People use alcohol and other drugs for many reasons. Some use these substances to
help them to relax, to feel more lively, to feel less inhibited or to feel
pleasure. Some find the effects of substances make it seem easier to cope
with problems. Some use substances for religious reasons or to fit in with
the crowd. Others may be curious about the effects of a specific drug.
We all feel nervous or worried at times. This anxiety can be a helpful feeling when it motivates
us or warns us of danger. An anxiety disorder, on the other hand, causes unexpected
or unhelpful anxiety that seriously impacts our lives, including how we think, feel, and act.
Concurrent Mental Illnesses and Substance Use Problems
A real problem in Canada is that mental health and substance use systems are often separate.
This means that many people have to receive treatment and support for their illnesses separately,
or they are denied access to care for one problem because of the other problems they have.
Fortunately, more service providers are now developing more integrated treatment options for concurrent problems.
Loneliness that persists can be linked
to depression, anxiety, and increased risk of other health problems.
If feelings of loneliness are affecting your life, consider reaching out to a mental health professional.
We all experience changes in our mood.
Sometimes we feel energetic, full of ideas, or irritable, and other times we feel sad or down.
But these moods usually don’t last long, and we can go about our daily lives.
Depression and bipolar disorder are two mental illnesses that change the way people feel
and make it hard for them to go about their daily routine.
This guide is for people with bipolar disorder, their families and anyone who wants to understand the basics of this illness and its treatment and management. It is not a substitute for treatment from a doctor or mental health care provider, but it can be used as a basis for questions and discussion about bipolar disorder.
We all feel angry sometimes. Most of the time, we can deal with feelings of anger
or irritability quickly. We may resolve the situation or look at the problem
from a different perspective. However, anger can cause problems in our lives
and the lives of those around us. Learn more about recognizing problem anger and taking action.
Some people worry about asking for help because there can be stigma around
mental health problems. They may believe that asking for help means admitting
that something is wrong. Some people worry about how others might see them.
Asking for help means that you want to make changes or take steps towards
your new health goals. We should celebrate the courage it takes to speak up
and make changes. Getting help is part of recovery.
Loss is one of life’s most stressful events.
It takes time to heal, and everyone responds differently.
We may need help to cope with the changes in our lives.
Grief is part of being human, but that doesn’t mean we have to go through the journey alone.
What do you think of when you hear that someone is experiencing a mental illness? Some people
feel concern, fear, or confusion. Some even avoid those who experience mental illnesses.
But mental illnesses are just like any other illness: everyone deserves care, help, and support.
Many of us lead busy lives. We are busy thinking about yesterday and busy planning for tomorrow.
When we focus on the past and future, we aren’t paying a lot of attention to the
present—where we are right now. Mindfulness is simply an invitation to step out of
the clutter and really focus on what we are doing, thinking, and feeling in this moment.
Everyone feels scared at times. But sometimes, fear can come up in a situation
that isn’t expected. This fear stops us from going about our usual routines
or working towards our goals. Phobias and panic disorder are two examples of mental
illnesses that can lead to these problems.
Suicide. It’s a difficult topic to bring up. However, when someone talks
about suicide or brings up concern for a loved one, it’s important to take action and seek help quickly.
Many people find that the simple act of talking with family and friends
can help them see a new perspective, solve a problem, or simply feel supported.
Sometimes talking with a friend isn’t enough, and you need more specialized help and support.
Psychotherapy is another type of conversation that can help you feel better.
Frightening situations happen to everyone at some point. People can react in many different ways:
they might feel nervous, have a hard time sleeping well, or go over the details of the
situation in their mind. These thoughts or experiences are a normal reaction. They usually
decrease over time and the people involved can go back to their daily lives.
Resilience is often described as a personal attribute that may allow one to remain relatively
unchanged by a traumatic event (Bensimon, 2012). A resilient individual typically maintains
relatively stable levels of psychological and physical functioning during and after the traumatic event.
We all talk about stress, but we’re not always clear about what it is.
Stress comes from both the good and the bad things that happen to us.
If we didn’t feel any stress, we wouldn’t be alive! Stress may feel overwhelming at times,
but there are many strategies to help you take control.
About 4,000 Canadians die by suicide every year.
Suicide is the second-most common cause of death among young people,
but men in their 40s and 50s have the highest rate of suicide.
While women are three to four times more likely to attempt suicide than men,
men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women.
When someone you love has been diagnosed with a mental illness, you feel a
mixture of emotions. Concern, compassion, disbelief, anger, relief, anxiety, grief, love, guilt ...
any and all of these emotions are understandable and normal.
We understand how difficult your job is, and overtime stress will accumulate and take over
your judgement and decision making process. Here are 10 tips to help relieve stress.
Toward Recovery - Working WIth Your Treatment Provider
Recovery from a mental illness is expected. And it’s not necessarily an end point—it
can be a process that you work on no matter where you are in (or out of) treatment.
For some people, recovery may mean living without any symptoms of a mental illness at all.
The idea that you must hit ‘rock bottom’ and experience serious consequences like losing your job
or losing important relationships before you’re ready for help isn’t true.
You can seek help or support any time you reflect on your own substance
use and would like to make some changes.
