Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. In fact, in order to be truly healthy, a person should prioritize their physical, spiritual, mental and social health. Dave McWilliams is an addictions counsellor at Renascent and is the organization’s Program Coordinator for Tobacco Cessation. Having been … Continued
We often tell people that “addiction is a family disease”; it’s a common saying and for good reason. We know that addiction is a disease, and just like other illnesses, it can be passed down through generations of family members. Families are also interconnected systems: the whole is a sum of each part. Family members … Continued
“We see addiction itself as the problem, rather than the use of a specific drug” (Narcotics Anonymous World Services, 2014, p. 7). It can be hard to tell if a friend or loved one has a problem with addiction, and even harder to recognize addiction in ourselves. The stigma around drug and alcohol abuse and addiction means that … Continued
Addiction is a neurobiological disease (a disease of our nervous system) characterized by an overpowering desire and repeated compulsion to consume a substance or engage in a behaviour despite negative consequences. When we hear the word addiction we usually think of drugs and alcohol, but people can become addicted to processes too. These are known … Continued
The eleventh step in the 12-step recovery process is about making conscious contact with a Higher Power and receiving knowledge, strength, guidance and direction from that power. For someone who is barely more than agnostic – or doesn’t really care to develop their spiritual side – this may seem like a very lofty goal, or … Continued
If you’re working in the mental healthcare profession, including addiction rehabilitation – or if you’re in recovery and treatment for addiction – chances are good that you’ve heard of the DSM-V (often referred to as the DSM-5). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has been around since the 1950s, helping guide healthcare decision-making … Continued
by Mandy Munro Alumni, March 2017 So many of us seek recovery when we are desperate and have tried our own ways and failed. We have had our share of pain and suffering and are looking for the solution. Yet the biggest riddle is this: When given the solution, many of are unwilling to … Continued
Officially I don’t belong to a 12-step group; I do have a sponsor who has become like a sister, and a team of incredible women who inspire, mentor, entertain, challenge, and have continued to love me on my best and worst days over the last 8 years, 10 months. Some may say that because I … Continued
Sadly, children are often the first hurt by alcohol and drug addiction and the last helped. Children of alcoholics are four to nine times more likely to develop an addiction as a direct result of their family experience. Left untreated, these kids are more likely to suffer from depression and other mental health issues as … Continued
