Carol Hickson Mental Health

Carol Hickson Mental Health Feel calmer, more able to cope with the challenges you’re facing. I can help you find better balance.

16/01/2026

This is a first for me, I have kept my arms covered for 50 years. It’s time I accepted my Lipoedema body

It’s good to see Lipoedema being discussed on This Morning. We’ve been applying to them to speak about it for over a ye...
16/01/2026

It’s good to see Lipoedema being discussed on This Morning. We’ve been applying to them to speak about it for over a year since the Lorraine show spread such misinformation. I guess they’re more interested when celebrities have it but at least they’re featuring it. We’re off to Berlin in March and hopefully, Rebecca’s surgery will go as well as Josie’s.

What a legend! I’m sad to hear that Gary Craig, the creator of EFT has died. EFT and the profound impact it had on my ...
12/01/2026

What a legend! I’m sad to hear that Gary Craig, the creator of EFT has died. EFT and the profound impact it had on my chronic pain is the reason I left teaching and retrained as a therapist. Since then I’ve helped many people change their lives using it. What a legacy he has left. RIP

Yesterday I got my Lipoedema diagnosed by a lovely nurse at the Lymphoedema clinic. Those of you who know the journey m...
10/01/2026

Yesterday I got my Lipoedema diagnosed by a lovely nurse at the Lymphoedema clinic. Those of you who know the journey my daughter is on with this horrible chronic condition will understand something of what the diagnosis means for me and I’m giving myself time to process. And grieve for what my body has been through and will go through.

Two years ago when I told my GP that I was pretty sure I have it he told me that he wouldn’t refer me for support, and to put it out of my mind, as the NHS doesn’t treat it. As we have found out since Becca’s diagnosis 1 in 10 women have it, it’s genetic affecting generations of mothers, their daughters, and grandmothers and only 5% of GPs understand it. It was first described in the 1940s btw! What a s**t show!

I am now to be prescribed compression to wear daily under my clothes as my mobility is being compromised by the changes to my knees. A few months of HRT, four years ago, accelerated the disease. There is no cure, it’s progressive.

It’s a cruel condition because it comes with a lot of judgment usually that we’re just obese women and have let ourselves go. If you know me you know that nothing can be further from the truth.

So there we are with a few more answers just ahead of our first surgical trip abroad in March for Becca.

Becca has changed the lives of over a hundred women since her campaign to raise awareness so that it’s caught in our teenage girls rather than left to rampage. I’m so proud of her.

Wish us luck. I’ll be inviting you all to share our “trip” to Berlin as I try my best to chronicle Becca’s continued journey with the disease.

Cheers for your time everyone!

Sunday in North Wales. Still feeling Christmassy 😀
04/01/2026

Sunday in North Wales. Still feeling Christmassy 😀

Aaaghhh I set the table and didn't re-iron the table cloth! In my book The Resilience Template - 7 Steps to Improving Y...
23/12/2025

Aaaghhh I set the table and didn't re-iron the table cloth! In my book The Resilience Template - 7 Steps to Improving Your Mental Health, Preparation is the first step. Whether it's improving mental health or in my case getting a headstart on Christmas lunch. So the table is set, cooking times all written down, the china washed - it's amazing what two extra guests will do to your organisation! This year I won't be winging it!

Womanifest 2026I've got some good news to share ahead of Christmas, I've been selected as a finalist for the Overcomer A...
23/12/2025

Womanifest 2026
I've got some good news to share ahead of Christmas, I've been selected as a finalist for the Overcomer Award at the Womanifest Awards in February 2026. I'm absolutely thrilled. Wish me luck!

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 once you realise that you’re triggered. Who or what has upset you? Before reacting, slow down & intentionally brea...
22/12/2025

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 once you realise that you’re triggered. Who or what has upset you? Before reacting, slow down & intentionally break the cycle of rushing to react.

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 three deep breaths. Try 4-2-7 breathing: Breathe in through your nose for a count of 4, hold for 2, & breathe out through your mouth for 7. The elongated out-breath will slow down your heart rate. Now…

𝗢𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 your emotions, notice where they lodge. In the pit of your stomach, your chest, elsewhere? Now describe them. Are they tight, dizzy, or something else? Have you felt this before? Guess if you can’t remember. You might say, “Oh this is what it felt like when X happened”. Emotions are sensations in your body & feelings are the explanation we give to them 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 the event. So, feelings are our interpretation of the emotions we experience. Now notice the sensations in your body & permit yourself to do nothing except be curious.

(Consider) 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲. Given space the initial emotional disturbance settles. Next, calmly consider what happened and how you feel about it. Our ability to interpret the situation means that we can change what it means to us. Perspective gives us choice. We can change meaning. We can choose to release bad feelings. That’s powerful.

𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲. When something unsettling happens mindfully stop. Respond with intention and not reaction. To save energy our brain constructs patterns so that we can respond to situations almost without thinking. These patterns are our habits good and bad. By using the S.T.O.P.P protocol we upgrade the habits that create a sense of well-being and delete the ones that upset and unsettle us. Practice the techniques to consciously build new habits.

Looking for advice, what would you do?I had two client messages yesterday evening both were from ladies who missed their...
19/12/2025

Looking for advice, what would you do?

I had two client messages yesterday evening both were from ladies who missed their appointments with me on Tuesday. I don’t always invoice for missed appointments but to be honest that’s something as a self-employed business I need to change.

The first lady had already apologised, and insisted that I invoice her. The message that came through yesterday evening was a lovely thank you for the work we've done together this year. I can't tell you how chuffed I was.

Her message was shortly followed by the second. You can see the response I got from this lady. I haven’t responded yet. This was a first session, I don’t know her and I have no wish for things to escalate so I’m reluctant even to ask if she’s feeling okay this morning. The sad thing is I think I could have helped her.

My partner says ignore her, but what would you do I’m curious?

Last night somebody defrauded my credit card of £2100 at a convenience store in the West Midlands. They didn’t have the...
11/12/2025

Last night somebody defrauded my credit card of £2100 at a convenience store in the West Midlands. They didn’t have the card, but they did have the card details which were manually keyed in.

My bank alerted me, but the money was already gone. Hopefully, my bank will refund me and deal with most of the aftermath.

But I wanted to say that there are no victimless crimes. I felt sick when I saw the debit on my account yesterday and I still feel sick today. People who do this kind of thing have no perception of the impact they have on innocent people. Last night I felt like I couldn’t even trust the lovely lady at the bank who helped me and I know I’m going to have to work on that.

So just a reminder if you need one to be careful with your cards. I know this one hasn’t ever left my sight because I only use it online but one way or another, possibly a data breach, somebody had all the information from it and that is scary.

As humans though I know it’s important to override the fear because most of us are good people and I think that that’s important to keep at the forefront of our minds. In our recent food shopping trips my partner and I have been buying Christmas toys for a local charity. I don’t have any grandchildren, and I’d forgotten how lovely it is to shop for little ones. It’s good to know that there will be smiles on Christmas day because of the choices we made. That’s what I’m going to focus on now because otherwise I know that fear can eat you alive.

So, here’s to helping each other in whatever way we can and wishing you all a peaceful run up to Christmas.

I took this photo from the plane as I was returning from Cyprus this week. I thought it was a stunning picture and it s...
01/11/2025

I took this photo from the plane as I was returning from Cyprus this week. I thought it was a stunning picture and it seems appropriate to use as I reflect on the 19th anniversary of the day the doctors turned the life machine off for my partner. The memories are still strong and I remember the helplessness and failure that I felt. This week I feel incredibly sad and somewhat overwhelmed. I know that these feelings will settle because life in all its wonderful glory (see photo) goes on. Adjusting to bereavement is something we all have to do and I'm sending love to anyone in a similar place.
BTW my son has googled the photo and thinks it's Madrid.

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