Blog Posts
Blogs are an important part of everyday lives. From recipes to life hacks, there is something for everyone. Below are some examples of blog posts I have made.
Understanding Procrastination
Brief: Create an informative, engaging, and practical article that explores the reasons behind procrastination and strategies to overcome it. The article should provide readers with actionable advice on how to manage procrastination and improve productivity.
“I’ll do it later.” A common phrase we have all said at least once in our lives, but for some, that phrase can become their mantra.
Procrastination is something that thousands of people around the world do—delaying a task or not even doing the task despite the outcome. Unable to make that all-important phone call or work on that crucial report. These small acts of inability can be a huge problem for some, affecting their personal and professional life on a daily basis.
People often fall into this endless cycle of avoidance behaviour for their own reasons. Some such reasons can be:
· A fear of failing – The idea of failing at whatever tasks or goals have been set can be crippling with unknown. Those who struggle with this often come to a point where they would rather not do the task or goal at all than fail completely.
· Perfectionism – Perfectionism is both a gift and a curse. When it comes to those goals that seem impossible to make perfect, it becomes a struggle for a perfectionist to bring themselves to even begin.
· ADHD – ADHD is one such factor that can hugely impact a person's ability to follow through with the great goals they have set for themselves. If a task doesn’t bring instant dopamine, that feel-good, happy hormone, then it may feel almost impossible to do, as though there is a giant wall between you and that all-important task.
· Lack of motivation – This again can be linked to a lack of dopamine in a task. Something as simple as doing the dishes just may not be all that appealing and the person can struggle to motivate themselves to do those small tasks, putting it off until suddenly it has become a huge task.
· Overwhelming tasks/deadlines – Huge tasks or tight deadlines can be too overwhelming for some. They may struggle to bring themselves to ever begin, feeling as though it is too big of a job.
· Depression – Something that many struggle with, and anyone who has suffered from depression knows just how difficult it can be to even bring themselves out of bed in the morning. When it comes to tasks and goals, it can often feel impossible to even try, let alone complete.
· Anxiety – Anxiety can be linked with many of the above reasons; the task or goal raises someone's anxiety so high that it can feel unbearable.
Procrastination can be worse than people realise, causing a person to fall into an endless cycle. It can hugely impact their mental health, making them feel as though they have failed before they have even begun. Or heighten their stress levels on something that has already brought them stress. It can be a gateway to conditions such as anxiety and depression, or even lead to unhealthy lifestyle behaviours. This one thing, this act of just not wanting to do something straight away, can impact a person's lifestyle and mental health before they have even realised what has happened.
However, there may be a technique out there for you. Practice bringing one of these techniques into your everyday lives:
Break tasks into smaller steps: Rather than looking at the whole picture, take a moment to really look at it and break it into smaller tasks. Make each task last no longer than two minutes. Before you know it, you’ll have managed to complete the whole thing.
Set specific and achievable goals: Don’t give yourself impossible expectations. Perhaps you are procrastinating with your housework. Rather than giving yourself the goal of ‘tidy every room in the house and keep it spotless,’ work on giving yourself a better goal, breaking it down into a room a day and then giving yourself a routine. These small changes will help you achieve that goal without feeling overwhelmed and unreachable.
Practice time management techniques: Something like the Pomodoro method is perfect for this when given a task that needs to be done. Simply set a timer, use a manageable time such as 25 minutes, and then work on the task. Once the timer goes off take a short break for five to ten minutes and then set your timer once again. Just repeat these steps until the work is done.
Build a rewards system: This one is for those who need that instant happy hormone. There’s nothing quite like a good reward for hard work, and it is something we often do for children, so why not for ourselves? Make a mental agreement that once you finish the task, you’ll take yourself out for coffee or something else that brings you happiness. The bigger the task, the bigger the reward can be, just make sure you don’t fill this reward system with things that could become unhealthy habits, such as smoking.
Re-frame mistakes: For those perfectionists out there, learn to forgive yourself. You are human too, and we all make mistakes. Perhaps these mistakes can be useful, something to learn from or even an accidental improvement. It’s okay to make mistakes. Find that self-compassion and look at your work from a different perspective before you rip up the project and never return.
“I work best under pressure,” you might say or “I don’t need techniques, I’m just lazy.” I’m here to tell you how very wrong you are. People are most critical of themselves; it’s a matter of nature, and for that, you may not see the reasons why something may feel impossible to do in the moment. Procrastination can be linked to so many deeper reasons within a person, and that feeling of panic may not be the healthiest motivation.
Use the techniques, and see what works for you. At the end of the day, life is full of trial and error. Mistakes need to be made, otherwise, you’ll never learn the amazing things that you can do. Learn to have patience with yourself and take action in your daily life. With the tools in hand, perhaps the thought of ‘doing it later’ can become a thing of the past.
Schizophrenia - Hallucinations
Hallucinations represent a false perception that appears very real and vivid to the individual. Various types of hallucinations can affect all senses, leading the person experiencing them to struggle to distinguish between reality and the hallucinations.
Today, I wish to discuss schizophrenia and the hallucinations that can sometimes accompany it. My dad has kindly agreed to delve into this topic with me, addressing a few questions that people may have. His diagnosis is treatment-resistant paranoid schizophrenia alongside complex PTSD and OCD; therefore, his experience of hallucinations may differ from that of others. Some individuals who suffer from schizophrenia may only experience a significant amount of hallucinations during episodes of psychosis, whereas for him, this is a daily occurrence, varying only in severity.
There are five different types of hallucinations. We will discuss all of them as thoroughly as possible, except for auditory hallucinations, as I would like to explore this in greater detail in future posts. These are the different types of hallucinations:
Auditory - Sound
Visual - Sight
Olfactory - Smell
Tactile - Touch
Gustatory - Taste
What type of hallucinations are most frequent for you?
“Auditory and visual are the most common hallucinations I seem to have, but tactile ones often appear during stressful situations, such as when people are arguing around me. I will occasionally feel someone tap my shoulder during stressful situations, despite no one being there. Gustatory hallucinations are a weird one, as they can come and go. My longest episode of this was two years. Everything I ate tasted like ash, causing me to struggle massively with eating. Olfactory is the least common, only happening once or twice a year, but I find it to definitely be linked to my past trauma, more so than others.”
How do hallucinations affect your everyday life?
“Hallucinations limit what you can do, particularly when it comes to focus. Focusing on simple things, such as watching TV, is nearly impossible for me as I see things jumping around the TV. It used to be a massive stress for me, but over time I adapted and got used to seeing them and ignoring them when I can. It does take a lot of practice to tune them out, and it isn’t always possible. That’s why I don’t really do things like watch TV anymore, as I just can’t focus.”
Do you have particular triggers that can cause your hallucinations to worsen? If so, are you willing to discuss?
“Yes, stress is my biggest trigger for hallucinations. As well as this, colours can be a trigger, such as red. Red is one of the worst colours for me, and I cannot be around it for too long, but I’ve also found that pastel colours, blues, and greens are quite calming for me. I also struggle with particular smells that bring back familiar past trauma.”
Would you like to share an experience of hallucinations?
“Hallucinations are all different and difficult to pinpoint for the person who is suffering, sometimes they can seem so real you don’t even really notice it. Like one time I was in the garden and a bird flew down, it was so difficult to know if it was real or not, and I often have to rely on my family to tell me if it is. Most often, though, I see people following me, sometimes in close quarters, but sometimes some are far off in the distance, and I have to ask my wife if there is someone following us or if I’m hallucinating.”
Finally, what advice would you give others dealing with hallucinations?
“During stressful situations, the best thing for me is to take myself out of the situation and to go somewhere quiet. Sometimes I will try to meditate occasionally using sounds such as scenery ones, but if my visual hallucinations are heavy, then that isn’t always the most helpful. I also find fidgeting with something, such as those fidget cubes, is quite distracting and helpful for me anyway
While dealing with any form of mental issues, it's always best to seek help. My best advice would be to speak to loved ones like I did, as they are the people who know you best and are most likely to be sympathetic to what you are going through. They can help you as best as they can while you go for medical help. At the end of the day, most people with mental health issues are more of a danger to themselves than they are to others, so it is extremely important to seek help; your mental well-being is just as important as the next.”
Understanding OCD - Breaking the Myths
It’s time we had an honest conversation about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a condition that is frequently misunderstood and misrepresented in today’s society. OCD is an anxiety-related mental health disorder in which individuals experience intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and feel a compulsive urge to perform specific rituals or routines—often in an attempt to restore a sense of balance or to feel that things are “just right.”
Typically, OCD involves a cycle of both obsessions and compulsions that feed into each other, trapping the sufferer in a distressing loop of repetitive thoughts and behaviours. However, some people experience a subtype known as Pure OCD, where the compulsions are internal rather than external. In such cases, rituals might take the form of mental acts like silently counting, repeating phrases, or mentally reviewing events to gain reassurance.
With more classic forms of OCD, compulsions tend to be outward and visible, such as tapping objects, flicking light switches, or touching items a specific number of times. These behaviours may appear irrational to outsiders, but for the person experiencing them, they serve as a desperate attempt to neutralise intrusive thoughts or prevent imagined catastrophes. It’s important to remember that compulsions are unique to each individual, shaped by the specific nature of their obsessions.
People with OCD are often plagued by intrusive, unwanted thoughts that their brains latch onto. While someone without OCD might be able to shrug off a passing strange thought, those with the disorder can become consumed by it, questioning its meaning, fearing its implications, and obsessively trying to “fix” it. This can escalate into a cycle where the obsession grows stronger and more frequent, creating profound mental and emotional distress.
The exact cause of OCD isn’t fully understood. It can develop as a result of chronic anxiety, coexist with other mental health conditions, or appear seemingly out of nowhere. Some people may be more predisposed due to genetics or personality traits such as perfectionism. Major life events—like illness, childbirth, bereavement, or moving house—can also act as triggers.
Treating OCD
OCD is typically treated with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), often combined with medication. A specific technique within CBT known as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is considered the gold standard in treatment. However, due to its intensity and the shortage of therapists trained specifically in OCD, many sufferers struggle to access appropriate care.
ERP involves exposing the person to the source of their fear or obsession while helping them resist the urge to perform their usual compulsive response. The goal is to teach the brain that refraining from the ritual doesn’t lead to harm, gradually reducing anxiety over time. Because the intrusive thoughts feel very real and distressing, this therapy must be conducted by a specialist with a deep understanding of OCD. While ERP has a strong success rate, it also has a high dropout rate due to the emotional difficulty involved.
Real Stories, Real OCD
Because OCD is so often oversimplified—reduced to stereotypes like handwashing or tidiness—I wanted to go beyond the textbook and speak to people I know who live with it every day. I interviewed my friend and my dad, and their honest, deeply personal responses show just how varied and individual the OCD experience can be. Their stories remind us that this is a real and often debilitating condition, not a quirky personality trait or a preference for order.
Sam
What is your own personal definition of OCD?
“I would define it as an obsessive need, or an obsessive want to have things done your way.
With my rituals and stuff….I have to do them the same way. I’m clean anyway, but I wouldn’t say I’m obsessively clean unless I'm having a really bad day. OCD, though, is essentially just wanting stuff done your way. If someone gets in the way of the thing that I’m trying to do, it can mess me up, because you’re obsessed with it being done that certain way.”
How does OCD affect your daily life?
“It affects my everyday life mostly because I have children. Things don’t go to plan, things often don’t go in the order I want them to go in. When you have kids, everyone tends to have a clean house, but if I’m having a bad day, I won’t be spending time with my children, I’ll be cleaning, so it affects my relationship with them. My middle child is now starting to pick up how I am with cleaning, routine and checking things. Intrusive thoughts are hard as well, I have them every single day and if I don’t follow up and ‘check’ it drives me crazy.”
Do you have any triggers that make it worse?
“Stress makes it a lot worse. I do find that around the time of my period, because of the hormones, I guess, that makes me a lot worse, also because that time of the month makes you feel a little dirty anyway, if that makes sense. But mostly stress, I’d say.
Also, for example, at the moment, I have a rash all over my belly, which probably wouldn’t affect anyone else without OCD too badly, but I can’t shower enough at the moment, and I feel disgusting. I just feel gross. I wash my hair several times a day and shower as much as I can.”
What things do you find yourself doing as a result of the OCD?
“The intrusive thoughts are a massive part of it, which I didn’t actually know. I thought they were down to my other mental health problems, but I’ve found out that it is a part of OCD. The routine and rituals are something you can pick up, some of them aren’t things I’ve always done. I can do it once, and if I like the way it happened, or it made me feel calmer for a little bit, I will obsessively try to get that same feeling again and again.
I check things, but that’s usually only when I'm really stressed. I clean a lot, I bleach my house as I'm worried about germs, especially with the whole pandemic at the moment, that doesn’t help matters.”
What do you find helps?
“Distraction helps in some ways. I can be distracted from some things, my kids help as I can get away from what I’ve been doing.
But then there will be times when distraction really doesn’t help, for example, if I'm cleaning the kitchen and one of my children will come in and distracts me, it will make me angry because my ritual gets disturbed and I haven’t done part of it.
If someone tries to take over doing the washing up or something, people stepping in doesn’t help.
My kids are my distraction away from things, though. With the intrusive thoughts, all you can do is try to distract yourself. Or else all you’ll do is dwell.
Not that I want to say that smoking is great for everyone, but personally, if I step out for a cigarette, that helps. Not saying that smoking is a good thing to start up, but for me, just taking some time outside helps a lot.”
Dad
What is your own personal definition of OCD?
“For me personally, my OCD is symptomatic. That basically means it's a reaction to my other mental illnesses..
For instance, my schizophrenia tends to mean I don’t look after myself properly, for me, that makes my OCD kick in because obviously if you start getting dirty and stuff like that, that’s what affects that.
As for a definition, I wouldn’t know how to phrase it. It’s personal to each person’s lifestyle. If you go and read what a definition of OCD is on a mental health site, most of the time, I don’t think it really rings true for most people. People I’ve spoken to with OCD, the general definition is too broad.
It’s very different. They say, for example, ‘skin pinching’ is included as a frequently reported symptom, but I think that’s an element of self-harming, not an OCD trait as such. Yeah, there might be a lot of people with OCD doing that, but then you have to look into why they’re doing that, is it because it’s something compulsive, or is it something that they’re looking for a release through self-harming? And that’s a whole different category.”
How does OCD affect your daily life?
“It affects it badly; it takes me longer to do things. There’s a process I have to go through. When I wake up in the morning, I have to count to ten. If someone interrupts me, I have to count to ten again. So, living with a big family it’s very difficult. The first thing my wife wants to do when we wake up is talk, and I'm trying to count to ten.
Then there are certain things I have to do when I leave a room, depending on what stage I’m at in my mental health, there’s a noticeable increase or decrease, depending on my overall wellness.
Sometimes it can be tapping my fingers three times, or other times it can be counting. Counting is a big one for me, though. I do a lot of it, it’s a good way of ‘levelling out’. But it is irrational; you don’t need to do it. So, it slows your day down, it gets in the way of your day.
But, then it again depends, what kind of level I’m on mentally; if I’m really bad, then I’m constantly counting and tapping.”
Do you have any triggers that make it worse?
“Getting dirty makes it worse. If people are coughing and spluttering near me, then that makes it worse, too. If I'm stressed, then that sends it through the roof. If I get into an argument, it affects it too. Stress is the biggest trigger, though.”
What things do you find yourself doing as a result of the OCD?
“Counting is the biggest thing, and also tapping. Checking things are on and off, if I turn something off, I’ll end up going back several times just to check.”
What do you find helps?
“The environment helps. If I have a routine in place, it makes life much easier. But other than that, it’s something you have to deal with because it's compulsive, there’s no on and off switch.”