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How nesting a bird in her hair for 3 months in Ghana helped a British author to overcome Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

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56255165 10688685 London based author Hannah Bourne Taylor has lived with Obsessiv a 116 1649188463667

An author has revealed to the DailyMail how caring for a helpless baby bird and letting him nest in her hair for 84 days helped her to manage her life-long OCD. 

Hannah Bourne-Taylor, a former model and photographer from London, had lived with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder her whole life but it spiraled out of control when she moved to Accra, Ghana in her 20s with her husband in 2013. 

Triggered by the thought of anything suffering, she became obsessed with the thought of insects drowning in her swimming pool, spending hours each night trying to rescue them.

Hannah had been struggling like this for five years when she came across a bronze-winged mannikin finchfinch who had fallen out of his nest and had been abandoned by the rest of his flock. She decided to rescue him, letting the bird sleep in her hand and her hair.

The finch would tuck himself under a lock of Hannah’s hair, and would use his beak to separate individual strands to form a nest, before settling himself in the middle of it. 

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She cared for the bird for 84 days, before releasing him back into the wild and says the experience taught her how to embrace every moment, while focusing on the tiny bird gave her no time to carry out her compulsions. 

Since then, Hannah and her husband have rescued several animals, including more finches and three crows named Constance, Toucan and Florence, and several pangolins. 

Here, Hannah, whose book Fledgling has been released this week, recalls how caring for animals transformed her mental health. 

When I was in my twenties, I left my life in central London and moved to Ghana with my husband for his work. 

Jobless, friendless and with nothing to do, I spent my days alone. Isolation fuelled my OCD like gasoline.

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When I’m suffering myself, from stress or unhappiness, my OCD offers a dysfunctional coping mechanism, refocusing my mind on preventing any suffering around me as though, by helping something else, my own suffering will reduce.

When I was younger, I would turn everything the right way up – tins of beans, books, shoes. 

It wasn’t to tidy them but to stop them from being upside down because if I was upside down, I would eventually die so I applied this warped logic to everything. 56255159 10688685 The author gets up close and personal with her birds and Constan a 134 1649188463901

Shoelaces had to be carefully extracted from underneath shoes otherwise they would be trapped; teddy bears had to have their heads outside of the bedding otherwise they would suffocate.

Gates had to be shut otherwise they would run out of energy holding themselves up, swinging on their hinges. I lived with OCD throughout my childhood without knowing that it was a disorder, without knowing that other people suffered from it too. 

By my late teens I had grown out of the more illogical compulsions and stopped rescuing shoelaces. 

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Instead, my OCD focused on lights and fans being left on in empty rooms, of taps running, of washing machine’s blinking at the end of their cycles, desperately wanting to turn them off. 

Facts give my OCD oxygen: the annual quota of electricity last year was used up by July in 2021 and with thousands of lights left on carelessly, these truths merge with my intrusive thoughts, blazing through my mind.

Living in Ghana without a purpose, weakened my mind to the onslaught of OCD. After a year of living in the capital city, we moved to house surrounded by an overgrown garden. 

Amongst the palm trees there was a swimming pool. It looked like heaven and it was until I noticed the insects drowning in the water, unable to get out. Then it was hell. 

My OCD latched on to my natural instincts to save the insects and galvanised this desire so that it was an obsession. 

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I felt compelled to save every single insect, prioritising checking the pool, scooping hundreds out of the water, making rafts, patrolling like a crazed lifeguard, unable to leave the pool for any decent amount of time. 

When I started waking up at night to check the pool, my husband got suspicious. I had never told a single person or been officially diagnosed with OCD because I didn’t dare admit that I was, at least partially, mad. 

I kept my strange secret, intending to carry it to my grave but when my husband started questioning me, I knew he would find out. 

The idea of him accusing me before I admitted it spurred me to tell him. Through floods of tears, I confessed. 

‘I’ve got OCD. And not in a casual way people often joke about it but the sort that beats up my mind,’ I said, wincing, unable to look him in the eye, convinced he was going to leave me. 

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His reaction was a complete surprise. He comforted me, reassured me, invited me to talk about it. I felt a tangible relief, my OCD diluted in the same way as a nightmare doesn’t seem so scary in the morning.

Shortly after I shared my secret, we moved to rural Ghana. On the edge of the grasslands in the middle of nowhere I worried that being so remote would lead to the OCD overrunning my mind. 

But then a tiny wild bird changed my life, not only giving me purpose but altering my perspective on everything. 

I found a fledgling finch fallen from his nest after a huge storm. Knowing he would die if I left him, I took the bird back to the house and unwittingly began an intense three-month period of raising him. 

Utterly dependent on me, we were inseparable. The finch slept in my hand and made nests out of my hair, curling the waist length strands up before falling asleep, content, safe. 

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When he was older, we spent every day following his flock so one day he could rejoin his wild family. 

After 84 days of living with a feathered friend on my body every waking hour, the vast differences between me and him shrunk so there were none. 

Like me he needed security and reassurance and craved affection and although smaller than a wood mouse, his personality lit up the room. He taught me how to embrace every moment. 

I had no time to engage in my OCD by carrying out compulsions so when intrusive thoughts started to flood my mind about lights or fans being on, I could do nothing about them. 

I had to look after the bird, keep him safe. I had to feed him otherwise he would perch on my finger and throw his head back, whipping his wings out, calling his shrill hunger call like a matador having a tantrum. 56255147 10688685 Hannah has also been looking after a swift right who likes to cu a 7 1649245947085

I had to comfort him, stroking the side of his tiny face until his head lolled at bedtime, until he was too sleepy to protest, until he stopped nudging me to stroke him more. 

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I put my obsessive energy into a life that really needed me. I got used to dismissing the intrusive thoughts, gradually recognising that the less I carried out the compulsions, the less power the obsessions had over me. 

By not responding to my OCD, a space was made between me and the disorder, expanding little by little so the intrusive thoughts became quieter, less intense. 

This practice is very similar to one of the treatments for OCD known as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). While there is no full cure, there are other treatments too – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and medication as well as other forms of therapy.

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MICHAEL MCINTYRE CONFIRMS SOUTH AFRICAN DATES FOR HIS “MACNIFICENT” COMEDY TOUR

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Michael McIntyre remains one of the top-selling comedy tours ever in SA and will perform September 2024, on Thursday 12th at Sunbet Arena at Times Square, Menlyn and Friday 13th at GrandWest, Cape Town.

Much has happened in the five years since his last tour and Michael will be making mirth from the madness of it all. Michael is the host of two of the BBC’s most successful entertainment shows, the BAFTA-winning Michael McIntyre’s Big Show and The Wheel, which he devised and also hosts for NBC in America. His previous tours have sold over four million tickets and broken box-office records around the world. Michael’s return to stand-up is not to be missed!

Age restriction: STRICTLY 14+. Children younger than this will not be admitted even if accompanied by an adult Tickets available at TicketPro.co.za.

Pre-sales from 10 am THURSDAY 28th March.

Follow Real Artist Management on Facebook for access to pre-sales for Michael McIntyre with a code MACNIFICENT for the Menlyn and Cape Town shows.

General Public on sale from 11am Tues 2nd April – i.e. no code required

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Beast of Two Worlds (Ajakaju) Movie Premiere: Where Cinema Meets Couture

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BEAST OF TWO WORLDS AJAKAJU ENIOLA AJAO 3

On Sunday, March 25, 2024, the Nollywood industry saw a historic moment as the much-awaited debut of Beast of Two Worlds (Ajakaju) took center stage at Film House Cinemas, Circle Mall, Lekki. The film’s grand premiere, which was produced by Eniola Ajao in association with Anthill Studios, was a momentous occasion in the history of epic blockbuster movies.

Beast of Two Worlds (Ajakaju) had its much-awaited debut attracting a star-studded cast of industry professionals. A bit of star power was added to the premiere by the presence of well-known people like Toyin Abraham, Mercy Aigbe, Odunlade Adekola, Femi Adebayo, Iyabo Ojo, Yomi Fash-Lanso, Gbenga Adeyinka, Ronke Oshodi-Oke, Denrele Edun, Rukayat Lawal, Wasila Coded, Wumi Toriola, Phyna, Peju Ogunmola, Dayo Amusa, Iyabo Ojo, Antar Laniyan, and others.

Beast of Two Worlds (Ajakaju) opened with a grandiose fashion show that went above and beyond the usual moviegoing experience. The red carpet was a glistening display of avant-garde and opulent looks that added even more excitement to the evening’s festivities.

Directed by Odunlade Adekola and Adebayo Tijani, “Beast of Two Worlds” looks at the life of a desperate king facing banishment due to his three wives’ inability to produce a son, he takes a new wife from another world who promises him an heir but her arrival brings unforeseen chaos to the kingdom forcing the king to confront his fears and fight to secure his dynasty future.

The cast includes Odunlade Adekola, Eniola Ajao, Sola Sobowale,  Femi Adebayo, Lateef Adedimeji, Mercy Aigbe, Bimbo Akintola, Fathia Balogun, Ibrahim Chatta, amongst others.

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Beast of Two Worlds is set to show nationwide in cinemas from March 29, 2024, and distributed by Film One.

Watch the trailer here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17aQ8ibDXVg 

About Beast of Two Worlds

Beast of Two Worlds looks at the life of a desperate king facing banishment due to his three wives’ inability to produce a son, he takes a new wife from another world who promises him an heir but her arrival brings unforeseen chaos to the kingdom forcing the king to confront his fears and fight to secure his dynasty future. 

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Electric Forest Announces Additional Artists for Sold Out 2024 Edition

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2024 ElectricForest Billing Refresh 1080x1350 WEB

New Additions Feature Seven Lions, Sara Landry, G Jones, Hiatus Kaiyote, ODD MOB & OMNOM present HYPERBEAM, Layton Giordani, Boogie T, Cannabliss, Levity, Chaos in the CBD, Emo Nite, Brandi Cyrus + Many More

Taking Place June 20-23 in Rothbury, Michigan

Limited Wristbands Back On Sale Friday, March 29

https://www.electricforest.com

Today, Electric Forest announces 40+ additional artists joining the lineup for its sold out 2024 edition. Taking place June 20-23 in Rothbury, Michigan, Electric Forest remains one of the world’s most interactive festivals, fostering an immersive atmosphere of connection and discovery upheld by the pillars of community, creation, and inclusion.

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Electric Forest’s new lineup additions include melodic bass maestro Seven Lions, experimental bass veteran G Jones, high priestess of hard techno Sara Landry, and Grammy-nominated band Hiatus Kaiyote. The billing expands with techno new school selector Layton Giordani, post-punk revivalists Emo Nite,Nashville’s Brandi Cyrus, Kiwi brother-duo Chaos in the CBD, multi-instrumentalist live legend Boogie T,  Chicago’s rising electronic trio Levity, and the new collaborative project of tech house sensations ODD MOB & OMNOM present HYPERBEAM.

Electric Forest’s latest additions join a stacked roster of headliners including Forest favorite Pretty Lights, the bone-rattling sounds of Excision, and Cyclops Recordings founder Subtronics. A variety of rare collaborative artist sets are also on deck, including EVERYTHING ALWAYS (Dom Dolla + John Summit), LSZEE (CloZee + LSDREAM), and Big Gigantic and NGHTMRE teaming up for their Gigantic NGHTMRE project.

Jam fans can rejoice as The String Cheese Incident returns to perform two Incidents, plus sets from fellow torchbearers of the genre The Disco Biscuits and Umphrey’s McGee. Some of the more unexpected names on the lineup include Grammy-winning singer Nelly Furtado and famed Atlanta hip-hop artist Ludacris, each bringing their iconic sounds to the forest. The list of headliners is rounded out by Belgian techno queen Charlotte de Witte, a solo set from John Summit, and performances by Black Tiger Sex Machine, Ben Böhmer, and Knock2.

This year, Electric Forest will continue its offering of elevated culinary experience add-ons. Highlights include breakfast with a side of sass at the Drag Brunch, a four course meal inspired by the Forest, seasonal produce, and mystical creatures at Forest Feast, Buena Vida, an Agave spirits interactive cocktail tasting experience, and Wig Out Pig Out, a wig wearing authentic BBQ. Additional offerings include Brie Our Guest, Champagne French Fry, The Gouda Life, Forest Food Tour, and Good Life Brunch with Chef Sarah.

Fans will also be able to purchase exclusive guided tour experiences, allowing them to explore Sherwood Forest or experience the Dream Emporium before festival gates officially open. The exclusive tours will give fans an exclusive sneak peek at the new art, installations, and surprises the Forest has to offer while learning about the artists, history, and production process of the festival directly from the Electric Forest team. Sherwood Forest tours will conclude at TheWoodlands Bar for happy hour and are extremely limited capacity.

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Electric Forest also recently announced the full programming for its beloved Plug In Programs, offering fans the unique opportunity to contribute and collaborate directly with the festival’s production teams. Highlights include the Art Installation Sponsorship Program, allowing artists to bring their creations to life in the forest, The Brainery which offers educational workshops and classes, The Wish Machine which grants a wish in exchange for inspirational and charitable deeds done in the community, and the Electric Forest Radio On Air ExtraordinAIRE Program for aspiring radio personalities, show hosts, behind-the-scenes technicians, fan interviewers, and more.

Since 2011, Electric Forest has remained committed to the constant reimagination of what a festival experience can be. It’s this thoughtful and innovative approach to production and programming that has helped foster one of the world’s most dedicated festival communities. It’s a place where acceptance, safety, and self-expression are the most valuable currency, surprise and wonder hide around every corner, and no two journeys are the same.

Wristbands for Electric Forest 2024 are currently sold-out, but limited wristbands will go back on sale this Friday, March 29 at 12pm EST. More information can be found at ElectricForest.com.  Add-Ons, Vehicle Passes, Early Arrival, Group Camping, Shuttles, Lockers, and more can be found here.

The complete list of Electric Forest 2024 artists is available below.

Electric Forest 2024 Lineup (A-Z)

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ACRAZE

ALLEYCVT

ATLiens

AYYBO

Baggi

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Barclay Crenshaw

Ben Böhmer

Black Tiger Sex Machine

Boogie T

Brandi Cyrus

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Calussa

Cannabliss

Cannons

Caspa

Cassian

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Chaos in the CBD

Charlotte De Witte

Chase & Status

Coco & Breezy

Cuco (DJ Set)

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Dimension

Dirtwire

Dixon’s Violin

DJ Susan

DJ Tennis

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DRAMA

Dumpstaphunk

Eggy

Emo Nite

Equanimous

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EVERYTHING ALWAYS (Dom Dolla + John Summit)

Excision

G Jones

Gigantic NGHTMRE

Green Velvet

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Hamdi

Hiatus Kaiyote

INZO

it’s murph

Jenna Shaw

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JJUUJJUU

John Summit

Juelz

Kenny Beats

Kiltro

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Knock2

Layton Giordani

Levity

Le Youth

Lettuce

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LEVEL UP

Levity

Libianca

Little Stranger

LP Giobbi

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LSZEE (CloZee + LSDREAM)

Luci

Ludacris

LYNY

Maddy O’Neal

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MÆSØNIC

Major League Djz

Mascolo

Marsh

Matroda

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Mau P

Michaël Brun

Mojave Grey

NEIL FRANCES

Nelly Furtado

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Neoma

ODD MOB & OMNOM present HYPERBEAM

ODEN & Fatzo

Only Fire

PAPERWATER

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Peach Tree Rascals

Polyrhythmics

Pretty Lights

Próxima Parada

Ranger Trucco

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Rawayana

Redrum

Sammy Virji

Sara Landry

Seven Lions

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Shae District

Slayyyter

Subtronics

Sultan + Shepard

Super Future

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SWAYLÓ

The Disco Biscuits

The String Cheese Incident

Thought Process

Tripp St.

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TSHA

Umphrey’s McGee

Unusual Demont

venbee

Vini Vici

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VNSSA B2B Nala

Westend

Whyte Fang

Will Clarke

Wooli

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Zen Selekta

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Diddy reportedly sells off all his Revolt TV shares to anonymous buyer amidst home raids

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One day after Homeland Security descended upon his residences in Los Angeles and Miami, Diddy has reportedly relinquished his Revolt TV shares. (more…)

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Titanic’s door frame prop that helped Rose stay afloat sells for $718,750

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The floating piece of wood that kept Titanic’s Rose alive has been sold for $718,750 (£569,739) at auction. (more…)

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs breaks silence after federal agents raid his homes

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ team breaks their silence just over 24 hours after Homeland Security raided his homes. (more…)

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