Craig A Field MHFA

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Craig A Field MHFA Reducing the stigma around mental health, one conversation at a time. Space to be. Starting conversations. Creating hope. Together we CAN make a difference!
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22/10/2026

Today I'm talking about the people we often forget to check on.
The people who always seem strong.
You probably know someone like this.
They're the person everyone goes to when they have a problem.
They're the listener.
The helper.
The organiser.
The person who checks in on everyone else.
They always seem to know what to say.
They seem to cope with everything.
And because they appear strong, we assume they're okay.
But here's the thing:
Strong people struggle too.
Sometimes the people who are always supporting everyone else have nobody they feel comfortable leaning on themselves.
Sometimes they've become so used to being the helper that they don't know how to ask for help.
And sometimes everyone assumes:
“They'll be fine.”
But being the strong one can be exhausting.
Always being the person who holds everything together.
Always being the person who listens.
Always being the one people depend on.
And then going home and carrying your own struggles in silence.
Sometimes strong people don't ask for help because they don't want to disappoint anyone.
They don't want to worry people.
Or perhaps they don't even know how to stop being the person everyone expects them to be.
That's why I think we need to check on them too.
Don't assume someone is okay simply because they're functioning.
Don't assume they're okay because they're smiling.
Or because they're helping everyone else.
Sometimes the people who appear the strongest have simply become very good at hiding when they're struggling.
So ask them.
And don't just ask:
“How are you?”
while walking away before they can answer.
Slow down.
Give them the opportunity to be honest.
Try asking:
“You're always checking on everyone else. How are you really going?”
And then be prepared to listen.
Because sometimes strong people don't need you to fix anything.
They just need permission to stop being strong for a moment.
They need someone to remind them:
“You don't have to carry everything alone either.”
And if you're watching this and you're always the strong one, I want to say something to you.
You are allowed to need help.
You are allowed to have a bad day.
You are allow

22/10/2026

Today I'm talking about self-medication.

And why people sometimes turn to alcohol, drugs or other behaviours when they're struggling.

Because from the outside, it's easy to look at someone's behaviour and ask:

“Why don't they just stop?”

But sometimes a better question is:

“What are they trying to escape?”

People self-medicate for different reasons.

It might be anxiety.

Depression.

Trauma.

Grief.

Loneliness.

Stress.

Shame.

Or feelings they simply don't know how to deal with.

For me, alcohol wasn't just about drinking.

It became a way of escaping.

For a while, it gave me a break from what I was feeling.

It helped me numb things I didn't want to face.

At least, that's what I believed it was doing.

And that's the difficult thing about self-medication.

Something can seem like it's helping in the short term while causing even more problems in the long term.

The drink might take the edge off anxiety for a few hours.

But what happens when the alcohol wears off?

The gambling might distract someone from their pain for a while.

But then there are consequences waiting afterwards.

Food, work, s*x, social media, shopping or other behaviours can all become ways of avoiding difficult feelings.

And I'm not saying that everyone who drinks, shops or spends time on social media is self-medicating.

Of course not.

The point is that sometimes a behaviour becomes less about enjoyment and more about escape.

“I don't want to feel this, so I need something to take me away from it.”

That's why I think compassion matters.

When we only focus on the behaviour, we can miss what's underneath it.

The alcohol might not be the original problem.

The alcohol might be the way someone has learnt to cope with the problem.

And if we take away the coping mechanism without helping someone find another way to deal with their pain, what happens then?

That's why recovery is often about much more than simply stopping the behaviour.

It's about learning new ways to cope.

Learning to sit with uncomfortable feelings.

Getting support.

Understanding triggers.

And sometimes facing things you've spent years trying to avoid.

And that can be hard.

So perhaps the n

21/10/2026

22/10 Thursday
Hi, I'm Craig. And this is One minute that could change a life!
Let's see what you would do...
Someone you work with has always been reliable.
They've always been energetic.
They've always been the person everyone can count on.
But recently...
They're making mistakes.
They're tired all the time.
They're becoming withdrawn.
They seem overwhelmed.
Maybe they're struggling to keep up.
What would you do?
Take a moment to think about it.
(Pause for 2–3 seconds.)
A lot of people notice these things but don't say anything.
They think:
"It's not my place."
"They'll be okay."
"Someone else will check in."
But sometimes people need someone to notice.
You don't need to diagnose burnout.
You don't need to solve their workload.
Start with a conversation.
You could say:
"I've noticed you've seemed really under pressure lately. How are you going?"
Then listen.
Don't minimise it.
Don't compare it to your own experiences.
Just give them space to talk.
Remember...
Checking in doesn't make you intrusive.
It shows you care.
Sometimes the most supportive thing we can do is simply remind someone they don't have to carry everything alone.
So...
What would you have done? Share with your friends and start the conversation.
Tell me what happens in the comments.
Remember, the first step in overcoming mental health stigma is talking about it, and together—we can make a difference.
See you next time
Follow Craig A Field on YouTube, Insta, & Facebook for honest conversations about mental health, recovery, addiction and hope.

21/10/2026

Today I'm talking about something I genuinely believe:

Small conversations can make a big difference.

I use that idea a lot.

I talk about the importance of starting conversations.

I say that talking can save lives.

And I mean it.

But I also understand that sometimes people hear that and think:

“How can one conversation possibly make that much difference?”

And the honest answer is:

Sometimes, you may never know.

You may ask someone how they're going.

You may sit and listen to them for ten minutes.

You may send a message saying:

“I've been thinking about you. Are you okay?”

And they might simply say:

“Yeah, I'm fine.”

You might think the conversation didn't matter.

But maybe they remember that you noticed.

Maybe they remember that someone cared enough to ask.

Maybe later, when things get worse, they remember you as someone safe to talk to.

And maybe that's when they reach out.

We often underestimate the impact of small moments.

We think we have to say something profound.

We think we need to fix someone's problem.

We think we need to know exactly what to do.

But sometimes, the most important thing is simply making it easier for someone to not feel alone.

Because isolation can be dangerous.

When people are struggling, shame can tell them:

“Nobody understands.”

“Nobody cares.”

“Don't tell anyone.”

A simple conversation can challenge that.

It can say:

“I noticed.”

“I care.”

“You don't have to carry this alone.”

Now, I want to be clear.

Talking isn't a magic solution.

One conversation won't fix every mental health problem.

And sometimes people need professional help, ongoing support or urgent intervention.

But that doesn't make ordinary conversations unimportant.

Sometimes an ordinary conversation is the first step towards someone getting that help.

Sometimes it's the moment a person realises they can tell someone the truth.

And sometimes it's simply the thing that gets them through one more day.

I've had conversations in my own life that probably seemed ordinary to the person I was talking to.

But they stayed with me.

And I believe many of us have probably had the same experience.

Someo

20/10/2026

21/10 Wednesday
Hi, I'm Craig. And this is One minute that could change a life!
One of the most important things to understand about addiction is this...
Sometimes addiction isn't the original problem.
Sometimes it's the way someone learnt to cope with the problem.
For many people, addiction is connected to pain.
Trauma.
Stress.
Loss.
Fear.
Experiences they haven't been able to process.
The substance or behaviour can become a way of escaping feelings that seem too overwhelming to face.
The problem is...
What starts as a way to cope can eventually create more pain.
This is why recovery is about more than just removing the addiction.
It's about understanding what sits underneath it.
It's asking:
"What happened?"
Not just:
"What's wrong?"
That doesn't mean avoiding responsibility.
It means recognising that people are more than their struggles.
When we understand the connection between trauma and addiction, we can approach people with compassion instead of judgement.
Because behind every addiction is a person.
A person with a story.
A person capable of change.
If this has changed the way you see addiction, share it with someone who might benefit from understanding this perspective.
Remember, the first step in overcoming mental health stigma is talking about it, and together—we can make a difference.
See you next time
Follow Craig A Field on YouTube, Insta, & Facebook for honest conversations about mental health, recovery, addiction and hope.

20/10/2026

Today I'm talking about loneliness.
And something I think is important to understand:
Loneliness isn't the same as being alone.
You can spend an entire day by yourself and not feel lonely at all.
And you can be surrounded by people and feel completely disconnected.
You can be at a party.
At work.
With your family.
With friends.
Scrolling through social media and seeing hundreds of people.
And still feel like nobody really knows you.
That's loneliness.
It's not always about how many people are around you.
Sometimes it's about whether you feel connected to anyone.
Whether you feel understood.
Whether you feel safe enough to be yourself.
You can have lots of acquaintances and still have nobody you feel comfortable calling when life gets difficult.
You can be the person everyone knows, but still feel that nobody really knows you.
And I think social media can sometimes make this even more complicated.
We're more connected than ever.
We can message people instantly.
See what everyone is doing.
Share our lives.
But connection isn't always the same as closeness.
Sometimes watching everyone else's lives can actually make us feel more alone.
Especially if it looks like everyone else has friends, family, parties and perfect lives while we're sitting there feeling disconnected.
But social media usually shows us the highlights.
It doesn't always show the loneliness behind the screen.
So what can we do about loneliness?
Sometimes the answer isn't simply:
“Go and be around more people.”
Because being around people isn't necessarily the same as feeling connected to them.
Maybe the answer is finding places where genuine connection can happen.
Joining a group.
Taking up a hobby.
Volunteering.
Going to a support group.
Reconnecting with someone you've lost touch with.
Or simply being brave enough to say:
“I've been feeling a bit alone lately.”
And if you know someone who seems to have lots of people around them, don't assume they can't be lonely.
Check in anyway.
The people who appear to be surrounded by others can still be struggling quietly.
So I'd like to ask you:
Have you ever felt lonely while surrounded by people?
You don'

20/10/2026

Today I'm talking about s*xual harassment and violence against women.
And more specifically:
What is men's responsibility?
Because whenever this conversation comes up, there are always men who immediately say:
“Not all men.”
And you know what?
Of course not all men commit s*xual harassment or violence against women.
But that's not the point.
When women are talking about their experiences, their fear and the harm that has been done to them, immediately jumping in with “not all men” shifts the focus away from the real issue.
It becomes about defending ourselves instead of listening.
So, if you're a man and your first response is “not all men”, I want you to stop and ask yourself:
Why is defending yourself more important to you than listening to what women are trying to tell you?
Because this conversation isn't asking you to personally accept responsibility for something you didn't do.
It's asking men to accept that we have a responsibility to be part of the solution.
And that starts with listening.
Listening when women tell us what they experience.
Listening when they tell us they're afraid.
Listening when they tell us about harassment, inappropriate behaviour or violence.
And not immediately questioning them.
Not asking what they were wearing.
Not asking why they were there.
Not asking why they didn't leave.
Not looking for a reason to make the behaviour somehow their fault.
The responsibility also includes accountability.
As men, we need to look honestly at our own behaviour.
The way we speak about women.
The jokes we laugh at.
The comments we let slide.
The behaviour we ignore because we don't want to make things uncomfortable.
Because silence can protect harmful behaviour.
And challenging it doesn't always mean getting into a fight or making some dramatic speech.
Sometimes it's as simple as saying:
“That's not okay.”
“Don't talk about her like that.”
“That's not funny.”
Or:
“What you just did was wrong.”
And yes, sometimes challenging another man might make things awkward.
Good.
Some things should feel uncomfortable.
Women's safety is more important than protecting a man's comfort.
We also ne

19/10/2026

20/10 Tuesday
Hi, I'm Craig. And this is One minute that could change a life
I feel like I’ve covered this before, but it can’t hurt to go over it again.
For a long time, I thought recovery was about stopping something.
Stopping drinking.
Stopping the chaos.
Stopping the behaviours that were damaging my life.
But eventually I discovered something important.
Recovery isn't just about what you stop doing.
It's about what you start doing.
For me, recovery gave me the opportunity to find purpose.
To use my experiences to help other people.
To have conversations I once would have avoided.
To share my story so someone else might feel less alone.
For years, I wondered if the hardest parts of my life had any meaning.
Today, I see them differently.
They became the reason I can connect with people who are struggling.
They became the reason I got involved with Black Dog Ride and Mental Health First Aid.
They became the reason I believe conversations matter.
Purpose doesn't always appear overnight.
Sometimes you discover it by looking back and asking:
"What can I do with what I've been through?"
Your past may contain pain...
But it may also contain lessons that can help someone else.
Recovery didn't just give me my life back.
It gave me a whole new life.
One with purpose.
And my purpose is to start as many conversations as I can, just by sharing my thoughts.
So feel free to share anything on here with your all your friends.
What gives your life purpose? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Remember, the first step in overcoming mental health stigma is talking about it, and together—we can make a difference.
See you next time
Follow Craig A Field on YouTube, Insta, & Facebook for honest conversations about mental health, recovery, addiction and hope.

19/10/2026

Today I'm talking about recovery.
And specifically:
What does recovery actually look like?
Because I think many people imagine recovery as a straight line.
You have a problem.
You ask for help.
You get better.
And then you live happily ever after.
But in my experience, recovery is rarely that neat.
It's not always simple.
And it certainly doesn't look the same for everyone.
Recovery can involve progress.
But it can also involve setbacks.
Good days and bad days.
Confidence and doubt.
Moving forward and sometimes feeling like you've gone backwards.
And that's something I think we need to understand better.
A difficult day doesn't mean you're not recovering.
Struggling doesn't mean you've failed.
And needing help again doesn't erase the progress you've already made.
For some people, recovery is about alcohol or other drugs.
For others, it's about living with a mental health condition.
Healing from trauma.
Recovering from grief.
Changing harmful behaviours.
Or rebuilding a life after something has fallen apart.
And every journey can look different.
Some people need professional support.
Some find strength in peer support or community.
Some use medication.
Some find purpose in work or volunteering.
Some need to change their environment.
And many people need a combination of things.
There is no single recovery formula that works for everyone.
And recovery is about more than simply stopping a behaviour or getting rid of a symptom.
For me, recovery is about learning how to live.
Learning how to deal with uncomfortable feelings without trying to escape from them.
Learning how to rebuild relationships.
Learning to trust myself again.
Finding purpose.
Creating healthier routines.
And eventually discovering who I am without the things I once used to cope.
That's why I think comparing recovery journeys can be dangerous.
You might look at someone else and think:
“They seem so much further ahead than me.”
But you don't know their whole story.
And your recovery doesn't have to look like theirs.
You don't have to be perfect.
You don't have to have every day figured out.
You just have to keep taking the next step.
And sometime

18/10/2026

19/10
Monday
Hi, I'm Craig. And this is One minute that could change a life!
"Everyone worries. Just relax."
Have you ever heard someone say that to a person experiencing anxiety?
It's one of the biggest misunderstandings about anxiety.
Yes, everyone worries.
Worry is a normal part of being human.
But anxiety can be much more than worrying.
For some people, anxiety feels like their mind won't switch off.
Their body is constantly on alert.
Their heart races.
Their thoughts spiral.
They may avoid situations because their brain is telling them they're unsafe, even when they are.
Anxiety isn't someone being dramatic.
It isn't someone overreacting.
It's a real experience that can affect how someone thinks, feels and behaves.
I know from my own experience that anxiety isn't something you can simply tell yourself to stop.
It takes understanding.
Support.
And learning healthy ways to manage it.
The important thing is this...
Someone experiencing anxiety isn't choosing to feel that way.
They are trying to navigate something that feels very real to them.
So instead of saying:
"Just relax."
Try saying:
"I'm here. How can I support you?"
Understanding is where support begins.
Have you ever experienced anxiety in a way others didn't understand? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Let’s start the conversation about anxiety, share this with all your friends and family, because the first step in overcoming mental health stigma is talking about it, and together—we can make a difference.
See you next time
Follow Craig A Field on YouTube, Insta, & Facebook for honest conversations about mental health, recovery, addiction and hope.

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