It’s been one whole year since my mental health crisis. It also happens to be Mental Health Awareness Week in New Zealand, a very real but raw milestone of sorts in my journey. Trigger warning: suicide, suicidal ideation, mental distress A year ago, I was lying in a bed that…

Nope, you’re not ‘so OCD’ and nor is the weather ‘bipolar’ — We’re barely into the year and I’m already over it. I’ll be sitting in a work meeting, and then, suddenly, there it is. “Forgive me, I’m quite OCD about grammar and spelling.” “I’m a bit schizo (or bipolar) about this decision, sorry. I’ve changed my mind.” “I’m so busy at the moment…

Newly diagnosed? Or supporting someone who is? Look no further. — The day I was diagnosed is etched into my memory forever. I was confused, mortified and somewhat relieved that my horrific intrusive thoughts didn’t mean anything — I had a treatable mental illness. It’s been a year and a half of learning everything I can about OCD, and there’s a…

Over, over, and over again — I’ve momentarily forgotten how to breathe. There’s a claw around my chest, and it’s tightening by the second. I’m sweating, and it isn’t because it’s hot. My brain tries to run away from the intrusive thought and think of anything else, literally anything, but I pull it back. Focus, I…

As a general rule, I don’t like to talk about topics that are divisive, or place broad-sweeping labels on groups. But this one is personal to me, and it’s problematic to a point where it’s affecting me and people I care about, so I think it’s worth talking about, as…