Denial gives powerful messages of madness to the person in addiction. Such messages tend to fuel addictions – alcohol, drugs or behavioural. They are also the primary triggers for relapse. These ‘messages of madness’ tell the addict that he or she doesn’t have a problem, or that the isn’t so alarming, or that the addictive […]
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I recall being in a treatment centre some years back. It was early in my attempts at recovery. I was waiting to be seen by a medical professional and sat nervously in a waiting area scanning the posters and leaflets that were laid out. Most contained snappy slogans or acronyms one which even then stood […]
Read more about HALTT – a Self-care Tool in Addiction Recovery →
Today, the world is faster, and we always seem on-the-go dashing from task to task. Finding time to eat adequately in between can often be a hard task. Despite being a nation of fitness fanatics with gyms often packed, we are still a nation of takeaways. After all, ‘Fish and Chips’ is still our favourite […]
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The term “adult child of alcoholic” (ACOA) first came out around 1980, to describe the multitudes of “children” trapped in adult bodies. These individuals were in a constant state of confusion, resentment and hurt that was deeply embedded in them since a dysfunctional childhood with a drunk parent/s. Urged on with a strong desire to […]
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Having a loved one in recovery who lives with addiction can raise several questions. It is normal to be curious and to want to know about their journey, to better understand them. However, approaching them is not always easy. You may worry that it appears as though you are judging them or putting them under […]
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It is often so frustrating for the family of an addict or alcoholic to convince him or her to seek treatment for their condition. For the family, it can be incredibly exasperating that the affected person does not even acknowledge that they have a problem with addiction. In such a situation, the addict is actually […]
Each one of us is unique. This uniqueness is born of a multitude of factors, such as our place of birth and upbringing, the schools we attend, the friends we had, the religious affinity of our families, the experiences we endured in our lives, the places we travelled to, our genetic make-up, the values we […]
May 31 is World No Tobacco Day There was a time when smoking was very much a part of typical daily life. People smoked everywhere: in planes, ships, cinemas, offices and homes. Smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe was considered ‘macho’. Film stars smoked away in movies as did models in advertisements. Anyone who was […]
When the work commute is mere seconds to your computer and there’s no need to wear trousers and shoes, you may think there’s much less stress. However, you may now have much less time alone – to listen to your favourite music or watch a TV serial. The stress of enforced stay-at-home due to the […]
Read more about Your Work-from-Home Employees Are at Risk of Burn Out – How You Can Help →
Over the last ten years, alcohol and drug-related deaths in the UK have steadily been on the rise. Currently, figures relating to deaths as a result of drug usage are at record levels, with Scotland now deemed the drug death capital of Europe. This has shockingly coincided with the closure of many UK based residential […]