Or: Congratulations. Apparently We’re All Neurodivergent. I’ve noticed something recently. Nobody is neurotypical anymore. Not one person. Everyone has ADHD. Everyone is autistic. Everyone is dyslexic. Everyone is dyspraxic. Everyone is OCD. The entire population has apparently received a diagnosis during a brief self-reflection exercise in Asda. “Oh my God, I’m so ADHD.” Really? What happened? “I got distracted.” Right. Because I once put deodorant in the fridge, a can of San Pellegrino in the bathroom cupboard and spent forty-five minutes looking for my phone while using it as a torch. But yes. Sounds identical. Then comes: “I think everyone’s a little bit autistic.” Do you? Because I spent most of my life feeling like everyone had secretly been given a handbook on how to be a person and mine got lost in the post. Maybe you’re referring to enjoying a routine. I enjoy routines too. Mine usually involve spending three days planning something, immediately abandoning the plan and then becoming annoyed with myself for not following it. Who can say? Then dyslexia. “Oh I’m probably dyslexic.” Why? “I mixed up two words.” Of course. And because I once coughed, I assume I’m a chain smoker. That’s how diagnosis works now. Makes perfect sense. Then dyspraxia. “Oh I’m so dyspraxic.” Why? “I walked into a door.” Interesting. I once walked into a door frame, apologised to it, dropped my San Pellegrino, got my sleeve caught on the handle, spun round to free myself and headbutted the door on the way back out. But carry on. Then OCD arrives. Usually uninvited. “Oh I’m literally OCD.” Why? “I checked the door twice.” Twice. You brave, brave soldier. Somewhere a person with actual OCD has just checked the hob for the eighteenth time and is wondering if reality itself can be trusted. But yes. Twice. The thing is, everybody gets distracted. Everybody forgets things. Everybody gets overwhelmed. Everybody trips over. Everybody checks things.

A look at the psychological and cultural dimensions of building resilience through the African philosophy of Ubuntu. While traditional psychology often views recovery as an individual effort, Ubuntu re-frames healing as a communal responsibility, suggesting that personal strength is rooted in collective belonging. This framework is applied across diverse sectors, including clinical mental health treatment, addiction recovery, and education, to replace isolation with social connection. One specific strategy, the SURF framework, offers a practical method for settling the mind and refocusing on controllable actions during times of distress. Ultimately human beings thrive best when supported by a network of mutual care and shared purpose. This integrated approach suggests that sustainable recovery depends on moving beyond symptom management toward full reintegration into a supportive community. The SURF framework offers a structured psychological strategy designed to help individuals navigate adversity by transitioning from a state of distress to one of growth. The process begins by calming the nervous system through physical grounding and then shifts toward mental clarity by detaching from skewed, negative thought patterns. By prioritising actionable choices over uncontrollable circumstances, a person can reclaim their agency before finally seeking out positive opportunities for personal flourishing. The SURF Framework The SURF acronym is a highly regarded, practical framework taught in psychology and trauma treatment to navigate adversity and build resilience. It provides a step-by-step approach to managing distress, unhooking from unbalanced thinking, regaining control, and ultimately finding ways to thrive. The four letters stand for the following: - Settle the self: Focus on both body and mind. Settle your nervous system through grounding, breathing, resting, and maintaining daily routines (like sleeping and eating well) to prevent emotional overload. - Unhook from unbalance: Avoid spiraling into negative, one-sided thinking. Instead of fixating only on what is wrong, acknowledge your strengths and manage your emotions by staying flexible. - Refocus on the can-do: Take back a sense of control by focusing on tiny actions or choices you can still make, rather than dwelling on the aspects of the adversity that are out of your hands. - Find the flourishing: Intentionally notice what is positive and blooming in your life. This helps reset your nervous system and can even lead to new personal growth or finding purpose amidst the difficulty.

Hello everyone, my tiny brain has a big question! I’ve been doing boundaries training today and we spoke a lot about person and professional relationships and what is or isn’t acceptable behaviour. We work in very chaotic and challenging environments and when discussing boundaries there seemed to be two opposing opinions in the room: 1. We work in chaos therefore we need to have strict rules and boundaries. People have no structure or rules in their lives so we must be black and white. 1. We work in chaos therefore we need to have flexible rules and boundaries. People have no structure or rules in their lives so we have to meet them in a shade of grey. What’s everyone’s thoughts on professional boundaries?

Human Rights Night walk! It was very special. 35 of us walked for over 7 hours traversing London's streets taking in some of the capital's most significant human rights spots. We lit candles together, swapped stories, heard poetry and offered each other much needed encouragement at times as dawn approached. And we've raised plenty of funds - nearly 6k for the museum's essential work to support the community! Check them out here: https://museumofhomelessness.org/