Menu

Healthy Dal

Working towards a healthier Dalhousie

Follow!

Archives for addictions

What to know about your loved one’s abuse of drugs or alcohol

Leave a Comment

When someone you care about abuses drugs or alcohol

Full post available HERE.

If you have a relative or friend who may have a drug or an alcohol problem, it’s important to know the warning signs of substance abuse. You’ll also need to understand how to approach the situation and learn about the resources available to the substance abuser, to you, and to any others who are affected by the problem.

Substance abuse is a very serious problem. When someone abuses drugs or alcohol, it can create serious impairment and lead to dependency on the substance, making it very difficult to stop using. The right kind of help can enable people to limit the harmful consequences, including health problems and damage to personal relationships.

Learn more about:

  • Effects of substance abuse
  • Warning signs
  • Treatment options
  • Getting help

 

Talking to teens about drugs and alcohol

Full post available HERE.

Learn more about:

  • Know the facts
  • Signs of alcohol or drug use
  • Communicating before problems arise
  • What to do when you think your teen is using

 

Watch and share this VIDEO on helping a loved one on the road to recovery.

Reach out to our Employee and Family Assistance Program for confidential information and support: 1-800-387-4765; workhealthlife.com.

The Pain Support Group

Leave a Comment

Hello blog readers (and I hope you are out there!)

So, for a variety of reasons, I will admit to my personal skeptism about support groups.   However, from the exploration of resources for people with Pain,  I came to the understanding they can indeed have value.

Why do I say that? I very recently had my first experience as part of a support group (and I didn’t even know it was happening!).  To make a long story short, to prepare for the possibility of being directly involved with a group on campus, I attended a facilitators workshop for group leaders and a conference for health care professionals. I am still trying to digest what I learned and the stories that I heard!! One thing  stood out – it was a community effort. As the contributors were sharing, I could see a vision for a working support group unfold.

The support group leaders came from different backgrounds, experiences and geographic locations. Their individual and collective journeys of Chronic Pain filled with heartbreak and triumph, anger and frustration, gratitude and humor.  This strong group of leaders talked of issues with treatments, wait times, sleep, injury, relationships, careers, quality of life, stigma and more.  Some had great successes with their groups, some less so.  But I personally felt overwhelming support, warmth and welcome in the most non-judgmental way.  (Hmmm, maybe they are on to something here??)

After much careful thought and consideration and as a follow-up to the events taking place in November,  we (Dalhousie HR) are launching a support group for Chronic Pain. The group will be shaped much like the one that’s on-campus for Caregivers (See Today@Dal: http://www.dal.ca/news/2016/05/25/dal-recognizes-caregivers-with-appreciation-day.html ). A portion of the group’s time together will be sharing for constructive support, with the remainder allotted to a guest speaker to present on a relevant topic. Much of how the sessions evolve will depend on the group’s interests.  Confidentiality is expected by all  – a support group is a safe space.

Learn more and register at: https://events-tm.dal.ca/workshop.php?id=1901.

Work Well,

Angela

PS Check out the Enviromental Health and Safety Expo https://www.dal.ca/news/today/2016/10/24/2nd_annual_environmental_health___safety_expo.html.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESEARCH: Risk and Resilience in Children of Parents with Chronic Pain

1 Comment

Hello –

I am starting to meet researchers, academics,  health care professionals and advocates in an effort to get a better understanding of the resources available for faculty and staff identifying as having Pain.  It is truly impressive to hear what work is being done by such a tremendenous group of leaders right here in Halifax and as part of Dalhousie.   It is also remarkable the dedication to the person as whole, not just the mechanics of the Pain and the desire to be part of the solution.  As a person with Pain, it gives me the greatest sense of hope.

So, on behalf of one research team in particular, I am happy to pass along the following information regarding a current study:

Risk and Resilience in Children of Parents with Chronic Pain:

Parents with chronic pain and their children, ages 8-15 years, are needed for an IWK Health Centre and Nova Scotia Health Authority study. The study involves one 90-minute visit to their research centre. Parents and children will be compensated for their participation and travel expenses. Call or email to learn more! (902) 470-6906 or CPPRWest@IWK.nshealth.ca

More information is also available on this website:  http://pediatric-pain.ca/participate-in-research/.

Work Well,

Angela

Getting Off the Rollercoaster

1 Comment

A couple of years ago, I started with a Personal Trainer at GoodLife. My initial motivation was to reduce stress, establish a work/life balance and get my blood pressure down. Having never really been a workout person, it made for a tough go at first. But when matched with the right trainer, I learned how to eat and actually appreciate food and to have the trust to push myself (nothing like a good sweat!). It was hard work and required constant focus (and so much self talk). But in about two years, I became a label reading, sugar-slamming foodie, who you’d find more often on the elliptical machine than at a happy hour. I even ran the Blue Nose (ok, the 5K). I was strong, energetic and in control of my health, and was actually having fun with it (surprise!). During this process, the Pain was kind of a thing, but would come and go, so I was able to just work around it. I was in the Zone.

Near the end of my sessions with my amazing trainer, things took a bit of a turn – courtesy of an unusual Pain related issue. And while I knew something was different, I didn’t imagine that in just a short time I would move from an exciting, proud place to one of confusion and disruption.

The timing of these blogs is not a coincidence. I’m now trying to get off that rollercoaster and into a new kind of  Zone, and writing makes it real. But the biggest part of this process is learning to let go of what was and find a new path of what can be. The cardio is being replaced by cycling and walking and the foods that crept back in are being once again replaced by better choices. I am understanding how the Pain works and how to work with it. It may be a winding road, but I still have lots of energy to fight.

I never hesistated to reach out to professionals that I thought could provide me with solid advice, and that includes the team at EFAP. In particular, health-related support. To check it out,  sign-in to http://workhealthlife.com, go to MyServices. Or just give them a call at 1-800-387-4765. Or an online chat. Worked well that way too.

Take care,

Angela

The 5 Sad Truths About Success and Happiness

Leave a Comment

I often hear people speak about wanting more out of life.  Some say it out loud and many say it in other ways, but the meaning is clear to me.  Workshops on general health get cancelled due to low registration while workshops on meditation and living a life of purpose get filled quickly.

Here are some regrets of people looking back on their lives.   I hope you can find some inspiration to NOT have these for yourself.

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

Please do not end up with regrets like these.  Take steps now… right now!… to bring more fulfillment to your every day.

 

Janice MacInnis, Organizational Health, Dalhousie University

 

Source:

http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140624062305-64875646-5-sad-truths-about-success-and-happiness?trk=eml-ced-b-art-M-1-8182433710250308498&midToken=AQEJxufu077NnQ&fromEmail=fromEmail&ut=2sYDJeFzDC_Sg1

TOP