Q: Our grandmother turns 90 this year. She has some memory loss, always forgetting where she put her glasses or who is to take her to which appointments, which makes us think she might be in the early stages Alzheimer’s disease. Apart from that, she Is healthy and a pleasure to be with. We want […] Read more
Stories by Jacklin Andrews, BA, MSW
Relapses can be overcome
Q: I am six weeks sober but afraid I am going to relapse. What can I do? A: Six weeks sober is a great start, but it does not stop yet. You are always vulnerable to relapse. Let’s face it, relapse in the face of addiction, be that to alcohol, drugs, nicotine, gambling or sex, […] Read more
Climate, schlimate; it’s a beautiful world
Q: My husband and I walk every morning, usually before breakfast. It is a spectacular time of the day for a walk, especially during months. What with so much early morning fog this year settling into sparkles of frost on just about everything, trees, abandoned fence posts, even the hills in the distance, this year […] Read more
Admiration is the best antidote for envy
Q: My youngest son’s teachers and coaches are forever comparing him to his older brother, an exceptional child who excels at everything he does. I worry that my younger son will grow resentful because he cannot keep up with his older brother, or that my oldest son will quit trying so hard because he does […] Read more
Addicts who stop smoking can help their alcohol recovery
Q: Our son-in-law has quit drinking but still smokes. Am I right to think he should stop smoking, too? A: How or where your son-in-law goes about his recovery is his decision and his alone. You can support and love and care for him, but what he does is what he chooses to do. Recognizing […] Read more
Anxiety often caused by not feeling enough satisfaction
Q: I have built a successful farm, but I can’t relax. My wife thinks I’m going to drive myself to an early grave. I get all wired up when it is too hot for few days and equally distraught when we get what I think is too much rain. My physician thinks that I am […] Read more
Parents must let their son choose his own career path
Q: Our 19-year-old son is a good kid but has no idea what he should or could do with himself. We would love for him to get a job and start building toward a career, but nothing seems to work. What can we do to get him going? A: Your son has two problems. One […] Read more
Recognizing addiction’s power is first step in recovery
Q: Our son is seeking treatment for his cocaine addiction. He has signed on for Narcotics Anonymous, picked himself a great sponsor and is attending sessions with one of the addictions counsellors at our mental health centre. However, we are not naive. We know how overwhelming addictions can be and we know that recovery seems […] Read more
Community grieves after sudden death
Q: A short while ago, a man who played first base on our slo-pitch team was killed in a car accident. We are like brothers and sisters out there. We care about each other. Our problem is that our friend’s family is not planning a funeral any time soon. He comes from a large family. […] Read more
Anxiety or stress?
Q: I see myself as an anxious person and I have been off and on for most of my life. But my wife sees things differently. She says that I am under considerable stress most of the time and that I am probably not anxious at all. I think that is her way of saying […] Read more
