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NUTRITION IS KEY
Having read with both clinical appreciation and personal satisfaction the excellent and timely‘ Food for thought’ article( DDN, Oct, p6), I was reminded of my own longstanding initiative to promote nutritional awareness within the addiction treatment settings I’ ve been privileged to work in.
The authors rightly outline the neuroscience underpinning this subject: that active addiction reflects a dysregulation of neurotransmission within the brain’ s mesolimbic-dopamine system – a dysfunction perpetuated by the continual ingestion of mood-altering substances that usurp the neuronal functionality in that region of the brain, resulting in the individual getting a singular message for the substance of misuse. Restoration of this system requires, at minimum, a corridor of total abstinence – an essential condition for the metabolism’ s homeostatic processes to re-establish neuronal integrity.
Within this framework, adequate protein intake plays a vital role, supplying the raw materials necessary for the synthesis and replenishment of neurotransmitters depleted by the toxic ravages of addiction; adequate nutrition therefore is not peripheral – it is central to healing the body, stabilising the mind, and reinforcing long-term recovery as the authors of the article emphasise too.
In residential settings, working with individuals whose health had been severely compromised, I adopted a gentle approach: encouraging the establishment of a balanced diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, ample hydration and a moderate increase in protein intake. Protein, after all, provides the metabolic substrate for amino acids, neurons, and other components essential to restoring the brain’ s neurotransmission functionality. Time and again, I observed a consistent pattern when this
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suggestion was followed: mood stabilisation, behavioural calming and a renewed sense of bodily poise.
In custodial environments, once nutritional stability had been achieved, I witnessed a further transformation: the more criminally oriented thinking patterns that had sustained cycles of recidivism began to give way to rational, pragmatic thought.
This shift – toward freedom from recidivistic thinking – was no mere coincidence. It is, I believe: a testament to the quiet power of nutritional restoration in supporting cognitive and emotional rehabilitation for each individual striving for freedom from active addiction by means of total abstinence from the substances of misuse.
Thank you for continuing to shine a light on this vital subject and to the authors of the article, which reflects my own evidence-based understanding. I hope their contribution affirms the importance of integrating nutritional strategies into addiction recovery frameworks within both residential and communal settings. John Graham, therapeutic counsellor( rtd)
LEARNING TO CONNECT
I loved the piece‘ Breaking the silence’( DDN, Oct, p10) and completely resonate with Vanesa Partlová’ s reflections. Many of our community members have experienced deep relational trauma and may find traditional group sharing intimidating or even reactivating. I’ ve sat in on meetings held by other organisations and can see people being activated by sharing.
Emotional safety must always come before expression. In our trauma-informed, selfcompassion-based approach, we recognise that connection doesn’ t always have to mean sharing out loud. Healing often begins quietly, through gentle participation and personal reflection. Here are a few ways
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we create space for everyone, including those who feel anxious about speaking up: 1. Choice and agency: We always remind participants that sharing is optional. Simply being present is enough. People can engage in ways that feel right for them, through journalling, creative activities, or silent reflection. 2. Regulation before sharing: We begin with grounding or resourcing practices( like mindful breathing or movement) to help participants feel more centred and less overwhelmed before any discussion. 3. Silly movement: After sharing we get participants up and moving, silly movement that gets them laughing and moving the emotions through their body – shaking it off. 4. Creative self-expression: Our‘ slow stitching’ and‘ sunrise dip’ sessions are good examples of inviting connection through shared activity, where words are secondary to presence and process. 5. Compassionate witnessing: Facilitators model deep listening without judgment or expectation, creating a sense of belonging that doesn’ t depend on verbal disclosure. 6. Micro-moments of connection: Small rituals, like lighting a candle, or sharing a word or gesture of gratitude, allow for connection without pressure. There’ s so much you can do with this one. 7. Tea and food: Sharing a moment over a cuppa and a bit of something to eat is another way to help people connect and feel less isolated. You can share while eating without having to look directly at people.
These approaches don’ t require additional resources, just a shift in awareness, from‘ sharing stories’ to creating conditions for safety and self-trust.
We’ d love to be part of this growing knowledge bank on wellbeing. Our experience shows that when people are offered genuine choice, creative pathways, and compassionbased support, they naturally move from isolation toward
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connection, at their own pace. Kim Moore, Blossome founder, www. blossome. support Free new resources: Self-care assessment, www. blossome. support / self-care-assessment / Self-compassion Assessment, www. blossome. support / selfcompassion-assessment /
NEW REWARDS
In response to last month’ s cover story( DDN, Oct, p6): healthy eating is an important part of daily life for everyone, but even more so for people whose physical and mental health may already be negatively impacted by things other than poor nutrition. As people become sober, their appetite can shift greatly, as they may have neglected food for a period. As their appetite returns to more natural levels, the importance of making sure their needs are met in a healthy, sustainable way is substantial. Vitamins and minerals, for example, are the most common examples of nutrients that people might think of, which best come from fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits, in particular, would be most beneficial for people who may have had too much processed / table sugar in their diet as a result of often craving‘ high reward’ foods when their bodies are negatively impacted by other factors. Honey is also‘ better’ than processed / table sugar and contains antioxidants, but the natural sugars found in fruit are much healthier. Therefore, if using honey as an alternative sweetener, moderation is still required.
Other‘ high reward’ foods people are likely to seek are those high in fats. There are foods that contain healthier fats than others, such as seeds / nuts, avocado, yoghurts, dark chocolate, fish, lean meats, as well as soya products like tofu and edamame beans, and other healthy nutrients that vulnerable people may have neglected, like proteins and amino acids.
Overall, simply substituting processed foods with fresh food and responding to cravings with
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