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Dyspraxia Awareness Week

Dyspraxia Awareness Week (October 7th-13th) highlights the importance of understanding and supporting those living with this common, yet often misunderstood, condition. In this personal account, a member of our #Me community shares their journey of being diagnosed with dyspraxia as an adult. From the struggles of growing up undiagnosed to navigating university life, they reflect on the challenges—and the strengths—that come with dyspraxia. Read on to discover how greater awareness can help create a more inclusive, supportive environment for those affected.

Article, UniversityMegan GambleOctober 10, 2024Mental Health, Dyspraxia, Awareness of labels, Self-Reflection

The journey beyond Sport

Sport is a beautiful thing, it is one of the things that has the ability to change lives, but what happens when life happens; and sport is taken from you and time starts flying by? How do you take yourself back to the start? How do you mentally rebuild yourself to chase that dream again? How do you accept you may have moved on?

Sport, ArticleMegan GambleSeptember 4, 2024Mental Health, Sport, Discovering life outside of sport, LinkedIn, Athlete Injury

Life in the slow lane

Megan talks about her retirement from a swimming career, which presents challenges such as loss of motivation, post-sport depression, anxiety over establishing a new routine, and an identity crisis. Athletes can struggle to stay motivated without structured training and often experience depression. Adapting to new routines can cause anxiety, and losing their sports identity can be difficult. Embracing a growth mindset and finding balance can lead to a fulfilling life beyond sports.

Article, Reflection, Sport, PerspectiveGuest UserJune 12, 2024Univeristy, Sport, Mental Health

The Journey of an International Student: Navigating University Life Abroad

A year ago, I embarked on a transformative journey to Loughborough University. As an international student, the decision to come here over Hawaii was tough but the right one. Despite occasional loneliness, I've found a sense of home both here and in New Zealand. My advice? Get involved actively. Studying abroad offers diverse experiences and global perspectives, though it comes with initial challenges.

Beyond Labels: Unlocking Success – A Guide to University Support for Autistic Students

The article emphasises the need for proper support and highlights resources available to autistic students, such as university associations, student services, and the Disabled Students’ Allowance. Practical tips, including creating a sensory-friendly environment, connecting with like-minded peers, and self-advocacy, are provided to help autistic students succeed in higher education. The article encourages embracing neurodiversity, seeking support, and finding a sense of belonging to thrive in the university experience.

University, Article, Perspective, AutismGuest UserMarch 12, 2024Univeristy, Self-Awareness, Autism, Neurodiversity

Being diagnosed with ADHD whilst at university

Hello, I’m Phoebe and I’ve always been super organised, had good grades in school and positive feedback from teachers. So to be recently diagnosed with ADHD whilst being at university is not what I (or others around me) would have expected based on the stereotypical characteristics that we often hear about ADHD.

Grief and Me: Life as a 20-something experiencing grief for the first time

Hello, my name is Millie. I am 23 years old and I lost my Mum just over a year ago, four months after her diagnosis with primary bowel cancer. This was my first experience losing someone and it was an overwhelming experience of emotions, thoughts and feelings to say the least. Since then, I’ve become interested in how myself and others process grief, and I wanted to share my personal experience and what has helped me to process and heal throughout this period.

Article, Blogs, Perspective, CancerMegan GambleSeptember 21, 2023Mental Health, Grief, Bereavement, Loss, Cancer grief, cancer, coping with grief

Labels are everywhere: How can we use them to our advantage?

Labels…we use them everyday whether we are aware of it or not. Whether that’s labelling people, things, or situations, labels are how we convey information about something to others. They can be either beneficial or detrimental, so here are 5 ways that we can use labels to our advantage.

Overcoming Sports Injuries: A Mental Health Perspective

When injured, athletes often experience emotions such as anxiety, frustration, isolation, lack of motivation and identity loss. In my personal experience of long-term injury as a track athlete, I feel there is a lack of guidance and awareness around the psychological hardships of injury. So I’d like to shed some light on this tough period of time, and provide some top tips and alternative points of focus to help make the recovery process more manageable.

Hobbies: Why and how you should start one

“What’s your hobby?”, “Do you play any sports?”, “What do you get up to in your free time?” These are icebreaker questions that we often get asked when meeting new people and I’m sure I’m not the only one who struggles to find an answer. Find out why hobbies are important not only for giving us an answer to questions about what we got up to at the weekend, but have so many other benefits too!

Article, Practical AdviceMegan GambleJune 15, 2023Hobby, Hobbies, Play, Inner child, Interests, Finding hobbies

Become a part of the change: Help fight mental health stigma

In light of Mental Health Awareness Week, we want to highlight the mental health stigma that still exists and how you can play a part in the change to break it. We cover what it is, how it affects those suffering with mental health, what someone experiencing discrimination can do, and ways anyone can help reduce the stigma.

What are the benefits of journaling?

Journaling is essentially a written record of your thoughts, feelings, and ideas and can come in numerous forms including bullet journaling, artistic journaling, and gratitude journaling. Not only is journaling a versatile and accessible activity that can be tailored to each individual, but research has also found that frequent journaling can have a wide range of benefits. Read on to find out more!

8 Types of Journaling You Should Try

With the ever-evolving ways that you can journal, there is no single definition of what journaling is or one way that journaling should be done. For some, this might take a more creative form such as visual journals, whilst for others it might consist of simply putting pen to paper. Ultimately, there is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to journaling. So, in part 1 of our journaling blogs are 8 types of journaling that you could try!

Article, Practical AdviceMegan GambleMarch 23, 2023Journaling, Journalling, Free writing, Writing

The Dos and Don’ts of Supporting Someone Who is Grieving

Experiencing the loss of a loved one is often a daunting and confusing time involving feelings of helplessness and despair among others. Grief is not only an emotional roller-coaster for the person who has lost someone, but it is also greatly challenging for those around them. So, what might be helpful or unhelpful when considering ways we can support someone experiencing grief?

Article, Practical AdviceMegan GambleFebruary 16, 2023Mental Health, Grief, Bereavement, Giving Support

5 Tips for Effective Student Self-Care

As exam and deadlines season is just around the corner, student self-care becomes vital. The flexibility of being a student comes with a need to manage your own time and discipline yourself to complete all your academic work whilst also having the time to socialise. Some may not know how to discipline themselves or keep themselves accountable, whilst others may find it easy to overwork themselves as they’re not clocking in and out of an office at certain times each day for example. So, today’s article discusses 5 student self-care tips to ensure you’re taking care of yourself, and therefore making the most of your academic experience!

5 ways arts, crafts and creativity can benefit your mental health

Whilst the pandemic appears to be (touchwood) receding into the background, many of us may be beginning to take tentative steps back into the world of social interaction, whilst nurturing one’s mental health has become paramount during this time. Falling under a broad banner for anything ranging from music to sewing to knitting, learn how Nick has turned to arts and crafts activities to help him express his emotions, deal with stress, gain greater confidence, and develop his social connections!

Article, Practical AdviceMegan GambleDecember 8, 2022Arts and Crafts, Creativity, Art Therapy

Signs that you’re stressed (that you might not be aware of)

If you’re not always busy, then you must not be working hard enough. Does this thought sound familiar? If so, you’re certainly not alone. There seems to be a proliferation of the “always on” culture that has now become ‘the norm’ in our society. We may become accustomed to these hectic lifestyles, often forgetting to take a breather, and overlooking the signs of stress that our mind and body may be trying to communicate. So, what are some signs of stress that you may not be aware of?

Article, Practical AdviceMegan GambleNovember 24, 2022Stress, Burnout, Student Mental Health

5 Mental Health Benefits of Reading

Perhaps it is telling that in a world where the endless possibilities of technology are at our fingertips, some people may seek to kick-back and relax old-school style. Reading has many physical and mental health benefits that otherwise have been closed off to those whose work and free-time gravitates them towards screens. So whether or not you’ve made the jump back from the screen to the page, I hope to discuss the benefits that reading can have on your mental health!

Article, Practical AdviceMegan GambleOctober 27, 2022Reading, Mental Health, Bookworm

What You Need To Know About Student Accommodation

University student accommodation is the start to your journey of independence, and although this can be an empowering experience, it can be quite daunting living on your own, with a bunch of strangers for the first time. So, from loneliness to budgeting, what did the #Me community wish they had done differently, and what did they wish they had been told before moving?

Article, Practical AdviceMegan GambleSeptember 2, 2022Univeristy, Student Accomodation, Community

What is Endometriosis?

Did you know that endometriosis affects 1.5 million women and those assigned female at birth in the UK, similar to the number of those affected by diabetes or asthma? Despite it being such a common medical condition, there is very little education or awareness around it. Amber aims to raise awareness of this condition by discussing what exactly endometriosis is, and the common symptoms that those suffering from it may experience.

ArticleMegan GambleAugust 26, 2022Physical Health, Endometriosis, Mental Health

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