Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and stress are common mental health conditions created by significant psychological trauma. Previous epidemic studies reported that the prevalence of people who were exposed to an infectious disease also suffered from long term symptoms of PTSD. While the focus on COVID-19 patient care is a foremost objective, complete rehabilitation would…
While the concept of being “addicted” to chaos and stress seems absurd, the condition is far more prevalent than you would expect. Emotional addictions can occur when people grow up in environments where they were exposed to consistent stress, chaotic events and emotional abandonment. These scenarios may include different blends of emotional or physical abandonment,…
At some level, we all know how to be healthy, yet for some inexplicable reason, many of us gravitate into routines even where we know they are not valuable in sustaining wellbeing. So what causes this automatic wellbeing avoidance and denial witch frames the lives of addictions, obesity, work, exercise, malnutrition, depression, stress and other…
In the wake of COVID-19, the South African Government has taken a number of forceful and legal steps to prohibit the sale of cigarettes, alcohol and the limitation the peoples’ movement or independence during the state of emergency or “lockdown”. While we can appreciate the gravity of the present Coronavirus situation, the approach taken by […]
For the past few years, I have been using exercise as a means to tackle my anxiety, depression and alcohol used disorders. Recently I was injured and am unable to exercise as I was for the next few months. Any suggestions? Exercise certainly is one but not the only channel that people use to combat…
The people that exist around you are part of your human experience. Each of them has a role and stature within that context understanding that we too are part of their experience. However big or small that role is our responsibility to each other as human beings come down to creating awareness in our own…
We’ve all got two wolves in us. A good one and a bad one. And they both want to eat. Best I can tell we just got to feed that good one a little more than the other one. Happiness is an emotional response to an outcome. If I win I will be happy, if […]
Our modern world is inundated with stress. Wildfires are burning out of control. Governments are striking out against their people. Relationships collapse and finances meltdown. People turn to whatever form of relief they can find. Often that relief carries with it its own dangers. Drugs. Alcohol. Smoking. Toxic relationships. A craving for approval. Sometimes the […]
The loneliness in recovery is perhaps one of the hardest things we have to contend with as human beings. This time of year brings back the hurt, as we are forced to imagine how things should or could have been so different if we had only been able to stop the succession of events that […]
A new study distributed under the South African Medical Journal reveals that substance addiction is so common in South Africa that one in five adults abuse substances like alcohol, dagga and painkillers. Dr Allers from the South African Society of Psychiatrists remarks that alcohol consumption is still the primary component to substance addictions in South […]
Traumatic stress is a natural reaction after exposure to a terrifying event or a series of independent incidents that we find distressing. It is not only caused by physical scenarios – It can also manifest after exposure to unpleasant emotional influences. After exposure to a frightening event, our brains are alert to danger, but usually […]
The symptoms of post-traumatic disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic disorder (CPTSD) are not as visually obvious as physical injuries or ailments. Neither is it as well known as other mental afflictions. Consequently, it is often misinterpreted, underestimated or ignored by untrained observers. It can also be misdiagnosed by inexperienced health practitioners. This presents unique challenges […]
How does a rehab work? Since patients are removed from the stress of their daily lives, they are often better able to work through their addiction issues. Rehab programs can include group therapy, individual therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and even complementary therapies such as meditation, animal therapy, or outdoor activities. What is the process of rehabilitation? […]