“It’s okay, I spoke to ChatGPT about it this morning and feel so much better.”

When we think about decision making, it’s tempting to picture a careful, logical process: weighing up the pros and cons, analysing the risks, and calmly choosing the best option. Many of us pride ourselves on being “rational” and try to push emotions out of the equation.

But psychology and neuroscience tell us something quite different: emotions are not barriers to good decisions, they are essential to them. Without emotions, we would struggle to make even the simplest choices.

Perfectionism is often praised in our culture. Job interviews reward “perfectionist” as a strength, schools admire students who push for flawless results, and many people wear the label with pride. But behind the polished surface, perfectionism carries hidden costs that can quietly erode mental health, relationships, and overall wellbeing.

The co-occurrence of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is increasingly recognised in clinical settings. While these two conditions may appear distinct at first glance, they share deeper psychological mechanisms that can blur diagnostic boundaries and complicate treatment. For individuals, families, and clinicians alike, recognising how these disorders interact is crucial to providing effective support.

Group therapy is often overlooked in favour of one-on-one treatment, but for many people, it can be an incredibly powerful therapeutic experience. Whether it’s supporting those with anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma or relational difficulties, group work offers unique benefits that individual therapy simply can’t replicate.

I keep coming back to this thought: OCD doesn’t just live in someone’s head. It seeps out into daily life, and most of all, into relationships. The constant checking, the nagging need for reassurance, the way routines and rituals quietly run the show. It doesn’t just affect you, it affects the people around you.