Category Archives: Uncategorized

What are Common Drug-Seeking Behaviours?

Common Drug-Seeking Behaviours? Understanding drug-seeking behaviour is essential for healthcare providers, patients, and families alike. This phenomenon involves individuals attempting to obtain medications, often prescription drugs, through deceptive or manipulative tactics. Recognising and addressing these behaviours is crucial for both effective medical care and the well-being of those struggling with substance use disorders. Defining Drug-Seeking […]

What Are the 5 Elements of Recovery?

What Are the 5 Elements of Recovery?

What Are the 5 Elements of Recovery? Recovery from addiction is a multi-faceted journey that requires a holistic approach. Five essential elements contribute to successful recovery. These elements encompass various aspects of an individual’s life, promoting overall well-being and sustainable sobriety. 1. Physical Health Importance of Physical Health Physical health is a fundamental element of […]

Tackling the day to day

Tackling the Day-to-Day of Addiction is complex, manifesting as compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences. Recovery from addiction is equally complex and deeply personal. This article explores the daily challenges and strategies involved in recovery, providing insights and support to those on their journey to a healthier life. Defining Addiction Addiction is a chronic dysfunction […]

The Stages of Change – Introduction to Recovery

Recovery change

Recovery Recovery is a deeply personal journey with no universal definition. It varies for each individual, but generally, recovery can be described as: A process of change through which people improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential.” Today, there are more recovery paths than ever before, driven […]

Let go of Anxiety

Anxiety definition

Anxiety is an emotion, expressed through your body’s reaction to stressful, dangerous or unfamiliar situations.

In normal levels, anxiety is a healthy thing, preparing us for for unknown situations by keeping us alert and aware.

However, those struggling with anxiety disorders experience high levels of anxiety, know it to be overwhelming, even debilitating interfering with their ability to lead a normal functioning life.

A little note on COURAGE.

Courage cartoon image

As a young teenager I remember being told once by a doctor that some of the pain and discomfort I was experiencing in my joints was due to growing pains (I did become quite lanky pretty quickly).

The doctor knew that growth rarely happens without discomfort

And it’s the same in recovery.

Patience: Easier said than done?

Patience: Easier said than done?

 

Today I am writing about my favourite topic. PATIENCE.

Patience can be defined as; “the ability to bear pains and trails calmly without complaint.”

I’m not writing it because I am a patient person, no, it’s for the exact opposite reason. I am a work in progress too. The desire to have something right now is easy in today’s environment, food, movies, amazon prime. We hate to wait. I hate to wait.

Now imagine what that feels like for someone coming to terms with recovery. When I mention the word ‘patience’ to anyone I know struggling in early recovery I am almost feel the imaginary ‘punch in the face’ they have just given me. 

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The Void – Boredom in Recovery

The Void – Boredom in Recovery

 This addiction business is quite a time consuming, exhaustive and all-encompassing thing.

If it’s not taking up most of your physical time; buying, supplying, using, or preparing – it most certainly will be taking up a lot of your mental resources; when can I use; where will I get it; how will I hide it?

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Teenage substance abuse – How to have ‘that’ conversation

Teenage substance abuse – How to have ‘that’ conversation

As a father to a 2 ½ year old daughter, and with my own frightful personal experience of substance abuse, the very thought of my daughter potentially engaging in substance use in the future terrifies me. Yup, Zoey is not even 3 and I’m worried about my reactions to this already.
 
So I can only imagine the utter fear and panic that today parents experience when they start to see signs their teenager may be abusing drugs or alcohol or have noticed them acting strangely.

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One Size Fits All Recovery?

One Size Fits All Recovery?

There are more choices today of paths to recovery than ever. These have all been driven by traditional approaches; tried and tested results, scientific research; but most importantly – individual preferences.

We are all unique, have experienced different things and developed our own view of the world. Sometimes when it comes to recovery we have been trying to – squeeze square pegs into round holes.

Despite our individuality the common denominator in our recovery is the need to changing one’s self, understanding that you cannot keep doing the same thing and expecting different results.

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