Review: The Freud Museum

Written by Joe Saxon

Sigmund Freud is cited by many as being the father of psychoanalysis: the dialogue between patients and professionals that still underpins the science behind understanding ourselves today. His work led to a shift in the way that we think about mental health, his methods of psychoanalysis and counselling not only providing an alternative to drug therapy, but also allowing us to gain a greater understanding of how our minds work.

It was in Freud's North London home, following his escape from Nazi-occupied Austria during the 1930s, that much of this work took place. In the years that have followed, this home has been opened up to the public in the form of a museum, offering a captivatingly intimate look at his life.

Opinion: Social Anxiety

Written by Vineeta Sathiamoorthy

 Photo Credit: PracticalCures.com 'Anxiety'/ CC 2.0

Written by Vineeta Sathiamoorthy

The HELL in saying hello and the GOOD in goodbye. The feeling every social anxiety sufferer despairs of. Described as the fear one has in situations that involve interaction with other people, social anxiety is an omnipresent feeling that takes no prisoners. Yet, while it may take a few hundred nervous laughs and feigning interest to get me through a day, I’ve learnt it can be more ABILITATing than Debilitating.

According to recent mental health statistics, mixed anxiety and depression is the most common mental disorder in Britain with around ten per cent of people admitting to it. Before you go burying your head in a family packet of crisps, anxiety doesn’t automatically make you a failure. Famous faces that have suffered from it include sassy and opinionated writer/actress Lena Dunham, screen siren Elizabeth Taylor and even the late queen of put-downs, Joan Rivers. Would you consider these women as fearful or fearless?

Feature: To Board Or Not To Board

Nibbles - Photo courtesy of Olivia McGhie

Written by Emma Younger

We all know the feeling – winter has finally left the building, and all you want to do is wipe the dust off your passport. How nice it would be to flee the country and lie on golden sand, lined with palm trees. Bliss, you say? There’s just one small detail - who’s going to look after your pet?

The answer people may come to is animal boarding – the business of allowing catteries and kennels to care for your furry friend. It’s easy to see why, too. According to the Pets at Home: The Pet Report 2015, almost half of all UK households now have pets. That’s a hefty 58 million animals to look after.

It’s common knowledge too, that pet owners now consider their animals as part of the family – meaning that deciding care arrangements can be a stressful ordeal. To some, asking a family member or friend for help is a convenient and low-cost method to finding trustworthy support. For many however, this isn’t an option – paving the way for others to step in and do the job.