what I find slightly annoying right now.

Feeling sad or anxious is a natural emotional response when life is hard in one way or another. There’s nothing wrong with you if you have emotions like these.

“I don’t know why I react like this. No one else does. There must be something wrong with me!” It’s hard to acknowledge we have a problem with anxiety or depression (or both). Often, it’s even harder to admit we have a reason to carry these injuries, let alone have the right to feel hurt.… Read more: Anxiety and depression: why you shouldn’t compare yourself to others

What is a good life? For me, a deliberate life equals a good life. Why? And what is a deliberate life? Let me tell you what I think.

The difference between people’s opinions on being physically hurt and being mentally hurt is bloody unfair! So unfair that being a little bit angry is okay.

Anxiety and depression are something you suffer from. They’re not you, your personality, or your character. They’re not YOU. Here’s how I found out.

If you feel miserable yet keep telling yourself, “I’m okay” or “There’s nothing wrong with me,” you are living in denial. Get out of the denial quagmire.

Is it wrong to make significant changes midway in your life? Are such changes are made in a state of blind, pathetic panic? And is a crisis always a bad thing?

A quarter of the UK population feels Christmas has a negative impact on their mental health. To make Christmas nicer for everyone, we must reflect on why.

A report from my 40-year-long on and off relationship with Ms Nicotine and a clear warning: Stay away from her! That’s a million times easier than breaking up.

40 pieces of advice I wish someone had given me before I started my own journey out of anxiety and depression. They are now yours to read.

Midlife can be our age of opportunity if we dare to seize it. Learn why autumn is my favourite season of the year – and in life.