addiction

A short informational piece from our guest author at the AbbeyCare Foundation Group

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At the time of writing, much of the planet is facing a ‘second-wave’ of COVID-19. The global economy is being challenged, the poor are getting poorer, the sick, sicker, and all our perceptions of thinking we have any level of ‘control’ are being fractured. But, is the outlook really all doom and gloom?

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Dealing with an addiction or addictive behaviours are some of the most difficult to process, accept and work through. Our guest, Kevin Repass is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic and has written many articles to help others. Here, he briefly shares his journey through treatment and recovery in the hopes to encourage others who are experiencing a struggle with drugs and/or alcohol to seek support.

From the age of 14 until 30, I struggled with drinking and drug use – for half my life basically! A lot of people tried to tell me I had a problem, but I always failed to listen and regardless of the consequences, I didn’t care. Ultimately, it was an idling and failed three-year relationship, a battle with severe depression, suicidal thoughts, my family watching me drink myself to death, an overdose of pills and a trip to the emergency room that led me to agreeing to go into a detox and treatment centre. My drinking and drug use had already ruined half my life and it almost ended me for good. [Read more…]

Addictive behaviours are one of the most concerning challenges we may ever have to overcome and a few include overuse or dependence on alcohol, drugs, food (too much or not enough), gambling and abuse (of ourselves and others).

It is a misconception that addicts are unemployed as certainly when it comes to alcohol, you are more likely to drink if you are in employment than if you are looking for work or you aren’t in the job market… Although adults with the lowest incomes are most likely to abuse drugs, particularly Class A substances, the pressures of poorly paid work can be just as significant as having a demanding job. – Workplace Stress and the Role of Addiction

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We are, once again, approaching that time of year when partaking in the festivities allows us to enjoy special food and drink and provides us with a much needed change in routine. However, are we mindful of our activities or do we find ourselves mindlessly ‘following the crowd’? Also, consider the rest of the year, not just the festive times. Are we mindful of our habits and behaviours?

Joel Curtis, a registered Psychologists with Endeavour Wellness has over 17 years of experience. Joel also holds a Masters’ Degree in Psychology and owns a number of private practices in Sydney and provides expert content for several national TV and Radio programmes. Here, Joel looks at the subject of casual drinking and addiction. [Read more…]

A guest article, by Sonia Tagliareni – a writer and researcher for DrugRehab and who is passionate about helping people, started her professional writing career in 2012 and has since written for the finance, engineering, lifestyle and entertainment industry. Sonia also holds a bachelor’s degree from the Florida Institute of Technology. Today we focus on the most commonly understood phenomenon of codependency in a relationship where one of the partners may be challenged with substance addiction. It is worth maintaining an open mind, however, if you have a challenging relationship. Codependency is also highly observable in relationships outside of addiction!

Codependency

Codependency, an emotional and behavioral condition that often afflicts the family members of a substance abuser, occurs when a person cannot function in a healthy manner without another. The codependent individual becomes obsessed with their family member’s substance use disorder and allows the disease to take over their lives. [Read more…]

When we think of an individual facing challenges with addiction, it’s possible to neglect the impact on others close to that individual.  In this guest post, author Helen Weir shares some helpful insight into just how those closest to the challenge of addiction are affected – and what can help. [Read more…]

Recent information from the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) shows that there are around 526,000 cases of work-related stress annually in the UK. Employees most likely affected by stress in the workplace are based in health and social care, education and public administration, all of which have their own demands. [Read more…]

Drug addiction can be a tough topic to address. This is particularly difficult if you feel that your loved ones may be suffering from a certain type of addiction. Guest author, Tess Young, is a freelance writer and blogger and her writing covers a wide range of different topics. She also writes for Pyramid Healthcare on topics such as alcohol and drug treatment programs.

Drug issues can happen to anyone, and contrary to popular belief it is not just illegal drugs that are causing this. Addiction to prescription medication is also an issue. Drugs can end up being both psychologically and chemically addictive, and addiction can end up governing a person’s entire life. As a result, it is a good idea to check for the signs that may indicate a dependency problem. Some of these signs are quite difficult to pick up, but by looking closely you may be able to find out what the issue is so that you can get it sorted as soon as possible. [Read more…]

What are our next generations going to look like in their societal and familial interactions? I think we are very much still in transition, but there are a number of schools of thought around what is healthy, and what may be less so.

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