Category
opinion.
9 posts
Victims of everything
There’s a moment in almost every conversation – at work, over dinner, in a queue – when the tone shifts. Someone starts explaining why things aren’t working out. The boss, the economy, their upbringing, bad luck. It’s rarely dramatic. It’s familiar. And if you listen closely, it reveals something deeper: a quiet, pervasive habit of […]
23 April 2026
The enigma of antidepressants
Antidepressants are widely used and have helped millions of people – but they are still something of a puzzle in modern medicine. Despite decades of research, scientists are still debating exactly how they work, why they help some people and not others, and what their long-term role should be in treating depression. To understand the […]
16 April 2026
Victim of depression
Depression is a topic that could fill a library. It would therefore be presumptuous to assume I can solve any profound issues you might be having in one chapter. But what I can do is change your thinking to the point that you end up managing your ‘blues’ a lot better than you have been. […]
22 July 2025
‘Depression can only be cured by therapy’
“Therapy is great - but don’t rely on it alone. Don’t put the responsibility of overcoming depression on someone else. Taking responsibility doesn’t guarantee overcoming it - but not taking responsibility guarantees you won’t.” Dr Hussein Naji As a child, my mates and I created our own fun. We bought marbles, made catapults, rode bikes, […]
11 July 2025
Regrets, I have a few … Frank Sinatra
Stranger than fiction is a cliché often applied to life. In this case I’m talking about what we regret. Paradoxically we don’t regret the things we have done, no matter how disgusting or awful. What we do regret is what we DIDN’T do. Take a moment and think about it. How often have you endured […]
18 October 2024
Second chances? Fine by me
At 5.30 pm on Monday 9 March 2015 at the Virgin Active Gym on the corner of Main and Nichol roads I died. To say it was a shock is an understatement. But what it did give me was another chance – an opportunity to restructure my beliefs, hopes and aspirations. Nothing seems quite as important as […]
16 October 2024
Let’s talk about stereotyping
Society, without trying, inadvertently reinforces male stereotypes. Take your wife or girlfriend out for dinner. At the end of the meal get her to ask for the bill. Nine times out of 10the waiter will bring it to you (the man), even though asked by the womanfor the bill. Which, of course, reinforces the male’s […]
15 October 2024
Mantras for a better life
When you find yourself at a loose end with nothing immediate to do, ask yourself: What am I practicing?The reason is, because whatever it is you are practicing – is what you are going to get good at. Scrolling on your phone? You’ll get good at that. Not going to gym? You’ll get good at […]
1 October 2024
On ageing
What causes depression in older people? The three main causes in older people are poor physical health, social isolation, and loss in old age. But what is the relationship between age and depression? Studies have identified age differences in the prevalence of depression and anxiety. Younger adults, 16–29 years, are more likely to be affected […]
23 September 2024