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.

teenage girls sitting on swings photo by bewakoofofficial @ unsplash.com

A guide to navigating concerns of your teen using drugs and some suggested next steps.

mother and son hugging at the beach

It can feel like a long road supporting someone else who is struggling with their alcohol or drug use.

fairy lights in the palm of hand

The holidays can feel like a minefield for anyone who is trying to give up drinking or at least change the way they drink. So what can we do about it?

man jumping into the water

Do you ever feel stuck in the same cycle, repeating over and over again? Asking yourself, “Will this cycle ever end? If so, when?” The truth is, you decide when the cycle ends.

celebrate safely

Sporting events like the AFL and NRL grand final are exciting times for celebration. We share how to celebrate safely without relying on drinking and gambling.

IOAD

Saturday August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD). This is a day where people from all over the world acknowledge and remember the lives of those lost to drug overdose.

girl meditating in the sun

We recently examined the negative thinking patterns that turn our thoughts sour, in Gloomy guts: 5 ways that negativity clouds our thinking.

q & a

The Counselling Online peer support forums recently hosted a special Q&A with Shannon, our guest alcohol and drug counsellor from Turning Point.

jumping in puddles

Negative thinking can take over our thoughts until they start to feel normal. We share 5 ways to learn how to recognise when negativity is clouding our thoughts.

man exercising

Here are some tips on how to pick yourself up and dust yourself off if you’ve recently experienced a relapse, or feel you are at risk.

man trying new hobby

Changing your drinking or drug habits can be difficult at the best of times, but it sometimes feels even harder in Aussie culture, where alcohol seems to form the cornerstone of so many of our social interactions.

time to cut down drinking

Drinking alcohol, for many Australians, is a regular part of life. Broadly people think that drinking is safe, especially because it’s legal and very easy to buy. However, it can do a great deal of damage to people, as well as their families and communities.

hiking

Do I need to make a change to my drinking and drug use? Once we've identified that we need to make a change we can take the right steps.

friends supporting each other

I grew up with an alcoholic father, and in years to come it would be that my three brothers would have a similar path.

prepare for change

Have you been thinking about cutting down or completely stopping your alcohol or drug use for a while? It’s common that people aren’t sure where to start, so we are going to have a look at some easy ways to help prepare for change.

helping loved ones

One of the involved peers at Turning Point shares his recovery story and how helping others stay on track helped him stay on track.

woman reading in a hammock to relax

Jesse and Sam’s situations are quite different but they have both got into a habit of using alcohol to manage stress and relax. They both contacted Counselling Online because they were worried about their drinking.