There's no such thing as a perfect holiday season Society has largely agreed that Christmas is all about love and hope and family and togetherness. Yet, what many of us actually experience at Christmas is far from these ideals. We buy more than we can afford, commit to more than we have energy for, eat and drink to excess, and care for ourselves less than we ideally need. Many of us allow ourselves to be pressured into versions of Christmas that are not really satisfying or nourishing and that leave us feeling the opposite to what we should be feeling... read more

What to do if you or a loved one relapses A relapse into an addiction, an eating disorder, alcoholism, or mood disorder triggers, for many, a huge amount of fear and a range of intense emotions. Particularly in our close relationships, we are extremely sensitive to what is happening with one another and when relapse occurs, the perception of threat is heightened. Emotionally charged reactions tend to dominate our relationships which only serve to fuel the problem, rather than settle it. In the event of a relapse, we can take steps to separate ourselves from the emotional upheaval, and create... read more

Much of what is helpful when someone is suicidal is often counterintuitive, requiring considered responses, rather than instinctual reactions. In some ways, our power is limited when it comes to suicidality, and if we can accept that, we can engage the power we actually have to manage our own reactions, so we can be an emotional resource for the person struggling. Here we offer some tips for directing efforts away from changing the suicidal person and towards managing our own emotional reactivity, so that you can be a better support. Take your distress to someone who has the capacity to... read more

What the family need to know There are few things more distressing than watching someone you love head down a seemingly self-destructive path. Families and friends of those caught in the cycle of destructive behaviours often struggle to make sense of and cope with the crisis faced by their loved one, and find themselves at a loss in terms of knowing how to help. Just as the person suffering impacts their family, the family and others impacts them too. In this sense, the family’s power to support and invite change in their love one is often underestimated and misunderstood. More... read more