Come One, Come All: A Contraceptive Conundrum
Even before Little Juniper arrived, I was faced with questions about my contraceptive choices. Come to think of it, my GP asked me about my contraceptive choices when I went there to say those wonderful words, “I think I’m pregnant.”
Read More
Caregiving: The Fun Of Sexual Dysfunction
There we were, Christmas Day, opening presents. And one of my presents from Mr. Juniper? Oh yes, it was 10 ¼ inches. I yelped with joy. How could I not? I never thought it would happen, but there it was.
Read MoreCaregiving: Talking About Mental Illness
Or at least, my feelings on talking about mental illness and disability.
Read MoreCaregiving: The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
There is, at this moment in time, less than a week before December 1. Less than a week before I can deck the halls in celebration of another holly jolly Hogswatch. And just days since I heard Mr. Juniper admit he’s starting to panic about the Hogfather coming to town.
Read More
Brave!
Oh my. At long last, on a somewhat soggy Sunday afternoon, I have found myself with time enough to write a review of Brave. Or at least, with time to write about the film while Juniper Junior talks me through everything in his Brave book.
Read MoreCaregiving: Violence
Violence has been on my mind since I wrote about self harm, as self harm in its psychiatric incarnation of Deliberate Self Harm is often considered an act of violence. The “self” part indicating the obvious: DSH is violence that a person commits against themselves.
Read MoreCaregiving: Breaking The News And Handling The News
Some time ago, during A Quickie, the interest was expressed as to how to break the news of mental illness and also how to handle the news of finding out someone has a mental illness.
Read MoreIn Which A Humanist Takes A Religious Tangent
Whilst affairs of the United Kingdom aren’t necessarily a burning issue for many on Persephone, there have been happenings going on here that I figured may be on interest. The happenings? Belief by a group of Christians that they have been discriminated against because of their religion. And in turn, a belief that Christianity in the UK is being marginalised.
Read MoreCaregiving: Self Harm
[Trigger warning for discussion of self harm] Ever since reading Susan’s Fucking Perfect: On Loving and Being Helpless, I’ve thought about covering self harm in the Caregiving series. Given a resurgence of the topic on Persephone lately, I figured now might be the time.
Read MoreMamma Mia!
At this moment in time, I’m in my pyjamas, sucking lozenges, with a wheatie bag on my chest, and due another dose of paracetamol. In short: Juniper Junior managed three weeks back at school before bringing back a cold.
Read MoreCaregiving: Food
Food is generally accepted to be important to the continuation of the concept that is life. Everyone needs nutrition, in some form or another, but in instances like mental illness, food can take on a greater significance.
Read MoreCaregiving: Pets
As much as anything, this article has come into being because my writing companion is currently stretched out beside me in his bed. A dog bed, no less. And the aforementioned companion happens to be of the feline persuasion. He also has a pillow in there, but the less said about that, the better. He’s already nabbed one of my …
Read MoreCaregiving: Medication (Part 2)
For a while now, I’ve been thinking about the first article I wrote on medication. Certainly, I still stand by all that I said in that article, despite later writing about the 20 Years Too Soon campaign by Rethink. There’s no getting away from the negative side of medication, that’s for sure.
Read MoreCaregiving: Strength and Faith
It is not an uncommon sight on support forums to see people giving advice that centres on keeping faith with their deity of choice. Or praying for strength, and so on. In an odd way, the world of mental illness — and specifically with this series — caregivers, can lend itself to the “there are no atheists in foxholes” concept. The thing …
Read More