Blog

Explore stories, articles and strategies to support making change and living healthier. Our blogs are about life in general and in relation to alcohol and other substances.

photo of a woman trying to sleep by saseko @ unsplash.com

Many people associate alcohol with relaxation but what does it really do to your sleep? Dr Rowan Ogeil talks about the affects alcohol has on your sleep.

ericjamesward thehappydoggo

Every morning, my dog jumps on the bed and wakes me up by snuggling as close as she can to my head and puts her wet nose into my hair. Even though I might grump and groan about her waking me, the resulting rush of endorphins gets me out of bed feeling ready and energised to start the day.

addicted australia episode 4

We follow the participants through the final weeks of their treatment program. We see that the road to recovery isn’t a straight line, and observe that addiction, like other health conditions, can be characterised by periods of improvement and periods of vulnerability.

Addicted Australia Episode 3

In this episode the participants are halfway through the treatment program. We check in on how they are and follow the ups and downs experienced by people in recovery.

addicted australia episode 2

In this episode we learn more about the participants and their families, gaining further insight into what it’s like to receive addiction treatment and support.

free fall, woods | photo by gcalebjones @ unsplash.com

People often ask us: How do I respond if someone approaches me about a problem with drugs or alcohol? Here are 9 tips to show how to help.

Addicted Australia Episode 1

Trigger Warning: For some people in recovery watching Addicted Australia there may be some parts of the show that are triggering, particularly in relation to alcohol and drug use. You may want to seek support while watching if this is the case.

rethink addiction

With the ground-breaking SBS series, Addicted Australia set to air in November 2020, there has never been a better time to Rethink Addiction.

col website update 2020

You may notice a few things have changed on Counselling Online. We’ve been adding new information and tools to make our site even more helpful.

woman writing in her journal by avasol

Australians often feel pressure to drink at social gatherings, but that's changing, and you can too. We discuss how.

a woman caring for her grandmother

When we foster wellbeing it helps us how to grow our mental resources, and our mental resources enable us to be resilient. Learn the three basic needs that help to cultivate resilience.

loved ones also find it tough photo by transly @ unsplash.com

2020 has been a year when the lifestyle we take for granted has been hugely affected.

two people laying on grass staring up at the sky

Relationships & Sex counsellor Jeremy Shub recently joined us in the Counselling Online Forums to discuss how recovery can effect intimacy and sexual drive.

man working on his laptop photo by jsnbrsc

Gambling and Alcohol counsellors often hear people admit: “I only gamble when I’ve had a couple.” Here are some activities you can try instead while social-distancing at home.

teenagers hanging out photo by courthobbs @ unsplash.com

The 31st of May is World No Tobacco Day (WNTD). The World Health Organisation is asking us as a community to recognise the dangers tobacco poses to young people and how we can protect them.

woman doing yoga at the beach

Mother’s Day is the day we set aside in our communities to acknowledge and celebrate the important roles mothers play in our lives.

man walking in the park with his dog

Walking is one of the few activities that is both legal and free right now — and thankfully, walking is great for people who are trying to make changes in their life!

woman self isolating

At Counselling Online, we know that many people in our community are feeling anxious about COVID-19 right now, and that people who use drugs might have specific needs.