Glistening lights and colourful decorations spread across the community. Festive music fills the air. The aroma of savoury food tickles nostrils and wafts through the room with feelings of nostalgia and comfort. Smiles and laughter accompany the holiday season as family, and loved ones spend time together to celebrate.
We have all had to adjust to situations, and things we never imagined were possible this year with Coronavirus the culprit for many of these unforeseen changes.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Think of well-known musicians such as Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, and Jim Morrison, who died way too young from addiction-related causes. Then there are writers, like Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Edgar Allan Poe, and Earnest Hemingway. The “Master of Horror,” Stephen King, lived through alcoholism but is sober today: King is the author of 65 novels and approximately 200 short stories (and writing!)
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Growing up in a household where one or both parents suffered some form of substance addiction not only breeds chaos in the moment but can have a lifelong impact on the children involved once they reach adulthood.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Anxiety is defined as the feeling of being threatened or in danger. It's a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that ranges from mild to severe. Everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their life.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Research and anecdotal experience show the power of storytelling in recovery can teach, entertain, comfort, and heal both the storyteller and the audience.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Resilience is ‘’the strength and speed of our response to adversity’’. In essence, emotional stability (such as Resilience) is the ability to bounce back quickly after tragedy has occurred.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Learning how to identify our needs is an essential step in understanding human motivation, thought, and in some cases, any challenging and unhelpful behaviours someone might be displaying.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
It was Karl Barth who once quoted that: ‘’Joy is the simplest form of gratitude’’, and he wasn’t wrong.Numerous studies show that having gratitude leads to gratefulness and fullness of life. Those who practise gratitude daily often have better health, a satisfaction of life and tend to be far happier in general.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
The term “codependency” is often thrown around loosely, and it always brings with it a negative stigma. This term may seem straightforward, but it’s actually more complex than it appears.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Since the beginning of humankind, it seems that people have been using drugs to change the way they feel. Perhaps it was to keep away tiredness on hunting expeditions or as part of spiritual or coming of age rituals.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Substance abuse is a problem that kills millions of people every year. Statistics from the World Health Organisation show that an average of 3.3 million people die every year of alcohol abuse and 31 million people have drug use disorders.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
According to Psychologist Hans Eysenck, there are two main personality types - there are the introverted characters, and those who lean more towards extraversion. Introverts tend to experience life in more subjective realms and prefer their own company over the company of others, while extroverts live in opposition to this.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Our modern world is a constantly moving place that stops for nobody. From the ever-growing workday to the internet and everything else we currently have access to at the tips of our fingers, humanity has never seen such an addicted time period before.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Drug and alcohol usage has skyrocketed across the world, with Australia (49%), America (46%), and Britain (44%) experiencing substantial rises in cannabis usage. In addition to cannabis, other psychoanalytic substances have been used at a higher rate, as well as addictive legal vices like alcohol.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Within the mental health community, personality disorders are defined as a set of mental illnesses involving long-term behaviours and thoughts that are rigid and unhealthy.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
People who report feeling lonely are more than twice as likely to also have a substance abuse disorder. Loneliness is an epidemic, and it’s often a major cause of addiction. It’s also a big part of relapse.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Resilience is the ability to bounce back quickly from difficulties, also referred to as a person being tough, stoic, flexible, and robust.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Health anxiety sometimes referred to as 'hypochondriasis' is a debilitating mental health condition.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
It could be the uncertainty that comes from such as losing a job, a relationship break-up, a serious illness or accident or a bereavement. Or it could be something that has never happened in our lifetime, as is happening around the world right now with the COVID-19 pandemic.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Many people think rehab centres are solely to help people suffering from an addiction. But in fact an increasing number of people are seeking treatment for depression at recovery and wellness centres such as White River Manor.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Numerous studies have already shown that natural light has instant positive effects on our immune system, stress levels and blood pressure. A strong immune system, of course, means less chance of any illness and means the body is stronger if sickness does arise. Here are the benefits of sunshine on recovery.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
As unpleasant as it might feel at times - guilt isn't a bad thing. Guilt is associated with behaviours, and the ability to change certain behaviour is what allows people (including those in recovery from addiction), to be empowered.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
In the past 20 years, there has been a growing increase in the number of people addicted to technology. In those years the growth of the internet and the porn industry has made it all too easy for people to look at porn whenever they want.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Everyone knows about the dangers of stress. This is especially true for executives who frequently work longer hours than anyone else and under greater pressure. If stress like this persists, it can lead to "executive burnout".
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Toxic shame is a deep emotion that causes an intense feeling of inadequacy. If not healed, it can lead to addiction, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and uncontrollable anger.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Group therapy is a popular form of treatment. It involves at least one therapist engaging with a number of people in therapy at the same time. It has been seen that this type of therapy helps a person to talk about issues with the support of other people who are going through similar problems. It helps with connection to others.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
What does anxiety do to you? What can anxiety do to your mind and body? How can anxiety affect someone's life? What relieves anxiety?
This article was written by Giles Fourie
An "enabler" is a person who encourages or allows self-destructive behaviour in another. That means any habit that's detrimental to the person and usually those around them too.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Addiction recovery doesn’t end when a person finishes at rehab. Recovery is a lifelong pursuit of positive habit building, maintaining mental wellbeing and avoiding negative triggers that may lead to relapse.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Drug abuse can cause a variety of physical disorders and have a negative impact on your mental, behavioural, social and emotional wellbeing.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Children smile around 400 times per day, but as adults, we only smile about 20 times a day. That's not healthy for adults as it's been proven that smiling is good for us.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a mental disorder affecting more than 264 million people worldwide. We are made to have all sorts of emotions ranging from joy to sadness. They are a completely natural part of life. There's a big difference between feeling a little sad and having depression.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Are you dependent on your devices? Do you feel the need to be in constant contact with others? Do you find yourself obsessively checking for emails, messages, missed calls? Are you continually engaged on social media - mindlessly scrolling for satisfaction?
This article was written by Giles Fourie
It seems like a riddle: those who have experienced past trauma often put themselves in situations to experience similar trauma. It’s not a conscious decision either. They don’t think to themselves: I will put myself through more pain on purpose.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Science research has established that daily cuddles with your pet are good for both of you. Just 30 minutes with a puppy positively affects your brain chemistry and changes the bodies stress response. Pet cuddles can also play an important role in improving your physical health and helping relieve anxiety and depression. They can help to reduce our blood pressure in stressful situations, lower cholesterol and increase physical activity.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
With the world currently experiencing varying levels of grief, it’s important that mental health professionals continue to spread the message surrounding grief and the many ways it manifests.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
A bad night's sleep every now and then is fine. But when a bad night, turns into a bad week, turns into a bad month. Sleep deprivation starts to take over our lives. We feel tired all day, our work performance drops and we're grouchy with our family.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Finding the perfect location for rehab isn’t always easy. For most, it requires an environment that provides enough stimulation without feeling overwhelming or feeding bad habits. There is a myriad of reasons why you should choose South Africa as the ideal luxury rehab destination, such as nature, wildlife, culture, and excellence in the field of substance abuse and burnout programs.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
