Latest Stories from Olivia
You decide – is it possible to get rid of anxiety?
With increasing social media pressure, global conflict, the climate crisis, low employment rates and rising energy costs, young people have a lot to be anxious about today. But must we live with anxiety, or can we train our bodies to expel it? If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve experienced anxiety at least once before. Anxiety is feeling uneasy; it’s having a mild – or severe – fear about something that...
Diabetes doesn’t have to lead to disordered eating
Those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are more than twice as likely to experience an eating disorder than people without, yet specialists continue to encourage carbohydrate-counting and food logging. How can diabetics avoid sliding down the slippery slope of disordered eating? Finding a balance between the right intake of food versus insulin is a dilemma diabetics face from the very outset of their diagnosis. So it’s only natural that, at...
Seven diabetes myths debunked
While diabetes can be traced back to Egypt in 1550 BC, the condition is still deeply misunderstood nearly 4,000 years later. Here are a few common misconceptions, debunked. Technology and the internet are removing the mystery surrounding diabetes for both Type 1 and Type 2 patients. With information always available at our fingertips, online communities spanning the globe, and body monitors tracking our blood sugar at all moments of the day,...
Opinion – How I came to terms with Type 1 diabetes
Getting diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 21 was nothing short of life-changing, but in a matter of weeks I have learned there is a silver lining to everything – even chronic health conditions. ‘There will be moments where you’ll think: “Why me?” but you can’t think that way. Because there is no “why” and this is just something that is now part of what makes you, you.’ My nurse, Dorcas,...
Where are we with climate education?
This month, the world celebrates International Day of Education. But as the climate crisis continues to approach us, where does it sit in our curriculums and why is it ever more critical that we teach our children how to tackle it? I still remember the first time I learned of climate change. Although, back then, it was more widely known as global warming. It was during a rainy science lesson in...
Opinion – Italian art must acknowledge its powerful women
The proposed erection of a statue celebrating the world’s first woman to get a PhD has sparked backlash across Italy. Should society still be allowed to debate the creation of art that salutes the female gender? In 1678, Elena Cornaro Piscopia became the first-ever woman to receive a PhD. In 1776, the city of Padua, where she had lived and died, decided to erect 88 statues of all its important,...
Opinion – Let’s drop our self-improvement obsession in 2022
Reports predict almost half of UK citizens vow to exercise more, improve their diet, or lose weight at the turn of a new year. But is that an image we should still be chasing? Food, sparkling wine, Christmas markets and snow; I have loved this time of year ever since I can remember. But soon after the laid-back lifestyle and the feasts comes 1 January and its long list of to-do...
Living with someone on the hunt for a work visa
In the year ending March 2021, there were 37% fewer work-related visas granted than the previous year, reflecting the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. What is it really like for those looking for a work visa? In the journalism sector, which has already dramatically shrunk in the past decade, many visa-dependent graduates have faced a strenuous journey to employment. I didn’t know how privileged I was until I met someone who...
Going Green Media aim to help you take control of eco-anxiety
Reports estimate that 75% of young people are worried about the future of our planet, meaning eco-anxiety is at an all-time high. Educating ourselves, rather than ignoring the problem, might be the best way to settle our worries. ‘Some may say ignorance is bliss, and the more you know, the more anxious you will feel,’ says Ben Brown, co-founder of sustainable project platform Going Green Media. ‘We disagree.’ During his time...
How can the UK reduce its levels of textile pollution?
The UK is the fourth biggest textile polluter in Europe, sending 350 million kilograms of wearable clothes to landfill every year. But a recent documentary highlights that fashion designers, textile makers, and consumers could come together to change that forever. ‘Our current consumption of clothing and trends is shaped by a neo-colonial mindset that thinks: "I need to look great to be empowered, even if it's at the expense of...
