The Myth of “Fixed” Sobriety is supposed to feel like victory. You stop drinking, stop using, stop lying, and everyone applauds. You’re clean. You’ve “made it.” But after the confetti settles and the applause fades, something strange creeps in. A hollowness. A quiet emotional vacuum where chaos used to live. Read more
The Age of Overstimulation If addiction is a symptom of imbalance, then modern life is the perfect breeding ground for it. We live in an age designed to hijack our brains. Every swipe, notification, and click offers a hit of dopamine, the same neurotransmitter that fuels pleasure, motivation, and reward. Read more
The Addiction No One Warned You About We tend to think of addiction in terms of substances, alcohol, drugs, pills. But what about ambition? What about the people who chase success like it’s oxygen? The ones who can’t sleep unless they’re achieving something? That kind of drive gets celebrated, not Read more
Everyone in addiction has a lie that keeps them alive, for a while. “I can stop anytime.” “It’s not that bad.” “I’m just stressed.” “They’re overreacting.” Denial isn’t stupidity, it’s survival. It’s the mind’s way of shielding you from unbearable truth. But every lie comes with interest, and the longer Read more
At first, recovery feels like the biggest thing that’s ever happened to you, because it is. It’s the miracle after the storm, the resurrection after the wreckage. It’s not just about stopping, it’s about surviving something that almost took you out. But somewhere along the way, recovery can stop being Read more
The first time someone walks into an addiction counsellor’s office, it rarely looks like healing. It looks like silence. Crossed arms. Evasive answers. Sarcasm. Sometimes anger. Because for most addicts, talking isn’t the problem, feeling is. And that’s what counselling demands, honesty, vulnerability, exposure. The kind that hurts before it Read more
For those in recovery, the fear of relapse can be overwhelming. It often brings about a mix of emotions: temptation to use again, shame about relapsing, and a feeling of being out of control. However, relapse is both observable and preventable. By recognizing the warning signs and addressing personal needs, Read more
Navigating the tempestuous seas of addiction is a daunting challenge that can often feel like a solitary battle. Yet, as many in recovery will attest, the beacon that often guides us to safer shores is the enduring support of our family. In South Africa, where the threads of kinship run Read more
Navigating the intricate pathways of addiction is a deeply personal and often harrowing journey. If you or someone close to you is grappling with this challenge, it’s essential to understand the value of therapy within the sanctuary of in-patient rehab, especially within our South African context. In the heart of Read more
You’re enveloped in the electrifying world of music, where melodies move souls and rhythms make hearts beat faster. The music industry, especially in a country as culturally rich as South Africa, is often seen as a wonderland of creativity and freedom. But there’s an underside that’s not as harmonious as Read more