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Wellbeing
The last two-years have been tough on mental health, but God knows how to comfort those in despair
As the government announces plans to restore the country ‘back to normal’ many of us fear our mental health won’t be able to rebound so easily. Jennifer Sanders explains that God knows how to comfort those in despair and has a message of hope for us all.
Investing in your self-esteem isn’t selfish, it’s Biblical
It may be ‘Blue Monday’ but writer Nothando explains why we need to step away from comparison and low self-esteem and embrace God’s promise of life to the full.
Relying On God When Facing Chronic Illness
Carolyn MacDonald found out she had a chronic illness in 2019. Here she shares how she heard God speaking through the pain of the diagnosis.
Why I’m giving up guilt this new year
Rachel Pearce explores the difference between healthy and unhealthy guilt, and explains why she’ll be leaving the latter at the cross in 2022.
COVID taught me the value of clearing my schedule, and for me that was a silver lining
When writer Lauren Windle contracted Omicron she was gutted, but after a few days of coughing in bed she realised that COVID could teach her a lesson about time management.
Ten things I wish the church knew about eating disorders
Those struggling with an eating disorder don’t always get the sensitive response they hope for from the Church, here are the things that we should all know.
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Whether it’s good news or bad, knowing the future won’t make 2022 any easier… Jesus will
As we welcome in a new year, and all the good and bad that may hold, Woman Alive’s editor Tola-Doll Fisher reassures us that even if trouble is ahead, we have all we need in Christ
‘Omicron anxiety’ is understandable, but in all this uncertainty there’s one thing that’s guaranteed
Boris may have promised us Christmas, but nothing feels certain at the moment. Concious that many of us are struggling with the idea of potential lockdowns, restrictions and the risk of illness, author Kate Patterson reminds us that, while the world is uncertain, God’s love isn’t.
Five things I have learned about… setting goals
Cathy Madavan shares how she plans ahead in order to embrace a new season
Living with long COVID
We have all been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and many are still suffering its effects months after contracting the virus. Respiratory nurse and lecturer Debbie Duncan shares what is has been like for herself and others coping with long COVID
New year, same you?
Candy Ellie kicks off her new, three-part series by looking at how we can create long-term change
Nurturing ourselves at bedtime
Nutritionist Clare Backhouse explains how we can get better sleep
‘I’m a virgin, do I need a smear test?’
Your health questions answered by our resident GP, Dr Olúṣẹ̀yẹ Àríkàwé
Learning to live: my journey through cancer
Kate Nicholas on dealing with cancer returning and a near-death experience following her mastectomy
Laughing children, hot chocolate and a snoring dog on a lazy Sunday afternoon…
Maxine Hallett reflects on her journey towards God, and the sanctuary she now calls home
Cathy Madavan: Five things I have learned about… generosity
Cathy Madavan shows us how the five love languages provide a great guide to generosity
You can thrive during menopause!
Dr Olúṣẹ̀yẹ Àríkàwé rounds off our special three-part series on the menopause
‘Pornography has been normalised in our culture’
Catherine Etherington, the Head of Recovery for the UK-based Naked Truth Project, talks about their mission to free lives from the damaging impact of sexual addictions
Working through suffering without losing faith in God
Having lost precious children to miscarriage and a daughter, Libby, at birth, Katherine Gantlett shares how she stopped trying to escape the winter seasons of her life, and learned to walk with him authentically and honestly
Liz Earle: Our leaders should do more to prioritise women’s health
Macaila Britton talks to Liz Earle MBE, wellbeing brand founder, about her experience in the industry and what still needs to change
‘Suicidal thoughts are nothing to be ashamed of, but they do need to be taken seriously’
Research from Menopause Experts Group highlights a rise in suicide rates for women aged 45 to 54 – the age when most women experience perimenopause and menopause. Dr Kate Middleton explains why and offers practical coping strategies
‘Sadly, bullying seems to be part of our human journey’
Kate Neal says the growth of social media seems to have created a society in which bullying is more prevalent than ever before, with devastating and even life-altering effects
‘Would I lose my other ovary? Would I lose my hair? Would I lose my life?’
Tola-Doll Fisher felt devastated when cancer resurfaced after a large tumour had been removed from her uterus. But a brave decision gave her a peace that surpassed earthly understanding
‘There is always light at the end of the tunnel,’ says supermodel Bella Hadid
With Bella Hadid candidly sharing her mental health struggles on social media, Helen Roberts looks at the devastating effects the comparison trap can have on us all
Spiking: we need to stop it!
Restored’s Bekah Legg responds to the worrying news that girls are being spiked via injections in nightclubs across the UK
‘My garden brought me hope’
Rachel Bearn shares how being close to creation helped bring her back into relationship with God.
‘I lost interest in sex’
Dr Olúṣẹ̀yẹ Àríkàwé continues our series on the menopause by highlighting the common symptoms and their impact on our lives
Buy this book and you might save someone's life
Bedbound poet Jenny Rowbory refuses to be defined by her broken body. Instead she is raising money for a life-changing operation through her anthology We Are the Winter People
Five things I have learned about… being a peacemaker
Cathy Madavan shares what she strives to do in all her relationships to cultivate unity and peace
‘Overnight, you can be transformed from a confident, successful person to someone who is timid and insecure’
When menopause feels like a terrifying rollercoaster ride, trust in the God who knows you better than you know yourself, says Mel Currer on World Menopause Day
‘The pain of miscarriage was probably worse than full-term labour pains’
To mark Baby Loss Awareness Week (9-15 October) Tammy Tunnah shares about her traumatic miscarriage and how mentally agonising her next pregnancy was, and we look at the place of art therapy in processing baby loss
‘Violence against women is a chronic situation that must be rejected’
Hannah Baylor says it is time for ‘women to claim their worth’ and ‘men to challenge and change their own, and other men’s, behaviour’
‘Poetry speaks into my pain’
As we celebrate National Poetry Day, poet Liz Carter explains how reading and writing poetry has helped her in the darkest moments of her chronic illness
Five things I have learned about… processing the past
Seasoned author Cathy Madavan suggests that, whatever our history, we can learn from it and move on
‘You can’t stop the menopause, but you can improve the experience’
During World Menopause Month, Dr Olúṣẹ̀yẹ Àríkàwé kicks off our three-part series on the menopause, explaining how we can prepare physically, psychologically and spiritually
A new kind of healing
Nutritionist Clare Backhouse explains the ways we can receive healing through prayer, medicine and understanding our own body’s unique needs
Psalm 23 garden touches hearts to win Chelsea gold
Prolific Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) gold medallist Sarah Eberle has created a garden that restores the soul
Instagram may be contributing to teen poor mental health: here’s three ways parents can help
Dr Kate Middleton, psychologist and project lead for Headstrong – an online teen mental health and wellbeing site – responds to reports that Instagram may increase teen anxiety, depression and body image concerns.
My prayer for Boris Johnson
Following the news that the prime minister’s mother has passed away, Claire Musters reflects on her own experience of losing her mum and urges us all to do better at talking about grief
Who’s protecting our kids?
Restored director Bekah Legg believes parents have a pivotal part to play in protecting young people from physical and online abuse
‘There is hope for all our children’
Youth Mental Health Day prompts cognitive behavioural therapist Clarie Miles to reflect on an overstretched youth mental health service
Physical and mental struggles led to a new ministry
Diane Regan shares with Clare Blake how the pain her family has walked through birthed the charity Kintsugi Hope
Body confidence cards encourage users to reflect on their identity
When Denise Sanderson-Estcourt gave up her regular, ‘safe’ job to become an image consultant, some people – Denise included – felt it was a risky move. But God has brought some incredible confidence-building material out of this decision, and there is plenty more to come
Five things I have learned about… being yourself
Seasoned author Cathy Madavan explains how she has come to accept who she is – and how we can do the same
Joyce Meyer: ‘God showed me I had never truly received his love’
After years of trying to love others and failing, Joyce Meyer learned that her main problem was that she didn’t love herself. She shares how God helped her step free from the comparison trap and embrace who she truly is
The dream that turned a widow’s grief into a heavenly story of hope
As a young widow with children, Abi Shotade walked a painful journey of grief. She hopes the book she has written will help other families facing loss
Menopause: “No big deal” or a genuine disability?
Kay Burley described the menopause as “tricky”, but for many women it is a life-changing and even career-ending process. New research shows that menopause-related tribunals have quadrupled in three years
How can we help GCSE students on results day?
The GCSE results are in and, against all odds, it looks as though our young people have excelled themselves. Dr Kate Middleton offers practical tips to get their endorphins going and remind them of the bigger picture, whether they have passed or failed
Why don’t we talk about periods?
Rachel Jones believes that this is a subject that has been neglected by Christians for far too long
What has lockdown done to our children?
Claire Musters, mum to two teenagers, considers how we can all – whether parents/carers or not - support young people this summer and beyond
‘We are not merely animals who should be “put out of our misery”’
As yet another person plans to travel abroad in order to die, Christian Medical Fellowship’s Jennie Pollock suggests there is hope of a better way
Don’t forget the boys
Dr Kate Middleton urges us to consider the rise in eating disorders there have been among our young people
An important decision… for all of us
As another athlete withdrew from the competition she had worked so hard to reach, we tackle the question some have been asking: did Simone Biles ‘play the mental health card’ in Tokyo?
‘I don’t know how to be your mum!’
Given the response we had to the piece on young people’s mental health in May’s issue*, we know that many of you have experienced huge highs and lows over the last 18 months in your families. Here, author Lucy Rycroft gives a snapshot of the impact of COVID-19 on children’s and parents’ mental health, and claims it was no mistake that God picked you to parent your kids
Enjoy the journey
You may be wondering what pilgrimage and the end of lockdown have in common. Having recently walked from Winchester to Canterbury, Penelope Swithinbank offers up three Ps – possessions, purpose and people – to help us link the two
The menopause revolution
We reflect on the new All-Party Parliamentary Group on Menopause and ask you to share your own stories about menopause
Finding peace in everyday life
Have you ever returned from a Christian conference, camp or retreat and wished you could hold on to the sense of joy or peace you experienced at it? Dr Gemma Simmonds is a sister with the Congregation of Jesus and she has written a book to help us bring retreat practices into daily life. She shared some of her own story with Premier’s Maria Rodrigues.
Are we ready to come out of lockdown?
Dr Kate Middleton from the Mind & Soul Foundation recognises that we are experiencing a mixed response to the lifting of restrictions – and offers some helpful advice to us all
Wild swimming
Jemimah Wright shares her own experience of this increasingly popular pastime, and encourages us all to give it a try
Carers need space for their own wellbeing
During Carers Week, 7-13 June, carer and mental health awareness trainer, Anita Kelly shares candidly about the pressure of being a carer, the effect of the pandemic, and how important it is that carers feel valued and cared for themselves.
Look after yourself!
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all the demands and responsibilities in your life? Ruth Rice was a very capable, busy woman, but then one day her life started to unravel. She shared with Premier’s Maria Rodrigues what happened.
Lessons on wellbeing from lockdown
Care for the Family’s Katharine Hill gives us some simple, practical ways that we can boost our emotional wellbeing.
A message of hope
Since the pandemic, the number of eating disorders has risen dramatically. Abbie Young works for tastelife, a charity that offers help to those suffering from food-related issues and their carers. Here she shares about her own struggle with anorexia and why the charity is looking for volunteers right now.
‘I thought my wife would be better off without me’
Premier’s Maria Rodrigues spoke to Patrick and Diane Regan about the physical and mental health challenges he faced, and how they affected Diane too.
Holding grief and joy together
The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (10–16 May) is nature. Here, Rachael Newham bravely shares her story, as well as the part nature has played in her recovery – and how she thinks we all need to give ourselves time and space in this season.
The deep darkness of post-natal depression
As we continue to think about maternal mental health, Lindsay Rumbold bravely shares her own experiences after giving birth to her son.
‘I knew Caleb was safe in heaven’
During Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week (3–9 May) we hear from Chloe Smith, who was heavily pregnant when her four-year-old son died.
Moving from fear to compassion
Christine Soule had a series of traumatic experiences in her childhood, including her stepfather phoning her when she was nine years old and home alone, threatening to rape her. As a result she carried chronic fear into adulthood, until one day God set her free. She shared her story with Premier’s Maria Rodrigues:
Running for the recovery of human slavery survivors
Single mum from Barnsley, Linda Walmsley, is running the Sofa to Summit Kilimanjaro Challenge to raise funds for suicidal human trafficking survivors and for her own lockdown mental health
Trapped in an invisible prison
For Clare Blake’s sister, who has panic attacks, going to church is a challenge. But she’s getting there…
New mental health website for mums
?Motherdom, the UK’s first media platform dedicated to maternal mental health and wellbeing, was launched at the start of March by mum-of-two and journalist Anna Ceesay
To illness and disability – No one is immune
Lily, daughter of leading health expert Liz Earle, talks to Tola-Doll Fisher about how she has grappled with chronic illness and healing
Living fearlessly through this pandemic – and beyond
Catherine Adenrele Runsewe celebrates the resilience of women, and encourages us to build on the foundations we have laid during this time of great difficulty
What has a year of lockdown taught us about home schooling?
As many children have gone back to school this week, Claire Musters takes a look at how parents have found the experience of home schooling
‘It’s ok to admit you’re struggling’
The past year has taken its toll on us all – this online retreat aims to help us deal with the loss and disappointment from COVID-19
Feeling stuck? The Daniel Fast might be just what you need
Susan Gregory invites you to join the millions of women and men around the world reaping the benefits of biblical fasting
‘I didn't tell my family about psychotic episodes’
Rachel Mason is an award-winning singer who has produced a book of short stories and poems about dealing with post-natal depression. She shared her story with Premier radio presenter Maria Rodrigues
Shedding a light on eating disorders
When Di Archer found our her daughter was throwing up 25 times a day, she was thrust into the dark world of bulimia. Di is now founder and CEO
of Tastelife UK which aims to help both sufferers and their families with recoveryI got a lockdown puppy to help my mum with loneliness
The cost of puppies has soared during the COVID-19 pandemic as people race to get a four-legged companion for lockdown but Jemimah Wright says hers is a long-term investment
Is your church a safe space for those with mental illnesses?
Rachael Newham was on an adult psychiatric ward aged 16. Today, she is the founding director of ThinkTwice, an organisation dedicated to changing the way the Church responds to those suffering
‘Your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts’
Talking about bereavement as we kick off the blog series alongside the theme for the November edition of Woman Alive - ‘Life and Loss’.
An honest conversation about suffering
Authors Claire Musters and Amy Orr-Ewing talk candidly about the personal losses that led them to write two new books
‘Dyslexia is my secret weapon’
A practicing psychotherapist talks about being diagnosed with dyslexia in her 40s and the surprising success she has experienced as a result
3 steps to a satisfied soul
Some midweek motivation for #WellbeingWednesday
Can you use rose hip to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis?
This week is dedicated to increasing the profile of a disease that affects almost half a million people in the UK. One company is dedicated to providing a natural healer using rose hip
#Blessed
Lindsay Macdonald reminds us to stop comparing and start celebrating
'I can still be loved even with wounds'
Hope Virgo suffered abuse at 13 and battled anorexia for years. Here she shares how she learned to push aside the need to be "perfect" before God
Who Am I?
The pandemic has caused many of us to question our identity. Sheila Jacobs finds confidence in an inheritance that will never ‘perish, spoil or fade’
‘We don’t need to hustle for God’s attention’
While society teaches us we need to look and be a certain way, Florence Gildea asserts that God loves us as we are so we can stop seeking outside validation
The power of stories
We need stories for our times of uncertainty and pain, says Tanya Marlow
Could this be the single person's antidote to loneliness?
In support of Loneliness Awareness Week, Kimberley Pena explains that dance therapy can reduce the feeling of disconnect
5 ways to stay resilient during lockdown
We were not designed for a socially distanced existence. Writer Cathy Madavan explains how we can adapt to our new normal
Sheila Walsh: Church leaders hit rock bottom too!
Has your church leader or a preacher you know hit rock bottom without you realising?
'Early trauma affected my mental health'
Writer Fran Hill lost her mother when she was just 14. Here she considers the lasting impact long into adulthood
Less is sometimes more
Veronica Zundel challenges us to make space for silence each day
Coping with a loss of connection
Trained cuddle therapist Rebekka Mikkola explains the theory behind cuddle therapy and how we can weather the absence of touch during COVID-19
To your very good health...
Veronica Zundel challenges to think about how we treat those will chronic illnesses
Joining together to stop leprosy
Linda Todd, chief executive of The Leprosy Mission Scotland, explains that leprosy is not an ancient disease; it still ravages people today
Isolation can’t stop us connecting
Coronavirus, the biggest party-pooper of them all, has swept across the world and changed society as we know it, separating us from one another. Here are some ways to counter that…
Hold tight – or let go
In a letter sent from Portugal to Sir Francis Walsingham, in 1587, Sir Francis Drake memorably wrote, “There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end, until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory.”
My husband's depression affected us both
We’ve often heard from people living with depression, but what is it like for those who love and care for them? Catriona Futter shares her experience of trying to support her husband
Make a spring resolution
This is a good time to ask some serious questions, says Penelope Wilcock
When Christmas hurts
For many people Christmas can be a difficult time of year. Gillian Phillips reflects on her own experience and how the true message of Christmas offers hope and healing
How to be content in all situations
St Paul learned the secret of contentment and we can too, says Liz Carter
Can you be just too lovely?
Being kind and serving others are foundational to Christian living, but we can take it too far, warns Sarah Phillips
Living with a life-limiting illness
Ruth van den Broek was diagnosed with the degenerative disease cystic fibrosis (CF) as a baby and grew up knowing she would not live to a ripe old age. Now in the ‘twilight years’ of her late twenties, she tells Sharon Barnard why she is able to look to the future with hope
Welcome the season of stirrings
Kate Waterman looks at how to make the most of spring.
Be a force for good
Penelope Wilcock suggests we take inspiration from monastic traditions and learn to speak and listen wisely
Connect with the seasons
Build rest into your life by following the ancient seasonal rhythms of the year, says Kate Waterman ...
How to deal with disappointment
Claire Musters explains why we need to work through our disappointments and shares what has helped her through some testing times
What's robbing you of your peace?
Jennifer Rees Larcombe identifies what robs us of peace as "morbids". She explains how to recognise them and send them packing!
I discovered I was a food addict
Read Hilary Browne's story of compulsive overeating and how she broke free ...
A horse changed my life
Hazel Southam explains how a horse called Duke was able to bring her comfort and hope during the most stressful year of her life ...
The Banana Trap
Susan Williams considers the challenge of change and why we are so often resistant even when things are going wrong ...
Coping with no work
Miriam Dann explains the sobering experience that being unemployed had on her and how she changed how she saw herself and others as a result ...
What is perfectionism?
Rev Will van der Hart discusses the basis of perfectionism showing it is a male as well as a female issue and how grace is the only antidote ....
Taking on too much?
Sue Williams discusses the difficulties of saying "No" as Christians but the importance of setting boundaries for everyone's best interests ...
Filled with shame
Carol Bostock reports on her shame of weighing 26 stone, taking drastic surgical measures to lose weight and how she found real healing beyond this
Rejection hurts
Suzanne Green shares what she has learned about keeping your self-esteem intact
Where are you hiding?
Nicki Copeland reveals the many things we may hide behind to protect ourselves
His identity was lost
Sheridan tells Amy Boucher-Pye how he dealt with the disappointments and doubts in his life
Renew your mind
Michele Morrison explores how we can change our thinking habits and achieve a 'holier' mind ...
Manage stress better
Learn from Kate Middleton (the other one!) why stress can be a particular problem for busy Christians and how we can learn to manage it well
Mindful of God
Veronica Zundel explains how she finds 'mindfulness' helpful both mentally and spiritually
Jesus was my lifeline
Discover Joyce Passmore's story of how she clung to Jesus during her 15 years confined in a psychiatric hospital
Be kind to ourselves
Learn from Tania Bright how to embrace and move on from our failures
Therapeutic Journalling
Lyn Alderson explains how keeping a journal can help combat the stress and worries of our lives
Strain of caring
Paul Tonks was overjoyed when his wife was healed, but then started to have difficulties of his own
Mental health stigma
Katharine Welby-Roberts, daughter of the Archbishop of Canterbury, talks to Ali Herbert about coping with mental health issues
It's not about you
Amanda Pilz discusses ways we are taught to build our confidence and self-esteem and shows us how it should be done
Internet grooming
A reader's experience of being groomed on the net shows it is not just the young who are being targeted ...
Be kind to yourself
Fun and frivolity are essential to our well-being – Penelope Wilcock explains why
Taking God at his Word
Ruth Flynn explains how the Bible helped her face and overcome her fear of water
Lose weight, feel great
Liz Babbs looks to faith and lifestyle rather than faddy diets to achieve a fit and healthy body
Have a clear out!
Lucy Mills challenges us to deal with the clutter that clogs up our hearts and minds, and suggests helpful ways we can do this ...
A spiritual journal
Amy Boucher-Pye discusses the practicalities and benefits of keeping a spiritual journal
Christmas redeemed
Simplicity is the way to go if we want to rescue the festival, says Penelope Wilcock
How to eat for energy
What we eat can transform our energy levels, says Emma Cockrell
April 2013 Abundant Life
Many of us seek relief from illness or disability, but suffering can yield precious things, says Joni Eareckson Tada
January 2013 Living Well
Many people fear dementia, but a retired GP diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s in 2009, chooses to see it as an opportunity to serve God
November 2012 The Tragedy of Suicide
We talk to two women whose loved ones have taken their own lives
October 2012 Lifelines
How 'tearing my hair out' became a literal truth for one primary school teacher
September 2012 Inside Story
Why anorexia, sometimes described as 'the good girl's drug', affects so many women and girls in our churches
August 2012 Wellbeing
Should Christians seek counselling? Lucinda van der Hart talks to those involved
June 2012 Abundant Life
Joni Eareckson Tada says the secret of contentment is to be flexible
May 2012 Wellbeing
It's time to be your own best friend!
April 2012 Feel Good
The healing power of food
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