Bryony Gordon webchat: Join her on Tuesday 4 October, 9-10pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Journalist Bryony Gordon is joining us on Tuesday 4 October between 9 and 10pm to chat about living with OCD, the subject of her latest book.

Bryony has written for The Telegraph for 15 years and her weekly column has won her an army of fans who have followed her journey from single girl-about-town to settled mum. She is now 35 and lives in ‘Nappy Valley’ with her young daughter and husband.

Bryony’s memoir, Mad Girl was our non-fiction book of the month in August, and recounts her experience of living a life ruled by OCD. One reader said:

“I applaud Bryony for her complete honesty and admire her bravery writing open-heartedly about such a sensitive personal matter, which she did in such a fearless and often hilarious way. I cannot remember ever reading a book which made me laugh out loud one minute and cry the next - that shows the strength of prose in this amazing book... I urge you all to read it to have a better understanding of mental health issues - let's lift the taboo, get talking about it, and give strength to all of us who are the 'one in four'!"

Come and chat to Bryony and put your questions to her on Tuesday evening between 9 and 10pm. If you’re unable to join us then, please do post up a question in advance on this thread.

We're delighted that Bryony will be also joining us as one of our speakers at Blogfest 16 - you can see the full programme here.

[sharond101]

What was your turning point towards recovery and can you help any other sufferers by motivating them towards that turning point by any hindsight you may have gained?

[Silvertap]

I don't have any questions for you Bryony - just wanted to say I love your columns. And the fact you are the only other person I know of whose thrown away a vacuum because the hoovered up a spider.

[hollyisalovelyname]

Bryony I am just amazed that you 'shared' so much of your life in 'The Wrong Knickers'.
How did your Mum, Dad, siblings and husband feel about it?

[Acopyofacopy]

No questions yet, just place marking, I'm a fan!

[ExitPursuedBySpartacus]

I'll forget to join as a bit late for me. But I am a mahoosive fan of your columns.

[LineyReborn]

How do you cope with writing deadlines?

Thanks for the web chat.

[RoastieToastieReastie]

Looking forward to this. I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of the book from mn and found it very interesting and readable and, despite the serious subject matter the book made me smile.

I know from your book things are at the moment much improved with OCD for you after successful therapy. Do you worry about it coming back and whether things will get bad again? Do you think you can ever think totally be cured? (One in general) Sorry, that sounds rather a downer of a thought. I only ask as I have mh issues related to a phobia and I've had very good therapy but I still find it goes through peaks and troughs and I live in fear of it getting bad again in a similar way that I've lost a lot of weight and I live in anxiety that will all go back on again. Hmm, I'm sensing this is maybe just my issue with anxiety here!

I'd also like to know how the running is going? I've recently stared and only up to a measly 5k (although can now do it in less than 30 minutes). The colder weather coming is making me think I need a winter running wardrobe as shorts and tshirt will not cut it in winter any excuse to go clothes shopping.

[sarahsusannah]

Hi Bryony, I loved Mad Girl - was so impressed by its frankness and warmth. Very struck by the fact you that show your problems started in childhood, and I was wondering what advice you would give to parents of children or teenagers with mental health issues and how they can best go about supporting them and getting them help?

[glenka]

Thank you for bringing mental health illnesses into the spotlight so we can get more attention to these debilitating often not talked about issues. As someone who suffers from different mental health problems I would like to ask how did you know when it was time to get help and did you worry about if your illness would be taken seriously.

[Me2017]

I love reading the weekly column in the Telegraph magazine and in fact my (adult) daughter likes me to save it for her too. Keep it up On OCD it is very important for people to know other out there suffer from it.

My family are mostly psychiatrists who treat/have treated OCD and I am probably more aware than others of mental health issues for that reason.

What is the biggest thing we could do to help others in this area?

I am particularly concerned about the use of OCD in general English chat these days for people who are just a bit fussy about being clean. It then means those who have debilitating OCD (who cannot leave the house for 3 hours as they keep checking the door is locked or cleaning down the surfaces until hands are red raw or whatever) are then linked with people who have no such condition at all. What can we do to stop people talking about their "OCD" when they don't have it and just happen to be particularly tidy or clean?

[starlight36]

I thought this was an incredibly brave book to write and I found it an inspiring read.

Throughout the book you mention how mental health care needs to be improved in this country, especially for people who can't afford to pay for private doctors and therapists. Following on from the success of Mental Health Mates do you think there is a way to convince the government that better universal care needs to be provided? Do you see yourself fronting a political campaign?

[Jen145]

Hi Bryony - I was wondering if you have ever dealt with intrusive thoughts or OCD traits re surfacing and how you deal with them? Thanks Jen

[FrankensteinsSister]

Hi Bryony,
Another mum with similar OCD here. Thanks for talking about it.
Do you feel it has limited your life?
The older I get the more I hate my anxiety and resent the impact it has had on my life and opportunities. I am beginning to feel it as a life long disability, and that's pretty depressing!
I was treated appallingly in post natal ward because of my anxiety. Is the treatment of new mums with MH issues something you think worth investigating?

[Greavesey2011]

Hi Bryony
Thank you for such a great read. The symptoms you describe throughout pregnancy I could have written myself! I haven't had anymore children through fear of it happening again, do you feel there should be more information and support to help people through pregnancy etc

[RachelMumsnet]

We're really happy to welcome Bryony Gordon to Mumsnet this evening for the next hour when she'll be around for a chat and answering your questions. Bryony, thanks so much for writing such an honest and truly funny memoir which resonated with so many of us. There's already a number of questions come in, so without further ado, welcome to Mumsnet...

[BryonyGordon]

Hello Mumsnetters! Thanks for having me, and thank you for all the questions you've put up already. I'm on my sofa in my pyjamas (as I sincerely hope you are!) and ready to have a good old natter with you all... how's everyone doing?

[BryonyGordon]

Hi sarahsusannah, thanks for your message. I hear this so often, as MH issues will usually show themselves by adolescence. My advice? Offer an open non-judgemental ear. Tell them nothing they can say will scare you. Remind them that mental illness is a liar - it tells you you're a freak, that you're worthless, that nobody understands you, but it is WRONG! Finally, love them. Sometimes, love is all you need

[BryonyGordon]

Hi sharond1, so, my turning point was, um, having a baby. When she was about 14 months old I had a complete breakdown and I thought 'for her sake, I HAVE to get proper help now'. I was quite happy to be unkind to myself until I had someone else to look after. Then I knew I had to start looking after myself

[BryonyGordon]

Oops, I've forgotten to put the original questions in my posts. Can you tell got woken up twice last night by a toddler?

[BryonyGordon]

@Silvertap

I don't have any questions for you Bryony - just wanted to say I love your columns. And the fact you are the only other person I know of whose thrown away a vacuum because the hoovered up a spider.

I love you Silvertap!

[BryonyGordon]

@hollyisalovelyname

Bryony I am just amazed that you 'shared' so much of your life in 'The Wrong Knickers'.
How did your Mum, Dad, siblings and husband feel about it?

Do you know, my husband still hasn't read The Wrong Knickers. He says: "I don't need to read about all the sh*ing you did before you met me'. Which is fair enough. My sister had to stop reading when she got to the threesome bit. My mum just said 'where was this girl's mother?!'

[BryonyGordon]

@sharond101

What was your turning point towards recovery and can you help any other sufferers by motivating them towards that turning point by any hindsight you may have gained?

Hi sharond1, so, my turning point was, um, having a baby. When she was about 14 months old I had a complete breakdown and I thought 'for her sake, I HAVE to get proper help now'. I was quite happy to be unkind to myself until I had someone else to look after. Then I knew I had to start looking after myself

[BryonyGordon]

@sarahsusannah

Hi Bryony, I loved Mad Girl - was so impressed by its frankness and warmth. Very struck by the fact you that show your problems started in childhood, and I was wondering what advice you would give to parents of children or teenagers with mental health issues and how they can best go about supporting them and getting them help?

Hi sarahsusannah, thanks for your message. I hear this so often, as MH issues will usually show themselves by adolescence. My advice? Offer an open non-judgemental ear. Tell them nothing they can say will scare you. Remind them that mental illness is a liar - it tells you you're a freak, that you're worthless, that nobody understands you, but it is WRONG! Finally, love them. Sometimes, love is all you need

[SansaClegane]

Hi Bryony, I also just wanted to chime in and say I've been reading your columns for years and absolutely love your writing. Haven't read your book (sorry!) but as someone who has battled with mental health problems themselves, I admire you tackling the subject and trying to remove stigma.

[BryonyGordon]

@LineyReborn

How do you cope with writing deadlines?

Thanks for the web chat.

Coffee. Sometimes the odd fag. But don't tell anyone