Who We Help
Drug Addiction
Drug addiction – also called substance use disorder – is a chronic brain disorder that causes compulsive drug seeking and drug use, despite the harmful consequences to the addicted individual and those around them.
It results when drugs are used excessively and repeatedly, to the point that a person becomes dependent on them and feels they can’t function without them.
Alcohol Addiction
Alcoholism is characterised by the inability to stop or control drinking habits despite the negative consequences they cause and is the most severe form of alcohol abuse.
It results from a person drinking alcohol repeatedly and to excess, to the point they become dependent on or addicted to alcohol, and feel unable to function normally without it.
Today, it is commonly referred to as alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Sex Addiction
Sex addiction – also known as hypersexual disorder, sexual compulsivity, hypersexuality and compulsive sexual behaviour disorder (CSBD) – is classed as a process addiction. It is an intimacy-related disorder, which often occurs alongside co-occurring mental health disorders.
It is characterized by persistent, hard-to-control sexual urges, thoughts and impulses that become the main focus of a person’s life – interfering with their ability to work, maintain relationships and carry out their daily activities.
Trauma-Informed Treatment
Trauma is an emotional response that results from exposure to an incident or series of events that are disturbing, distressing or life-threatening. These events can overwhelm a person’s coping capacity and have long-term effects on their mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.
The events may be experienced directly or witnessed indirectly – and may occur just once, or be repeated and ongoing.
Depression Treatment
Also known as ‘depressive disorder’ or ‘clinical depression’, depression is one of the most common mental health disorders, affecting an estimated 26% of adults in the U.S. alone. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).)
It is a mood disorder that affects how a person feels, thinks and behaves. While it is a mental health disorder, it can also significantly affect a person’s physical health and wellbeing.
Mood Disorder
A mood disorder is characterised by symptoms that last for several weeks to several years. They start as mild and become severe if left untreated. There are several types of mood disorders, and it’s vital that you receive a formal diagnosis from a doctor rather than self-diagnosing and treating it yourself.
The two most common mood disorders are depression and bipolar disorder. However, there are subsets of mood disorders linked to a medical condition, genetics, or life circumstances.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mood disorder associated with unstable moods, behaviour and relationships. BPD affects how you cope with daily life and manage relationships. The disorder is typically diagnosed in early adulthood, from late teens to early 20s. It is a severe mental illness that needs psychotherapy intervention because of the high prevalence of self-harm and suicide attempts.
Our feelings and thoughts are what make up our personality, otherwise known as character traits. Individuals with BPD find their emotions are confusing, tiring and hard to control. The mood disorder makes it difficult for them to function on a day-to-day basis and develop stable relationships.
Burnout Treatment
‘Suffering from burnout’ is a commonly used phrase – especially among top executives and people in high-pressure jobs, such as lawyers, investors, business owners and medical practitioners.
Also referred to as Serious-Stress Syndrome, burnout is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion, typically caused by prolonged workplace stress.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Dual diagnosis is the term used when a person with a substance use disorder (SUD) is also suffering from a co-existing mental health disorder.
It is also commonly referred to as co-morbidity or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder.
While these disorders frequently occur together, dual diagnosis is still a relatively new and ever-evolving field. Researchers are still learning about the complex relationship between substance addictions and mental health disorders – and which treatments are most effective for prevention, treatment and recovery.
Process Addictions
The word ‘addiction’ is usually associated with substances, such as alcohol and drugs, but it is now being used in a broader context to include a number of activities or behaviours, called process addictions.
They come in many forms, but typically involve highly rewarding, natural behaviours – like eating, shopping, love and sex – which, in moderation, are healthy and normal.
The behaviours become harmful when a person uses them excessively and becomes addicted to the feelings associated with them. They are most frequently used as a way to get ‘high’, to avoid underlying issues, to numb unpleasant emotions or thoughts, to alter mood, or to replace relationships or commitments.
Anxiety Treatment
Anxiety is the mind and body’s reaction to dangerous, stressful, or unfamiliar situations. It is a biological reaction to warn us that something isn’t right.
It can be characterised by feelings of tension, a sense of unease, worried thoughts, and physical symptoms such as a racing heart.
Anxiety is a normal part of living. Everyone experiences it at some point, for example, when beginning a new job, moving house, or dealing with a stressful relationship issue. At times like these, it is completely normal to feel anxious, and the anxiety can actually be beneficial, raising our alertness, and improving our performance levels.
Nowadays, anxiety disorders tend to revolve around work, family, finances, health and other situations that regularly demand our attention, but do not actually warrant the fight-flight-freeze reaction.
Addiction Treatment
Addiction is a complex brain disorder characterised by an inability to stop taking a substance or engaging in an activity, even though it is causing psychological and/or physical harm.
According to the charity, Action on Addiction, 1 in 3 people are addicted to something.
Addiction is an illness, just as cancer or heart disease are illnesses. Where diabetes impairs the pancreas and cardiovascular disease damages the heart, addiction hijacks and causes damage to the brain. It can happen to anyone, at any age, and at any time.
