I have struggled with anxiety throughout my life. Anxiety related to people, situations, performance, approval, not being good enough, safety, etc. It recently flared up in a deep freeze that happened as my brain was consistently on the prowl looking for possibilities of what could go wrong. Of course, there’s many. Furnace could break. Car […]
Anxiety: Our Fear Reflex on Overdrive Read More »
Yes, here it is, that uncomfortable but commonly thought about but rarely discussed topic of sex. We will also push the bar a little bit further and talk specifically about sex in the context of recovery from Addiction and mental health issues. Okay, maybe I’ve set my sights a bit high here as this is
Sexual Health in Recovery Read More »
One of my main pet peeves is new years resolutions. As a Registered Psychologist, I deal with change on a regular basis and setting an arbitrary start point like the start of a new year is not an effective way to kickstart the major life changes you have been hoping to make. Let’s face it,
New Year, New Goals? Read More »
Tradition. Something that is so revered and encouraged to be upheld in society. But when does tradition morph into unhealthy habits, poor boundaries, enmeshment, and dysfunction? It can be difficult to see the difference between the two, especially at times of year that promote habit and tradition, like the holiday season. If you are celebrating
Doing the Holidays Different Read More »
For people who recognize having Addiction or problematic relationship(s) with people, places, or things, the holidays come with a unique set of challenges to navigate through. Many people get annoyed by their obnoxious uncle who won’t stop talking about politics or holiday music that starts playing in public spaces right after Halloween, but for some
The Holidays in Recovery Read More »
People can be so diligent about their boundary and intention setting during the year, yet a lot of that work seems to take a back seat during the holiday season. Boundaries are replaced by the automatic patterns of people-pleasing, image management, appeasement, obligation, expectation, and shoulds. (As a quick tip, none of the latter are
Boundaries During the Holidays by Paige Abbott, Registered Psychologist Read More »
It’s amazing how long we can carry a relationship in our heads and hearts and continue to live as though we are in the relationship at that moment, yet it ended days, weeks, months, and even years before. What creates this stuckness? Our brain and attachment is what hooks us in and keeps us trapped.
Getting Unstuck From a Past Relationship Read More »
Shame tells us that we are not worthy nor good enough. Shame can fuel unhealthy relationships with substances or behaviours as it can be so uncomfortable that the brain feels it has no choice but to seek escape and relief from it. Many people are aware of shame in their lives and exploring how to
Where Shame Comes From Read More »
Every day we have a number of feelings that come up. These feelings are in reaction to our experiences, environment, memories, and thoughts. Have you ever considered that our feelings are also in reaction to our internal stories? Whether you know it or not you are a storyteller. We all have stories about ourselves that
The Stories We Tell Ourselves Read More »
In my last blog post, I wrote about how introversion and isolation may look the same but fundamentally differ. Extroversion and isolation are obviously at odds, like oil and water, but for people with Addiction and mental health issues they often find themselves paired up. Extroverts thrive on connection and people. They use this energy
Extroversion and Isolation Read More »
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