Behind every lecture and research paper lies a silent struggle. "The Tale of the Academic Black Dog" exposes the hidden mental health crisis among university academics — the overworked, underpaid, and often overlooked pillars of higher education. Through data, empathy, and reflection, it calls for change in a culture built on silence.
Behind the prestige of a doctorate lies a silent struggle. "There Is a Heavy Cost to Getting a PhD That Nobody Talks About" exposes the psychological toll of academic life — the isolation, perfectionism, and stigma that too often accompany it. Blending data and personal experience, it urges academia to confront its hidden mental health crisis.
Keith Flint wasn’t just the face of The Prodigy — he was the spark that lit my own rebellion. His energy taught me that being different isn’t a flaw, it’s a weapon. From childhood chaos to adult reflection, his music shaped who I am. Rest easy, Firestarter.
Untreated depression doesn’t just hurt emotionally — it may physically damage the brain. Mounting research links chronic depression to inflammation and neurodegeneration, suggesting that neglecting mental health can literally change our biology. Depression isn’t “all in the mind”; it’s a disorder that can quietly erode the brain itself.
A new year doesn’t have to mean starting over. Instead of erasing the past, we should use it as a guide. Our darkest moments shape who we become, teaching us resilience, self-worth, and direction. Growth isn’t about forgetting — it’s about transforming what once hurt into fuel for progress.
Anxiety often hides behind opportunity. It’s that trembling mix of fear and hope we feel when standing at the edge of change. But what if anxiety isn’t just a warning — what if it’s a sign we care deeply about our future? Don’t silence it. Learn from it.
Self-criticism can be relentless — a quiet voice that chips away at confidence, joy, and self-worth. But it’s not truth; it’s habit. Recognising when you’re too hard on yourself is the first step to breaking free. It’s time to silence that inner saboteur and start approving of yourself instead.
When you get trapped inside your own head, perfectionism and self-doubt can become your worst enemies. We chase impossible standards, forgetting that perfection doesn’t exist — only progress does. Learning to silence that inner critic and embrace imperfection is the first step toward genuine confidence and peace of mind.
Your past may have shaped you, but it doesn’t have to define you. Whether childhood trauma or heartbreak in adulthood, healing begins when you challenge negative self-talk and reclaim your story. With reflection and self-compassion, you can step out of the darkness and build a future guided by strength, not pain.
In this post, I explore how music speaks when words fall silent. From its ability to unlock lost memories to its power to shape our emotions, music connects us in ways nothing else can. Whether healing heartbreak or brightening grey days, sometimes a song says everything we cannot.
This is mental health. 