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.

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.

photo of pride march by angelacompagnone @ unsplash.com

Over time, more options have surfaced for LGBTQIA+ people to connect within environments that aren’t driven by drinking and drugs. We share 5 LGBTQIA+ friendly social alternatives to bars and clubs.

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.