The addict, regardless of drug of choice, is a chameleon. Ask the addict for a self-explanation (life story), and the story goes through a kaleidoscope of changes depending on who’s listening. Autobiographical accounts contain retrospective explanations and justifications that may have little to do with […]
Intervention Guidelines
If a loved one is suffering from an addiction and you judge that they might be responsive to an appeal from family members and close friends to address their problem, an intervention might be a good course of action. By “intervention” we mean a deliberate, planned […]
Signs of an Addiction
Addiction is an insidious illness. It usually develops gradually over time, making it easy for the severity of the problem to escape the notice of immediate family members. On top of this, the natural inclination for close family is to deny and diminish the problem […]
Helpful Information for Families
If you love someone who is battling an addiction and you are wondering what to do, please keep the following in mind: Treating an addiction is about more than just about breaking the addict’s physical dependence on the substance - It is a common misconception that […]
Managing Heroin Withdrawal – What You Can Expect
The first steps on the long road to recovery are the hardest to take; you’ve committed to rehabilitation, and it’s time to stop using heroin. But stopping any drug takes a great deal of willpower, strength, and support. Especially when you start going through heroin […]
The Battle Against Tik – How addictive is Tik really?
All drugs are addictive by nature, but some are certainly more addictive than others. And while all forms of substance addiction should be avoided at all costs, it’s not unfounded to warn potential users of which drugs are most addictive and the effects of their […]
The effects cocaine has on the body
How does Cocaine Affect the Body To really understand the gravity of cocaine addiction, we have to get real about its effects on the body. All drugs wreak havoc on an addict, but the long term effects, even after you’ve stopped using, can be truly […]
How to help someone going through depression
Depression is a debilitating mental illness, one that doesn’t receive nearly as much attention as it should, especially here in South Africa. When a friend or loved one suffers from depression, it’s natural to want to help them, even if the prospect is a touch […]
A Guide on How to Deal With a Tik Addict
Tik is renowned as one of the most addictive drugs in South Africa, an ‘upper’ drug that induces intense but short-lived euphoria, confidence and paranoia. Officially known as Crystal Meth, it’s an extremely addictive substance that hooks its victims more often than not from the […]
RELATIONSHIPS AND MANAGING EXPECTATIONS IN EARLY RECOVERY.
So often we hear people saying “But why don’t they trust me? I’ve been clean for a few months now, I’ve done 3 months of rehab, surely, they should trust me already.” Firstly, I think we need to look at what a relationship looks like […]
