depression Archives • Counselling & Therapy Online

Trevor’s Story of Addiction and Recovery

August 23, 2017 By Trevor McDonald Leave a Comment

We welcome stories from people about how they have overcome struggles with addiction and turned their lives around.

People become addicts for different reasons.

In my case, throughout childhood and my teenage years, I couldn’t handle the inevitability of circumstances out of my control, and I never wanted to confront the things that truly hurt me.

Therefore, I turned to external factors to suppress pain, stress, and most of all – sadness. Naturally, I welcomed whatever outlet took the pain away with open arms – especially drugs and alcohol. [Read more…]

Need help with alcohol or drug problems? What’s stopping you?

November 21, 2016 By Christine Askew BA, MA, MSc Leave a Comment

Alcohol and drug addiction doesn’t discriminate. All around the world, there are people from all walks of life trying to get by while abusing drugs or alcohol. In the US alone, over 40 million people fit the criteria for clinical addiction, yet only 10 percent of them will seek treatment.

If you are starting to think you might have a problem, what is stopping you from reaching out for help?

You think your problem isn’t serious enough.

Maybe you just binge drink on occasional weekends. Or perhaps you just have a few beers or glasses of wine a night. You might be functioning well on the outside, going to work, looking after your children, exercising, etc, but on the inside, you feel unfulfilled. [Read more…]

Insecure Attachment – Sowing The Seeds Of Addiction

August 2, 2016 By Christine Askew BA, MA, MSc 3 Comments

In my last post, I talked about the link between addiction and connection – or lack of it. And how our earliest experiences shape the way our brains develop and generate a specific ‘attachment’ style.

Knowing your attachment style and how it affects your thoughts feelings and behaviours can provide an incredible sense of relief. It can help you to start making sense of the struggles that you have and can give you a focus of how to work through them.

Attachment theory is fast becoming the leading theory on why we are prone to a whole host of psychological issues including depression, anxiety, relationship conflict and addiction. Attachment theory is not new; it has been around for decades. But what IS new is the validation it now has from research in neuroscience.

So what is it exactly?

In a nutshell, the type of attachment bond we have with our caregivers in the first few years of life dictates how we live, love and learn for the rest of our lives. Or as John Bowlby, the father of attachment theory, said “from the cradle to the grave” [Read more…]

Are you wired for addiction?

June 18, 2015 By Christine Askew BA, MA, MSc Leave a Comment

The link between addiction, anxiety and depression has long been known. Essentially, if you have one, you are highly likely to have the others. But what is emerging from neuroscience research is how intricately they are all connected and how the stress hormone cortisol can hard-wire the brain to make a person vulnerable to all three.Cortisol is one of the primary hormones released when we are anxious or stressed. Its job is to provide extra energy to deal with the stressor. It does this by partially shutting down certain systems, such as the digestive system and the immune system and flooding the body with glucose. Along, with adrenaline, cortisol is responsible for the body sesnsations we get when we experience fear, anxiety and stress – rapid heart rate, shallow breathing, chest pains, tingling in the arms and hands, dizziness and butterflies in our stomach. Although these feelings are uncomfortable, they are our body’s way of giving us the strength, focus, energy and numbness to pain in order to help us get out of life threatening situations. This is all well and good when we actually have the ability to deal with and take action to remove the stressor but what happens when we can’t? [Read more…]

Jane Zoega, BSc, MSc, PG Dip Therapist

July 9, 2015 By Recovery From Addiction Online

Jane has an MSc in psychotherapy and counselling from Middlesex University in England and a BSc (hons.) in psychology.

Her training is in existential psychotherapy, which is person-centered and focuses on the therapeutic relationship as a catalyst for change.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness as a way of helping clients to manage psychological and emotional challenges in life.

She is a member of the BACP (British Association of Psychotherapy and Counseling) and the BPS (British Psychological Society).

Jane is currently based in Dorset, UK, where she regularly conducts yoga and mindfulness courses.

Her main area of work has been within drug and alcohol services and with adult survivors of childhood abuse.

Before joining Recovery From Addiction Online as Jane worked at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Thailand.

She has also worked in private practice in London, working with adult survivors, Substance Use Disorders and other co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and relationship counseling.

Sheena Connelly Counsellor -In-Training

August 4, 2017 By Recovery From Addiction Online

Sheena has recently joined Recovery From Addiction as our trainee counsellor.

She is currently studying for a Masters in Counselling through Monash University, Australia, and aims to have completed her studies by early 2018.

Sheena’s interests lie in attachment theory and how early childhood experiences create vulnerabilities for addiction, anxiety and depression. Her own experience with anxiety and depression allows her to bring a deep non-judgmental understanding and empathy to her client work . She helps to empower clients by addressing the limiting beliefs and emotional difficulties that prevent them moving forward to a better life.

Sheena is currently based in Ottawa, Canada, where she lives with her husband and two children.

As part of her on-going training, Sheena is available to provide sessions at a reduced rate. Please contact us if you would like more information.

6 Myths About Emotions That Can Hold You Back in Your Recovery

May 25, 2015 By Christine Askew BA, MA, MSc Leave a Comment

We grow up hearing a lot about emotions, “boys don’t cry”, “suck it up” “get a grip” “look on the bright side” “pull your socks up”and numerous other sayings that encourage us to “put up or shut up” and avoid expressing “negative” emotions. No doubt the intention behind these sayings is well-meaning – an attempt to encourage us to be happy and positive, but actually, messages that encourage us to hide, suppress, avoid or judge our emotions are downright dangerous. Misconceptions about emotions are the primary obstacle to developing emotional intelligence.

[Read more…]

In To Me You See – The Importance Of Intimacy In Recovery

March 2, 2015 By Christine Askew BA, MA, MSc Leave a Comment

Alcohol and drug abuse is the source of many problems for those who are engaged in addictive behaviours. One of the earliest casualties from substance abuse will be intimacy. It is very difficult for people to abuse mind-altering substances on a regular basis and maintain healthy relationships. As a person falls deeper and deeper into addiction, it will completely take over their life and there will be little room for anyone else. As people become more disconnected from their true feelings and needs, due to suppression by substances, they become less able to communicate them in their relationships, which in turn become more superficial and less gratifying.