Equilibrium Magazine Issue 49 - Summer 2013

MAGAZINE FOR WELLBEING
SUMMER ISSUE 49
2013
SUMMER
ISSUE 49
>> Compassionate Living
>> Wellbeing & Me
>> Arts & Reviews
>> Healthy Living Tips
>> Exercise & Social Phobia
>> TOP 10 Portrayals of Mental Illness
>> News, Reviews & Opinions
Equilibrium Patron
Dr Liz Miller
Mind Champion 2008
Front cover:
Vinay Patel
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editorial
Through sunshine and storms, the editorial team here at Equilibrium have been working hard to
put this issue together and we hope you enjoy it. Packed full of the usual news, reviews and opinion pieces, we’d again like to thank our guest contributors and photographers - do keep sending
us your fantastic work! We’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue, so go ahead and tweet us
at @teamequilibrium. And if you’d like to join the team, contribute an article or picture, or find out
more, please do get in touch via [email protected]. Have a lovely summer!
Kate, Editor/Team Facilitator
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the team
Facilitator/ Editor: Kate Massey-Chase. Editorial team: Pumla
Kisosonkole, Angela, Dev Chatterjea, Ian Stewart
Graphic design: Anthony Parké.
contact us
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contributions
Wanted: contributions to Equilibrium! Please email us with
your news, views, poems, photos, plus articles. Anonymity
guaranteed if required.
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Image: http://mikeswalkers.com
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Summer/ Issue 38
Healthy Living Tips
Wellbeing advice crops up all the time in the media, and magazines abound in it. One I
was handed from Glamour, entitled “50 Genius Tweaks for a better you”, may provide a
little light reading for those interested in getting more out of life. Here’s a small selection of
their suggestions:
Saying ‘No’ seven times a day can give you back an hour a day to yourself.
According to a study, pets can lower your blood pressure and cholesterol.
You can treat anxiety naturally with an amino acid called L-Theanine which has the
effect of relaxing you.
Quit Smoking – Eat Veg. A medical journal found that smokers who ate 4 portions
of veg a day had better chance of staying smoke free for a year. Apparently veg
curbs your craving by making cigarettes taste bad.
Try whey protein as “the unsung hero of morning meals”. Added to porridge, yogurt
or a smoothie, it helps you stay full till lunchtime.
Cinnamon regulates blood sugar levels to control hunger.
Open University researchers found that flicking through old photos boosts your
mood, even more than music, tv, alcohol or chocolate.
Count your thoughts when your mind is racing.
A lack of face to face relationships is the biggest cause of depression, says a
Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health, so talk to someone after every
social media session.
If you have any more health or lifestyle tips, why not send them in to Equilibrium?
Marco Lanzarote.
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CoolTan Arts
Largactyl Shuffle
Summer Solstice Midnight Walk 2013
Review: by Tim Russell
More than 100 Largactyl Shufflers gathered
After leaving the roundabout it was a short
for our Midnight Summer Solstice walk on the
walk to the Heygate, where we learnt about
evening of June 22, when we walked from
the history of the estate and its controversial
Tate Modern to Maudsley Hospital, and learnt
current redevelopment, before a quick rest
about the ‘Mad Buildings’ of Southwark!
at CoolTan Arts for coffee and cakes. As the
light began slowly to return, we continued our
Our first stop was at the gates of the Cross-
walk down Walworth Road and headed to
bones Cemetery on Redcross Way. After
Camberwell Green, where we arrived at our
hearing a talk about its history as an unconse-
very own CoolTan Arts Bench and gingko tree.
crated burial site and memorial to sex workers,
Here we heard about the history and mean-
we moved on to the Borough and the former
ing of the Summer Solstice, before lighting
site of the Marshalsea prison, an infamous jail
candles around the bench.
where Dickens’ father was once imprisoned.
There was one more stop for talks at the oppo-
From the Borough, we headed on down to
site end of the Green, where we learnt about
the Elephant and Castle roundabout and
the history of Camberwell House Asylum and
gathered in the centre, next to the colourful
Bethlem Hospital, before finally finishing the
lights by the Faraday Memorial, to hear a talk
walk at Maudsley Hospital for a much needed
on night walking. Charles Dickens, who was a
sit-down and hot drinks.
prolific night walker, often passed this very spot
Well done everybody that bravely took part,
on his way to Rochester.
and we hope to see you again next year!
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Summer/ Issue 38
TOP 10
PORTRAYALS OF
MENTAL ILLNESS IN… Books
1. Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath (1963)
Famous writer and poet Plath’s only novel,
it is often seen as a roman à clef (French for
“novel with a key”, a novel about real life,
overlaid with a façade of fiction) with the
protagonist’s painful battle with mental illness
paralleling Plath’s own experiences of severe
depression.
2. Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger
(1951)
Filled with themes of teenage angst, rebellion
and alienation, this is bucket-list book.
3. Spider, Patrick McGrath (1990)
A compelling read, with haunting prose,
Spider is the story of Dennis Cleg, and draws
you into his psychotic and paranoid visions
and memories of the world unremittingly.
Made into an excellent film with Ralph Fiennes
and Miranda Richardson.
4. Regeneration, Pat Barker (1991)
Part of a fantastic trilogy on the First World War,
the novel is inspired by the real-life experiences of army officers being treated for shell
hock and PTSD at Craiglockhart Was Hospital
in Edinburgh, and features poets Siegfried
Sassoon, Robert Graves and Wilfred Owen.
5. Affinity, Sarah Waters (1999)
One of my favourite novels to date, the
protagonist’s voice so clearly articulates how it
feels to be powerless and battling with yourself.
6. About a Boy, Nick Hornby (1998)
Best known as a film released in 2002, About
a Boy not only includes the character Fiona,
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
struggling with her own demons, but also
Clive, Marcus’ father, questioning the meaning
of life, and a whole host of characters questioning their place in the world.
7. Her Fearful Symmetry, Audrey
Niffinger
Not only deals with grief, but also features a
character whose OCD is so severe that life has
become intolerable.
8. The Illustrated Mum, Jacqueline
Wilson (1999)
Although she writes children’s books – like
all good authors for the genre – that doesn’t
mean Wilson’s books lack gritty realism, tackling a wide range of issues (also see Girls
Under Pressure for a fantastic exploration of
eating disorders). In this story it is Dolphin’s
life with her bipolar mum, Marigold, which we
follow, including her traumatic breakdown
and hospitalisation.
9. Perks of Being a Wallflower,
Stephen Chbosky (1999)
Depicting battles with suicide, schizophrenia and adolescent sexuality, this was also
adapted into a successful film with Chbosky
as director in 2012.
10. Hamlet, William Shakespeare
(1601)
Cheating slightly, as this is a play not a novel,
but since it includes the most famous of all
literary and psychological questions I thought
it needed to join the list. To be or not to be,
that is the question.
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Summer/ Issue 38
Compassionate
Living,
with Karen Armstrong
Kate Massey-Chase
S
itting in the marvelous Conway Hall on
Now, you’ll have to excuse my schoolgirl
18th April 2013, I attended my second
knowledge of science (blame me not Karen
Action for Happiness lecture of the
Armstrong if this isn’t right!), but she essen-
year (see the Spring issue of Equilibrium for
tially explained how the reptilian brain is the
my write-up of my evening with Jon Kabat-
one that is egocentric: all about me; it is only
Zinn), this time to see the magnificent Karen
concerned with the four ‘F’s – fighting, flee-
Armstrong. Introduced by Mark Williamson
ing, feeding and…reproduction(!), and was
and Lord Richard Leyhard, Armstrong’s
not designed for an age of plenty. Next we
lecture provided a historical, theologi-
have the mammalian bit of the brain, which
cal, scientific and cultural exploration of
came next and developed in line with these
compassion and its fundamental impor-
creatures’ new needs. So, whereas reptiles
tance to our world.
laid eggs, which they could then abandon, mammals give birth and care for their
Armstrong explained how liberty and the
young, and they started to learn that they
pursuit of happiness are a modern ideal,
were stronger as a group. Thus we can see
and how happiness often gets confused
the need for compassion starting to creep
with emotions like tiredness, hunger, and
into the evolutionary process. The last brain-
hormones. In an oxymoronic world of ‘must-
section (I have no idea what to call it!) in
have accessories’ and post-modern pres-
Armstrong’s codification of the brain is the
sures, happiness has become something
neo-cortex, the newest part, wherein we
actively sought, yet still elusive; it is a mirage
find the ability for rational thinking, where we
on the horizon.
can stand back from our instinctive drives.
She also posited a very sobering idea that,
Armstrong contextualized her ideas on
historically, the worst human atrocities – such
compassion with a scientific breakdown
as Auschwitz and 9/11 – happen when the
of the human brain’s different parts: the
first and third brains (base instinct and objec-
reptilian brain (the deepest and oldest),
tive thought: what do we want and how
the mammalian brain, and the neo-cortex.
can we do it most effectively) are used withcont.
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out the second: compassion for another’s
not encompass the crucial question: but
suffering.
would they want to? It takes a constant
effort of imagination to put yourself in other
Armstrong suggested that we need to think
people’s shoes, but is all part of compas-
globally if we want to be happy, that the
sionate living (and why I think Drama –
trick is ‘to live with suffering’, kindly, crea-
active empathy! – should be recognised as
tively and peacefully. If we are caught
an important part of the National Curricu-
up in the endless prism/prison of the self,
lum – but I’ll save that article for another
preoccupied with our own thoughts,
time).
feelings and small lives we can never
be happy. Happiness, with the essential
component of compassion, comes from
‘dethroning yourself from the centre of your
world and putting another there’. Author
of A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of
Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Armstrong
also brought theology into the debate,
reminding the audience that the ‘Golden
Rule’ of all religions and ethical traditions
is to treat others as you would like to be
treated.
In her new book, ‘12 Steps to a Compassionate Life’, she suggests that we exercise
compassion through remembering our own
pain and refusing to inflict it on others, that
Her allusion to the ‘12 Steps’, commonly
associated with recovery from addiction, is
no coincidence, as Armstrong suggested
that we are addicted to our likes and
dislikes, to our need to compare, to bitch
even, and to say things like ‘the trouble
with her is...’ – trying to ‘sum up the mystery
of a person in a single phrase’. It makes us
small, narrows our horizons, and does nothing to aid our own happiness. We need to
let go of our opinions and take responsibility for the world’s pain. The pain ‘needs
to break our heart, so we reach out into
the world in compassion’. This sat slightly
uncomfortably with me, as I just feel that
we use our own feelings as a guide. This
there is simply too much pain in the world
doesn’t mean that we literally treat others
for me to take on – how could I even proc-
as we would like them to respond to us, as
ess it and, if I did, how would my heart
it is far more nuanced than that; we need
ever recover? But I can do my best, and I
to use our knowledge of that person as
will sign up to her Charter for Compassion
well, and not assume that their desires and
(http://charterforcompassion.org/) as I do
responses would mirror ours. For example,
believe we need to make compassion ‘a
the sentence, ‘Well, I would have wanted
clear, luminous and dynamic force in our
to know’ encapsulates this, as it does
polarized world’. Will you do the same?
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Summer/ Issue 38
TOP 10
PORTRAYALS OF
MENTAL ILLNESS IN… Films
1. Girl, Interrupted (1999)
6. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Although these lists aren’t compiled in hierarchical
I definitely watched this film when I was too young,
order, this will always be No.1 for me. With an Oscar
and maybe why that’s why it’s always stayed with me.
winning performance from Angelina Jolie, and starring
More likely, however, is that is a truly haunting film,
an excellent Winona Ryder as the lead (with fantastic
with some mind-blowing acting, particularly from a
supporting turns, including a psychiatric nurse played
by Whoppi Goldberg), this is an unforgettable film,
set in an American psychiatric hospital in the 1960s.
Haunting, very moving, and with an abundance of
rich characters and a compelling narrative, this is a
nuanced exploration of psychiatry, the ‘60s, and the
role of friendship in self-discovery.
2. The Hours (2002)
Inspired by the Modernist classic Mrs Dalloway, this
film charts three women’s journeys: Woolf’s own (into
young Leonardo DiCaprio, whose performance of a
boy with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties
is mind-blowing. Also covering depression leading
to morbid obesity, suicide and a catalogue of other
challenges, this film could earn a place on a whole
range of ‘Top 10’ lists.
7. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
My old housemate said to me, ‘I think you’ll like this
film; it’s really good and about mentals’. Thanks. But
a river, with stones in her pockets), a ‘50s housewife
it is very good (and, yes, about someone who’s been
reading the novel, and a contemporary Mrs Dalloway,
hospitalised for bipolar) – touching, funny and tender.
buying flowers for a party. Adapted from Michael
Cunningham’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, the film has
8. Melancholia (2011)
an all-star cast and is beautifully shot, drawing on time-
Fear. Family. A wedding. The imminent end of the
less themes of sexuality, womanhood and loneliness.
world. Kirsten Dunst’s portrayal of a woman trying to
3. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
(1975)
The list wouldn’t be complete without this seminal film,
starring Jack Nicholson. If you haven’t seen it: watch
it. ‘Nuff said.
4. Nowhere Boy (2009)
Looking at the early years of John Lennon’s life, Kristen
Scott-Thomas’s performance of Lennon’s mother realistically captures the highs and lows, joy and despair,
of a rollercoaster through bipolar episodes.
5. Running with Scissors (2006)
Based on a true story, this is an entertaining and
shocking look at one boy’s story after being moved
be happy for everyone else, whilst drowning in silent
despair, will strike a chord with many.
9. Sylvia (2003)
This film tells the story of the ill-fated relationship
between poets Sylvia Plath (the archetype of the
tortured artist) and Ted Hughes.
‘Sometimes I dream the tree, and the tree is my life.
One branch is the man I shall marry, and the leaves
my children. Another branch is my future as a writer,
and each leaf is a poem. Another branch is a good
academic career. But as I sit there trying to choose,
the leaves begin to turn brown and blow away, until
the tree is absolutely bare.’
in with his mother’s therapist, Dr Finch – a house with
10. Donnie Darko (2001)
a distinctly ‘alternative’ approach to dealing with
Watch out for the rabbit, and wait while your mind
mental illness and trauma.
slowly implodes.
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Kate Hits the Lakes
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IMAGES BY: Kate Massey-Chase
Summer/ Issue 38
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
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TOP 10
PORTRAYALS OF
MENTAL ILLNESS IN… Songs
1. Black-Eyed Dog – Nick Drake
The ‘black dog’ is a famous metaphor for
depression (famously used by Winston Churchill), and Nick Drake draws on this metaphor in
his melodic masterpiece. Haunting strings and a
soulful voice.
2. I See a Darkness – Bonnie ‘Prince’
Billy
Covered by the legend that is Johnny Cash, I still
prefer Will Oldham’s original. I don’t know how
to describe this song or the significance it has for
me. ‘My best unbeaten brother[s]’, please listen
to this song. Turn the light off, press play and feel
your spirit moved.
3. Where Is My Mind? – Pixies
‘With your feet in the air and your head on the
ground’…
4. Glittering Cloud, Imogen Heap
From an album inspired by the Biblical Plagues,
Heap’s glittering cloud of locusts appears to be
her own self-destruction, an impulse she can’t
control: ‘I’m not always like this, it’s something
I become’. She pleads: ‘Save me from my self,
before I hurt somebody else again’.
5. Hope There’s Someone, Anthony
and the Johnsons
Anthony’s voice carries an overwhelming mix of
both great beauty and great pain. Listen and feel
your heart break into pieces and then be stuck
Photo: Anthony
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back together with lyrical swoops that remind
you that you are not the only one who has ever
been there.
6. Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd
The sirens, the echoes, the synthesizers, the
guitar solo, and the LYRICS: ‘I can’t explain/You
would not understand/ This is not how I am/ I
have become comfortably numb’. I quite like the
Scissor Sister’s dance tune cover, and the upbeat
tempo provides an interesting contrast to the
lyrics. Still, you can’t beat Pink Floyd’s original,
fusing big guitars with big emotions.
7. These Are Your Friends, Adem
‘Everybody needs some help sometimes’. True
dat.
8. Sleep the Clock Around, Belle &
Sebastian
‘And the moment will come when composure
returns’. But until then, we can listen to Belle &
Sebastian’s marvelous story-songs.
9. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – Rolling Stones
A classic song, which could easily be about clinical depression. For a more soulful version, check
out Cat Power’s cover.
10. I Don’t Like Mondays – Boomtown
Rats
Who does?
Summer/ Issue 38
Wellbeing & Me
Maria Dooney-Jones
“Our happiness has little
to do with our absolute
conditions, but of how we
perceive our situation and
how satisfied we are with
what we have”
“Our feelings of contentment are strongly influenced by our tendency to
compare”.
Throughout the rest of the
week, not much changed. I
knew and understood what
A
he had said but couldn’t bring myself to
made me give it a go, but one thing I do
me, until I did it: I slowly started to look at
few weeks ago I asked for the book
‘The Art of Happiness by the Dalai
Lama’ from my brother. I’m not sure what
do something about it. Moreover, my wellbeing seemed to be crumbling around
know is that I’m glad I did! At the time I had
things differently. When I felt envious of a
been going through what felt like a lot;
classmate, instead of brooding about it for
really it was just a mixture of stress, exhaus-
the rest of the day, I simply thought about
tion and hormones. However, this book
it differently, putting me in a happy mood
helped me in more ways than I knew it
again.
could.
At first I was apprehensive and didn’t put
much faith into the book, yet, over time, I
noticed how much sense it all made! The
Dalai Lama talked about so many things,
but these few snippets from the book are
I am now so much happier; I feel like myself
again and it’s got a lot to do with this book.
Although I must admit that I find it hard
to get off the laptop and read it, when I
do, I feel it’s been so worth it. My wellbeing was completely in my hands and it still
the ones that helped me the most:
is. As soon as I changed the way I looked
“Happiness is determined more by one’s
at things my situation seemed to change
state of mind than by external events”
completely too.
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The South Bank Festival
Dev
T
he South Bank is based in an area of
area, as I ended up at the foot of a large
Central London, located immediately
white bridge which was close to the
adjacent to the south bank of the River
Embankment tube station. As I crossed over
Thames. As an area the South Bank is
I was taken aback by the view and the train
famous as a cultural hub; it is full of anything
thundering by at full speed.
to do with the arts or any creativity.
The area is full of activity and liveliness.
I stumbled on this place when I was
Each section of the area is split into differ-
wondering around the Trafalgar Square
ent activities. There are sites full of enter-
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Summer/ Issue 38
tainment, and food and drink areas
The other act was of a man creating
(although some are quite expensive).
triangle, square and star shaped bubbles
You could say they tend to intermix. The
and they were large, at least four foot.
Entertainment area allows people to
This intrigued the children whilst covering
perform (street performers). One group
them in a large bubble.
I came across was two men perform
the YMCA and other songs whilst danc-
Alongside all these entertainments are
ing with masks of famous people doing
the Royal Festival Hall, British Film Institute,
that song (imostly that don’t fit the song).
galleries, theatres, restaurants, shops,
As I continued to walk along I came
some strange art works, the BMX bike
across a person dressed in bronze on
track, and the ‘Udderbelly’, another
a throne and with a stick; as I looked
entertainment area.
further it seemed the person had no
head! Thinking I was seeing things, I auto-
The south bank art gallery was full of
matically rubbed my eyes and looked
unique art pieces like book mazes and
again. During this time a young boy
floating instruments among photos and
walked up with his mother, touching the
sculptures. Along the riverbank was a
bronze person. As he did that the bronze
string of window frames dangling side-
person’s head popped up, causing them
ways, upside down. It was rather odd
to scream and laugh. I must admit, it was
seeing them.
pretty funny.
On my way back, I came across the
Another act that I came across was a
Udderbelly entertainment area. This
woman dressed as an animal in a rather
consisted of a drinks, food, and play
small basket on a table. Her face was
area with a building that was of an
like a young badger and you could only
upside down purple cow with underbelly
see the head and the front legs. Every
t-shirts.
time someone got near her she would
sound like a baby. This, as you probably
guessed, drew some people, and their
money, to her.
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
I would recommend a visit to the Southbank this summer, as there are lots of
things going on.
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Image: Vinay Patel
Tired of London?
Katie Brennan
W
hen I first moved to London, I have
a parent, I look to it for inspiration and
to admit, I didn’t get it. London
learn something new about life from it
felt like a big in-joke that I wasn’t in on,
everyday.
no matter how hard I tried. I persevered
This love takes work, loving this
though, and grew to love this city with a
geographical lump of little boroughs and
fluctuating, ever-changing love. Some-
teeming wreaths of people does not go
times I love it like a lover, it makes my
without some toil. So for me, what makes
heart beat and butterflies dance around
London good? Well, these thing for starters:
my stomach as I grin in wonder at how
The blue whale at the natural history
lucky I am to live here. Sometimes I love
museum (though this might be less to do
it like a sibling- it drives me absolutely
with the whale and more for my general
mental and I want to give it a dead
love of things that are MASSIVE or TINY.
leg, but I know deep down that I love it
Like, I love it when fruit is the wrong size.
unconditionally. Sometimes I love it like
I had some blackberries the other week
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Summer/ Issue 38
that were as nearly as big as my palm. THE
l The jewellery room at the V & A. I feel like
GASTON OF BLACKBERRIES. Mind-Blowing.*)
I’m in the Cave of Wonders from ‘Aladdin’.
Except there’s no sand guy who gets well
l Walking over the bridges and staring down
moody when you wake him up.
the Thames. (And inevitably instagramming
l Feeling like a don when you see someone
it. Please see below as a reference point.) In
try and feed their oyster card into the ticket
whatever weather, from angry black clouds
slot on the tube barriers. Hahahhaahaha
to (rare) blazing sunshine, this is always impres-
London-Muggles: they don’t get it.
sive and lung-fillingly brill.
l The tube map and all it’s wonderful reincar-
l Watching the kids run in and out of the
nations. Clever people.
fountain that appears every Summer outside
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/
the Southbank Centre. The way they scream
travelnews/6219582/The-best-London-Under-
in delight as the jets fire up from the ground
ground-Tube-map-pastiches.html
and grandparents round the edges roll their
l Eating at places that aren’t Pizza Express/
eyes tutting amongst themselves, ‘We haven’t
Cafe Rouge/Nandos/Wagamamas (but also
got a towel…’ makes me chuckle.
knowing that these places are around most
l Fragazines. Stylist and Timeout and Evening
corners if you JUST REALLY WANT A POLLO AD
Standard on a Friday oh my.
ASTRA OKAY?)
l The man who sells fruit outside Holborn
l Topshop flagship. I think it might be bigger
tube station. I’ve spoken previously about his
than Russia. Poor unsuspecting Males have
talents, but also, his ability to shout his head
died in there.
off in (often incomprehensible) cockney for
l Hackney City Farm. SHEEPS IN THE CITY. And
hours every day shows a vocal technique that
one time I went there, they were having a
as an actor, frankly, I’m deeply jealous of.
whole day’s festival celebrating the humble
l Empty tube carriages. I do a little sing when
apple. Seriously. The apple.
I get one. I’m Beyonce on the Jubilee line,
l Reading old stuff like Dickens and Resto-
Judy on the Piccadilly and Tom Jones on the
ration Comedies and knowing the specific
Northern.
places where they’re set. Covent Garden has
l ‘Waterloo Sunset’ by the Kinks. Gawd Bless
been cool for blooming ages.
Terry and Julie and the young London love
l Cockfosters. hahahahahahahahahahahaha-
they stand as a symbol for. Particularly this
hahaahhahahahahahahahaha. Samuel Jonson
version of it by the brilliant Joe Stilgoe:http://
famously said of London, ‘When a man is tired of
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKnAFRzmppc
London, he is tired of life’, but personally I think it
Pearly Kings and Queens. (I REALLY WANT TO
should be amended to, ‘When a man is tired of
BE ONE THAT OUTFIT IS SO DOPE)
laughing at Cockfosters, he is tired of life.’
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l Street names like: Laycock Street,
mini waistcoat at a wedding disco. (Again,
Cumming Street and Mincing Alley. More
this point might have something to do with
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaa
my love of things that are bigger than they
(oh my god I really want to do a pub crawl
should be.)
of these places. WHO’S WITH ME?)
l When the sun pounds the pavement and
l You can literally wear what the devil you
the buildings glint and wink at each other,
like and no-one bats an eyelid.
and Londoners occasionally smile a half
l Drinking in pubs that are older than
smile at strangers and it just seems like the
America.
best place in the world.
Of course, there’s all the normal things
that make London the best. Free museums, thriving theatre scene, Pride, Notting
Hill Carnival, Buck Pal, the parks, but the
things above are just a handful of things
that for me, are why this city is literally the
best thing since they sliced up a batch of
Hovis’s finest. What are yours?
https://bloodyhellbrennan.wordpress.com
Twitter: @katie_brennan
l Falling in love on the tube. the other
day I had a full blown relationship with a
*For those who are dying to know, here’s a
man on the Piccadilly Line between Fins-
picture of the KING KONG of blackberries.
bury Park and Leicester Sq, where we met
Enjoy.
on the tube, fell in love, gadded around
London like urban spring chickens, then got
married in Westminster Abbey and Alan
Carr was my maid of honour. that’s normal
right?! GUYS?!
l Feeling like a king when you know which
tube lines pass through which stations without having to consult the tube map app.
l The southbound platform at Angel. IT’S
SO MASSIVE. I always want to skid down it
on my knees like a naughty little lad in a
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Summer/ Issue 38
NHS visits the Clarendon Day Centre
Two nurses visited the
Clarendon Day Centre
this week to do medical
health checks. They were
looking closely at blood
sugar levels and cholesterol, as it was specifically a
cardiovascular check. They
weighed me and measured my height.
They did a finger prick
blood test for sugar levels.
I have family members
who have diabetes, so
mine was a little high. It’s
therefore best for me to
have a healthy diet. The
finger prick test was also to
examine cholesterol. They
discovered that my ‘good
cholesterol’ was too low,
so I have to increase it by eating foods like avocado, salmon and walnuts.
These health checks are for people who are residents in Haringey and who also have
a G.P. in Haringey. The results are sent to the G.P, and the nurse has encouraged me
to book an appointment to discuss it. I am glad that I had the test because I found
out things that I did not know about.
Angela
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“EXERCISING” YOUR SOCIAL ANXIETY DEMONS
Lando Hilton
W
hilst doing my dissertation as a
persistent dread of social situations in which
Psychology undergrad, I believed
rejection or embarrassment may occur.
myself to be the world’s leading
This fear can be so intense that it interferes
expert on the topic of physical activity and
with everyday life, preventing people from
social phobia. I now realise that I was no
performing even the most basic tasks.
expert, but I did get a 2:1 for that dissertation
At worst, social phobia can cause a person
so I must have done something right.
to become a total recluse, too scared to
even leave the house. There are also more
Social phobia is one of the most common
mild forms, which, while not ruining one’s
anxiety disorders. It is characterised by a
social life entirely, may compromise it some-
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what. For example, someone may feel a
also releases serotonin, which is most famous
need to drink alcohol before a party, or place
for being a “happy hormone”. Serotonin does
restrictions on the amount of time spent in
indeed help regulate mood; it also controls
others’ company.
anxiety levels. Thus the very same exerciseinduced chemicals that help to alleviate
As is the case with most mental disorders,
depression will also reduce anxiety.
social phobia is thought to be caused by a
combination of genetic and environmental
Second is body mass index (BMI). There is a
factors. Thus medical treatment often entails
large body (excuse the pun) of research on
drugs (benzodiazepines or SSRIs) and psycho-
how anxiety disorders are significantly more
therapy. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
prevalent in overweight and obese people
has been shown to be effective in treating
than in people whose BMIs are normal. Many
social phobia, as irrational, negative thoughts
explanations have been proposed for the
such as “everybody’s watching me!” or “I
link between BMI and mental illness. The one
know I’ll say something stupid!” seem to have
relevant to this article is that “being over-
a lot to do with the disorder.
weight leads to social ostracism and bullying”
– experiences which do no favours for ye olde
Now, there is a growing trend for doctors to
mental health. Exercise, as we all know, helps
prescribe, along with pills, “regular physical
to maintain a healthy BMI, thus preventing
activity” to the depressed and the anxious.
those nasty “Hey Fatty” jokes, which decrease
“Take one of these three times a day with food
the ego and lead to social phobia. Unfortu-
AAAAAAND get plenty of fresh air and exer-
nately my dissertation participants all selfishly
cise.”
decided to have normal BMIs, so I was unable
to make a comparison between normal and
One may think that is just something that
overweight categories in terms of social anxi-
doctors say, you know, a generic cure-all that
ety levels.
they throw at everybody. However, there is
a multitude of ways in which regular physical
Thirdly, and related to the above, is something
activity can indeed help with social anxiety.
called “Physical Self-Concept”. Overall self-es-
First (and perhaps most obvious): the chemi-
teem comprises several different aspects: the
cals. Cardiovascular exercise in particular
mental self, the social self and so on. Physical
releases those lovely feel-good endorphins, as
self-concept pertains to how one feels about
well as decreasing stress hormones. Exercise
one’s body. To measure this, my participants
cont.
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had to rate how much they agreed or disagreed with statements such as “I feel that I
am strong” or “I am ugly”.
Sadly, the body is the means by which many
of us are judged, with it being the one part
of us that is tangible. Some argue that physical self-concept is the most important part
of overall self-esteem. I’m not sure I agree
with this, as I know people who are hideous
yet confident, but...
I found that participants who did high
amounts of exercise had a better physical
self-concept than those who did moderate or low amounts. In addition, those in the
“high” exercise category had the lowest
levels of social phobia. Thus it seems that
exercise improves our opinions of our own
bodies, which in turn makes us more socially
confident. I’ve certainly felt better about the
way I look since taking up weight training.
In addition other, non-physical aspects of
self-esteem can be improved by the sense
of accomplishment that exercise provides.
Achieving a goal like running a 10k is always
good for the ego.
A fourth and final way in which exercise can
reduce social anxiety is simply this: it gets us
out of the house. People with social phobia
who stay indoors for too long can sometimes
reach a stage where they’re too scared
to go out at all. Regular jogging or trips to
the gym can prevent this vicious cycle from
forming.
So remember: “fresh air and exercise” is not
just a string of empty words. It could be the
very lifestyle change that lifts you from the
rut of social phobia, bringing the chemical
and psychological changes that you need.
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Summer/ Issue 38
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
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Vinay Patel
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NLP & THE MECHANISMS
OF THE MIND
Nigel Prestatyn
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Summer/ Issue 38
R
ecently I’ve been using various proc-
So NLP believes that we do not have to
esses for coping with the stresses and
accept who we are, how we behave, or
strains of day to day living, called NLP –
what we believe. We can reprogramme
Neuro (the mind), Linguistic (the language
ourselves such that we can live in a
used to understand particular processes of
completely new way, as long as it doesn’t
the mind), and Programming (the process
conflict with our current set of morals.
of removing/adding belief systems in the
mind).
But where do these belief systems reside?
The fear appears in the conscious part of
Part of the theory is that we have from our
Jane’s mind, but it has been imbedded in
earliest years been inculcated by those
the unconscious part of her mind. All of our
around us with negative beliefs, that many
habits and beliefs are rooted in the uncon-
of our belief systems have been founded
scious, therefore a language is required
on false assumptions. For example:
that can access these beliefs. We can tell
our conscious mind a thousand times that
Jane’s mother was petrified of dogs. When
it is irrational to be afraid of dogs, but while
Jane was growing up she watched her
the unconscious mind still believes it, noth-
mother run in fear of every dog she saw.
ing will change.
Jane began to believe that dogs were
something to be feared. And naturally
The human mind is said to be made up
Jane grows up with a phobia of dogs. Now
of 10% conscious activity, 90% uncon-
Jane may not even remember her mother
scious activity. To be able to access this
being afraid of dogs. As a result she may
90% of our minds would be to access an
not understand why she is afraid of dogs.
extremely resourceful part of our minds.
But this has now become a negative belief
NLP believes it has the necessary tools for
system which blights her life. As simply as
unleashing this potential.
it was for Jane to be ‘programmed’ in her
early life, so can it be that Jane can simply
So what NLP processes could Jane use.
be ‘unprogrammed’ - by herself.
First we need to understand how negative
cont.
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beliefs exist in our minds. Imagine your first
Now every time she nears a dog, rather than
car. Picture your favourite food. It could be
the horror film beginning to run, the newly
that you picture a colour, a blue car say, or
created film runs. In order for this film to run
the spicy smells of a pizza. The point being
Jane would have to reprogramme her uncon-
that our fears our made up by the way we
scious mind to trigger a new set of beliefs. So
‘picture’ them.
to use NLP terminology she would need an
‘anchor’ to trigger this new film to start.
Now Jane’s irrational fear of dogs might
include an image in her head of large dog,
As mentioned, I attended a two day semi-
teeth gnashing, whites of eyes flaring up,
nar on NLP and one of the speakers, an
loud maniacal barking, the increasing size of
extremely accomplished professional Master
the dog as it nears. Now this is like a film that
Practitioner spoke about how he fell into
Jane runs in her head each time she nears
a deep depression. For all his experience,
a dog. This film has been programmed in.
life got the better of him - for a while at
If I ran this film every time I saw a dog, I too
least. He’d reached absolute rock bottom,
would be petrified of dogs.
where life lost its meaning. With all his skills
he couldn’t extract himself from his suffer-
But if Jane were to imagine that she were the
ing. I think this is worth bearing in mind. You
director of this film, she could change it in a
never know when Life’s going to hit you, and
fundamental way. Now in order to decrease
just how it will. Another way of viewing it is
the fear she has, the film might have to
he obviously had the skills to ultimately find
change dramatically. Rather than picture
a way out. He found a scrap of paper and
the dog as just mentioned, she could rather
wrote all his achievements down and this
begin to reduce the image of the dog so it is
began to loosen his depression and start the
a tiny image, almost like a puppy; she could
long process of change.
see it as a black and white image rather than
a brilliant bright emotionally-charged colour
What I can say with all confidence is that I
image, she could see it as chasing its own
have used many of these techniques and
tail, licking her face, or that rather than bark
have always found them to be extremely
it squeaks.
beneficial.
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Summer/ Issue 38
TOP 10
PORTRAYALS OF
MENTAL ILLNESS IN… TV Shows
1. Homeland
6. Skins
Claire Danes reminded us all why we love her
with her portrayal of lead character Carrie, who
has bipolar. The best thing about this show is that
Carrie’s mental health is not the central focus, as
often happens when TV shows feature a lead with
a mental health problem, and I hope marks an
important leap in the media’s portrayal of mental
ill health.
With controversial storylines in abundance, Skins
has not shied away from mental illness. See character Cassie’s struggle with an eating disorder,
JJ’s aspergers, and Tony’s sociopathic tendencies.
2. My Mad Fat Diary
Based on ‘My Mad, Fat, Teenage Diary’ by Rae
Earl, the show is as forth-right as its narrator, delving into the depths of teenage angst, but with the
added issue that the show’s lead has just been
released from an adolescent psychiatric hospital.
3. In Treatment
Ever wanted to be a fly on the wall in a therapist’s treatment room? Then here you go (not in a
voyeuristic, ‘The Man with a….’ Channel Four sort
of way – this is reassuringly fictional).
4. The L-Word
Featuring a few breakdowns and meltdowns, and
also self-harm in later series, The L-Word isn’t just
about lesbians.
5. Shameless
A British comedy-drama, set on a Manchester
council estate, the character of Shelia, played by
Maggie O’Neill suffers from agoraphobia, which
is played very authentically.
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
7. E.R.
Abigail Lockhart’s (Maura Tierney) mother,
Maggie, played by Sally Field, was, I think, my
first introduction to bipolar, watching the series
as a child. Sensational acting from an awardwinning actress.
8. House
Dr. House (Hugh Laurie): A misanthropic medical
genius, with a serious drug addiction. Maybe not
quite right for this list, but I love it so it’s going in!
9. Eastenders
Nowhere does ‘issues’ quite like Albert Square.
I haven’t watched it in years (except the Christmas specials), but I’d put money on the fact that
they’ve portrayed mental illness, and – knowing
their award-winning history – done it well.
10. Sopranos
Tony Soprano, although head of a criminal
organisation, suffers from depression and panic
attacks, and his therapy sessions throughout
the series not only give more of an insight into
his thoughts and feelings but also realistically
depicts the challenging dynamic of therapy and
the struggle to accept a psychiatric diagnosis.
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Volunteering with Diversity Role Model
I
first discovered how volunteering could
Now I’m living in London, freelancing my arse
warm your soul in 2007 when I spent a
off to pay my rent (doing a job I love, though,
good portion of my week at the Oxfam
so can’t complain too loudly) and working
Bookshop in Winchester, whilst trying to sort
my life, health and head out a bit. And it
genuinely made a massive impact on me; I
felt honoured to be giving my time for free
there. It wasn’t completely selfless; in that
for free is something I hoped was consigned
to my student days. But volunteering and
working for free are two different things:
one a social problem of glass ceilings and
a devalued sector, and the other an act of
giving to a society you want to be an active
little bookshop on the aptly named Parch-
part of. So when I heard about Diversity Role
ment Street, I made friends, found a sense of
Models, I knew I wanted to volunteer as a
purpose, and co-invented our Sunday game:
Role Model (hard to say without following the
Shop Cricket (and got ‘caught out by Proust’
term with some kind of witty, self-deprecating
for the first time).
remark, but I’ll resist).
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32
Summer/ Issue 38
Set up in 2011, Diversity Role Models is a
or lesbian.’ Anyone who’s been into a school
charity that helps schools to eradicate
recently will know that this is an issue that
homophobic bullying and provide an inclu-
affects the wellbeing of all young people,
sive and safe environment for their LGBT
whether implicitly or explicitly.
students and families. Through high-quality,
interactive workshops involving role models
Since its conception, DRM has delivered their
and discussions that allow young people to
workshops to over 5,000 pupils and the results
explore their views and understand differ-
speak for themselves. Over 90% of young
ence, DRM hopes to tackle the prejudice
people indicated that they would treat LGBT
that leads to homophobic bullying. ‘I firmly
people better and use the word ‘gay’ as a
believe that by providing role models for
derogatory term less in the future. Teachers
LGBT young people, we can have a positive
and pupils that have attended the work-
effect on the negative statistics’, says Suran
shops have seen a significant shift in attitudes
Dickson, CEO and founder of the organisa-
and behaviour in their schools and would
tion, who was prompted to start the charity
urge other schools to seek their help. ‘Fabu-
after witnessing the impact homophobic
lous - should be part of the national curricu-
bullying had in the schools she worked in.
lum! This workshop should be offered to all
And the statistics are shocking: LGBT youth
year groups’, enthused one teacher who
are six times more likely to commit suicide
attended a recent workshop. I know I agree.
and two thirds of them suffer bullying at
I am proud to be a Diversity Role Model. The
school. Furthermore, as they say on their
biggest payment is knowing that you’re
website:
making a difference.
‘…it’s not just LGBT young people. Straight students are terrified of being called ‘gay’. Girls drop out of sport and
boys hide artistic talent to conform to gender roles and avoid being labelled gay
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
The next academic year will see DRM delivering workshops across the country, as well as continuing to work
across the capital. For more information on the workshops and to enquire about booking, contact HYPERLINK “mailto:[email protected]” \t“blank”
[email protected]
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Image: Caron Harris
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Summer/ Issue 38