Maison Dunham House

11/29/2025

Is willpower enough to beat addiction?

The science says no.

Lasting recovery isn't about simply trying harder, it's about building a new set of skills.

Our latest article dives into the evidence-based approach of integrated dual-diagnosis care, combining powerful cognitive tools like CBT, DBT, and experiential learning to treat both substance use and co-occurring mental health challenges.

This is the blueprint for real, sustainable change.

Stop the cycle and start building real recovery skills.

Tap the link to read the full guide:

Discover lasting addiction recovery with integrated dual-diagnosis treatment. Learn how cognitive tools like CBT, DBT, and Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) address substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions for sustained change. Find comprehensive program options and evidence-based skills

11/28/2025

Healing isn’t always dramatic.
Sometimes it’s a deep breath.
A quiet moment.
A small win that no one sees but that changes everything.

At Dunham House, we create a space where people feel safe enough to heal , with clinical excellence, compassion, and dignity.

If you or someone you love needs support… we’re here.
dunhamhouse.ca

11/27/2025

Let's be honest: Most people have strong opinions about recovery without ever having lived through it themselves.

So we're turning this around.

What's one thing you wish people would stop saying to someone in recovery?

Consider these painful classics:

"Just get over it."

"It's not that bad."

"Why can't you be normal?"

"You chose this."

Share the one that needs to disappear.

Your voice matters here because real recovery conversations happen when we listen to people who've actually walked this path, not those offering unsolicited advice from the sidelines.

Let's shift the narrative together.

11/25/2025

Sometimes healing starts with a single decision:
to stop rewinding the past… and finally give yourself permission to move forward.

At Dunham House, we meet people exactly where they are, not where they “should” be.

Recovery begins with one honest step, and we walk that path with you.

If you or someone you love needs support, we’re here.

Hope has room to grow again.

11/24/2025

**November is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month**

Men aren't struggling in silence.
They're struggling under expectations.

For generations, men were taught to be the hero in every story, even the ones breaking them.
-Hold it together.
-Don't show weakness.
-Fix it yourself.

But most men reach their breaking point long before they ever ask for help.

Not because they don't want support, but because they were trained to believe they're not allowed to need it.

Anxiety doesn't always look like panic.
Depression doesn't always look like sadness.
Addiction doesn't discriminate.
But shame does.

If no one has ever told you this: Getting help isn't weakness.

It's self-respect. It's courage.

It's choosing to truly live.

At Dunham House, we see the men behind the masks.

You don't need to hit rock bottom to deserve care.

You just need one brave moment.

11/22/2025

Sometimes the signs are right in front of us, but we miss them because we're not sure what we're looking for. 💔

Addiction doesn't always announce itself loudly. More often, it shows up quietly in small changes we explain away or hope will pass on their own.

A loved one withdrawing from family gatherings.
Mood swings that seem out of character.
Money disappearing without explanation.

We tell ourselves it's stress, or a phase, or just life being hard right now.

But what if it's more than that?

We've put together a guide to help you recognize the signs that families most commonly overlook. The behavioural shifts, physical changes, and emotional patterns that can be easy to miss when you're living them day to day.

This isn't about creating panic.

It's about giving you the knowledge to trust your instincts and take action if something feels off.

Because the earlier you recognize what's happening, the sooner you can help someone you love find their way back.

If you've been worried about someone but weren't sure if you were seeing things clearly, this might give you the clarity you need.

Read it here: https://www.dunhamhouse.ca/blog/5-oftenmissed-signs-of-addiction-families-commonly-overlook-how-to-recognize-hidden-behavioural-physical-and-emotional-changes

And if it resonates, please share it.

Someone in your circle might need to see this today.

Discover the 5 often-missed signs of addiction families overlook (secrecy, mood shifts, hygiene decline) and understand dual diagnosis. Learn how to document changes, communicate compassionately, and access integrated residential and outpatient care.

11/21/2025

This week is National Addictions Awareness Week in Canada. 💙

This year's theme, "Anchoring Hope," is a powerful reminder that recovery isn't about being perfect, t's about believing that change is possible.

Addiction shows up in the lives of people we love.

Parents. Colleagues. Friends.

Yet so many carry this weight in silence, convinced they need to figure it out alone.

At Dunham House, we witness hope in action every single day.

We see people rediscover who they are, rebuild connections with their families, and step back into their lives with renewed purpose.

If you're struggling, or if someone you care about is, please know this: reaching out isn't giving up. It's the bravest thing you can do.

You don't have to walk this path alone.

Help is real.

Support is waiting.

And recovery is possible. ✨

Share this post to help break the silence.

11/20/2025

Addiction doesn’t always look like what people expect.

In reality, the earliest signs are usually silent , small changes in behaviour, mood, or habits that can be easy to overlook until things escalate.

This National Addictions Awareness Week, we’re raising awareness about the signs people often miss and encouraging more understanding, compassion, and early support.

If someone in your life is struggling, they’re not alone.

We’re here to help.

11/18/2025

Strengthening Our Clinical Excellence.

Dunham House is thrilled to add Dr. Jenna Labell, M.A., Psy.D, as associate clinical psychologist and member of the Order of Psychologists of Quebec (OPQ).

Jenna’s work largely centers on helping clients increase daily functioning, reduce or eliminate distressing symptomatology, practice mindfulness, regulate and tolerate emotions, and live in greater accordance with their personal values.

She has worked in multiple outpatient addiction rehabilitation settings with adults struggling with substance use disorders and behavioural addictions (e.g. problematic gambling, po*******hy use, shopping, videogames, etc).

She has also received specialized training in chronic pain management and worked at the Montreal General Hospital helping those living with chronic pain conditions and mental health concerns.

Dr. Labell’s psychological services may be of benefit to those hoping to gain a more in-depth understanding of themselves and their relationships, process past traumas and emotional wounds, and focus on relapse prevention and maintaining continued recovery.

11/17/2025

Too many people struggling with addiction believe they don't deserve recovery.

But that belief?
It comes from the illness itself, not the truth.

Addiction changes how the brain processes decisions, manages emotions, and responds to stress.

It's not about willpower. It's not a character flaw.

And recovery is never something you need to earn.

Recovery is a human right. It's the opportunity to rebuild your life with clarity, compassion, and support.

When one person heals, the ripple effect touches families, friendships, workplaces, and entire communities.

At Dunham House, we meet you where you are, not where you think you should be.

Everyone deserves a path forward. No exceptions.

11/16/2025

When depression and addiction show up together, each one makes the other harder to overcome.
It's exhausting, isolating, and often misunderstood.

Our new blog post cuts through the confusion. Learn how to recognize the signs, understand what's really happening, and, most importantly, discover treatment approaches that actually address both conditions simultaneously.

Whether you're searching for help for yourself or supporting someone you love, this guide offers practical next steps for finding the right path forward.

Learn about dual diagnosis (co-occurring depression and addiction), including causes, signs, and the importance of integrated treatment. Find evidence-based options like CBT, comparisons of inpatient vs. outpatient programs, and practical checklists for choosing the right recovery center and support

11/14/2025

Today is Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day and in recovery, this message hits differently.

For those of us healing from addiction and mental health challenges, we've spent so much time being hard on ourselves.

We've carried the weight of past mistakes, the pressure of perfectionism, and the exhausting burden of trying to control everything.

Recovery teaches us something powerful: we don't have to live that way anymore.

Loosening up doesn't mean giving up on your progress. It means releasing the grip of shame.

It means allowing yourself to laugh again, to be imperfect, to find joy in small moments without guilt.

Lightening up doesn't diminish your journey, it honors it.

When we approach ourselves with gentleness and grace, we create space for genuine healing. Recovery is serious work, but it doesn't have to be heavy all the time.

At Dunham House, we believe that healing includes rediscovering the lightness that addiction and mental health struggles tried to take from you.

You deserve to experience joy.

You deserve to lighten up and truly live.

What's one way you're choosing to lighten up today? 💛