Ponderings on sobriety, neurodivergence, mental health & wellbeing
Welcome to my blog where I share reflections, hacks, some psychoeducation and tools for you to tap into.
The trap of knowing what you ‘should’ be doing
I wanted to share one of the main things that used to drive me mad when I was still drinking.
It was knowing exactly what I “should” be doing about drinking - and still not being able to do it.
You don't have to be the ‘A word’ to need help
Your own unhappiness with your drinking is enough. You can just realise it’s no longer working for you, and that’s a valid reason.
From ‘it’s a me problem’ – to understanding what your brain is up to!
One thing I hear over and over from clients is “everyone else can stop at two or three drinks, what’s wrong with me?”.
And I get that it’s tempting to think that there’s something fundamentally wrong with you.
After all, ‘why can’t I just’ is such a familiar internal narrative when you’ve got ADHD… we become world class experts at that game.
When the only way you know how to switch off is alcohol
Did last night end in a quick drink-or-three to decompress after a stressful day? No judgement here. That used to be me.
I hear this daily from single mums running on empty.
From high-fliers in careers that take everything they’ve got.
Accountability: the secret sauce in behaviour change?
Accountability. Does the word make you cringe? Instantly conjure up feelings of unwanted control or pressure?
If you’ve got a rebellious streak with a side of ADHD (ahem, guilty) then you probably really don’t like being told what to do and might already be side-eyeing me.
But the kind of accountability I’m talking about is different. And I’ve found it’s often the missing piece in making sustainable change including my own.
Why ‘just having one’ feels impossible with ADHD
If you've ever wondered why your relationship with alcohol feels harder than it seems to be for everyone else, it’s because with ADHD it is.
You’re not imagining it, you’re not making excuses, it is.
This makes ‘just having one’ often feel impossible. Here’s why and what to do.
What decades of brain imaging shows about the impact of alcohol on your brain
When drinking becomes a habit, the brain changes in measurable ways. For ADHDers, the stakes are even higher.
A 2019 major research review published in the Journal of Neuroscience Research pulled together decades of brain-imaging studies to show what actually happens in the brain when drinking becomes a struggle …
8 years alcohol-free!
8 years alcohol free - and the utter magnificence of neuroplasticity!
A quick reflection
When I started on this journey I could not imagine a time where it would not feel utterly impossible to experience…
HALT! and alcohol cravings
The H.A.L.T. method is simple, but powerful. It’s about pausing long enough to check in with yourself: Am I Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired?
These four states can quietly run the show if we don’t notice them — and they often explain why we make choices that don’t serve us. Here’s how it can help you with alcohol cravings.
Designing Your 2026: the simple process I use …
As we approach the end of another year, you might be feeling that familiar mix of relief, exhaustion, and perhaps a determination that next year is not going to be so ‘stressful’, ‘hectic’, ‘disorganised’ ……. (insert your relevant adjective here).
Wondering if you might be neurodivergent?
In my work as a counsellor and ADHD coach, I often meet people who have spent years wondering why they feel “different.”
Maybe you’ve always had a sense that you were out of step with others. Or maybe you’ve scrolled past a post or video about ADHD, autism, or another form of neurodivergence and thought, that sounds exactly like me.
The 10 Most Common Reasons ADHD clients tell me they drink
As a therapist and coach who works at the intersection of ADHD and grey area drinking, I hear a lot of the same stories from clients about why alcohol has become such a significant part of their lives. And for most of them? It’s not about celebration or fun. It’s about relief.
But here's what I want you to know: This is not a personal failing, it’s your ADHD.
Reflections from seven years alcohol-free!
Reflections from seven years sober/alcohol-free! Here’s what I’ve learnt along the way.
HALT! and other silly season survival tips
Learning to build a solid foundation within ourselves that is anchored in knowing these truths is, for so many of us, one of the hardest things we do in life. And this time of year – amongst the fun and festivities - can bring forth old family wounds, grief, loneliness, difficult relationships and exhaustion that make it even harder to stay grounded.
Exploring the pros and cons of Mental Health Care Plans
So, you've probably heard about GP Mental Health Care Plans (MHCPs; sometimes also referred to as MHTPs for ‘Treatment’) as a way to access mental health services more affordably. They're often the go-to from GPs when you're considering mental health treatment and the type of support/practitioner they refer them on to. However, like anything, they come with their own set of pros and cons.