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.
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
High-functioning anxiety is not easily detectable, mostly because those living with it continue their day-to-day life and appear to be fine on the outside.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Through exhaustive research, psychologists are slowly discovering the reasons and triggers which cause substance abuse and addiction. Research tells us that biological and experiential factors trigger addiction.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
You may have noticed that what you eat and drink can lift or lower your spirits. It affects how we feel, think and even how we behave. Some foods are known to lift your mood, concentration and energy levels, while others can have the opposite effect.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Alcohol is an integral part of everyday life for many of us. We joke about our intake and the need for alcohol to get us through stressful situations. Mostly, we don’t even consider alcohol to be a drug, in the sense of marijuana, cocaine or heroin.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Research generously and continuously supports ecotherapy as a key benefit to mental health. In fact, just the suggestion of nature seems to improve human mental health. A study carried out by Mind found that 95% of those interviewed said their mood improved after spending time outdoors. They noted a change from depressed, stressed and anxious, to calm and balanced.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Once you have taken the decisive step towards professional help. Your choice of where to undergo treatment should be based on finding a centre that closely matches your rehabilitation goals and offers an encompassing and safe environment.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
There are many situations that can cause high levels of stress, such as high-pressure executive careers, financial problems or difficult relationships. Often one may lead to another leading to a cumulative effect, with each stressor building on top of the other.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
You have been working at maximum velocity. Long working hours mean you have little time to rest, exercise or sit down to a healthy and relaxed meal. This has been happening over a period of time now, and you feel physically drained and mentally exhausted.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
South Africa has an abundance of diverse and breathtaking scenery, a vibrant culture, and magnificent wildlife: three major factors which influence our wellbeing and inspire us to reach optimum health and happiness. It’s why the country is an exceptional destination for those seeking a successful recovery from addiction, burnout or mental health issues.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
Although many of us think it’s possible to live on pure adrenalin alone, sadly it’s not the case. A 2018 Gallup study of 7,500 employees found that a significant 23% reported feeling burnt out at work very often or always, and 44% feel burnt out at work sometimes.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
They call ecstasy the ‘love drug’ because it amps up your sensations and people using it feel things at a heightened level; colours, sound and touch. It’s great if you’re clubbing or at a manic music concert because you lose all your inhibitions and can dance and rave all night long. And sex on ecstasy is mind-blowing. But what they don’t tell you is ecstasy also causes deep depression, confusion, severe anxiety, paranoia and other very scary psychotic episodes. It’s a synthetic drug and the short burst of exhilaration on ecstasy doesn’t last anywhere as long as the depressed slump you go into after your crazy night out.
This article was written by Giles Fourie
