Phones use can easily become problematic. Nearly every app has been engineered to produce responses in the brain that can lead to addictive behaviour. The jury is out as to whether it’s technically an addiction, but if you’re using mobile too much, you’re not alone. Some of us can remember a time before the internet, […]
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Breakups are no joke. Just ask the neuroscientists. In the same way that addiction and withdrawal disrupt brain function, so too does the end of a relationship. Your brain registers that inevitable drop in oxytocin. And the pain isn’t limited to your head. When you split up with your partner, you physically feel it. Break
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It’s complicated but setbacks are a frequent feature of recovery. You shouldn’t let a relapse define you, but you must reach out for help to get you back on track. The path to recovery is never straight. People face obstacles and setbacks. Sadly, a lapse or a relapse is not uncommon. The numbers aren’t clear, but
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Being the parent of an addict is very, very tough. From the minute you find out, you’re never quite the same again. You carry with you a level of worry, fear, guilt and sadness that never quite disappears, even if your child finds sobriety. And in the midst of all that emotional overwhelm, you still
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Recovery from addiction will be challenging and sustaining long-term sobriety is always a work in progress. There are patterns to break, habits to ditch, new skills to learn. Your body and mind will need some care and attention to heal. That\’s exactly how running fits in. You may have been told about the importance of
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Recovering from addiction is hard. You can’t do it alone. Friends will get you through the rough patches and help you grow in the good times. Much has been written and said on the topic of female friendships. Jane Fonda put it well when she said at the 2015 Sundance Women in Film brunch,
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For those in addiction, admitting you have a problem and getting physically free from your addiction are essential first steps. But that’s just the start. The recovery process is long and full of challenges. But when you’re in therapy, when you have a safe place to go, to off-load, to think, to work it
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We know that alcohol can have a huge impact on our bodies and our lives but exactly what difference and why the menopause makes researchers aren’t quite sure. What the experts do agree on, though, managing our addictive behaviour can be a lot more challenging during this time. Two things we do know: firstly, women
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Brain atrophy is a serious but little-known consequence of too much alcohol Most of us know that too much alcohol isn’t good for the liver. But not many of us will have heard of a neurological condition called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, or wet brain as it is more commonly known. This is a serious condition, left
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What is co-dependency? Put in a nutshell, it is an unhealthy way of relating, in which one person has extreme physical or emotional needs that they struggle to deal with, but they have a co-dependent partner who devotes most of their time trying to meet those needs, even at the detriment of themselves. Co-dependent relationships
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