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Forgiveness: an essential part of mental illness recovery

Tom Robinson

Nov 12, 2021
3 min

Forgiveness: an essential part of mental illness recovery

Firstly, I must apologise for the gap in posts recently; I am devoted to writing about mental health/well-being and illness, but have had to prioritise my focus in the last few weeks, hence the blog has been a bit neglected. The main reason is that I have been spending a lot of time supporting others in crisis who desperately need support. I know exactly what it's like to be constantly on a knife-edge in indescribable pain, and I also know how lacking the help and support is

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The body, mind & spirit link: releasing the past through recurring shingles and tears of emotion

Tom Robinson

Nov 6, 2021
2 min

The body, mind & spirit link: releasing the past through recurring shingles and tears of emotion

I know many don’t accept this stuff but this month is ridiculously charged. Those with a connection to this will feel all sorts of emotions pouring out. I have shingles both sides of the body now, as I finally break the shackles of bipolar disorder and free myself; I have waves of every emotion flooding out in tears and blisters! Let it out, let it go. Go into the pain and suffering to heal it but know that it can produce highly charged reactions. #DyingtoStayAlive Kari Samu

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Mental illness: the brutal reality that people have got to wise-up to!

Tom Robinson

Oct 1, 2021
2 min

Mental illness: the brutal reality that people have got to wise-up to!

I am having a break from the blog this week as I concentrate on a few other things, but I just wanted to add something about the reality of mental illness because I posted something on the Dying to Stay Alive Facebook page this morning and I want it to be documented here too. Today, I am meeting my amazing friend 'D' who has had the most challenging life with severe mental illness (psychosis, delusions, schizophrenia...) In fact, I once said to him: 'They say I have bipolar,

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Astrological influences in road to recovery from severe bipolar disorder: cynics take a deep breath!

Tom Robinson

Sep 22, 2021
10 min

Astrological influences in road to recovery from severe bipolar disorder: cynics take a deep breath!

I didn’t write yesterday as I decided to give myself a rare day off from the blog to take advantage of the beautiful early autumn weather - which is obviously so welcome after the rather disappointing summer we’ve had. I’ve been so drawn to being in nature alone, reconnecting myself with the environment, and with my former passions recently, because (as I’ve been trying to explain in previous posts) this process of recovery from severe and prolonged illness has prompted such

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'Self first, duty second!' Not the other way round! Self care is key for anyone with mental illness!

Tom Robinson

Sep 14, 2021
2 min

'Self first, duty second!' Not the other way round! Self care is key for anyone with mental illness!

This morning I am adding an important post that I have shared on social media. I think the timing of this addition is very apt, since I have had to remind myself of this lesson in recent weeks - hence the reason for its inclusion here today. The fact is that: You have got to prioritse your own health before you can help other people. When I write these posts I very often get messages of concern afterwards but please be assured that I am well! I am in fact, the best I have bee

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Suicide Prevention Month 2021: What to say & what NOT to say to someone on the edge with depression!

Tom Robinson

Sep 9, 2021
4 min

Suicide Prevention Month 2021: What to say & what NOT to say to someone on the edge with depression!

This month (September 2021) is Suicide Prevention Month in the U.S, and it is also World Suicide Prevention Day tomorrow (10th September 2021). To coincide with this, I especially wanted to write something 'from the heart' because, after the brutality that I've been through with bipolar HELL, I really shouldn't still be here to write these words, and I therefore know how important it is to share them. Desperate worry for my friends I have several groups of friends from all wa

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Critical psychiatry: discussing some of the conflictions within the medical profession

Tom Robinson

Jul 16, 2021
6 min

Critical psychiatry: discussing some of the conflictions within the medical profession

I am feeling pretty shattered this week because writing about psychiatric medications has coincided with my recurring problems and complications with them: principally, the battle to withdraw from the antipsychotic quetiapine. I wouldn’t mind taking these drugs if they actually relived my symptoms, but the fact is - they don’t. The reality of the situation (in my case anyway) is that they give me terrible side effects, new symptoms, and are a nightmare to withdraw from. It’s

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The Chimp Paradox part 2: dealing with the unruly Chimp and developing the Human

Tom Robinson

Jul 8, 2021
6 min

The Chimp Paradox part 2: dealing with the unruly Chimp and developing the Human

Yesterday, I mentioned how our emotions, particularly anger, can have a negative effect on our mental health. Emotion, feeling and mental health are inextricably linked - I never really hear anyone talking about this - not in an understandable way anyway! That's why books like 'The Chimp Paradox' by Professor Steve Peters are so important because they make us appreciate and (try to) understand the mastery required to manage our own minds effectively, and become happier and mo

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The summer solstice June 2021: the perfect time for a mental health detox

Tom Robinson

Jun 22, 2021
6 min

The summer solstice June 2021: the perfect time for a mental health detox

It has now been almost exactly six months since I started this new blog called ‘Dying to Stay Alive!’ and I have already written a staggering 150 posts since my first offering back in January. It seems like the perfect time to take stock of what I’ve achieved so far this year and to take a bit of a breather to reflect and gather my thoughts before the second half of 2021. The time for rest and reflection could not be more appropriate because yesterday (June 21st) was the summ

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Men’s Health Week: Day 5 – offer #offerfriday

Tom Robinson

Jun 18, 2021
4 min

Men’s Health Week: Day 5 – offer #offerfriday

For the fifth and final day of Men’s Health Week we are being encouraged to offer our help or services to someone else either through helping an individual person, or by volunteering for a local community. Helping others has long been known to offer benefits, both for the helper and for the person being helped. It is the act of helping others that brings with it such a sense of satisfaction which can really boost the helper’s morale and self-confidence. People who help others

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Wild swimming in Queenford Lake – braving the cold for the sake of mental health research!

Tom Robinson

Jun 4, 2021
4 min

Wild swimming in Queenford Lake – braving the cold for the sake of mental health research!

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was planning on going wild swimming to experience the reported benefits of cold hydrotherapy on mental well-being. Yesterday evening I finally fulfilled my promise, and I went to Queensford Lakes nearby in South Oxfordshire to swim with my sister. I have to confess that I’ve been a bit of a wimp up until now because I’ve bailed on going until the weather warmed up a bit! I was still expecting it to be freezing but was pleasantly surprised to

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"I can't live with the past": reconciling with the trauma that accompanies a severe mental illness

Tom Robinson

May 22, 2021
5 min

"I can't live with the past": reconciling with the trauma that accompanies a severe mental illness

This week has brought with it more opportunities for socialising and catching up with friends. It’s been quite an eye-opener for me because now that I am finally back to the authentic version of myself, I am noticing that I am able to enjoy the process of socialising rather than feeling as though I’m forcing myself to do it. Recently, I've found it interesting to hear that a lot of people with mental illnesses have NOT struggled with the pandemic’s restrictions. For some it’s

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