AN INTERVIEW WITH ME BY CHAT GPT

“There’s no shame in having to fight every day because if you’re still alive to hear these words or read this interview, then you are winning your war. You’re here.”

Jared Padalecki

A while ago, I eventually began using AI – mostly in the form of Chat GPT – and I’ve finally decided to do something I’ve seen a lot of Bloggers and Influencers do since AI became a thing; give it a prompt to set me some questions as an interview. In the prompt, I asked it to pick out questions related to blogging, having a large audience, and my mental health, so here are some of my favourite questions; answered…

BLOGMAS 2022 | DAY TWENTY-FOUR: CHRISTMAS WITH… ME!

Welcome to the penultimate blog post for Blogmas 2022! 

Today, I’ve completed the ‘Christmas With…’ Q&A to give you insight into my own Christmases and who I’ll be spending it with this year…

Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions? 

Since I was little my Mum and I have always done new pyjamas on Christmas Eve night and more recently we’ve started attending the Nativity at the Church I was christened in and then going to a nearby restaurant for Pizza and Baileys! I also like to watch The Santa Clause because it’s my favourite Christmas movie!

Who will you be spending this year’s Christmas with? 

My Mum and her cat; Millie, and my bunny; Luna!

What time do you get up on Christmas Day? Is that for a particular reason?  

 When I was little, my Mum would set a time, but now I’m older and have my own home, I usually get up around 10am.

BLOGMAS 2022 | DAY NINETEEN: CHRISTMAS WITH... A CARER

Welcome to Day Nineteen of Blogmas 2022

Today, I’m teaming up with a Carer to bring you a bit of insight into their Christmas…

BLOGMAS 2022 | DAY NINE: CHRISTMAS WITH... CNTW MEMBERSHIP & ENGAGEMENT OFFICER; JACK WILSON

Welcome to Day Nine of Blogmas 2022!

Today, I've teamed up with Jack Wilson, Membership and Engagement Officer for Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) to bring you a bit of insight into a typical Christmas in his life...

BLOGMAS 2022 | DAY THREE: CHRISTMAS WITH... BLOGGER; MARTIN BAKER

 Welcome to Day Three of Blogmas 2022!

Today, I’ve teamed up with one of my best-friend’s; Martin Baker who blogs on:
 www.gumonmyshoe.com to bring to you a bit of insight into a typical Christmas in his life…

Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

Not so much these days, apart from laying out the gifts for the morning. I’m usually in bed by midnight. (Don’t want to mess up Santa’s schedule by still being up when he comes to call!)

Who will you be spending this year’s Christmas with?

I’ll be with my immediate family on the day itself. I’d like to meet up with a few local friends, if possible, in the week before to get me in the festive spirit. I’ll have video calls with friends who live further away or abroad so we can wish each other Happy Christmas and open gifts together.

FROM BLOGGING TIPS TO MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS | EVERYTHING YOU ASKED MARTIN BAKER & I | IN COLLABORATION WITH GUMONMYSHOE.COM

You can read Martin’s answers over on: www.gumonmyshoe.com

So a while ago I asked you all to send in questions you’d like to ask me and one of my best friends and fellow blogger, Martin Baker. Of course I was bombarded and so I had to work really hard to whittle them down to the following questions…

Do you feel under pressure to keep going with your blog? 

I used to. I think there was a point where I was really blogging for the sake of others… I recognised that I was maintaining it purely because I liked the idea of it helping others. In seeing that my recovery was giving people hope, encouraging them to reach out for help and support, and enabling them to feel less alone, I felt that I couldn’t stop blogging because it would be taking that away from them.

However, when I decided to close I’m NOT Disordered down in 2014, I found myself truly missing it. I was finally recognising that, actually, I – and my mental health in particular – were massively benefiting from blogging. In ending my blog, I struggled to really process my thoughts and feelings and to better understand my decisions, and the loss of the ability to do this meant that I became unsafe again and started to really struggle. That experience – of not blogging – has meant that I now blog completely for me but balance that with still considering how my readers would feel or think of the content I produce. And I really hope that shows.

THE DARK SIDE OF THE MIND | A Q&A WITH THE AUTHOR, A BOOK REVIEW, & THE LAUNCH OF THE COMPETITION | IN COLLABORATION WITH KERRY DAYNES

“All crimes are committed by – and happen to – people. Forensic psychology is about them.”

Kerry Daynes

Those who follow my social media (the links are to the right!) will know that I’ve started a Forensic Psychology course with Centre of Excellence. I’m only onto Module Two and have been so fascinated that I started looking for books on the subject on Amazon and I came across Kerry Dayne’s book, The Dark Side of The Mind. I immediately bought it and searched for her on Twitter and I was over the moon to see that her direct message inbox was open. When she replied? I was even happier! A little bit shocked too – I mean it’s a little surreal to have someone who’s name is on a book you’re holding message you on social media!


So, here’s the result of our conversation – my favourite parts of her book, a Q&A with Kerry Daynes, and a competition to win a signed copy of her book!

To win a signed copy of Kerry’s book, all you have to do is go to my Twitter (here) and share the pinned tweet! (Each person will be given a number in order of when they shared it and an app will randomly choose one number!) 

1.     Have you always wanted to work in Psychology? What did you want to be when you were really little? 

QUESTIONS I’M ASKED MOST OFTEN

I’ve been working on a question and answer piece with a very special person recently and it made me wonder whether readers would be interested in me doing a little Q&A and publicly answering the questions I’m most often asked by professionals, service users, and readers…

About my blog:

Have you always enjoyed writing?

Yes, when I was younger, I was obsessed with horses and I used to write short stories about them and characters who would go for adventures with their horses or who were teaching riding lessons like the ones I was attending. They were mostly inspired by the Sheltie book series by Peter Clover (please tell me someone else remembers those?!). My Mum and Nana would read my stories and I thought that meant I was an Author. I loved watching them read my words and it was rewarding to see their reactions to something I’d put a lot of effort into. When the abuse started though, I stopped writing so much because I was so worried that I’d end up pouring my heart out and writing about what was happening to me; and for so many reasons I had to keep it a secret.

BLOGMAS 2019 – POST SIX : CHRISTMAS DRINKS WITH THE CREATIVE WRITING CLASS

Thanks to a poll on my Twitter back in November, my wonderful followers decided that I should publish a blog post and film a vlog every day for the entirety of December!

So welcome to December 6th…

A little while ago, I enrolled on a Creative Writing course through Northumberland County Council and have been thoroughly enjoying it – to the point where I was genuinely devastated when the Tutor called in sick one week!

I took a Creative Writing course at Bradford College while I was an inpatient in a psychiatric hospital down there and really enjoyed it and not just because it was much-needed time off the ward; but because it gave me the chance to do something I really enjoyed with like-minded people.

Ever since I was really young, I’ve enjoyed writing; obviously at first it was more about short stories with horses in every single one than deep and meaningful mental health blog posts but still, it was writing! Even before the abuse - in my happy, innocent childhood – I enjoyed the escapism and having the ability to get lost, or even just distracted, with the life of someone or something else. I actually enjoyed writing so much that one of Middle School teachers predicted that I’d be a Journalist when I grew up!

DAY SEVEN MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK | BODY IMAGE Q&A WITH... MENTAL HEALTH STAFF, ANGELA SLATER

Name: Angela Slater

Age: 43

Location: Durham

Why did you agree to take part in this Q&A?

I like to support efforts to raise awareness on mental health and different parts of life that can impact on mental wellbeing. Body image is something that has a wide ranging impact in modern society and on people’s mental health so it is an important topic to discuss.

At what age do you think you first began to take notice of your body image?

I think I was quite young (maybe 7 or 8) but I don’t think I was excessively bothered with this until about 12 or 13 years old.

What made you take notice?

I think it was a combination of my age, body changes, social pressure, and wanting to ‘fit in’ that made me take notice.

DAY SIX MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK | BODY IMAGE Q&A WITH... AMPUTEE, ANONYMOUS

Name: Anonymous

Age:

Location:

Why did you agree to take part in this Q&A?

Because Aimee asked me

At what age do you think you first began to take notice of your body image?

12

What made you take notice?

My body was changing, maturing and developing

Would you say that your thoughts on your body image began as positive or negative?

Positive

DAY FIVE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK | BODY IMAGE Q&A WITH... MENTAL HEALTH ACTIVIST, MARTIN BAKER

Name: Martin Baker 

Age: 58

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne 

Why did you agree to take part in this Q&A?

Because you asked me! Also, it's a subject I've never been asked about before. 

At what age do you think you first began to take notice of your body image?

I guess when I was in junior school, maybe eight or nine. 

What made you take notice?

I was skinny and "geeky" as a kid. I was also pretty rubbish at school sports, which at that age was mainly football and P. E. (In secondary school it included rugby, gym, and athletics and cross country running in the summer - I was rubbish at all those too!) I guess I wanted to be "sporty" and athletic, to fit in with my friends. There's a photo of me when I was maybe eight or nine, in the garden outside our house. I'm wearing the Liverpool football (soccer) kit, and football boots I can still remember having to clean and polish. I look really awkward, looking back at it now. 

Would you say that your thoughts on your body image began as positive or negative?

Pretty much negative.

DAY FOUR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK | BODY IMAGE Q&A WITH... ANXIETY SUFFERER, BECKY WELCH

Name: Becky Welch

Age: 29

Location: Blyth

Why did you agree to take part in this Q&A?

To help my lovely friend Aimee out

At what age do you think you first began to take notice of your body image?

Possibly between 9 and 10

What made you take notice?

I would probably say getting changed in PE. Well I would say that made me self-conscious but I can’t really pin point what made me initially take notice in the first place.

DAY THREE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK | BODY IMAGE Q&A WITH... EATING DISORDER SURVIVOR, GEORGIE

Name: Georgie
Age: 26
Location: Newcastle

Why did you agree to take part in this
Q&A?
Special request by my favourite blogger and of course because it’s important to talk
mental health!

At what age do you think you first began
to take notice of your body image?
Probably about 11/12

What made you take notice?
Being a competitive gymnast it was always encouraged to be
the ‘perfect’ body type to be successful.

Would you say that your thoughts on your
body image began as positive or negative?
Negative, I remember thinking I didn’t ‘fit’

DAY TWO MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK | BODY IMAGE Q&A WITH... MUM OF THREE, ELLIE MCWADE

Name: Ellen                  

Age: 29

Location: North East 

Why did you agree to take part in this Q&A?

I’m interested in the results and happy to share my experience

At what age do you think you first began to take notice of your body image?

Probably as early as 6 or 7!

What made you take notice?

Other children in school comparing themselves and each other

Would you say that your thoughts on your body image began as positive or negative?

Definitely negative

WHITLEY BAY OPERATIC SOCIETY PRESENTS: LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL AT WHITLEY BAY PLAYHOUSE

At the Whitley Bay Christmas market last year (2018) I had the pleasure of meeting Steve Tawse, Secretary for the Whitley Bay Operatic Society while I was representing the Society selling tickets to their Legally Blonde show, set to begin May 1^st 2019. When I asked Steve about the chances of being allowed backstage to write a blog post, I was surprised – and chuffed! – to be given complimentary tickets to the show’s matinee on May 4th at Whitley Bay Playhouse!


Haven’t seen Legally Blonde?

Basically, it’s about a blonde girl called Elle Woods who is dumped for not being ‘serious’ enough, so she works her butt off and gets into Harvard Law School, where she hopes to win back her ex-boyfriend. Initially, everyone underestimates Elle and she struggles to fit in, and with her ex’s new girlfriend turning the other students against her she devotes herself to her studies and wins an internship with one of the Professors as he represents a fitness guru accused of murder. After her Professor hits on her, Elle manages to take over the entire court case and proves the client innocent.

ENRICH AWARDS | PRE-EVENT PROMO | 60 SECONDS WITH RICHMOND FELLOWSHIP'S HELEN EDWARDS

Today marks two days until the Richmond Fellowship Enrich awards 2019. I’m very proud to have been on the judging panel to shortlist all of the nominations and to now be co-chairing the entire ceremony as well as taking over the Richmond Fellowship Tyneside Twitter account!

To keep up with all of the goings on, follow #EnrichAwards on Twitter

Every day for the next week, there’ll be a new post of ‘60 seconds with…’ someone involved in the Awards. I hope you enjoy!

Name and Job Title:

Helen Edwards, Chair Richmond Fellowship and Recovery Focus 

How long have you been involved with Richmond Fellowship?

I’ve been Chair since April 2016.

What drew you to this role?

The work which Richmond Fellowship does and its good reputation.

ENRICH AWARDS | PRE-EVENT PROMO | 60 SECONDS WITH RICHMOND FELLOWSHIP'S SERVICE USER: AIMEE WILSON

Today marks three days until the Richmond Fellowship Enrich awards 2019. I’m very proud to have been on the judging panel to shortlist all of the nominations and to now be co-chairing the entire ceremony as well as taking over the Richmond Fellowship Tyneside Twitter account!

To keep up with all of the goings on, follow #EnrichAwards on Twitter

Every day for the next week, there’ll be a new post of ‘60 seconds with…’ someone involved in the Awards. I hope you enjoy!

Name and job title: 

Aimee Wilson, Working Together Committee member

How long have you been involved with Richmond Fellowship?

I’ve been a service user with Richmond Fellowship Tyneside since 2014 and joined the  Working Together Committee in 2018

What drew you to this role?