No Such Thing as Normal: From the author of Glorious Rock Bottom

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The actual suggestions for ‘getting back to normal’ are fairly basic - feel the feelings, exercise, breathe intentionally, eat well. She understands that ‘meditation/mindfulness’ - though a common suggestion from well-intentioned friends, is useless when you are really struggling. I was still in academia when the pandemic began and it was useful having some mental wellness tips to share with anxious students.

I’ve always been fascinated by cultures, traditions, mentalities, and different ways of doing things and perceiving the world.Whilst only a short book, this touches on some of the classic approaches to dealing with when the other side starts to get a bit louder - mindfulness, breathing techniques, Mexican worry dolls (mine were Guatemalan but I don’t think that matters. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. She displays a heavy amount of empathy and understanding within her book and contains several take-home messages, which I would like to believe will help me going forward. From the isolation of lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic, to the pain of recognising and ending toxic relationships, and also the comfort and sense of wellbeing that comes from supporting others, understand which connections are worth nurturing and which you can let go. Her support and advice throughout this book makes this so much more than just a “self help” book, it becomes a companion.

Not all the info was necessarily new to me but I like that it is a book I can easily pick up again when I need helpful reminders! Imagine how boring life would be if everyone thought the same: no learning from each other, no brainstorming of new ideas, no evolution and growth. The book discusses all different kinds of topics surrounding the demons inside people’s heads, yet makes it relatable. Very good read, gives a very good insight into ways to cope living with mental health conditions and particuly enjoyed the chapters about not worrying about what others think of you, getting out of your own way and intrusive thoughts.

She also strives to equip those in need of help with tools and information to get the best out of a poorly funded system that can be both frightening and overwhelming. There are some helpful sections about having those awkward conversations with friends/fam/employers, and the process of seeking help. If you suffer from mental health or even if you don't, it's such a great, comforting, truthful, Insightful book and I'd recommend it to everyone!

She is co-author of the book Living on Automatic: How Emotional Conditioning Shapes Our Lives and Relationships. More than that, they seemed to be providing support to those people who normally breezed through life without a care in the world.

In the final chapter, though, Gordon looks at her subsequent experience of the pandemic and acknowledges that her mental health has deteriorated.