A podcast episode written and produced by Susanna Lee A friend jokingly uses it as an excuse for why they can’t resist online shopping. A news article blames it as the reason why some celebrity just can’t seem to shake their drug habit. A family member rejects a glass of wine for fear that it will prevent them from being able to stop themselves. We’ve all heard the term before one way or another. In this episode of Mind Myths, we debunk one of the most popular myths about addiction and substance use: the myth of the addictive personality. References Amodeo, M. (2015). The addictive personalit ..read more

By Samira Hussein Image by @gstudioimagen1. Retrieved from freepik.com. Annie is an eighteen year old girl attending university for the very first time. For as long as she could remember, she never had any issues with her appearance other than brief, superficial concerns about a new hairstyle  or trying on a different outfit in the changing room. It wasn’t until recently, entering this completely new environment, that she began to become concerned with her looks and the way she presents herself to other people. One of her major worries is that her face is asymmetrical, and that one side o ..read more

COVID-19’s Detrimental Effects on the Opioid Epidemic  By: Amy Rzezniczek (Psychiatry Advisor, 2021) The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of millions of people across the globe. The words “lockdown, quarantine and social distancing” were most likely not a part of your vocabulary in 2019, but now these words seem to appear in every conversation and dictate the ways in which we live our daily lives. While promoting safety amongst communities to prevent transmission of the virus is critical, it appears as though matters regarding mental health and addiction have been placed on the b ..read more

By Tara Raessi Photo by @alicia_mb. Retrieved from freepik.com.             During Pride month, many of us celebrate how far LGBTQ2S+ communities have come in advocating for the rights they so long deserved. For plenty, though, it is a reminder of how much work we have ahead of us. Various significant changes occurred only recently, such as Canada’s ban on conversion therapy less than a year ago (Government of Canada, 2021).  Even with historical events such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual removing homosexuality as a paraphil ..read more

by Bree Lawrence Photo by Anna Shvets. Retrieved from Pexels (2021). The road to recovery for people suffering from a substance use disorder (SUD) is often long and difficult. Many factors can complicate the process; one commonly cited by practitioners is the level of motivation. A strong sense of intent and commitment to change is considered a necessary component to successful treatment and recovery. To address a person’s motivation, practitioners regularly use strategies like motivational interviewing or motivational enhancement therapy (Moos, 2007), often with great success. These strategi ..read more

by Jasmine Atwal Trigger Warning: Mentions of Suicide and Childhood Trauma/Abuse Singer and Actress, Demi Lovato at Award Function, Gazette, 2020. Retrieved from Justin Bieber and Jennifer Lopez among E! People’s Choice Awards winners | Basingstoke Gazette “I’m tired of running myself into the ground with workouts and extreme dieting. I thought the past few years was recovery from an eating disorder when it actually was just completely falling into it,” -Demi Lovato Demi Lovato. Russel Brand. Elton John. Amanda Bynes. Aside from being talented artists, these individuals share one more common ..read more

You’ve heard of mindfully meditating, but what about mindfully smoking? By: Rhiannon Ueberholz (Hyson, 2020) If you google “ways to improve your mental health” it’s likely that any results that pop up will contain some information on mindfulness. In our tech-dominated world, mindfulness has become a saving grace, as it allows us to shift away from our busy minds. Though often conflated with meditation, any activity can be done mindfully, including walking, eating, or making a pot of coffee – being mindful is simply: paying attention to what you are doing on purpose with an attitude of opennes ..read more

by Ruthie Poizner MDMA, ecstasy, molly, E (Sharifimonfared & Hammersley, 2020) – no matter what it’s called, this popular club drug has found its way into our collective vocabulary. Ecstasy, which has been a mainstay on the party scene since the early 1990s, is now one of the most commonly used illegal drugs. In fact, over 18 million Americans have reported using MDMA at least once in their lifetime (SAMHSA, 2017). Since this drug has become so widespread, it is important from an individual and public health standpoint to understand both the short- and long-term effects of its use. This ..read more