#TheVulnerabilityChallenge Day 16 Never enough I’m not alone in being self-conscious of my appearance. By the age of 16, I was a size 8, or “far too skinny” and “barely eating” as my dad reminded me recently. I always thought I was too fat. Never skinny enough. Never pretty enough. Never tall enough, tanned enough or blonde […]
#TheVulnerabilityChallenge Day 15 When you don’t ask for what you need because you don’t want to inconvenience someone Asking for what you need really isn’t easy, and even more so when you feel that what you need isn’t fully understood by other people. One particular example for me is my need for an uncluttered environment. The […]
The Vulnerability Challenge Day 14 The distance between my brain and my mouth seems so much further than for other people… Something that always bothered me was the fact that I didn’t think very quickly. If I was put on the spot I would completely freeze at times. It’s like the distance between my brain […]
#TheVulnerabilityChallenge Day 13 I’m just a drop in the ocean, but look at the ripple effect one drop can make… I’m continuing to share my stories more and more publicly, and I’m helping others to do this too. This is Jenny and Tony from BBC Spotlight. Today, myself and three ladies from our speaking club met with […]
#TheVulnerabilityChallenge Day 12 Letting go of being cool I don’t know many people who get on the same level as the local wildlife and talk to them as if they understand what they’re saying. I do. And I love it when I’m with someone who will crouch down next to me and appreciate the beauty of […]
#TheVulnerabilityChallenge Day 11 How one shared story can create vulnerability in a whole family I’m feeling really vulnerable as I’m sharing my stories. I know that this is natural and what I really want is to let you to know that this is what’s going on for me. I know it’s not always clear from the […]
#TheVulnerabilityChallenge Day 10 The habit of sabotaging relationships When you’re feeling socially anxious, you can make irrational decisions, behave in odd ways and say strange and hurtful things. We don’t always realise it when we’re in that state of anxiety. We don’t really have that awareness of how our behaviour impacts other people. We can be […]
#TheVulnerabilityChallenge Day 9 Suicide is not a selfish act [Trigger Warning: Suicide] If you’ve been affected by this, please use your best judgement as to whether it would be wise or unhelpful for you to watch this video or read further. In this video I’m talking about a misconception about suicide: that suicide is selfish. During […]
#TheVulnerabilityChallenge Day 8 Quiet refusal is still a refusal. [Trigger Warning: Rape] If you’ve been affected by this, please use your best judgement as to whether it would be wise or unhelpful for you to watch this video or read further. Obviously, I won’t go into detail here, but I know seeing the emotion someone else […]
#TheVulnerabilityChallenge Day 7 Anxious behind the wheel Women drivers parking ‘Women drivers’. I hate that stereotype. Probably because it hurts me a little bit. You’re talking about me! I’m at my most anxious when I’m behind the wheel these days. Normal driving, A to B, I can do first fine. Parking? Not so good. I still […]
#TheVulnerabilityChallenge Day 6 When feeling socially anxious impacts on your physical health too Exercise and fitness has been a huge trigger for me over the years. Comparison and fear of judgement has kept me from improving my fitness in the way I wanted. I HATED P.E when I was at school. Sometimes I would hide in the […]
#TheVulnerabilityChallenge Day 5 The vulnerability in blushing I’ve always been someone who blushes. I would go bright red in the face and come up in a blotchy red rash on my chest in any situation where I would be noticed and even where I thought about being in uncomfortable situations – not just during presentations! It could […]