James Ballantyne

mental health

  • Love feels Strong

    This piece could be written in a number of ways, from a number of starting points. But I want to keep it brief. And I want my heart to write to you. It arrived to me as I was writing… Continue reading

  • Careful, the universe might give you what you wish for.

    Dangerously there were two words that I started 2023 with. It was as if, they were the words that were about to shape my life, weirdly. One of the words I wrote about, a little bit. The other I didnt.… Continue reading

  • The Power of Jet:Lag (the game)

    There was a time in July/August of last year when I was going through a pretty significant mental spiralling, down down and down. I was plagued by the bleak thoughts of self criticism, self sabotage, blame and self loathing, all… Continue reading

  • Shining a light onto my Depression

    Its ok to not be ok But what if ‘norm’ was a depression that I didnt realise was? I’m pretty sure now that I was depressed but I just didnt realise how this had been my normal experience. Thats a… Continue reading

  • My Heart was wounded, not cold and dark. (Why faith language can hinder healing)

    I attended my first ‘religious’ service for quite a long time yesterday, I haven’t gone to ‘church’ for a long while, though I used to, weekly. But yesterday in my team meeting, as I work for the methodist church, we… Continue reading

  • I Like Me

    I’ve been pondering on writing this piece for a few days now, wondering if it is suitable, wondering how to express it, especially as it’s kind of simple. Full disclosure, I have been back receiving therapy since October, on that… Continue reading