“We talk about teenagers coming of age,” says journalist and author Bryony Gordon. “But I was 37, the age I got sober, before I think I was actually an adult.” 

With this in mind, Gordon’s latest book, You Got This, is aimed at young teenagers and contains “everything I wish someone had told me”. But, she says, “I think women of all ages can benefit from the advice. When I was younger, mental health wasn’t really talked about and we can all use reminders and the chance to catch up.”

So, in the spirit of ‘never too late’, here’s the advice that works at any age. 

1. You are incomparable 

“It’s true! No one compares to you. We’re all unique and miraculous. The chances of you, specifically, existing as a human were calculated by Dr Ali Binazir and they are so close to zero. The universe really wants you to be here and not to look like Kim Kardashian.”

2. Don’t dismiss hormonal feelings

“Respect the anger and sadness you feel when you’re about to get your period. Don’t write them off and say, ‘Oh, it’s just hormones.’ They are still real feelings and they’re worthy of validation. We can’t write off three months of every year.” 

3. Treat yourself like a baby

“You may be a grown adult, but you should give yourself the level of care that you would give a baby. Never stop treating yourself like that. Feed yourself. Water yourself. Get fresh air.”

4 . Relationships are only part of life

“I know our attitudes on this are starting to shift but it’s still an important reminder. Life is not going to be made better by being in a relationship, and that goes for any stage of life, from teenage crushes to wanting to get married. I thought everything would fall into place when I got married, but I still ended up in rehab.”

5 . You are the best you

“I spent so long trying so hard to be someone else because I hadn’t realised that the best thing I could be as an adult was me. People come up to me and say ‘I wish I had your confidence!’ but you can just be you, not a version of me or anyone else.”

You Got This by Bryony Gordon (£9.99, Wren and Rook) is out 2 May 

Photography/camera press: Joseph Sinclair