Mental Health Archives - Freedom Addiction

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Strategies for Coping with Depression While Sober

Kate Pindera
23 Nov 2020

Sobriety does not magically happen after completing alcohol rehab or drug addiction treatment. It takes a lot of hard work, and sometimes it becomes even more challenging for a person fresh out of rehab when they’re most vulnerable. They are once again exposed to the same emotional triggers that may have led them to their addiction in the first place....

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How to Accommodate for Addiction in the Workplace

Mandy Sandhu
9 Nov 2020

In Canada, substance abuse disorder or addiction is classified as a disability or a condition that can render an individual incapable of completing full time or any amount of work for a given period of time. The terms substance abuse, substance dependence, and addiction are often used loosely and interchangeably to refer to anyone with a history of or an...

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How Drug Use & Opiate Addiction Changes Relationships

Kate Pindera
16 Oct 2020

If you know someone with an addiction, you know the effect drugs can have on them. Addiction has the potential to impact all aspects of someone’s life - their happiness, career and most importantly, their relationships. As is the case with most substance abuse, opiate addiction takes control of the user and their priorities shift causing their relationships to suffer....

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The Rehab Waitlist Length Is Too Long: What Now?

Kate Pindera
23 Sep 2020

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 31 million people around the world have drug use addiction. In Canada, it is estimated that one in five people aged 15 and older will experience a substance use disorder in their lifetime. Looking at these figures, we can’t ignore the exceedingly alarming prevalence of addiction and its devastating effects in our...

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How Canada’s Government Rehab Centres are Failing Addicts

Kate Pindera
2 Sep 2020

Early intervention and access to addiction treatment services can literally mean life and death for many people struggling with substance abuse. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done for countless Canadians who cannot afford private addiction centres and whose lives are hanging by a thread given the long waiting list in government rehab centres. The Biggest Issue with Government Rehab...

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The Importance of Emotional Recovery When Overcoming Addiction

Kate Pindera
27 Aug 2020

Emotional recovery plays a pivotal part in the complete healing process from addiction. It helps unpack painful emotional trauma that may have led to substance abuse and provides continuous support to make sure it doesn't hold any power over them anymore as they transition into a new life of sobriety. Without it, relapse will always be a possibility. The emotional...

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Is Addiction a Mental Illness?

Mandy Sandhu
20 Aug 2020

Addiction and mental illness share many intersecting aspects that almost blur the lines between the two conditions. For many struggling to overcome their addiction, they see substance use disorder as a mental illness that needs to be treated. Is this line of thinking correct? Continue reading to find out. Addiction by Definition The definition of addiction is “the fact or...

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Person struggling with mental health and addiction problems

The Difference Between Dual Diagnosis & Co-occurring Disorders

Mandy Sandhu
13 Aug 2020

Mental health and addiction are closely linked with overlapping contributing factors. Studies suggest that people with mental illness are twice as likely to have a substance use disorder than the general population. In this article, we’ll talk about dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders, which are terms commonly used to describe these conditions and their role in a person’s addiction recovery....

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Dangers of Misdiagnosing Mental Illness While Abusing Drugs

Kate Pindera
6 Aug 2020

Mental illness is a leading cause of disability in Canada, with 1 in 2 Canadians having (or have had) some form of mental illness by the time they reach their 40s. Unfortunately, mental illness misdiagnoses are also disturbingly common, hindering people struggling with clinical depression, bipolar disorder, and other types of psychiatric problems from achieving healing and wellness. In this...

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The Connection Between Mental Illness and Addiction

Kate Pindera
10 Jul 2020

Like in every part of the world, mental illness and addiction is a looming health crisis in our country. A Canadian health survey in 2012 revealed that approximately 2.8 million Canadians or 10.1% of the population reported symptoms consistent with at least one of six mental or substance use disorders. These numbers continue to soar each day, with 1 in...

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