In South Africa, the war on drugs is fought every day in communities where people have been systemically victimised and disadvantaged for a many generations. These communities have been treated so badly over the years that they are almost operated like mini police states as the drug law enforcement and the criminal culture it creates…
There are many different aspects of treatment, and you’ll want to make sure they all match up with what you’re looking for as a person. Some might want inpatient care, while others may want outpatient care or even long-term residential care. You should also take into account any specific needs that may be required for…
How do I help someone that needs help? Confronting a loved one, friend or family member struggling with addiction can be a difficult and emotional journey. The most important step to start with is to educate yourself on addiction. Get as much information as possible about addiction, the different theories behind it, the drug that…
In all honesty, most of us have a “sugar addiction” it’s almost a societally accepted cliché like “caffeine addiction” and often shrugged off or seen as a benign attribute of our modern lifestyles where these substances exist in so many elements of our diet. Yet for many people, sugar is not a sweet little pastime…
It’s not always easy to tell the difference between adolescent growing pains and teen depression but here’s how to recognize the many signs and to help your teenager when they actually need it. Begin by simply listening to them, rather than attempting to ‘fix’ them, is probably the best place to start with teens. Parents…
We are all born with a measure of awareness and a tendency to worry, but these are limited to our natural needs and usually well controlled. Extreme thoughts are the products of patterns that we adopt, or learn after we are born. Our psyche, viewpoints and cognitive distortions are a complex mix of how we…
In the gritty and captivating world of “Peaky Blinders,” Thomas Shelby, portrayed by the charismatic Cillian Murphy, is the mastermind behind the infamous Shelby crime family in post-World War I Birmingham. As the series unfolds, viewers bear witness to Tommy’s cunning, ambition, and struggles, including his high-functioning alcoholism. This article we look into how Tommy…
Recovery Direct hosts a free online course to help across a number of mental health and wellbeing life areas. Join in on our free live stream Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays over on our Facebook page here or see past live stream videos here. While Recovery Direct is rated one of South Africa’s top drug and…
South Africa faces a pressing public health concern regarding heavy alcohol consumption, which contributes significantly to the country’s high rates of non-natural death, disability, and economic burden. Despite alarming statistics that showcase the detrimental effects of alcohol on individual and societal levels, there remains a scarcity of data exploring the multitude of individual and contextual…
Studies on mental health in many previous disease outbreaks have shown that many individuals exposed to life-threatening diseases can also experience longer-term psychological aftereffects such as PTSD, anxiety and depression that extend far beyond the active infection. During these periods of prolonged stress and uncertainty, many changes can occur in the brain and to the…