Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Therapy to heal and find answers

Therapy to heal and find answers

LIFE has many unexpected ups, downs, twists, and turns. It can bring joy, sadness, adventure and loneliness. Even if you have the most wonderful support system, life can often be a struggle and we just need a little help.  

That is where therapy, which I really believe in, helps. It’s a scary word, isn’t it? Therapy.  


It is often unfairly associated with mentally unstable people who are overly emotional or in a rage and regularly compared to what is seen on TV shows or in films. People lying on a therapist's couch, blurting out every little detail of their life, and sobbing. It’s not that at all. If the therapist is good, it can be a simple conversation with life-changing powers. 

 I speak as someone who has recently been having therapy. I’ve been struggling personally with a few things, and just needed help. So, I found this amazing therapist, and together we have been delving into many aspects, including attachment styles in relationships.  

But what is an attachment style or theory? In definition, ‘attachment styles describe how individuals interact with and attach to the people closest to them, with that process beginning with childhood bonds with primary caregivers.’  

These patterns continue into your adult life and can affect relationships. The four different attachment styles are ‘secure’, ‘avoidant’, ‘anxious’ and ‘disorganised’.  

Secure attachment means that you are comfortable, trusting, communicative and have a great balance in relationships. Anxious attachment describes those that are overly dependent, feel anxious in relationships and often fear their partner is going to leave them. 

 Someone with avoidant attachment will trust only themselves and be an overly independent commitment-phobe. And those with disorganised attachment have a fear of relationships due to perhaps having had trauma as a child or adult, impacting their emotional stability. 

 One of the most important things I have learned from therapy is to address and acknowledge my attachment style, which is the ‘anxious’ one. Those familiar with my column from the start and who have followed my journey of meeting partners who have rejected or dumped me, will understand why it matters. 

 This continuously happening can take a toll on mental health and affect relationships with a future partner. A question I have started to ask men on dating sites is whether they know what their attachment style is. This is important to ask because the ultimate aim for an anxious person is to find someone with a secure attachment style, rather than be drawn to avoidants, which is what I have been mostly doing in the past.  

So, next time you find yourself anxious about something, or struggling with a situation in life, consider therapy. There are so many resources you can use to find a therapist such as BACP, counselling directory, NHS doctors and psychology today. You will learn a lot about yourself. And always remember, it’s okay not to be okay. 

More For You

5 secret beaches

Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire, Wales

iStock

5 secret beaches in the UK that feel like the tropics

Key points

  • Discover hidden UK beaches with turquoise waters and golden sands
  • Ideal for summer staycations without the cost of long-haul travel
  • Includes lesser-known spots in Wales, Scotland, Cornwall, and more
  • Perfect for quiet escapes, coastal walks, and Instagram-worthy views

Escape to paradise – no passport required

Think you need to fly halfway across the world for clear blue water and white sand? Think again. The UK is home to a surprising number of secluded beaches that look straight out of the Caribbean – without the crowds or jet lag. From hidden coves in Cornwall to windswept bays in the Scottish Highlands, here are some of the most tropical-looking beaches on British soil.

1. Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Often dubbed the UK’s answer to the Caribbean, this National Trust-owned gem boasts golden sand, crystal-clear waters, and dramatic cliffs. Accessed by a half-mile walk from Stackpole Quay, it remains blissfully untouched by development.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches

The chain had also gained a following for its themed brunches

iStock

Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches after 20 years

Key points

  • Chinese dim sum restaurant Ping Pong has closed all its UK locations
  • The chain made the announcement via social media
  • Founded in 2005, the brand thanked customers and staff for their support
  • Loyal diners shared memories and disappointment in the comments

All branches are permanently closed

Chinese restaurant chain Ping Pong has permanently closed all its branches in the UK, the company confirmed in a social media announcement.

Founded in 2005 by restaurateur Kurt Zdesar, the dim sum chain had become popular for its stylish interiors, creative menus, and Asian-inspired cocktails. The company did not provide prior notice of the closure but said the decision marked the end of an “unforgettable” 20-year journey.

Keep ReadingShow less
New Covid strain

Experts have raised concerns about the immune-evasive nature of the Stratus strain

iStock

New Covid strain Stratus spreads in UK with unusual hoarse voice symptom

Key points

  • A new Covid strain known as Stratus is spreading across the UK
  • The variant is marked by a distinctive symptom: a hoarse or raspy voice
  • Sub-variants XFG and XFG.3 now account for 30% of cases in England
  • Experts say there is no evidence of more severe disease
  • Lower immunity levels may make more people vulnerable to infection

Covid variant Stratus on the rise in the UK

A new strain of Covid-19, known as Stratus, is spreading across the UK and drawing attention for its unusual symptom — a hoarse or raspy voice. According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Stratus and its two sub-variants, XFG and XFG.3, are responsible for around 30 per cent of Covid cases in England.

Of the two, XFG.3 is currently the more dominant. The UKHSA confirmed that monitoring of all circulating Covid-19 variants is ongoing as part of regular surveillance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Human brain continues forming neurons

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain

iStock

Human brain continues forming neurons well into old age, study finds

Key points

  • New neurons continue forming in the brain’s hippocampus into old age
  • Study confirms presence of neural progenitor cells in adults
  • DNA carbon dating and single-nucleus RNA sequencing were used
  • Research shows variation in neuron production between individuals
  • Findings could aid treatments for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders

Human brain shows ongoing neuron formation into older age

A new study has confirmed that the human brain continues to produce new nerve cells well into late adulthood, challenging previous assumptions about age-related decline in neurogenesis. The findings, published in the journal Science, provide fresh insight into how adaptable the brain remains over a lifetime.

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain, is known to occur in the hippocampus — a region involved in memory. While previous research has suggested that this process continues throughout life, there has been limited concrete evidence of the presence of neural progenitor cells in the adult brain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kent County Show 2025

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley

Getty Images

Kent County Show opens with royal visit from Duchess of Edinburgh

Key points:

  • Day one of the Kent County Show begins at Detling Showground near Maidstone
  • The Duchess of Edinburgh visits the event for the first time in 16 years
  • Organisers expect up to 70,000 visitors over the weekend
  • Farming and rural life are at the centre of the three-day programme
  • Highlights include live camel racing, equine sports, livestock displays and more

Kent County Show opens with royal visit

The Kent County Show returned to Detling near Maidstone on Friday, marking the start of a major three-day celebration of farming, food, and rural living. The event opened with a special visit from the Duchess of Edinburgh, who is attending for the first time in 16 years.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley near Tunbridge Wells and serves as patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO), met with farmers, equine exhibitors, and local businesses on her tour of the showground.

Keep ReadingShow less