It's been five weeks since I started my new job at Cygnet Health Care, and I'm pleased to say I'm absolutely loving it! For those who don't know my story, several years ago I spent around ten months across three admissions to psychiatric hospitals, including a period when I was sectioned at Cygnet. Fast forward to today, and I'm now working for the very same organisation, supporting people experiencing their own mental health challenges. It's quite surreal when I stop and think about it. In 2017, my psychotherapist suggested that I might work in mental health one day. I remember feeling angry because, at the time, I couldn't imagine that future for myself. Yet here I am. After sixteen months working in supported living, I've taken another step forward in my career. Five weeks in, I'm enjoying the challenges, learning plenty, and feeling positive about how I'm progressing. I'm proud of how far I've come, but I'm equally excited about how much further I can grow. My lived experience doesn't make me an expert in somebody else's struggles, but I hope it helps me bring empathy, understanding and hope to those I support. If there's one thing I'd like you to take from this, it's that your circumstances today don't necessarily determine your future. Keep believing in the possibility of better days. 💚 ... Have you ever achieved something that, at one point in your life, you genuinely believed was impossible?

7 years ago, I said no to alcohol. 6 years ago, I said yes to medication. 5 years ago, I said yes to the gym. None of those decisions fixed everything overnight. But each one helped move my life in a better direction. The gym in particular has become about far more than how I look. It's given me routine, discipline, somewhere to channel difficult days, and another reason to keep showing up for myself. Progress hasn't always been straightforward, but I've kept moving forward. What’s one decision you’ve made that changed your life for the better?

Last night I somehow ended up on stage at Bingo Loco, dancing topless with three complete strangers 😂 I was genuinely nervous getting up there and very nearly didn't want to do it. But I did it nervous anyway - and I'm really glad I did. Sometimes getting outside your comfort zone doesn't have to be anything deep or life-changing. Sometimes it just looks like making an absolute idiot of yourself on stage 😂 I'm the one on the right 👀

Tonight I'm trying something new. I'll be going live on TikTok this evening for the first time. No big agenda. No polished production. Just a real conversation around mental health, personal development, life, and whatever questions come up. If you'd like to join me, come and say hello. Time: 7:30pm TikTok: @TalkingWithTom

"This Is Not How My Story Ends" At 29 years old, professional coach Andy James had lost almost everything. His business was gone. His relationship had ended. He'd lost access to his son. He was battling severe anxiety, depression and agoraphobia. Then one morning, standing in front of a bathroom mirror, he made a decision that changed the course of his life. This is a small clip from a much longer conversation we recorded together. The first half of the 80min interview is now available on YouTube and covers mental health, resilience, identity, recovery and what it really takes to rebuild your life when everything falls apart. YouTube link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvARCnitAcnFEJVj_Sv_P-JqGVatgXX8H&si=QMeaa-GzMZ_Qb1Wc