Live Life Not Strife

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Live Life Not Strife

Clinical Psychologist, Physical and Remote appointments. Main Office Altrincham. Appointments also available at: Alderley Edge, Central London and North London.

Remote appointments available via Zoom and WhatsApp for any time zone.

27/07/2026

A little bit of light content with a big message 💪

21/07/2026

ADHD is finally becoming more widely accepted and diagnosed especially in adults.
Here is a lovely video which helps to explain some of things you or someone you know may experience but not fully understand.

19/07/2026

HEATWAVE & MENTAL HEALTH MEDICATIONS: What You Need to Know

Some mental health medications can make it harder for your body to cope with extreme heat. This isn’t talked about enough — but it’s important, especially during a heatwave.

These medications can affect sweating, hydration, temperature regulation, or sun sensitivity. That means your body may struggle more to stay cool.

Medications that may increase heat sensitivity (not a complete list, check your medication leaflets, any doubt, call your chemist)

1. Antipsychotics
Certain antipsychotics can reduce your ability to sweat or regulate temperature.
Common examples include:
Olanzapine
Risperidone
Quetiapine
Clozapine
Haloperidol
These can increase the risk of overheating or dehydration.

2. Antidepressants
Some antidepressants can affect sweating, hydration, or sun sensitivity.
This can include:
SSRIs (e.g., sertraline, fluoxetine, citalopram)
SNRIs (e.g., venlafaxine, duloxetine)
Tricyclics (e.g., amitriptyline, imipramine) — these are particularly known for heat‑related sensitivity
MAOIs

3. Mood Stabilisers
Some mood stabilisers can impact hydration or salt balance.
Examples include:
Lithium (heat + dehydration can affect lithium levels)
Valproate
Carbamazepine

4. Anti‑Anxiety Medications
Sedating medications can make you less aware of heat stress.
Examples include:
Benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam, lorazepam)
Pregabalin
Gabapentin

5. ADHD / Stimulant Medications
Stimulants can increase body temperature and reduce appetite or thirst.
Examples include:
Methylphenidate
Lisdexamfetamine
Dexamfetamine

6. Medications that increase sun sensitivity
Some mental health medications can make skin more reactive to sunlight.
Examples include:
Certain antidepressants (especially tricyclics)
Some antipsychotics
Mood stabilisers like lamotrigine

www.livelifenotstrife.co.uk

18/07/2026

Do you take Quiteapine? Or similar medications

QUETIAPINE & HEATWAVES: What People Should Know

Quetiapine (brand name Seroquel) is an antipsychotic medication commonly used for:

Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Depression (as an adjunct)
Severe anxiety

During a heatwave, people taking quetiapine may need to take extra care, because the medication can affect how the body copes with high temperatures.

Quetiapine and other drugs for mental health conditions can:
Reduce sweating
Affect temperature regulation
Increase sedation (making heat symptoms harder to notice)
Increase dehydration risk
Make people feel more fatigued or dizzy in hot weather

This means the body may struggle more to cool itself down.

Signs to watch for in a heatwave
Feeling unusually tired or weak
Dizziness or light‑headedness
Confusion or difficulty concentrating
Very dry mouth
Reduced sweating
Feeling overheated even in shade

These are signs the body is struggling.

Practical safety steps
Drink water regularly throughout the day
Avoid direct sun during peak hours
Use fans, shade, or cool cloths
Take breaks from activity
Store medication correctly (heat can affect stability)

Seek medical advice if you feel unwell or unsure

A gentle reminder
If you take Quetiapine, needing extra care in hot weather isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s simply how the medication works.
Listening to your body is an act of self‑care.

17/07/2026

THURSDAY THOUGHTS: How Heatwaves Affect Your Mind as Much as Your Body

When temperatures rise, most people think about staying hydrated and finding shade — but heat affects your emotional regulation, stress levels, and cognitive clarity too.

During a heatwave, your body works harder to keep you cool. That extra physical strain can lead to:

Increased irritability
Lower patience
Difficulty concentrating
Heightened anxiety or overwhelm
Feeling “snappy” or unusually emotional

None of this means you’re failing. It means you’re human.

If you notice your mood shifting this week, try:

Slowing your pace — your nervous system needs it
Drinking more water than you think you need
Taking breaks from direct sun
Reducing over-stimulation (noise, crowds, rushing)
Offering yourself compassion instead of criticism

Your mind and body are connected. Caring for one supports the other.

Stay cool, stay gentle with yourself, and remember: emotional regulation is harder in extreme heat, not because you’re doing something wrong, but because your system is under pressure.

13/07/2026

The first year of grief is raw because everything you do is happening without that important person in your life. Holidays, festivals, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. The second year, you know you can face these, simply because you've done it once before, but that doesn't mean the healing's finished. Slowly, you come to reintegrate the person you've lost in your memories, in the life you're leading without them, you weave them into your life tapestry it's a different way of holding them as you continue through your own life.

For help dealing with grief and loss:

www,livelifenotstrife.co.uk

12/07/2026

SUNDAY — The Reset

Sundays carry a unique emotional weight. For many people, it’s the day when “tomorrow thoughts” begin — planning, anticipating, worrying, bracing. This can create a quiet Sunday anxiety that steals the rest you’re meant to have.

But Sunday can also be a reset — a moment to ground yourself before the week begins.

Instead of preparing for Monday with pressure, prepare with compassion.

A mindful Sunday reset:
Write down one intention for the week.
Not a goal — an intention. Something that guides your energy rather than measures your output.
Plan one moment of joy to look forward to.
A small anchor of positivity can shift the emotional tone of your week.
Remind yourself that you can start gently.
You don’t need to hit the ground running. You can ease in.

Sundays don’t have to be about anticipation.
They can be about awareness, grounding, and choosing how you want to show up.

www.livelifenotstrife.co.uk

11/07/2026

SATURDAY — The Pause Day

Saturday is often seen as the “catch‑up” day — chores, errands, life admin. But emotionally, Saturday can be a powerful pause point. It’s the first day where your nervous system has permission to slow down after a week of structure, expectations, and emotional labour.

Rest is not the opposite of productivity — it’s part of it.

Your mind and body need space to recalibrate. When you rest, you’re not doing nothing. You’re healing. You’re processing. You’re allowing your system to settle.

A gentle Saturday reflection:
What does my body need today?
Movement? Stillness? Nourishment? Sleep?

What does my mind need to release?
A worry, a responsibility, a self‑criticism you’ve been carrying.

What would make today feel nourishing rather than “busy”?
Something small, intentional, and kind.

Give yourself permission to treat Saturday as a recovery space.
Your wellbeing deserves room to breathe. Its okay to take time to just be you, chill and take a break!

www.livelifenotstrife.co.uk

10/07/2026

FRIDAY — The Gentle Finish Line

Friday often brings a complicated mix of relief and pressure.
Relief because the week is nearly over. Pressure because many people feel they should “tie everything up” before the weekend begins. That internal push can create a quiet sense of urgency — even when your body is asking for rest.

But here’s the truth:
You don’t need to earn your weekend by finishing everything. You don’t need to prove you’ve been productive enough. You don’t need to sprint to the finish line.

Try this gentle Friday practice:

Acknowledge one thing you’re genuinely proud of this week.
Not the biggest achievement — the one that felt meaningful.

Leave one task intentionally unfinished.
This is a powerful act of self‑trust. It says, “I can return to this when I have capacity.”

Choose one way to decompress that isn’t about productivity.
A slow walk, a quiet cup of tea, a moment of stillness. Rest is not a reward — it’s a need.

Fridays don’t have to be a race.
They can be a soft landing.

www.livelifenotstrife.co.uk

09/07/2026

Thursday Check‑In: The “Almost There” Pressure

Many people feel an unexpected weight on Thursdays. For some Thursday is the toughest day of the week...
It’s the day where the week’s unfinished tasks start to pile up, and the weekend feels close enough to imagine but far enough to feel out of reach. That pressure can quietly drain your energy and make you feel like you “should be doing more”.

If today feels heavy, try this gentle reset:
Name one thing you have done this week — not everything you haven’t.
Choose one small, achievable task for today — not the whole list.
Give yourself permission to slow down — productivity isn’t the only measure of a good week.

Emotional wellbeing isn’t built on perfect weeks.
It’s built on moments where you pause, breathe, and choose kindness toward yourself.

You’re doing better than you think.

Help is always there if you need it:

www.livelifenotstrife.co.uk

Address

28 London Road
Altrincham
SK97DZ

Website

http://www.livelifenotstrife.co.uk/, https://www.hcpc.co.uk/checkregister, https://www.efpa.eu/, https://www.bps.org.uk/

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