♥ Amitié Mon Amour ♥


I am not a romantic person, not in the least. Reading a romance novel would quite simply be hell on Earth for me .

It’s not that I don’t believe in Love. I believe passionately in Love.

I just don’t feel that the love we consider romantic is any more interesting, important or fulfilling than the love I have found in friendship.

My most prized possession, secret love weapon, spiritual vitamin, most effective anti-depressant, security blanket, guardian of my mental health: Friendship, my Great, my True Love.

Every friendship I have ever had has started off with a “spark”, a unique...

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Posted on 11 Feb 2013, by Linda Lee Ross
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Travel is quite the Learning Curve by Carol

Traveling is part of an important learning curve with regards to rituals, anxiety, fear and acceptance of change. For some the ability to cope in a new environment can be easier, while extremely difficult for others. There are in fact, people who chose not to travel due to shear terror.

I’ve traveled extensively to tropical countries, at first for a week or two at a time. The trips were either all inclusive, or part of a cruise ship tour. Those trips almost resembled a home away from home package, so adapting was smooth. Twice I spent a couple of weeks abroad, living with...

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Posted on 27 Jan 2013, by Carol
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33

Êtes-vous un proche-aidant ?

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.
- Jane Howard


L’ancienne Première Dame des Etats-Unis, Rosalynn Carter a dit qu’il existe quatre catégories de personnes en ce monde :

  • Ceux qui ont été proches-aidants
  • Ceux qui sont proches-aidants
  • Ceux qui seront proches-aidants
  • Ceux qui ont besoin d’un proche-aidant

En tant que membre de familles, personne significative, ou ami(e), est-ce que vous offrez des soins, un soutien moral ou de l’aide à une personne ayant des troubles physiques, cognitifs ou mentaux ?...

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Posted on 21 Jan 2013, by Sylvie Bouchard
6 comments
21

The Solace of Family

We are happy to be welcoming a new contributor to Recovery Talks, Sylvie Bouchard, who provides family peer support in Emergency at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute.

The first position of its kind at the Douglas, Sylvie’s is an invaluable role; supporting families as one who has also experienced firsthand what can be involved when someone you love is experiencing mental illness.

As a clinical social worker who has worked in mental health for more than twenty years, two things have stood out to me the most about the families that I have known; first how very much families want...

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Posted on 13 Jan 2013, by Linda Lee Ross
1 comment
16

Dr. Steiger on eating disorders

Dr. Steiger speaks on how eating disorders evolve. *English and French Videos below.
“Education is key and without knowledge, there is no solution.” …Carol

French

English

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Posted on 24 Dec 2012, by Carol
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29

Learning to Live Life Between Bites by Carol


(…continued from December 3rd entry)

Becoming aware of inconspicuous derogative passing quiet thought is the road to recovery. Simply avoiding or pushing away negative thinking is not enough, because it acts as restrictive thinking lending itself stronger recurrences going forward. Only a trained therapist, a “life coach”, can aid in knowing what to do as your mind becomes aware of those thoughts. Shifting negative thoughts without judgement, into a positive light is a sort of dance … a skill that requires much practice.

There are no rules, diets, body scales, or rituals to this thing. ...

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Posted on 10 Dec 2012, by Carol
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26

What Are YOU Feeding Your Mind With? by Carol

After reading this post, go to the continuation I wrote in the next post called “Learning to live life between bites”

We might, at times, not be quite content to be where we are or who we are with. We can be fiercely protective of our possessions, our religious beliefs and political views. Sometimes we can be frustratingly secretive and be selectively distrustful of others. At other times we can laugh, tell tall tales and light up a room for hours at end.

But what are we feeding our minds with? I have become fully aware that my most inconspicuous derogative passing quiet thought can be...
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Posted on 03 Dec 2012, by Carol
3 comments
34

When it Hurts to even Hope…

We can easily understand a child who is afraid of the dark, the real tragedy in life is an adult who is afraid of the light.-Plato

Every now and then, it seems like I keep having the same conversation; and lately a number of folks have shared with me their fears about recovery; how they don’t dare hope things will ever really get better for them.

They don’t even want to hear the stories of other people who have regained their health or peace of mind after a mental health problem because they say…

I don’t think it can happen for me and hoping for something that may happen for others but...

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Posted on 26 Nov 2012, by Linda Lee Ross
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26

Everything you Need to Know About Eating Disorders Program but Were Afraid to Ask by Carol


We all have inner dialogue. It’s normal. It significantly affects one’s actions and emotions.

For those affected by an eating disorder, it’s critical to shed light on harmful inner dialogue before attempting to shift one’s actions. One-on-one therapy sheds awareness of how your mind thinks and appropriately reconnects you with your emotions.

A good connection with your therapist will help you become aware of your harmful inner dialogue and emotional reactions. If you have the chance to get professional one-on-one therapy, brutal honesty is critical towards recovery when answering...

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Posted on 05 Nov 2012, by Carol
2 comments
48

The Rewards of Patience…is Patience

I’m tired of being me,
And I don’t like what I see,
I’m not who I appear to be

- Lyrics to Extreme’s ‘Am I ever gonna change‘

Almost every day, something in my work or home life reminds of the role acceptance plays in our lives.

Quite ironically perhaps, acceptance can play a huge role in helping us make changes.

When we feel stuck in a pattern of behavior or way of thinking, we can be frustrated, angry or scared of what we are experiencing.

How did we let ourselves get here, or even worse get back here again?!!

One of the tricky things about change is that sometimes if we really want to...

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Posted on 22 Oct 2012, by Linda Lee Ross
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