Whenever 1st March rolls around, I feel a tremendous sense of pride but also – how has it been so many years since I started blogging on WordPress about my mental health?
Be Ur Own Light Blog started on 1st March 2016 after I had had to leave a face to face job because I was having panic attacks and couldn’t get in to work. I saw blogging as a form of therapy.. and in truth, I was only originally sharing with friends and family because I felt really alone with it. That eventually snowballed into me writing for Rethink Mental Illness and then in the national media, speaking at a few in-person events and recording podcasts. It was also an honour to be included in several books including ‘The Book of Hope’ by Jonny Benjamin MBE and Britt Pfluger, talking about life with bipolar.
There’s times I still feel alone with my health but I also have so much support and understanding from family and friends and readers here too, which helps a great deal.
I just want to thank everyone we have collaborated with in the past year (sponsored or not)- brands, charities, businesses, individuals making a difference in the mental health world. Thank you for writing blogs for Be Ur Own Light and our personal mission of taking a sledgehammer to the stigma of mental illness (or trying to!).
Thank you also to everyone who has promoted or bought my books, especially my recent kids book ‘Arabella and the Worry Cloud’. I am so proud of ‘Bring me to Light’ too and hope sharing my story continues to help people.
If you’ve been following this journey for 9 years (or longer)- thank YOU for being here for the ride and continuing to read, support and show up.
It has been harder for me in the past 2 years to authentically share everything about my mental health and other health things on here but one day I hope that our journey can inspire others. I live in remission from Bipolar due to my medications holding me and I never forget daily how lucky I am to have access to mental health medications (due to living in the UK) and an excellent therapist, plus support from family.
Going forward, I will still be blogging but I am hoping that the sequel to Arabella and the Worry Cloud will manifest soon. I have written it, I just need the funds to secure everything! Shout out to my friend and illustrator Shelley. I hope also that Arabella will continue to reach more children and find it’s way to all who need its message.
Thank you all of you for enabling me to blog and write and hopefully help people with bipolar, depression, anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks etc. Thank you to every person who has read a blog, bought a book, shared an article, commissioned me in the press to write an article on mental health or current affairs and to all who have or continue to believe in me- including my amazing husband and family. and of course G-d who is behind everything.
Struggling with perfectionism? Learn how CBT for perfectionism helps challenge self-criticism, set realistic goals, and break free from the pressure to be perfect.
If you ever feel paralyzed by the thought of making mistakes or constantly push yourself to impossible standards, you might benefit from CBT for Perfectionism. At NOSA CBT, we understand how perfectionism can lead to burnout, procrastination, and nonstop anxiety. In this blog, we will explore what perfectionism really is, why it develops, and how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) provides practical ways to break out of the perfectionist trap.
What Is Perfectionism?
Perfectionism is not just about wanting to do things well. It usually means aiming for flawless results and feeling that anything less than perfection is a failure. Many perfectionists believe their worth depends on never making mistakes. This can cause chronic stress and harsh self-criticism whenever the outcome is not 100 percent perfect.
Sometimes, perfectionistic habits come from fear of judgment or failure in front of others. This fear creates a cycle: always striving, never satisfied, and relying on achievement for self-esteem. Ironically, trying to be flawless can keep you from getting started on projects, since the fear of messing up becomes more overwhelming than the desire to make progress.
How Perfectionism Develops
Perfectionism can grow from many sources: family expectations, social pressures, or ways of coping you learned over time. You might have grown up in a home where you were praised only when you excelled, making you feel like mistakes were unacceptable. Or maybe you live in a culture where success is linked to being the best, reinforcing the idea that any slip-up equals total failure.
Often, perfectionists tie their self-worth directly to their accomplishments. Rather than seeing an outcome as separate from who they are, they treat any disappointment as a personal shortcoming. Once these ideas take hold, they shape your approach to work, relationships, and even leisure activities. Recognizing why perfectionism developed does not mean it vanishes overnight, but it can help you spot triggers that feed that anxiety about not being “good enough.”
(image: Brett Jordan: Unsplash)
How CBT for Perfectionism Works
CBT for Perfectionism focuses on finding and challenging the thoughts and beliefs that drive unhealthy perfectionism. Instead of telling you how to get perfect results, CBT helps you understand why imperfection feels so scary in the first place. Then, you can test whether those fears are truly accurate and replace them with more realistic, kinder ways of thinking.
Mapping Unhelpful Thoughts Early on, you might keep track of moments when you feel overwhelmed or anxious about not doing something “well enough.” This reveals the core thoughts fueling your stress, such as “If I don’t get every detail right, I’m a failure.”
Challenging Distorted Beliefs Next, CBT teaches you to question these beliefs. Is it realistic to think one mistake ruins everything? Are you really worthless if you miss a tiny detail? Finding evidence that contradicts these absolutes can weaken their hold.
Encouraging Realistic Standards CBT does not say you have to lower your standards across the board. Instead, it prompts you to set challenging but achievable goals. This shift allows you to celebrate progress rather than obsessing over small flaws.
Self-Compassion One of the most important parts of CBT is learning to be gentle with yourself when things do not go perfectly. Instead of harsh self-criticism, you practice talking to yourself in a supportive, encouraging way. This approach boosts resilience and motivation, even when you stumble.
By repeating these steps and noticing changes in your thoughts and behaviors, you can develop a healthier mindset that balances striving for excellence with recognizing that mistakes are a normal part of growth.
Key CBT Techniques for Perfectionism
Several CBT techniques help reduce the pressure to be perfect:
Thought Records
Write down situations that trigger perfectionistic stress, along with the thoughts and emotions they spark. Then, look for evidence that challenges these extreme conclusions. Over time, seeing flaws in your perfectionistic thinking can loosen its grip.
Behavioural Experiments
Sometimes, you might intentionally aim for “good enough” rather than perfect results. Whether it’s a work project or a household task, see how it feels to let go of total precision. Often, you’ll realize minor imperfections rarely lead to disaster.
Graded Exposure
Gradually face your fear of imperfection. For example, leave a small mistake in a draft and show it to a friend or colleague, just to prove to yourself that a minor error doesn’t lead to rejection or failure.
Self-Compassion Exercises
Through affirmations or mindfulness, you learn to accept that everyone slips up sometimes. Treat mistakes as opportunities to learn, not signs of personal failure.
When practiced consistently, these strategies help you maintain high standards without feeling constantly overwhelmed by the need to be flawless.
Dealing with Setbacks and Ongoing Habits
Real change rarely happens in a straight line, especially if you’ve spent years developing perfectionistic habits. It’s normal to have setbacks when deadlines loom or when life throws unexpected challenges your way. If you catch yourself slipping back into rigid thinking, it doesn’t mean CBT “failed.” It just means it’s time to revisit the strategies and tools that helped you before.
Setbacks can even be helpful. Each time perfectionistic thoughts resurface, you have another opportunity to apply the CBT methods you’ve learned. Over time, these relapses often become less intense and less frequent because you have a more flexible framework for coping.
Who Can Benefit from this Therapy?
Anyone who struggles with all-or-nothing thinking can find CBT useful. High achievers sometimes get stuck in endless cycles of tweaking or revising because they feel nothing is ever “perfect.” Students may push themselves to the limit, convinced that a single slip in grades defines their future. Even in personal settings, the need to appear flawless can drain your energy and enjoyment of everyday life.
It’s also important to remember perfectionism isn’t limited to a certain personality type. You might feel confident in some areas yet be extremely hard on yourself in others. CBT meets you where you are. It offers practical tools for tackling unhelpful beliefs and separating your self-worth from your achievements.
Rounding Up
Ultimately, CBT for Perfectionismaims to loosen the grip of harsh self-standards and critical inner voices that overshadow day-to-day satisfaction. Striving for excellence can be motivating, but perfectionism can turn into a never-ending burden that undermines your confidence and well-being.
By challenging black-and-white thinking, trying out more balanced behaviours, and learning self-compassion, you can find a healthier mindset that values progress over flawlessness. If you’ve noticed perfectionistic habits affecting your life, consider exploring CBT techniques or reaching out for professional support to build a more flexible and resilient approach to reaching your goals.
The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH) released its Annual Report for 2025 last week, revealing that over the past decade, nearly 20% more individuals with bipolar disorder are dying by suicide due to shortcomings in the UK’s mental health system.
According to national charity Bipolar UK, the report provides stark evidence that specialist care is lacking, Lithium (an important mood stabiliser medication) is under-prescribed and suicide prevention measures are falling short.
The report highlights that from 2012 to 2022, there were 1,491 suicides by patients with bipolar, with an alarming 19% increase from 2019 to 2022. Despite Lithium being a clinically proven suicide prevention treatment for people with bipolar, only 39% of those who died were prescribed it and just 12% were receiving psychological therapy.
This data echoes the findings and lived experience of Professor Tania Gergel, Head of Research at Bipolar UK, in her recent article in The Lancet Psychiatry where she said: “Globally, 15-20% of people with bipolar disorder die by suicide, with 30-60% making at least one attempt. These rates are not decreasing despite an overall decline in global suicide rates.”
According to the Nuffield Trust, there is set to be a £4.8 billion unfunded shortfall in the NHS England revenue budget for 2024/25, raising the prospect that without further funding, service cuts may be inevitable.
With bipolar increasing an individual’s risk of suicide by 20 times that of the general population, Bipolar UK is urging the government to commit to addressing health waiting lists and to invest money in creating a dedicated care pathway for bipolar to reduce suicide rates.
Simon Kitchen, CEO of Bipolar UK, said: “This report is devastating but not surprising. We’ve been shouting from the rooftops that people with bipolar aren’t getting the care they need and now the data lays it bare.
“Bipolar carries one of the highest suicide risks of any mental illness, yet specialist services are practically non-existent, and Lithium – the gold-standard treatment for suicide prevention – is underused. The time for excuses is over. We need real action, and we need it now.”
The charity has heard from its community of people living with the condition, who are concerned that they are unable to access psychiatrists, have little to no continuity of care and are not being monitored adequately when at high risk. There is also a lack of bipolar specialists in the UK, leading to people not receiving a correct diagnosis or waiting too long to receive one – all of which add to the risk of suicide.
Professor Gergel said: “Neither bipolar disorder nor suicide in people with bipolar disorder are research priorities, resulting in major knowledge gaps in both. This can and must change. The shocking statistics might well underestimate the prevalence of suicide in people with bipolar disorder, given the probability of death by suicide before treatment or accurate diagnosis.”
Adding to that, Simon Kitchen said: “Suicide prevention in bipolar requires a shift in both research priorities and clinical practice. We know lithium saves lives, but it is still under-prescribed. We know specialist care works, but most services are generic and fail to meet the specific needs of people with bipolar. Bipolar suicide is not inevitable, but without urgent action, people will continue to die.”
(image of Prof Gergel, Bipolar UK)
The NCISH report also revealed broader systemic failures contributing to preventable deaths. Alarmingly, patients with bipolar were more likely to:
Die within three months of being discharged from inpatient care, highlighting dangerous gaps in post-discharge support.
Miss vital clinical appointments, often due to social isolation or side effects from medication, with 15% identified as non-adherent before their deaths.
Experience extreme distress without access to psychological therapies, with only 12% receiving talking therapies.
With more than a million people living with bipolar in the UK, the figures from this latest inquiry represent lives lost and has led Bipolar UK to call for urgent action, including implementing:
Specialist bipolar services in every NHS region to ensure timely diagnosis, access to evidence-based treatments and care tailored to the complexities of the condition.
Increased lithium prescribing, in line with NICE guidelines, ensuring every person with bipolar who could benefit from it is given the opportunity.
Enhanced suicide prevention measures, including better follow-up after hospital discharge and targeted support for those who miss appointments or struggle with medication adherence.
Simon Kitchen concluded: “We need all UK health authorities and departments of health across the nation to act now because lives depend on it. The evidence is undeniable, the solutions are clear, and the cost of inaction is catastrophic. Specialist care, Lithium, and targeted suicide prevention measures can and will save lives.
“Bipolar suicide is a national emergency, and the upcoming 10-Year Plan is the critical opportunity to turn the tide. Bipolar-specific services are not optional; they are a lifeline.
“The government and NHS must act now, before more lives are lost to preventable tragedy. It is time to get it right.”
Bipolar UK is the only national charity dedicated to supporting people affected by bipolar. Bipolar UK provides a range of services, including information and advice, a network of support groups, an eCommunity, workplace training and telephone and email peer support. Bipolar UK also works in partnership with research organisations and campaigns for change to tackle critical issues. For more information, visit www.bipolaruk.org
Being vegan means a person chooses not to use any animals products – whether that’s the food they eat, the clothes they wear, the products they use, even down to the entertainment they choose. This lifestyle choice is a philosophical stance and belief system that seeks to exclude all forms of exploitation and cruelty to animals.
I’ve been vegan for around 9 years now and speaking from experience as an empathetic and sensitive person, at times the world can feel a little overwhelming (understatement? Possibly). Don’t get me wrong, going vegan was the best decision for me. I am an animal lover at heart and deeply care about the environment, so being vegan enables me to live a life in harmony with my values. When I finally aligned my actions with my beliefs about animal welfare, I experienced a sense of relief and authenticity that had been missing before.
The problem is knowing the full extent of animal suffering at the hands of humans that really weighs heavy.
I remember the first time I truly connected with a cow. Looking into her gentle eyes, I saw an individual who was sentient and wanted to live, love, and be free from harm – just like any of us. That moment changed me forever. Now, walking past butcher shops or seeing leather goods in store windows can feel devastating, knowing a beautiful creature had their life needlessly taken for something we can source elsewhere with no suffering involved. These everyday encounters that are ordinary to most, serve as constant reminders of the disconnect between my values and society’s ‘normal’ practices.
This awareness has affected my relationships too. There was a time that social gatherings were tricky to navigate. Watching friends or family consume animal products while knowing what I know about factory farming creates an internal struggle: balancing my love for them with my ethical convictions. Sometimes it makes me so sad to know that, after all I have told them about animal suffering, they continue to choose to subject animals to it in the name of taste preferences.
However, this emotional challenge isn’t unique to vegans. Many people feel uncomfortable watching documentaries about animal agriculture or visiting slaughterhouses. This natural empathy exists in most of us, but marketing campaigns and industrialised food systems have created a psychological distance between our plates and the reality of animal suffering. The meat industry spends billions on advertising that presents happy animals on family farms, while the reality remains carefully hidden from public view.
The emotional challenges faced by vegans often stem from a place of deep compassion – a quality our world desperately needs more of, not less. Rather than viewing this sensitivity as a weakness, we can recognise it as a strength that drives positive change. Understanding that these feelings of distress come from a place of love and justice can help frame them in a more constructive light.
(image: Kerry McLaughlin Photography)
In my book, The Vegan Lifestyle Journal, I talk about the secrets to finding ways to channel our emotional sensitivity into positive action while maintaining our own wellbeing. This might mean setting boundaries, practicing self-care, celebrating small victories, and remembering that personal peace and advocacy for animals can coexist. After all, the goal isn’t to carry the weight of the world’s suffering, but to do our part in creating positive change while maintaining our own emotional balance.
For anyone feeling overwhelmed by awareness of animal suffering, remember that every person who chooses compassion contributes to a larger movement toward a more ethical world. While the journey may sometimes feel lonely or challenging, living in harmony with our deepest values ultimately contributes to better mental health and a more peaceful existence.
Sadie Jade is a Suffolk born author and public speaker who is passionate about making the world a better place for animals, people, and the environment.With almost a decade of experience in animal advocacy, Sadie is well known for delivering talks to thousands of people across the UK in schools and colleges, at community events and public speaking engagements such as podcasts and panel debates, and through the publication of her book and her guest articles for respected news outlets.
I am delighted to say that our children’s picture book ‘Arabella and the Worry Cloud‘ about a little girl with anxiety and how she manages her worries, is featured on Parents News UK website! Not only is it Children’s Mental Health Week but it is also Time to Talk day, where we share our stories about mental health.
Here’s a snippet of their thoughts:
‘Supporting children with anxiety, London-based author Eleanor Segall has drawn from her own childhood experiences to write Arabella and the Worry Cloud, a heartfelt picture book supporting children aged 5–8 who struggle with anxiety. Eleanor, who has lived with bipolar disorder since her diagnosis at age 16, aims to help young readers understand and manage their worries through relatable storytelling.
Arabella and the Worry Cloud introduces readers to Arabella, a seven-year-old girl who faces daily worries, from small tasks like putting on her socks to bigger fears about her cat or schoolwork. Her constant companion, the Worry Cloud, symbolises her anxious thoughts, teaching children that worries, like clouds, come and go.
Eleanor shares coping tools within the story, inspired by techniques that helped her manage her own anxiety. Through Arabella’s journey, children learn that even when caught in life’s “rainstorms,” the clouds will eventually clear.’
(image: E Segall/Shelley The Artist)
You can read the full article here. Thanks to all at Parents News UK!
Did you know 1 in 5 children face mental health challenges? Let’s make a difference together this #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek by taking part and donating to Place2be if you can.
The theme of this year’s week is ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself’, which is about encouraging children and young people across the UK to embrace self-awareness and explore what it means for them.
This year Place2be is partnering with Here4You, supported by the Walt Disney company and the Inside Out 2 characters to explore the theme.
I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression as a 15 year old, and had anxiety from a young age. I was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 16 and in a CAMHS unit in hospital in 2004. We know these days that more children are struggling, which is why awareness weeks like this are so important.
Through my kids book, Arabella and the Worry Cloud, I try to help children with their own anxiety to help them process their feelings with a trusted adult.
This weekend is the Jami Mental Health Shabbat 2025. This is an initiative very close to my heart as I was a volunteer with this project from its inception in 2017-2018, helping to get the shabbat into communities. The Shabbat grew from an idea to be more open about mental health across Jewish communities in the UK, with Rabbi Daniel Epstein at the healm (and the brilliant team at Jami), to a nationwide yearly initiative in synagogues, schools and homes. It raises awareness of mental illness and distress, encouraging conversations and breaking down the stigma in our communities by placing this discussion at the heart of them, through lived experience and Rabbis speaking about it in their pulpit.
The Shabbat has other initiatives including hosting a shabbat meal and asking guests to donate to Jami instead of a gift, a toolkit with resources to use, Challah makes and an open mic night on Sunday 3rd at the Head Room Cafe for the whole community.
As Jami say, “Jami Mental Health Shabbat coincides with Parashat Bo. On this Shabbat we read about the plague of darkness, which can be likened to the experiences of many living with mental illness and distress. The parasha also talks about how the Israelites, full of hope, could see through the darkness into the light. This special Shabbat is an opportunity for us to encourage conversations on mental health, raise awareness of mental illness and distress and share ideas on how to support ourselves and others within our community. “
Over the years, my Dad and I have given our talk about our lived experience of bipolar for this shabbat and in communities to hundreds of people including Bushey United and Chigwell United Synagogues, Belsize Square Synagogue and Edgware Yeshurun Synagogue. We also have spoken at Limmud Conference in Birmingham to share our story and had a question and answer session. This wasn’t easy for me with my anxiety as you can imagine!
This year, for personal reasons we are taking a break from speaking our mental health story, but we both support this shabbat and amazing charity. You can also read our story in my book ‘Bring me to Light: Embracing my Bipolar and Social Anxiety’
If you’d like to take part in the shabbat this year, please go to www.jamiuk.org/jmhs .
Let’s keep raising awareness of mental illness and distress and shine our light to the world. No one should ever feel alone in their community due to mental ill health.
More and more people are putting time and effort into looking after their mental wellbeing, and rightly so. Most of these efforts focus on stress-reducing hobbies and social activities, but have you ever wondered if your interior design choices are influencing your mental health?
If the answer is no, it might be time to start considering how your home decor can be altered to achieve peak wellness. If you’ve no idea where to start when trying to turn your home into a sea of tranquillity, we’ve picked out a few areas of your home that could contribute towards your mental wellbeing.
Colour
(image: Unsplash: Marc Jodoin)
Blue
As the colour of the sea and sky, blue is seen as a calm, soothing colour. It’s also an easy colour to incorporate into your home if you’re trying to make your home have a more relaxed vibe.
Darker shades of blue work perfectly for a feature wall and allow the colour to be the main focal point of the room. If you want to paint your whole room blue, lighter shades of blue work great and can promote an airy, outdoorsy feeling.
Purple
In some cultures, purple represents royalty whilst in others it is associated with peace and spirituality. However you see purple, it’s important to note that it’s becoming an increasingly popular colour in the interior design world.
When it comes to incorporating purple into your home, it’s often a case of less is more. Consider ways in which you can add a touch of purple rather than creating a fully purple room. Rugs, lampshades and cushions are a great way to introduce purple without overdoing it.
Green
Green is similar to blue in the sense that it can help bring the outdoors to your home, due to how we associate the colour with nature and greenery. Forest green and jungle green are great options if you want to go overboard on the green interior as they are less subtle shades.
Brighter greens should be reserved for kids’ bedrooms or playrooms. Alternatively, shades like lime can be used for smaller decorative ornaments that aren’t the main focal point of your home.
Nature
Nature and wellness go hand in hand. In fact, most mental health therapists would agree that spending time outdoors is great for our mental wellbeing. According to studies, there is a positive correlation between happiness and our connection to nature.
Obviously, we can’t spend all of our time outdoors so it’s important to consider ways we can bring nature into our homes. Adding plants throughout our home can improve style but can also improve air quality. Improving the air quality in your home can have positive implications for your mood, stress levels and sleep quality – all of which contribute to healthy mental wellbeing.
When choosing plants to add to your home, there are a number of factors to consider including how much sunlight and water different types of plants require. In addition, you’ll want to decide what size of plant works for your home. Larger plants work great in the corner of a room while smaller plants should be added to coffee tables and shelves.
Layout
A clear home can lead to a clear mind so it’s important to stay on top of your home’s cleanliness levels. It can be a good idea to focus on minimalism and create large open spaces in your home that are easy to keep on top of in terms of tidiness.
Be careful of adding too many items that only serve decorative purposes as this simply gives you more things to keep on top of and could easily be the start of your home becoming cluttered.
Our home can affect our wellbeing, so for positive mental health, its good to implement calming colours and layouts for a wonderfully relaxing home.
There is nothing more heartbreaking than to see your child suffering. What’s more, when their mind is playing tricks on them, and they’re experiencing spells of anxiety, it can leave you feeling helpless as the parent/carer. While you may be doing all the right things such as taking them to therapy and encouraging them to talk about their feelings, sometimes their environment can play a huge role in their emotions. Children spend a lot of their time in their bedrooms, especially when they’re feeling anxious about the outside world. Transforming their bedroom into an anxiety-reducing space could be the key to allowing them an environment to disconnect from ruminating thoughts completely.
Be sure to listen to what your children want for their bedrooms before taking the design into your own hands. If they believe a Minecraft bedroom will make them feel happy and give them a sense of security in their space, listen! Otherwise, consider the following tips for designing your bedroom into an anxiety-reducing space.
Colour schemes
Starting with the room’s backdrop, consider painting your child’s room a colour that inflicts a sense of calmness and serenity. There are a number of colours that are proven to create this mood, for example, cool colours such as blue, green and lavender grey are known to create a relaxing feel. Also, pastel shades of favourites such as pink and green are perfect for creating a sense of tranquillity.
Connections to nature
Nature has shown to have immense benefits for reducing anxiety, from going for walks to playing in the park, if your child is struggling to face the great outdoors, consider bringing it to them. For example, add touches of greenery in the space. There can be faux versions of vines winding round their bed, or perhaps give them real plants to take care of and give them a greater sense of purpose. If your child has been begging for an animal, why not start small and get them a fish? It has been proven that watching fish swim back and forth can relax the mind and ease muscle tension.
Blue LED lighting
Lighting can be a hard element of the bedroom to influence. If your child’s bedroom is currently brightly lit with fluorescent light this may not be helping their state of mind. Blue light therapy has been raved for its ability to influence mood and the body’s biological clock. Dimming their bedroom lighting with blue lighting may support their night of rest. Several sensory light appliances can create this experience, in addition to adding texture to the projection that mimics ocean waves.
Create “safe spots”
Sometimes, your child just wants to be alone, and that’s okay. Creating a safe space away from the world can be simple with the addition of a children’s teepee, or if your child has a bunk bed with underspace, make this area more private with curtains. Fill this space with comfy seating, pillows, and games for your child to play. It can be tempting to buy them an Xbox or PlayStation to enjoy in their bedroom, but this can worsen your child’s anxiety and keep their mind active when it’s time for rest. Keep technology away from their bedroom, and keep it comforting and quiet.
Keep schooling separate
Another mistake parents make with their child’s bedroom is adding a desk for them to complete school work. When your child is suffering from anxiety, school can often inflict feelings of discomfort or remind them of unpleasant experiences. Allow your child to do their school work downstairs where you can support them and be there for them. Allocated places for different activities can help them feel a sense of security. Reserve the bedroom for sleep. Having a small table and chair for your child to do artwork can act as a place to explore their creativity.
Encourage rest & relaxation
Encouraging relaxation is essential when transforming your child’s bedroom into an anxiety-reducing space. This involves creating an atmosphere that promotes comfort and signals to your child that their room is a sanctuary for winding down and recharging. Start by investing in high-quality, soft bedding and cosy blankets that make your bed an inviting haven. Add plush pillows or weighted blankets, which are known to provide a sense of security and calmness.
(image: Pexels: Vika Glitter)
An anxiety-reducing space
Transforming your child’s bedroom into an anxiety-reducing space can have a profound impact on their emotional wellbeing. By focusing on calming colours, natural elements, thoughtful lighting, and creating safe and comforting zones, you’re helping to create a sanctuary where they can decompress and feel at ease. Remember, every child is unique, so it’s important to involve them in the process and tailor the space to their individual needs and preferences.
Small changes in their environment can make a big difference in their ability to manage anxiety and feel secure. While this is just one piece of the puzzle, pairing it with emotional support, therapy, and open communication can empower your child to navigate their emotions with greater resilience. A cosy, peaceful bedroom can become their haven—a place to relax, recharge, and truly feel at home.
Author Bio
Amy Jones is a freelance writer and enjoys writing a range of topics, from mental wellness to home renovation and loves researching the latest news and updates. Having worked with a number of different businesses, including Petite Lumeire, Amy is now a freelance writer looking to specialise in children’s mental and physical wellness.
Three years ago, I read and reviewed author Emily J. Johnson’s debut book ‘Pushing Through The Cracks, which details her family’s journey with mental illness. Emily then released a book called BELLY about her binge eating and how she found recovery.
I was saddened when I heard that Emily had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2023, after all she had faced. A lump found by chance at the doctor in her neck, led to her diagnosis. However, in true Emily style (she is a fighter), she not only went through a lot of trauma and medical treatment, but she has come out the other side to find her own SUNSHINE. The thyroid cancer diagnosis left her struggling to cope as she navigated the impact on her loved ones. During her treatment, a medical emergency lead to a profound experience in theatre that changed everything.
As you can see from the cover of this book, this is a story of hope after trauma and adversity. It’s a life-affirming story about love, hope, and rediscovering joy in simple things.
Emily returned to writing during her recovery, publishing her third book SUNSHINE, sharing her cancer journey. Once fully recovered, she re-trained as a mindfulness and meditation practitioner and will embark on her teaching practice in 2025, supporting cancer patients along with other members of her community in learning these beneficial practices.
Emily is always helping others whether that is through her talent as an author and sharing her thoughts in writing and now through her work helping people.
The book is beautifully written and hugely eye opening about a cancer that does not get huge amounts of media air time. Emily goes through treatment and comes out the other side stronger. As she says,
‘A chance discovery leads to a shock diagnosis;.
A traumatic experience leaves me questioning everything.
But in the darkness, I discover the light. My light, my sunshine.’
SUNSHINE by Emily J. Johnson is a remarkable book and is out now on Amazon here.
beurownlight.com 