2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on Tesco axes popular Clubcard service at checkouts leaving customers fuming
TESCO shoppers have blasted the retailer for axing a popular service at checkouts.
Customers will no longer be able to pay via the supermarket’s app in stores.
AlamyTesco shoppers are fuming about a change at the tills[/caption]
Until now, customers buying items in Tesco shops could open the supermarket’s app, and then click on “Pay In-Store”.
This feature allowed them to pay and collect Clubcard points in one go by scanning a code.
But as of March 7, they will have to do these two things separately.
An email sent to customers said: “To ensure we’re able to keep bringing out the best value and convenience, we’ve taken the decision to remove the pay in-store feature, formally known as Tesco Pay+, from the Tesco app.
“Between now and March 7, the pay in-store feature will be phased out and any linked card details will be removed, unless you’re using them for GetGo, Whoosh, or home delivery shopping.
“So next time you’re in-store, you’ll need to pay separately after scanning your Clubcard. You can still earn points and access Clubcard Prices by simply scanning your Clubcard or app at the till.
“Or you can add your Clubcard to your Apple or Google Wallets.”
Shoppers are not happy with the decision – as many found the feature a time-saver and others used it to avoid carrying a wallet around.
One said on the social media site Reddit: ”So annoying. How is it more convenient to turn what was one step, into two. Can’t see how it’s going to help with value either.”
Another added: “Use it daily.. it’s pretty convenient to me, no need to scan Clubcard.. just pay with the app, quite a strange move from Tesco.”
And a third fumed: “I literally use this for every purchase, whyyyyyyyyy.”
While a fourth said: “FFS I use this to buy brekkie at work instead of keeping a wallet on me.”
Some speculated that Tesco is trying to reduce the amount of processing done by the app, to keep it working more easily.
Another shopper wrote on X.com that it had been handy to use when filling up at the petrol station.
A Tesco spokesperson said: “We regularly review the payment options available to our customers.
“It’s still quick easy to earn points on your shopping and fuel and enjoy Clubcard Prices offers by tapping your Clubcard in-store, scanning it via the Tesco App, or by adding it to your Apple or Google wallet.”
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How to save money at Tesco
EVERY little helps when it comes to saving money at Tesco.
The Sun’s Head of Consumer Tara Evans explains how you can save money at the UK’s biggest supermarket.
Clubcard points
Tesco first launched it’s loyalty scheme back in 1995. You get one point for every £1 you spend in store. If you spend points in store then 100 points is worth £1. You can spend your points via its reward partners and get triple and even sometimes quadruple the value.
Extend Clubcard points
You can find lost Clubvcard points and find the last two years of unused vouchers by logging into the Tesco Clubcard site.
Clubcard prices
If you don’t have a Clubcard then you will miss out on its cheaper Clubcard prices. However, don’t forget to check prices before you shop because it might not be cheaper than elsewhere, especially on big value items like washing powder and loo roll.
Yellow stickers
Shops do vary the time they reduce groceries with yellow stickers but Tesco tends to be between 7pm and 9pm.
Save money if you shop online
If you get your Tesco food shop delivered then it might be worth buying a delivery saver pass to help cut the cost of delivery fees.
If you live near a Tesco then you can get click and collect slots of as little as 25p, so it might be cheaper than getting your food delivered.
Manchester United welcome a beleaguered Ipswich Town to Old Trafford with both sides in desperate need of a morale-boosting victory.
The Red Devils used their “get out of jail free” card against Everton over the weekend, netting twice in eight second-half minutes before seeing their opponents’ penalty controversially overturned by VAR in the dying minutes.
The result helped Ruben Amorim avoid successive defeats for the third time in his tenure, and moved the club 13 points clear of the relegation zone with 12 matches remaining.
But it was far from a vintage display with United looking forlorn for 72 minutes, with the performance of Patrick Dorgu the only bright spot.
Amorim will hope to use their late comeback as a platform for Wednesday’s clash against an Ipswich side who’ve kept just one clean sheet in their last 24 Premier League away games.
United are also unbeaten in their last seven home league games against Ipswich, winning each of the last three by an aggregate score of 15-0.
Manchester United have lost seven Premier League home games this season, with five of those coming in Ruben Amorim’s seven in charge.
But an eight looks fairly unlikely against Kieran McKenna’s side, who are now five points adrift following a run of five defeats in their last six league games (L5, D1).
And you would have to go back to May 1984 for the last time the Tractor Boys won at Old Trafford, which was also the last occasion Man Utd lost a home league game in which they led at half-time.
Ipswich’s 4-1 defeat against Tottenham last time out was the seventh different league game in which they’ve conceded 4+ goals this season and a huge turnaround will be required to leave Manchester with anything.
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Man Utd vs Ipswich preview betting tips and predictions
Alejandro
Manchester United deserve credit for the second-half improvement against Everton, and that will likely see Alejandro Garnacho return to the starting XI.
He and Patrick Dorgu combined nicely down the left channel and they should again against a side with the third-worst defensive record in the division.
Nobody in the Manchester United squad has fired off more efforts at goal (8) or shots on target (3) than Garnacho over the last four league matches, while the Argentine is averaging an attempt every 36.5 minutes – the highest in the squad.
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Man Utd vs Ipswich
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Slow start
It looks likely to be a slow start for Manchester United, which supporters have grown accustomed to this season.
The Red Devils haven’t been ahead at half-time in any of their last 19 matches in all competitions, since leading 2-0 against Everton in December.
Indeed, in the Premier League this term only Leicester City (7) have scored fewer first half goals than the Red Devils (9). The chances of a first-half goal look even more unlikely given Ipswich have trailed just five times away from home at half time.
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The man was detained by police after being ejected from Raducanu’s match and subsequently handed a restraining order.
Since leaving Dubai, Raducanu has been back in the UK.
She is expected to jet out to the United States to participate in the Indian Wells Masters 1000 event, often unofficially considered the “fifth Grand Slam”.
Should she decide to play in the California desert, extra security measures are expected to be taken in the wake of her ordeal last week.
According to The Times, WTA chiefs would likely offer Raducanu as many as five security guards at the event.
She could also be accompanied off site by members of the security detail, having been approached in a restaurant by her stalker last week.
Safety measures at Indian Wells will be managed by WTA vice-president of security Bob Campbell.
2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on Major Scots city to become first to trial free public transport scheme
A MAJOR Scottish city is to become the first in the country to trial a free public transport scheme.
Glasgow councillors have approved a £225,000 budget offering concessionary travel to 1,000 residents.
AlamyGlasgow will be the first to trial a free public transport scheme[/caption]
The initiative aims to explore the “social, economic, and environmental benefits of universal free travel”, reports the GlasgowTimes.
The pilot will see participants given a smart card ticket for the bus, train and subway.
People aged between 22 and 59 years could be included in the trial but exact details have not yet been confirmed.
The cost of the scheme is estimated to be around £95.7million for this age group and duration, excluding admin costs.
The initiative follows a study by transport firm Stantec Limited, which found such a scheme to be possible.
The study said: “The intention of the pilot is to provide a mechanism through which benefits and costs of free public transport can be captured and assessed, to inform future decision making and policy setting for potential wider roll-out of the scheme across the city on a more permanent basis.”
The council has a target to reduce car travel by 30% and reach net zero emissions by 2030.
2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on Who is former professional rugby player and Crufts 2025 host Ed Jackson?
ED Jackson’s rugby career was ended when a horrific swimming pool accident in 2017 left him paralysed.
Despite doctors telling him he’d never walk again, Ed made an inspirational recovery and has gone on to achieve some incredible feats.
Wales News ServiceEd Jackson’s rugby career was ended by a horrific accident in 2017[/caption]
Wales News ServiceEd was left paralysed and told he’d never be able to walk again[/caption]
Defying medical predictions, Jackson regained partial mobility through rehabilitation.
And just a year later, Ed had climbed the 3,560ft tall Mount Snowdon in Wales after defying the medical experts.
Charity work
In 2020, he ascended Mera Peak in Nepal to raise funds for spinal injury rehabilitation.
Ed’s recovery inspired the creation of the charity Millimetres to Mountains (M2M), which he co-founded to support individuals facing physical or mental trauma through outdoor adventures.
He also co-founded Vapoura Rum and collaborates with Berghaus on adaptive outdoor gear, remaining a vocal advocate for redefining disability through adventure.
[The accident] made me realise I’m way more capable in different directions than I thought I was
Ed JacksonLucky
In 2023, Ed led an unsupported expedition to cross Iceland’s Vatnajökull ice cap with fellow disabled explorers, which is documented in the 2024 film The Mountain Within Me.
Crufts kicks off on Thursday, March 6, with the show taking place at the NEC Birmingham.
Ed JacksonEd Jackson is the co-founder of multiple charities and raises funds to support individuals facing physical or mental trauma through outdoor adventures[/caption]
In his bestselling autobiography, Lucky (2024), Ed writes: “[The accident] made me realise I’m way more capable in different directions than I thought I was.
“I think we all get pigeonholed by society, and as a rugby player, you’re told, ‘This is how you act, you like things that rugby players like, you hang around with other rugby players’.
“And I was terrified of what I would do after being a rugby player, because I thought that’s all I can do, that’s all I know, which, of course, is a load of rubbish.”
He continued: “One of the scariest things at the start was having that taken away, and my identity removed.
“But actually, in the long run, it’s been a blessing in disguise, because it’s removed that lens on my life and made me start from scratch again, and made me go out and explore who I really am and what I actually enjoy.
InstagramEd and Louis Jackson pictured in North Yorkshire in 2020[/caption]
“So the biggest realisation for me has been you don’t have to live the life you’re told, you can go and live the life you want, find things you’re passionate about, follow those dreams and work on them. Because you’re way more capable than you realise.”
Marriage
In October 2018, Ed married his long-term girlfriend Lois in Italy on their planned wedding date — not letting the accident get in the way of their big day.
Believing he was paralysed, Ed told his then fiancée, a life coach, that he would set her free from their commitments.
But Lois insisted she would never leave him.
Ed recalls: “I was saying you should leave me because she didn’t sign up for this.
“And she stood by me like a rock the whole time, which was amazing.
“And she became a person to really focus my energy towards getting better for.”
2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on Mike Krzyzewski gets 100% real about Fever star Caitlin Clark’s ‘feel for the game’
Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski broke what makes Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark so effective. The University of Iowa legend came in her rookie year with incredible hype as the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft. And after some growing pains, Clark more than lived up to it, with several historic accomplishments throughout […]
2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on The 9 body parts that could be the secret to your dementia risk – and how to look after them
MEMORY loss is usually the first thing that comes to mind when talking about dementia.
But while it’s the key feature of the condition estimated to affect around one million Brits, there are a number of other clues body parts can tell you about your risk.
Dementia, of which Alzheimer’s is the most common type, can impact how you speak, think, feel and act, and it’s characterised by a decline in brain function over time.
There’s no known cure, but there’s lots you can do to reduce your risk of dementia – beyond taking care of your brain alone.
We asked Dr Ahmad Khundakar, a senior lecturer in biomedical sciences and neuroscience at Teesside University, to explain what you need to know about the different body parts that could provide clues to your dementia risk, and how to future-proof them…
1. EARS
IF you find yourself constantly shouting, ‘WHAT did you say?’ in conversations, it might be time to get your lug holes checked.
“Untreated hearing loss can lead to reduced stimulation to our brain, which may contribute to the development of dementia.
“When hearing is impaired, the brain has to work harder to process sounds, diverting resources away from other cognitive functions and potentially accelerating cognitive decline.”
REDUCE YOUR RISK: To protect your ears and reduce dementia risk, get regular hearing check-ups.
“Avoid prolonged exposure to loud noises and use ear protection when necessary.”
2. WRISTS AND HANDS
OPENING jars can be tricky for everyone sometimes, but if you’ve long given up even trying or always ask someone else, it’s time to rebuild your grip strength.
Dr Khundakar says: “Weak grip strength is often associated with conditions such as frailty and sarcopenia, the loss of muscle mass and strength that occurs with ageing.
“Both frailty and sarcopenia are linked to an increased risk of falls, cognitive decline and dementia.”
One study looked at 190,000 people over the age of 56, testing their handgrip strength and looking at their brain health 10 years later.
According to the findings, published in JAMA Network Open, people with lower grip scores were more likely to later have problems with thinking and memory, brain imaging markers of vascular dementia, and diagnoses of dementia, a decade later.
REDUCE YOUR RISK: Dr Khundakar says: “To improve your muscle strength, engage in regular exercise, particularly weight-bearing activities, to maintain muscle mass and grip strength, and follow a balanced diet rich in protein and nutrients.”
Weight-bearing exercise (which can also be called strength training, or resistance training) works the muscles, which helps keep them strong.
You can do these in the gym, at fitness classes or at home. Even carrying the shopping or pushing the lawnmower helps – are you doing these often?
The NHS recommends those over 65 do activities that improve strength, balance and flexibility on at least two days of the week.
For adults younger, it’s recommended to do strength training that works the full body at least twice a week.
You can also buy hand-held grip strengthener devices, so you can build muscle while you’re sitting watching telly – try this one from Amazon.
3. EYES
DON’T put off getting glasses!
Dr Khundakar says: “Like hearing problems, vision loss has recently been recognised as a risk factor for dementia by the Lancet Commission.
“Vision problems may also lead to accidents or falls, which can further impact brain health.”
REDUCE YOUR RISK: It goes without saying that to protect your vision, you need regular eye check-ups.
It’s recommended to get a test at least every two years, or more often if your optician advises, or if symptoms come up.
Dr Khundakar says: “Wear sunglasses, ensure good lighting at home, manage conditions like diabetes and hypertension [which can have complications of the eyes], and stay mentally active by reading, doing crosswords, or staying socially engaged.”
GettyEye conditions can increase the risk of cognitive decline[/caption]
4. LUNGS
YOUR brain is hungry for oxygen, so being able to take good deep breaths is really important.
Dr Khundakar says: “Poor lung function, caused by smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or air pollution, can damage the tiny air sacs in your lungs called alveoli, which can make it harder for blood to carry oxygen to the brain.
“The brain relies on a steady supply of oxygen to function properly and any reduction in oxygen levels can have a negative impact on cognitive health.”
Dr Khundakar also says to avoid air pollution where possible.
“Engage in cardiovascular exercises like walking or swimming to improve lung capacity, and practice deep breathing exercises or yoga, which may help reduce anxiety and improve lung function,” he says.
Dr Khundakar says: “Low bone density, or osteoporosis, and dementia may be linked through shared risk factors such as ageing, vitamin D deficiency and physical inactivity.
“Falls resulting from weak bones can also lead to head injuries, increasing the risk of an acute confusional state called delirium, which is thought to significantly worsen dementia symptoms.
“Maintaining strong bones is therefore an important part of protecting your brain.”
REDUCE YOUR RISK: Prescribe yourself some sunshine – the best way to get vitamin D.
Between October and March, when there is less sun, the NHS also advises everyone to take a vitamin D supplement, particularly those most at risk including people who live in care homes and are outdoors less.
Poor oral health, such as gum disease and dental caries, has been linked to an increased risk of dementia
Dr Khundakar
Ensure adequate intake of calcium too – dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt, green leafy vegetables like broccoli and cabbage, tinned sardines, nuts and seeds are good sources.
Dr Khundakar says: “Protect yourself against falls by improving balance and strength and have your bone density checked if you’re at risk.”
Risk factors include taking high-dose steroid tablets, a family history of osteoporosis or a history of an eating disorder.
Tai Chi is brilliant for balance and yoga is a gentle way to build strength (try Yoga with Adriene on YouTube).
Getty - ContributorLow bone density and dementia may be linked through shared risk factors[/caption]
6. HEART
YOUR ticker could hold the answers to your brain health.
Dr Khundakar says: “The heart and blood vessels are closely tied to brain health, as conditions like hypertension [high blood pressure], high cholesterol and atherosclerosis (narrowed arteries) can reduce blood flow to the brain, increasing dementia risk.
“Small blood vessels reaching the brain may become damaged by poor heart health or by diabetes, reducing oxygen supply, potentially leading to damage to the brain tissue and cognitive decline.”
REDUCE YOUR RISK: Dr Khundakar says: “Maintain cardiovascular health through a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise and managing blood pressure and cholesterol levels.”
And go big on whole grains – like brown rice, oats and whole grain pasta and bread – to help slash high cholesterol.
GettyKeeping your heart healthy can help keep your dementia risk low[/caption]
7. GUT
LOVING your gut is not just great for digestion, but mood and your brain too.
Dr Khundakar says: “There is growing evidence that the gut plays a role in brain health.
“The gut-brain axis suggests that gut health, particularly the balance of the microbiome, may influence cognitive function.
“Poor gut health can lead to inflammation, which is linked to dementia.”
There are so many factors that can influence the health of your gut – which is an organ made up of trillions of bacteria.
This includes your diet, stress levels, alcohol use, and whether you’ve recently used antibiotics.
REDUCE YOUR RISK: Dr Khundakar says: “Support your gut health with a diet rich in fibre, probiotics and prebiotics, while avoiding excessive ultra-processed foods and refined sugars.”
Try adding fermented foods to your diet, like having kefir with your yoghurt in the morning, and swapping ketchup for kimchi – a fermented red spicy cabbage – when you next have sausages.
AlamyThe gut is home to trillion of bacteria that can alter your health[/caption]
8. LIVER
YOUR liver “plays a role in detoxifying the body and regulating metabolism”, says Dr Khundakar, but it’s not often we think about it in connection with the brain.
“Liver dysfunction, such as from excessive alcohol consumption or obesity, can lead to a buildup of toxins, affecting brain health,” explains Dr Khundakar.
For example, researchers in Sweden found that people over the age of 65 with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) – that’s the one typically caused by obesity – had higher rates of vascular dementia than those without it.
REDUCE YOUR RISK: There are lots of things you can do for liver health.
Dr Khundakar says: “Protect your liver by limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding excessive use of medications, known as polypharmacy.”
The NHS recommends drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol spread over a week (a standard glass of wine is 2 units and a pint of beer/lager/cider is 2-3).
To protect against NAFLD, or stop it worsening, eat a diet to manage weight, eating plenty of wholefoods like fruits, vegetables and brown grains, while limiting sugar and fried foods.
Dr Khundakar says: “Poor oral health, such as gum disease and dental caries, has been linked to systemic inflammation and an increased risk of dementia.”
For example, one review of 14 studies found that of the 34,000 participants, those with more tooth loss had a 28 per cent higher risk of dementia, on average.
It’s theorised poor oral health may lead to increased bacteria in the mouth which in turn, may cause inflammation in the brain.
REDUCE YOUR RISK: Problems with teeth are already more common with age.
So it’s all the more important to keep a good brushing and flossing routine – twice a day.
Dr Khundakar says: “Practice good oral hygiene, visit the dentist regularly, and treat gum disease promptly to protect your teeth and gums.”
2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on ‘Thought I was going to have a heart attack’ – Eddie Hearn reveals health episode during Callum Smith vs Joshua Buatsi
EDDIE HEARN thought he was “going to have a heart attack” during the epic fight between Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi.
The Brit light-heavyweight duo put on an early contender for Fight of the Year on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev’s rematch with Dmitry Bivol last Saturday.
GETTYCallum Smith and Joshua Buatsi went to war in Saudi Arabia last weekend[/caption]
GETTYSmith edged a thrilling contest via unanimous decision[/caption]
GETTYMatchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn’s heart rate was racing during the fight[/caption]
And all the drama had the heart of Smith promoter Hearn racing at a million miles an hour – so much so that he became a bit dizzy.
He told The Stomping Ground: “I actually thought I was going to have a heart attack tonight. I really did.
“During the Callum Smith fight, I sat down and felt a bit dizzy.
“I do often wonder… you never know when you’re on the verge of keeling over, do you?
“I was thinking to myself, ‘If the Good lord took me now, it wouldn’t be a bad way to go.’ Would it?'”
Hearn was blown away by the grit and guts shown by Liverpudlian Smith, telling DAZN: “Callum Smith was unbelievable.
“What a fight. That was an incredible domestic tussle. I’m very proud of Callum, I thought it was a brilliant performance.
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GETTYEddie Hearn was blown away by Dmitry Bivol’s performance in his rematch with Artur Beterbiev[/caption]
“Shoutout to Buatsi as well because he was tough as old boots but the right man won.”
Hearn’s heart rate was undoubtedly elevated during the epic rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol, in which the latter exacted his revenge 133 days after losing their first thriller.
He said: “I think a lot of people felt he [Bivol] won the first fight. It was obviously very close.
‘It was one of the best performances I’ve ever witnessed.
“I thought he won the first two rounds and then Beterbiev won the next three I think but it was the way he won them.
“What Bivol did was just incredible, young fighters should look at the way he boxed.
“To do that to Beterbiev, who is an absolute beast and one of the greatest fighters of our generation.
“It’s the kind of performance that cements you as a pound-for-pound king.”
2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on I was tormented by bullies, plagued by panic attacks, driven to suicide & was sectioned – then shock diagnosis saved me
GROWING up, Emily Katy always felt different. She was one of the youngest in her year but was ahead of her classmates, achieving high grades.
But she felt misunderstood and struggled to figure out how to be like everyone else.
Emily Katy, now a mental health nurse, autism advocate and author, reveals how her diagnosis changed her lifeSuppliedGrowing up, Emily had high grades but always felt misunderstoodSupplied
At 13, Emily had her first panic attack which led to a number of mental health struggles – she was diagnosed with anxiety, OCD and was even described as “hysterical”.
Just days after starting sixth form, she tried to take her own life.
Yet it would still be months before Emily, from St Albans, Herts, was finally diagnosed with autism – a moment that changed her life.
She is now a 23-year-old mental health nurse, autism advocate and author with 45,000 Instagram followers (@ItsEmilyKaty).
Here she tells her story to Sun Health with one aim – to ensure other young people who are going through what she did don’t feel alone.
I have always felt different, and for a long time I believed that was a bad thing.
I was the youngest of the school year, yet years ahead of my classmates, reading full-length novels while they were still learning to read.
I preferred to read book after book at break time instead of playing with others. Friendships were confusing and unpredictable.
It was obvious to me that I was different, long before other children told me so.
Home was filled with love and joy, and as the eldest of three siblings, my brother and sister followed me around the house, joining in my imaginary games.
At home, I was happy. But as I went up through primary school, and found myself being bullied, things became harder.
I just wanted to fit in. I studied my peers and how they behaved, then did my best to adapt my behaviour by copying them.
I now know this is called masking — a strategy some autistic people develop to try to fit in.
Secondary school was like a minefield. There were hidden expectations, instructions I would forget the moment I’d been told them, loud corridors that made my chest feel tight and the ever-present fear of getting in trouble without meaning to.
‘Hysteric attacks’
I struggled to sleep at night, worrying about the next day.
My grandfather had recently died, and seeing the war memorials and graveyards, on top of the blazing heat and loud students, triggered something in my brain.
Panic gripped me and I felt like I couldn’t breathe, as if my body wasn’t within my control.
I felt light-headed, dizzy, and genuinely like I was about to die.
I could no longer hide my anxiety and everything I had tried to suppress was now on display for everyone to see
Emily Katy
Several times I ran away from school. I also rocked under tables in classrooms, hands over my ears because it was too loud.
I couldn’t go out with my friends — if I did, I’d have a panic attack and leave early.
I could no longer hide my anxiety and everything I had tried to suppress was now on display for everyone to see.
Intrusive thoughts intensified. I imagined bad things happening to people I loved and worried that germs would make me and my family sick.
My brain offered solutions to reduce my anxiety.
If I tapped an object a certain amount of times, then my family would be safe, or if I washed my hands enough times, then I wouldn’t get sick.
If I counteracted negative thoughts with positive ones, or punished myself for my thoughts, then all would be OK.
Despite achieving all A*s in my GCSEs and being told I had a bright future ahead of me, I was at rock bottom.
I felt like everyone hated me, though I don’t know why.
I believed that the world hadn’t been made for me, and that I couldn’t cope anymore.
Just two weeks after starting sixth form, I attempted suicide.
Following five days in general hospital, I was transferred to a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service unit.
To cope, I wrote everything down — but three weeks after being admitted, they took my diary off me as they said that the ring binder was a prohibited item.
Meltdowns
I was so distressed — I couldn’t start a new diary because that one wasn’t finished.
After I demanded to be discharged, I was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and not allowed to leave.
I was having meltdowns — at the environment, lack of routine and strangers watching me sleep.
I now know meltdowns are a common autistic experience.
My parents met my doctor to discuss whether I could be autistic, but he said I just had “high social anxiety”.
Despite this, my notes from the unit list my triggers as change of routine, strangers, noise and lack of control — all autistic traits.
Worse, a professional wrote: “Emily has hysteric attacks when she does not get her own way.”
When I was discharged, I had diagnoses of generalised anxiety disorder and mixed personality disorder (emotionally unstable and obsessive-compulsive type).
The 9 'hidden' signs of ADHD in adults
ADHD has long been associated with naughty schoolkids who cannot sit still in class.
And that is part of it. Fidgeting, daydreaming and getting easily distracted are all symptoms of the behavioural condition, which is why it is often spotted in children.
However, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is far more complex than simply having trouble focusing.
Henry Shelford, CEO and co-founder of ADHD UK, says: “If it isn’t debilitating, it isn’t ADHD.”
In recent years, social media has given rise to trends which conflate specific personality traits or single behaviours with ADHD.
You might be thinking, ‘I’m always losing my keys, forgetting birthdays and I can never concentrate at work — I must have ADHD’. But it’s not as simple as that.
Though these may all point to the condition, Dr Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic, says: “The key distinction lies in how much a behaviour impacts a person’s daily life.
“Genuine ADHD symptoms affect multiple areas of life – work, relationships and emotional wellbeing – whereas personality traits are typically context-dependent and less disruptive.”
ADHD UK’s Henry, who has the condition himself, adds: “Having ADHD is hard. One in ten men with ADHD and one in four women with ADHD will at some point try to take their own lives.”
So how can ADHD manifest in someone’s life? While hyperactivity is a common indicator, here are nine other subtle signs:
Time blindness – losing track of time, underestimating how long tasks will take, regularly being late or excessively early
Lack of organisation – a messy home, frequently misplacing items, forgetting deadlines
Hyperfocus – becoming deeply engrossed in activities for hours
Procrastination – feeling overwhelmed by to-do lists and struggling to determine what needs your attention first so focusing on less important tasks
Heightened emotions – emotional struggles can manifest in angry outbursts, feeling flooded with joy or shutting down because you feel too much at once
Being a ‘yes man’ – agreeing to new projects at work or dinner dates with friends when you’re already busy (a desire to please)
Impatience – interrupting people mid-conversation, finding it painful to stand in a queue, being overly chatty
Restlessness – tapping, pacing, fidgeting or feeling restless on the inside
Easily distracted – by external things, like noises, or internal things like thoughts
I initially accepted these as they described perfectionism, difficulty with emotions and rigidity.
Then, six months after my discharge, in the summer of 2018, aged 16, I was diagnosed with autism and everything changed.
I was so relieved because there was a reason I felt different, and I wasn’t alone.
I wouldn’t receive my ADHD diagnosis until 2023, aged 21, but autism explained so much.
Other people struggled with my diagnosis.
My parents didn’t understand why it wasn’t noticed when I was very young.
SuppliedEmily, the eldest of three siblings, found herself being bullied[/caption]
Some of my friends’ parents didn’t think I was autistic.
I got the general sense that people thought I was too normal to be autistic.
I quickly found the online autistic community and learned there were words for my experiences, like shutdowns, alexithymia and sensory overload.
I want autistic people to know that they aren’t alone.
Emily Katy
At last, I had words to describe what went on in my head. It felt like a miracle. I began my blog, Authentically Emily, and shared my journey on social media.
Connecting with others gave me comfort and a purpose.
I was angry — at the world, at myself, at professionals, at the system. But what made me angrier was learning how others had similar journeys to me.
My anger shifted to determination to fight for change.
I became a trustee for the charity Autistic Girls Network in 2021 and qualified as a mental health nurse in 2022.
I wrote my book Girl Unmasked: How Uncovering My Autism Saved My Life, now a Sunday Times Bestseller.
I want autistic people to know that they aren’t alone.
Today I am in a much better position than I was.
I know what I find hard and what helps me to recover.
Making time to engage with my special interests and using my weighted blanket are my most helpful tools.
Social events like hen dos, weddings and parties are difficult, but certain strategies make them easier to navigate.
I can make my own adjustments. I leave the room for ten minutes when I need a break, I wear my noise-cancelling earplugs to help me to manage sensory overload and I ask for information about what to expect in advance.
For anyone experiencing similar challenges to what I went through, please know that the future holds an infinite number of possibilities.
Identify what truly matters to you and focus on that to try to get through the hard days.
Never underestimate the power of authentic connections — whether they are online or in real life. You are not alone.
Girl UNMASKED: How Uncovering My Autism Saved My Life – The Sunday Times Bestseller – is now available from Waterstones, Amazon and other retailers.
The autism test
AQ-10: A quick referral guide for adults with suspected autism who do not have a learning disability.
For adults
For each question, write down if you Definitely Agree, Slightly Agree, Slightly Disagree or Definitely Agree
I often notice small sounds when others do not
I usually concentrate more on the whole picture, rather than the small details
I find it easy to do more than one thing at once
If there is an interruption, I can switch back to what I was doing very quickly
I find it easy to ‘read between the lines’ when someone is talking to me
I know how to tell if someone listening to me is getting bored
When I’m reading a story I find it difficult to work out the characters’ intentions
I like to collect information about categories of things (e.g. types of car, types of bird, types of train, types of plant etc)
I find it easy to work out what someone is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face
I find it difficult to work out people’s intentions
Score 1 point for Definitely or Slightly Agree on each of items 1, 7, 8, and 10. Score 1 point for Definitely or Slightly Disagree on each of items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9. If the individual scores more than 6 out of 10, consider referring them for a specialist diagnostic assessment.
For children
For each question, write down if you Definitely Agree, Slightly Agree, Slightly Disagree or Definitely Agree
S/he often notices small sounds when others do not
S/he usually concentrates more on the whole picture, rather than the small details
In a social group, s/he can easily keep track of several different people’s conversations
S/he finds it easy to go back and forth between different activities
S/he doesn’t know how to keep a conversation going with his/her peers
S/he is good at social chit-chat
When s/he is read a story, s/he finds it difficult to work out the character’s intentions or feelings
When s/he was in preschool, s/he used to enjoy playing games involving pretending with other children
S/he finds it easy to work out what someon is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face
S/he finds it hard to make new friends
Only 1 point can be scored for each question. Score 1 point for Definitely or Slightly Agree on each of items 1, 5, 7 and 10. Score 1 point for Definitely or Slightly Disagree on each of items 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 9. If the individual scores more than 6 out of 10, consider referring them for a specialist diagnostic assessment.
2 weeks agoBlogsComments Off on Teen who murdered family was so evil he was banned from vile gore website where viewers go to watch people DIE
A TEEN who murdered his mum and two siblings boasted about mutilating his 13-year-old sister just hours before.
Nicholas Prosper shot dead Juliana Falcon, 48, Kyle Prosper, 16, and 13-year-old Giselle Prosper at their home in Luton in September last year.
YouTubeNicholas Prosper will be sentenced on March 5[/caption]
Juliana Prosper and her two children Kyle and Giselle were found dead inside a flat
The 19-year-old had also intended to carry out an attack at the school and a loaded shotgun with more than 30 cartridges was found in a bush after his arrest, police said.
In now deleted videos, Prosper had spewed his vile views which included his sick obsession with children.
One clip recorded hours before he massacre saw him threaten violent revenge against his 13-year-old sister Giselle over her actions on a computer game.
Wearing a yellow bucket hat and a black t-shirt Prosper said: “On June 30, my sister decided to make the incorrect choices on episode one of season one of The Walking Dead games, and for that her face will be mutilated further than necessary.”
Prosper said he was “chosen” to protect a fictional character called Clementine in the zombie video game, in a sign he struggled to differentiate between the real world and make-believe.
The teenager’s content was uploaded under a pseudonym and featured his distinctive accent.
But his ramblings were so depraved that he was even kicked off a gore website where millions of users share and comment on videos of people being killed.
The 19-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of murder at Luton Crown Court on Monday.
It was also revealed that Prosper had been plotting a school shooting but was foiled by cops.
After murdering his family, the teen was stopped by officers near his home as he planned to carry out the massacre.
Police also discovered a loaded shotgun discovered in bushes nearby alongside more than 30 cartridges.
Det Ch Insp Sam Khanna, from Bedfordshire Police, said “fortunately Prosper was apprehended before he could cause any further harm”.
He continued: “This was a truly tragic and shocking case in which three innocent members of the same family have been brutally killed by their son and brother.”
“No words can fully describe the tragedy their loved ones have experienced, and our thoughts continue to be with them at this difficult time.
“We are pleased that Prosper has pleaded guilty and will not put his family through the pain of a trial, and that he will soon face a significant jail sentence.”
The family shooting unfolded on September 13 2024 at a flat on Wauluds Bank Drive.
Police swarmed the home at around 5.30am following “welfare concerns”.
Horrified neighbours claimed they heard “loud bangs” that sounded like shots being fired.
Officers discovered Juliana and two of her four children dead inside the flat.
An inquest in October heard that all three of the victims died from gunshot wounds to the head.
Prosper is on remand at HMP Peterborough, but he appeared for the hearing yesterday which lasted less than 10 minutes.
He wore a black t-shirt, dark trousers and black rimmed glasses as he entered his pleas.
The 19-year-old sat with his arms folded when he entered the dock.
As well as admitting the three murders, he pleaded guilty to purchasing or acquiring a shotgun without a certificate, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and possessing an article with a blade or point.
