by Renee W. My first stretch of sobriety lasted for three years and (almost) four months. 1,231 days, to be exact, and I only know that because I Googled the dates. During those three-plus years, I stopped drinking, threw myself into AA meetings, worked with a sponsor, lost weight, got fit, … Read more about What is Emotional Sobriety?
The COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen entire countries locked down, many millions infected, hospitalised, and over a million sadly dying, has inevitably led to a large amount of people suffering from mental health problems. And the situation is not going to get better. Looking to the future: … Read more about The mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and coping strategies for social isolation
Feeling lonely is common, especially amidst a global pandemic. No one is immune to feeling isolated from time to time, but what if it becomes a chronic feeling that you can’t shake? Psychology Today defines loneliness as a “function of the affective need for companionship and belonging.” Left … Read more about The Disease of Isolation: Cycles of Loneliness and Addiction
There are numerous reasons why people self-sabotage. When someone engages in self-sabotaging behaviours, they are practically standing in their way of success (whatever ''success'' might mean to them). Examples of self-sabotaging include: Being a perfectionistProcrastinationSelf-medicating … Read more about How to recognize the signs of self-sabotage
Clients entering into treatment are likely going to need to develop skills around exploring and managing difficult emotions. For people who have been engaging in compulsive and addictive behaviours, they've likely been drowning out the difficult emotions, and with that their ability to manage … Read more about How to deal with difficult emotions
People come to treatment in many different states and stages of readiness to change. Some arrive with the pen and notebook with and a binder to keep it all together. Some arrive with the intention of being a minute late to every group "just cuz." But neither of these dispositions are an … Read more about Addiction Counselling and the Fertile Void
Typically, as we age, our values seem to shift. What was once vitally important no longer holds as much appeal, and instead, new values emerge. These shifts are generally positive because with age comes wisdom, right? At least, that’s how the old saying goes. Core values take years to shift in … Read more about Are we seeing a dramatic shift in core values?
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is complex. Primarily, the onset of this disorder is caused by negative past experiences, trauma and even genetics. In places like Australia, up to four percent may be suffering from this disorder. In the United States, this figure rises to six … Read more about Borderline personality disorder and childhood trauma
