The compelling new book on childhood trauma from the States
Childhood trauma kills 1,401 Americans every day. That’s one death every 61 seconds — more than tobacco, more than car accidents, more than diabetes. It’s the number one cause of addiction, suicide and incarceration. And until now, no one connected the dots. Michael Menard did. In his new book, Greater Than Gravity: How Childhood Trauma Is […]
Vape it to make it!
By Erica Crompton Apart from being the only one at parties reeking of cigarettes, I was beginning to encounter some real health issues caused by what had become a 40-a-day habit. My teeth were loose, I’d recently had a molar removed and my dentist informed me, if I continued smoking I’d have no teeth left […]
I beat drinking to become a personal trainer
By Paul Tomkins The warning signs were there early. Growing up in an alcoholic household, I started drinking at 14. It seemed to give me confidence I didn’t naturally have – socialising without it was impossible. But it was also escapism, and I’d drink to blackout throughout my teens. Alcohol became my master. A turning […]
Finding light in the smallest things
By Omorogieva Sylvester Ihonwa Some days, it only takes a cup of tea to save you. There was nothing special about that Tuesday. The Lagos sky was steel-grey, and my neighbour’s generator rattled like a grumpy beast. I’d been counting my sober days on a scrap of receipt tapes to the fridge, making little tally […]
From the Pit to Freedom
By Derek Slayter I didn’t wake up one day and decide to destroy my life. It started small—just smoking pot with friends in high school. It felt harmless, like just being part of the group. But small compromises became a pattern, and that pattern grew into a path I never meant to walk. Pills came […]
Heavenly: a short story by author Brian Beard
HEAVENLY By Brian Beard `Different strokes for different folks` might well be a universal take on what `Heaven` means to people. A sweetshop, wherein to help yourself, might be heaven for a child, mountains of cash might be an adult`s take on what it means to be in heaven. In between there would be myriad […]
The Subconscious
By Star Zahra A few years ago, I had surgery. The details are traumatic, and the wounds linger—not just on my body but deep within my heart. I remember the cold, sterile room: a bed in the centre, tools neatly arranged on a tray. The dream opened to a big garden. They were many happy […]
A dream of consciousness
By Erica Crompton Yeah. So, self-compassion was really important to me during that time. I mean, I remember when I was isolating myself, I’d kind of been out and bought a yoga DVD a few months before and I was kind of doing yoga in my bedroom at home just to stay active and to […]
My Mother will always be real to me
By Gwenne Dickson In my work, I help people connect with something greater—their higher selves—so they can release fears, heal, and transform their lives. But even with all my understanding of transitions, grief still held its weight after my Mum passed. She had been ready. In her final days, I heard her tell the nurses […]
Why Seating is Important to Me
by Amanda Nicholson Without the right chair to sit on, I wouldn’t be able to make a living, even if it is only part-time. I also never would have written eight novels under several names and more than a dozen shorter books. I began to get neck and back pain over 13 years ago and […]