Heroin withdrawal is one of the most physically intense experiences a person in early recovery faces. For many people, fear of withdrawal is the biggest barrier to seeking help. Understanding exactly what happens - and when - can make the difference between taking that first […]
The 4 Stages of Addiction: A Clear Guide
Addiction doesn't happen overnight. It follows a progression that researchers, clinicians, and people in recovery describe in consistent stages. Understanding these stages helps families recognise where their loved one is, and helps individuals understand their own journey with clarity rather than shame. At Cherrywood House, […]
Cocaine Addiction: Signs, Effects, and Treatment Options in South Africa
Cocaine use is a significant issue in South Africa, with Cape Town among the cities with the highest cocaine usage rates nationally. Despite its widespread presence in social and professional circles, cocaine is a powerful and genuinely addictive substance - one whose health and psychological […]
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms and Timeline: What to Expect
Alcohol withdrawal is one of the few withdrawal syndromes that can be directly life-threatening. Unlike heroin or other drug withdrawal - which are profoundly uncomfortable but rarely fatal - severe alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures, delirium, and death. This is not said to frighten, but […]
Compliance VS Surrender
Some people believe that because they say the right things and do “what’s required” of them in treatment that they are working in the program. We find that these people never actually change their behaviour; nearing the end of their treatment they begin to act […]
Surviving the Silly Season
As we fast approach the holiday season and Christmas time, many people in recovery start to feel the anxiety. They have a lot of spare time, they have to attend family reunions where alcohol is usually involved, and financial pressure rears its head. These are […]
Outgrowing Early Recovery
I’m taken back into those first few months of early recovery, some fond memories, some hard battles. Some lost and some won, one thing was certain from the start, recovery needed to be more than just not using. I wanted a new life, I’ve so […]
Do and Dont’s for Early Recovery
In Early Recovery this is probably the single most important piece of advice for someone who continues to struggle with drug or alcohol addiction. The reason such a person is struggling is because they are dealing with a problem all by themselves, and they are […]
Relapse and what to look out for
Relapse is more than just using alcohol or drugs. It is the progressive process of becoming so dysfunctional in recovery that self-medication with alcohol or drugs seems like a reasonable choice. The relapse process is a lot like knocking over a line of dominoes. The […]
Forgiveness-Letting go of grudges and bitterness
When someone you care about hurts you, you can hold on to anger, resentment and thoughts of revenge — or embrace forgiveness and move forward. By Mayo Clinic staff Nearly everyone has been hurt by the actions or words of another. Perhaps your mother criticized […]
