Happy holidays everyone! May you all be enjoying a wonderful festive period with your loved ones filled with joy, rest, and relaxation.
The holiday season can be a time of great joy and celebration, but also challenges and stress. People can be struggling to manage eating disorders, missing loved ones who are no longer with us, and coping with challenging family members. It's important to remember that your holidays don't have to look like a Hallmark movie - be kind to yourself and set aside some time for just you to soak up the holiday spirit.
No matter what your holidays look like, I hope you have enjoyed the holiday period and are looking forward to 2023. I am always grateful to be going into the new year with my wonderful friends, family, and team by my side.
News
Something we were really proud of being involved with recently was REAL, a learning platform for parents with children facing substance use disorder.
We know that it can be difficult for parents to find guidance and comprehensive information on one easy-to-use website as they navigate their child's substance use disorder. REAL helps parents learn about and manage topics including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, while gaining insight from experts and parents with first-hand experience of substance use disorders.
To learn more about this fantastic new platform, visit the link below:
The following is a round-up of our monthly blogs in case you missed any on our social media pages.
There is increasing evidence that early puberty influences mental health, behavior, and emotional well-being in young people in a variety of ways. Starting puberty before their peers can be confusing and disruptive to children, often damaging their confidence and self-esteem. Moreover, early puberty has been linked to early sexual behavior, substance abuse, criminal behavior, and higher rates of psychiatric problems. Puberty is a time of great change for children, as they transition from childhood to adolescence. It affects males and females in slightly different ways.
Chemsex is a term that refers to the voluntary use of recreational drugs during sexual activities. It is a practice that is most commonly associated with gay and bisexual men who do this in order to enhance the pleasure and general experience of sex. However, there are a number of dangers attached to the practice.
In the United States and Canada, it’s referred to as Party ‘n’ Play (PnP). In Europe and Asia, it’s called chemsex. “Chems” are substances that are sexually disinhibiting, such as crystal methamphetamine, mephedrone, and GHB.
Winter holidays can be a particularly challenging time for many people. The weather, money pressures, shop closures, and navigating family dynamics can all increase stress. A recent study has shown that 38% of people experience increased stress during the holidays.
The popularity of social media can cause additional pressure and even guilt. Going online and watching as other people share snippets of their festive fun and activities can create feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, and anxiety that add to an already stressful time.
When those in recovery regularly practice gratitude, it alleviates the intensity and regularity of negative emotions, improves coping skills, lowers the rate of relapse, and supports long-term recovery overall.
This link between the dedicated, regular practice of gratitude and long-term recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) is recognized in 12-step program support groups, including Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
