Soul Forge 7

I’ve had a few names in my lifetime and perhaps I’ll still write something as Vasenna Fields in the future. Honestly though, I think I’ll stick to Barraclough. It’s a long and tricky name, but it’s the name I was born with. It’s the name my parents had, the name my father’s parents had. I’m proud to be associated with my lineage....

Fields of Dreams… I’ve had a few names in my lifetime and perhaps I’ll still write something as Vasenna Fields in the future. Honestly though, I think I’ll stick to Barraclough. It’s a long and tricky name, but it’s…

I’ve been working on a personal project to bring myself to a place of better financial stability. I’ve made the difficult decision to sell my house and downsize in order to simplify my life financially, which will bring me greater peace of mind, and less constant fear about my ability to cover the bills. Having less will give me so much more in life....

On My Disapearance, Return, & What’s to Come I’ve been working on a personal project to bring myself to a place of better financial stability. I’ve made the difficult decision to sell my house and downsize in order to simplify my life financi…

The Harmful Misuse of Psychological Terms - Vol 3: Mental Health Awareness Month

The Harmful Misuse of Psychological Terms – Vol 3: Mental Health Awareness Month Narcissist, empath, OCD, “schizo”, and PTSD – These words are a small sampling of words frequently thrown around with such wild abandon that they’ve lost their true meaning or they’ve gained …

Imagine for a moment that you wake from a deep sleep and your heart is going a million kilometres an hour. Breaking into a cold sweat you sit bolt upright in bed. Your heart continues to pound so hard you can hear it in your ears. You begin to feel dizzy and your right arm begins to go numb and if your thoughts weren’t spinning out of control before, they sure are now....

The Heart Attack That Was Actually A Panic Attack – Mental Health Awareness Month Imagine for a moment that you wake from a deep sleep and your heart is going a million kilometres an hour. Breaking into a cold sweat you sit bolt upright in bed. Your heart continues to pound so h…

Have you ever felt so mentally unwell, unstable, uncomfortable, that you start to think it would be better if you didn’t exist? Perhaps they’re fleeting thoughts at first, perhaps you shake your head afterwards, wondering why you just thought about something you’d usually think to be unthinkable....

Suicidal Ideation- 2 Paths I’ve Taken to Stay Alive- Volume 1 for Mental Health Awareness Month Have you ever felt so mentally unwell, unstable, uncomfortable, that you start to think it would be better if you didn’t exist? Perhaps they’re fleeting thoughts at first, perhaps you shake your he…

My favourite brands are small. My favourite brands are unrecognized as “brands”. The less brand-ier the better.​.....

My Favourite Brands Aren’t Conventional Brands My favourite brands are small. My favourite brands are unrecognized as “brands”. The less brand-ier the better.​..

In order to cope with all of the difficulties I’ve encountered in the past, as well as recovery from difficulties I’m still trying to overcome, music has been one of the most important tools I have accumulated to assist me. No matter what the problem I’m struggling with music is something I always go back to....

The Power of the Right Playlist for the Right Moment In order to cope with all of the difficulties I’ve encountered in the past, as well as recovery from difficulties I’m still trying to overcome, music has been one of the most important tools I have…

I’m back with Volume 3 of my Lighten Up Series, where just for a moment, I pretend like there aren’t scads of stories I’m working on about serious topics, and I respond to a frivolous question nobody asked me… Which 5 creature comforts would you want with you on your deserted island?...

Lighten Up: Volume 3 I’m back with Volume 3 of my Lighten Up Series, where just for a moment, I pretend like there aren’t scads of stories I’m working on about serious topics, and I respond to a frivolous question nobo…

Write about a time when you didn't take action but wish you had. What would you do differently? This is a story about a time when I didn’t take action to protect myself and I wish I had. I have a lot of guilt and shame surrounding this situation but I’d like to share it anyway as I don’t think financial abuse is discussed enough publicly....

The Beginning of Financial Abuse Write about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently? This is a story about a time when I didn’t take action to protect myself and I wish I had. I ha…

Describe a risk you took that you do not regret. I took a huge personal risk when I began writing this blog a few months ago. I knew I wanted to write about topics that are of a personal nature. In my previous blog I wrote extensively about my experiences involving anxiety, depression, panic attacks, chronic pain, grief, art, and creativity....

The Risk of Writing About My Experiences with Domestic Violence Describe a risk you took that you do not regret. I took a huge personal risk when I began writing this blog a few months ago. I knew I wanted to write about topics that are of a personal nature. In…