Covering the topic of addiction, certified counsellor and mental health correspondent Sue Morrison sat down with us for this month’s Mental Health Spotlight.
Addiction is a symptom of a deeper issue, Morrison explains. It is the use of substances to provide a false sense of comfort and avoid personal problems and feelings.
It is not uncommon and has worsened due to the pandemic. Addiction currently impacts one in five people and can affect individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
Addiction is also a family disease, Morrison tells us. “Because one person has an addiction, it affects everyone in the family.”
Those facing addiction often feel embarrassed, hopeless, and alone, which can result in reluctance to seek help. However, it is possible to change, heal, and grow.
Morrison is in addiction recovery herself, with over nine years of successful abstinence. “I started off hurting, then I went into healing, and now I want to help.”
Her combined lived experience and education have positioned her well to provide a safe, unconditional, nonjudgmental, and supportive atmosphere to assist those facing addiction challenges.
“The opposite of addiction is connection,” Morrison explains. “Getting in touch with people who understand, who have been through it themselves, who have survived and healed… That’s the key.”
Morrison hopes the stigma surrounding addiction is improving beyond past misconceptions of addicts. “We have more mental health awareness; we’re understanding that mental health affects everyone.”
Sue can be reached through her practice at White Brick Therapy, and our full interview is available below:
