In 'No Such Thing as Normal', Bryony Gordon provides a lively and honest guide to mental health, covering topics such as sleep, addiction, worry, medication, self-image, boundary setting, therapy, and mindfulness. The book aims to help readers navigate a poorly funded mental health system and feel less alone in their struggles. It offers practical advice and tools for improving mental well-being, drawing from Gordon's personal experiences with mental health issues.
In 'Let Down Your Hair', Bryony Gordon crafts a compelling YA narrative inspired by Rapunzel. The story follows Barb, a teenager famous online for her beautiful hair, who develops alopecia and must navigate the complexities of identity and self-acceptance. Drawing from Gordon's own experiences with alopecia and anxiety, the book explores themes of social media, loneliness, and finding one's true self.
CAUTION: Contains swearing and themes of an adult nature.
Today’s guest has a remarkable life story which includes addiction, mental health struggles, eating disorders, guilt, shame and so much more. Bryony Gordon is a prominent mental health campaigner, a journalist and a bestselling author. Bryony’s latest book, Let Down Your Hair, is a novel about social media, mental health, self-esteem and body image. She’s also recently released a Sunday Times bestseller, No Such Thing As Normal: What My Mental Illness Has Taught Me About Mental Wellness in paperback form.
You may be familiar with Bryony from her Telegraph column, her many books, or her Mad World podcast. Perhaps you’re one of the 206,000 people who follow her updates on Instagram. Or, maybe you know her as the Founder of peer support group Mental Health Mates. Even if you’re new to Bryony and her work, you’re about to get to know her pretty well, thanks to her hallmark honesty and authenticity when it comes to telling her story.
We begin this conversation by talking about Bryony’s experience of obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD. This condition is often misunderstood, with people reducing it to being ‘just’ about excessive tidiness or needing things in order. But Bryony shares the reality of the dark, obsessive thoughts that ruled her life from her early teens. She’s unflinchingly honest about how it led her into alcoholism, drug addiction and bulimia.
We also talk about her surprising relationship with marathon running, her new-found commitment to exercise for how it makes her feel, not how it makes her look and the coping mechanisms she uses to deal with the negative voices inside her head.
Although she would be the first to say she’s a ‘work in progress’ – as all of us are – Bryony passes on some real gems of practical advice and encouragement throughout this conversation which is fun, uplifting and inspiring.
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses eating disorders and may not be suitable for everyone.
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Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/314
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