Inconsistent orders. Unreliable actions. Constant chaos. If you grew up in an alcoholic environment, you probably lived in continual fear, wondering what was happening around you. One minute your life seemed perfect, and at the seemingly smallest thing, it overturned into madness and confusion. Children of alcoholics are survivalists by nature, but they often survive …
Those who experience a therapeutic family component to their care have a 65 per cent higher probability of getting, and more importantly, staying well. Recovering from something like anxiety, depression, traumaor addiction is no easy feat, and it requires an entire family to ensure long term well-being. In this article, we explain why family involvement …
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“Tell me what it was like growing up.” “Let’s go back to your childhood.” “What was your relationship like with your parents?” These questions come from psychologists and therapists around the world to the point where they can become annoyingly cliché. Those sitting across from a well-meaning counsellor may roll their eyes and think, My childhood …
Simply put, childhood trauma is a risk factor for almost any health issue that may develop years down the road. From depression and anxiety to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and obesity, childhood trauma can not only be a direct cause of these physical and mental issues, but what’s worse, sometimes the past trauma goes unrecognized altogether, …
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by Renee W. As a recovering alcoholic who has been enabled by well-meaning family and friends, I have a strong stance on this issue. When I was drowning in my addiction, I manipulated my family and friends as all addicts do. Some fell into the destructive cycle of enabling me in my addition. When I …
In 1955 Addiction was acknowledged by WHO (World Health Organization) as a disease. A year later the AMA (American Medical Association) went a step further and acknowledged it a family disease. Ask the many friends and families of addicts and alcoholics about this and they will concur….The destruction caused to those around the addict can …
Recently I have been trying to help my 6-year-old son get through a difficult time in school. It’s his first year in school (after kindergarten) and he been adjusting to many changes. Mostly he takes it in his stride but one of his teachers is very strict, loud and in his words, “scary”. Twice in …
Codependence is a psychological term that describes an unhealthy or self defeating behaviour most commonly prevalent in family and friendships. The Wikipedia definition is a type of dysfunctional helping relationship where one person supports or enables another person’s drug addiction, alcoholism, gambling addictions, poor mental health, immaturity, irresponsibility, or underachievement. Common signs of codependency may …
We expect our children to grow and change and develop over the years, but not many parents expect that they are going to have to do the same. The way we communicate with our children needs to evolve also. Nothing exemplifies this better than talking to your kids about drugs and alcohol. It can be …