Red Door Recovery

03/01/2026

Standing at the crossroads, which path am I going to take?
Do I let things just carry on? Or do I seek another path and
make some changes: positive changes?

The moment we decide to give up drinking or drugging is
often called a rock bottom, when we feel so low we are
driven to make some changes.

It may not be a single event that gets us to that point, it
may be a number of events that build up, then take us down.

Significant negative life events: Examples include an arrest, a drink drive charge an overdose scare, or an accident with tragic consequences.

Health concerns: Recognition of serious physical or mental health problems directly linked to substance use (e.g. liver disease, heart issues, severe depression) can be a primary motivator for seeking help.

Strained relationships and family pressure: The fear of losing loved ones, especially children, is a powerful influence. Pressure and concern from family members can be crucial in the initial decision to seek help.

Loss of control and self-respect: A personal realisation that the addiction has taken over our life and that we are no longer in control of our actions can be a moment of clarity. The desire to regain dignity and live a life aligned with our own true values can be a strong intrinsic motivator.

Desire for a better quality of life: Many people simply reach a point where they long for a sense of purpose and happiness beyond the cycle of addiction. It is a realisation that our current habits are holding us back.

The accumulated weight of consequences: For many, there isn't one single, dramatic moment, but rather a slow accumulation of negative outcomes over time—financial troubles, isolation, shame, guilt and despair—that eventually make the idea of change seem more bearable than continuing in addiction.

Whatever the drivers, when we ‘take a look in the mirror’, there is a moment. A moment that promotes the decision to make positive change. This is the moment we must grab with both hands and do everything we can to never let go. Is it easy? No. Is it worth it? Yes, 100%. The rewards are immeasurable for you, and everyone around you.

23/12/2025

Is it easy? No. Is it ultimately worth it? Absolutely.

As Paulette Crowley prepares to celebrate her tenth Christmas without alcohol, she remembers the agony of the very first one and reflects on lessons from the past decade.

19/12/2025

The class of 2025.

Thank you for all the amazing mahi by our team this year. Our staff and peer support are constantly navigating the most beautiful times, as well as the challenging moments we can have in the addiction field. Its a journey for us all.

A special mention to our lead supervisor Tim Antipas and our AOD clinician Graham Black who were not able to make it today.

And just what to give a shout out to our graduate clients who have stepped into peer support and staff spaces.

This team is filled with lived experience and we walk the talk side by side with our tangata whaiora.

Mauri ora.

19/12/2025

The tangata whaiora, kaiako & whānau come together to celebrate the end of another deeply nourishing & transformative year at Red Door Recovery. Haka, waiata, words of gratitude, karakia and Kai were shared by all. The mauri was powerful & the connection was felt.

Thank you to all who make this healing possible, stay true, stay well, care for one another.

Tihei mauri ora 🤍🙏🏼

17/12/2025

“I understood, through rehab, things about creating characters. I understood that creating whole people means knowing where we come from, how we can make a mistake, and how we overcome things to make ourselves stronger.” (Samuel L. Jackson)

16/12/2025

It’s not really about the drugs, it’s about turning down the noise.

Trauma-driven addiction:
The drugs are just a means to an end, a fast way to turn down the noise – the mayhem in the mind caused by PTSD.

With m**h, for example, delivering a flood of dopamine
(400% higher than co***ne), the drugs may feel like they are helping.
But only for a while. Until addiction and psychosis sets in,
and the noise gets louder than ever.
And the underlying problems get a whole lot worse.

You can’t just treat the addiction in isolation, the whole person has to be treated.

And you cannot do that in 28 days.
Long term support, therapy and counselling are the critical factors.

15/12/2025

When it takes you, it can also take:
Your family.
Your friends.
Your job.
Your house.
Your sanity.
Your honesty.
Your decency.
Your happiness.
Your purpose.
Your dreams.
Your freedom.
Your life.

14/12/2025

DOCTOR FEELGOOD: The Drug Dealer in your Brain.

Dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins are the neurotransmitters responsible for our happiness. Many events can trigger these neurotransmitters. Some are healthy some are not. For example, s*x can provide a nice hit of dopamine. M**h can provide a flood. Ultimately, in a way it is the effect of the neurotransmitters that we can become addicted to. Drugs are a super-easy way to open up the feelgood shop. But every up has a down.

Following are some safer ways to hack into our neurochemicals:

Dopamine
Dopamine motivates us to take action toward goals, desires, and needs, and gives a surge of reinforcing pleasure when achieving them. Procrastination, self-doubt, and lack of enthusiasm are linked with low levels of dopamine. Break big goals down into little pieces — rather than only allowing our brains to celebrate when we’ve hit the finish line, we can create a series of little finish lines which releases dopamine.

Serotonin
Serotonin flows when you feel significant or important. Loneliness and depression appears when serotonin is absent. Most antidepressants focus on the production of serotonin.
Self-gratitude/esteem practices remind us that we are valued and have much to value in life. If you need a serotonin boost during a stressful day, take a few moments to reflect on a past achievements and victories. And get some sun – which promotes vitamin D and serotonin production.

Oxytocin
Oxytocin creates intimacy, trust, and builds healthy relationships. It is released during or**sm, and by mothers during childbirth and breastfeeding. Oxytocin is like a ‘cuddle/kiss drug’ and a simple way to keep oxytocin flowing is to give someone a hug. Inter-personal touch not only raises oxytocin, but also reduces cardiovascular stress and improves the immune system; rather than just a hand shake, go for the hug. (Probably not the Parking Warden, that could be a little weird). When your dog gets the zoomies when you get home after work, that's the Oxytocin doing its thing.

Endorphins
Endorphins are released in response to pain and stress and help to alleviate anxiety and depression. The surging “second wind” and euphoric “runners high” during and after a vigorous run are a result of endorphins. Similar to morphine, it acts as an analgesic and sedative, diminishing our perception of pain.
Along with regular exercise, laughter is one of the easiest ways to induce endorphin release.

Knock knock
Who’s there
Ahhh
Ahhh who?
Werewolves of London

09/12/2025

When Life Becomes Chaotic:

M**h-induced psychosis is a severe psychiatric disorder marked by persistent and powerful disruptions in thinking and perception. It manifests in the form of psychotic episodes that can last for a few hours, a few days, or an indefinite period.

Unless you have witnessed this, it is impossible to understand just how much impact this condition has. Long-term m**h-induced psychosis may become the diagnosis.

The tell-tale symptoms of m**h-induced psychosis include:

• Delusions. These delusions will seem entirely real from the perspective of the person experiencing psychosis.
• Hallucinations. Individuals experiencing m**h-induced psychosis may experience powerful hallucinations, primarily visual or tactile.
• Agitation. It may be impossible for a person to relax or sit still, experiencing extreme, unrelenting anxiety.
• Paranoia. M**h-induced psychosis produces profound suspicion of other people, which in some cases can lead to hostile or violent behaviour.

08/12/2025

Dopamine is a crucial neurotransmitter and hormone in the brain, acting as a chemical messenger that influences pleasure, motivation, mood, focus, and movement, forming the core of the brain's reward system; it makes us feel good.

Dopamine levels can be negatively impacted by drug use.

Dopamine levels can be raised through evidence-based supplements, including:

• Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, increases dopamine in the brain.

• Ginkgo Biloba has a potential to raise dopamine levels as well.

• Acetyl-l-tyrosine is a building block of dopamine, so a healthy dose of it supports the production of dopamine in the brain.

• L-theanine increases numerous neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine.
Green tea is a rich source of l-theanine

• Dark chocolate contains phenylalanine, an amino acid that plays a key role in dopamine production. Look for dark chocolate with more than 80 percent cacao as it has the highest concentration of dopamine-building phenylalanine.