Dean Anderson, Addiction Counselling & Recovery Support
119 Wortley Road N6C3P3 London, ON, Canada

Peer support is one of the most powerful ways to create an instant connection, rapport, and a feeling of safety for someone. However, we need to remember that the reason it works so well is because it removes much of the shame and stigma attached to addiction and recovery. If we then turn around and shame those for having different addictions, stories, life choices, or recovery path ..... guess what? We're just as guilty as the negative shame culture that we are trying so har...d to change. Please, be aware that each of our recovery journeys is just as unique as the path that lead us there. . . . #love #compassion #stigma #shame #addictionhurts #addictionawareness #addiction #addictionrecovery #addicted #soberliving #sobermovement #soberlife #sober #sobercurious #soberseptember #sobermemes #soberevolution #recovery #recoveryiswork #recoveryispossible #recoveryquotes #recoveroutloud #recoveryisworthit #smashstigma See more

This starts next week!!! Super excited to work with The Culinary Federation on this!

Proud to call this home ground. "Awarded as one of the best places to live in Canada." . . https://locorum.ca//find-out-why-this-neighbourhood-was-a/

Are we still talking? I don't think it's a surprise to anyone that we were in a mental health crisis with all that's going on. There is one thing that continues to plague me, that's the future of our little ones being raised during this time. Please, remember to teach them about self-care, mental health, addiction, coping, and emotional health. It's an investment you hope to never see why it's important. #doitanyway This Chinese proverb is on repeat in my mind. The best time... to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. #changetheirfuture . . #childrenneedyoutoknow #emotionalhealth #addictioncounselor #breakthecycle #stigma #shame #addictionhurts #addictionawareness #addiction #addictionrecovery #addicted #soberliving #sobermovement #soberlife #sober #sobercurious #sobermemes #soberevolution #recovery #recoveryispossible #recoveroutloud #smashstigma #growth #londonontario #ldnontario See more

This is a major blow to stigma and cultural change. We are looking at the history in the making. #thisisourfuture

Sobriety is mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritualy attractive. . . #sexy #breakthecycle #stigma #shame #addictionhurts #addictionawareness #addiction #addictionrecovery #addicted #soberliving #sobermovement #soberlife #sober #sobercurious #sobermemes #soberevolution #recovery #recoveryiswork #recoveryispossible #recoveryquotes #recoveroutloud #recoveryisworthit #smashstigma #itsaprocess #growth #londonontario #ldnontario

Them: Is it true that my doctor can't help me with my addiction? . Me: #NAAW . #nationaladdictionsawarenessweek ... . #changebeginswithme #addictioncounselor #breakthecycle #stigma #shame #addictionhurts #addictionawareness #addiction #addictionrecovery #addicted #soberliving #sobermovement #soberlife #sober #sobercurious #sobermemes #soberevolution #recovery #recoveryiswork #recoveryispossible #recoveryquotes #recoveroutloud #recoveryisworthit #smashstigma #itsaprocess #growth #londonontario #ldnon See more

Alcohol damages the brain and long term recovery support is essential to prevent relapse, new study shows ~ Alcohol addiction doesn't just affect certain brain ...regions but can lead to dramatic changes in the entire brain, a new study from the National Institutes of Health says. Researchers found that long-time alcohol exposure can lead to a shift in brain behavior from an area that makes decision to an area that controls habits. The study shows that changes in brain functioning are the reason behind alcohol being such an addictive and behavior changing substance. People who develop alcohol dependence continue drinking alcohol even after the habit impacts their physical and mental health and disrupts relationships. Previous research has shown that people dependent on alcohol have difficulty controlling impulses and solving problems that require prefrontal cortex. These people, however, have greater brain activity in the dorsal striatum. The prefrontal cortex is involved in personality expression, social behavior and complex decision making while dorsal striatum is associated with reward system of the brain. The changes associated with chronic alcohol exposure are similar to changes seen in brains exposed to drugs such as amphetamine. Also, alcohol inhibits functions of certain receptors that control mood and behavior. Researchers said that treatments for alcohol addiction should focus on normalizing the functioning of striatum and that recovery is a long term process after quitting and after rehab as addictive thinking and addictive behaviour patterns persist on average for 2 years, and sometimes for life. Researchers also found that mice that were exposed to high levels of alcohol had improved on some learning tasks . The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

As the strength of cannabis has increased, so too has the number of people entering treatment for cannabis use problems, Freeman said. More Europeans are now entering drug treatment because of cannabis than heroin or cocaine.

I have a couple of these 17-25-year-olds. This is good to share if you know any too. ;) Good2Talk 1-866-925-5454, 24 hours For post-secondary students between the ages of 17-25... https://good2talk.ca/ See more

Shame or Empowerment? Once you own your choices and the results of making them; you remove much of the power that your past has on you. . . #ownit #acceptance #breakthecycle #stigma #shame #addictionhurts #addictionawareness #addiction #addictionrecovery #addicted #soberliving #sobermovement #soberlife #sober #sobercurious #sobermemes #soberevolution #recovery #recoveryiswork #recoveryispossible #recoveryquotes #recoveroutloud #recoveryisworthit #smashstigma #itsaprocess #growth #londonontario #ldnontario

#dontforget #keepgoing #breakthecycle #stigma #shame #addictionhurts #addictionawareness #addiction #addictionrecovery #addicted #soberliving #sobermovement #soberlife #sober #sobercurious #sobermemes #soberevolution #recovery #recoveryiswork #recoveryispossible #recoveryquotes #recoveroutloud #recoveryisworthit #smashstigma #itsaprocess #growth #londonontario #ldnontario

#knowforgiveness #knowpeace . . #addictioncounselor #breakthecycle #stigma #shame #addictionhurts #addictionawareness #addiction #addictionrecovery #addicted #soberliving #sobermovement #soberlife #sober #sobercurious #sobermemes #soberevolution #recovery #recoveryiswork #recoveryispossible #recoveryquotes #recoveroutloud #recoveryisworthit #smashstigma #itsaprocess #growth #londonontario #ldnon

Wise words from the late Alex Trebek #rip #canadianlegend #feelyourfeelings #feelyouremotions #strength #courage #vulnerability #vulnerabilityisstrength #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthselfcare #socialworker @optionb

Them: Is it a good idea that my workplace ignore substance use and addiction? . Me: NAAW . #nationaladdictionsawarenessweek... . #NAAW #addictioncounselor #breakthecycle #stigma #shame #addictionhurts #addictionawareness #addiction #addictionrecovery #addicted #soberliving #sobermovement #soberlife #sober #sobercurious #sobermemes #soberevolution #recovery #recoveryiswork #recoveryispossible #recoveryquotes #recoveroutloud #recoveryisworthit #smashstigma #itsaprocess #growth #londonontario #ldnon See more

Thanks @goodhandjenna and Roger's TV for having me today on What's Up London to share tips on how to have hard conversations with your loved ones in addiction. I will share again when it's available for viewing. #grateful . . #hardconversations #lovedones #breakthecycle #stigma #shame #addictionhurts #addictionawareness #addiction #addictionrecovery #addicted #soberliving #sobermovement #soberlife #sober #sobercurious #sobermemes #soberevolution #recovery #recoveryiswork #recoveryispossible #recoveryquotes #recoveroutloud #recoveryisworthit #smashstigma #itsaprocess #growth #londonontario #ldnontario

Thank you, #RogersTV!