Sunset Addiction & Mental Health Recovery

12/20/2025

Is your child (17–30) struggling with alcohol/substances or gambling?

The holidays can shine a light on battles we don’t always talk about, but there is hope.

This Christmas, give the gift of support, safety, and a fresh start.

Sunset Recovery is here to help young adults find their footing, rebuild their confidence, and move toward a healthier life.

You don’t have to wait for rock bottom.
You don’t have to do it alone.

Reach out today. A gift of life can start with a single message Sunset Addiction & Mental Health Recovery

12/19/2025

Christmas can be one of the hardest seasons in recovery, more expectations, more emotions, more triggers. Getting through it isn’t about perfection, it’s about protection and intention. Here are practical, recovery-centered ways to navigate the holidays:

1. Plan before you participate
Don’t “wing it.”
Decide which events you’ll attend and which you won’t
Set arrival and exit times
Arrange your own transportation so you can leave if needed
A plan reduces pressure and panic.

2. Have a clear “why”
Remind yourself why you’re in recovery:
Your health
Your family
Your future
Your peace
Write it down. Read it daily. Especially before gatherings.

3. Bring your own safety
That might look like:
A trusted support person you can text or call
A non-alcoholic drink in your hand at all times
A grounding tool (breathing, prayer, mantra, walk outside)
You don’t owe anyone an explanation.

4. Practice simple boundaries
You don’t need a speech. Try:
“I’m good, thanks.”
“I’m driving.”
“I’m focusing on my health right now.”
Boundaries aren’t rude, they’re self-respect.

5. Limit exposure, not connection
You can still:
Show up briefly
Focus on kids, food, games, or conversations away from substances
Leave early and still feel proud
Connection doesn’t require self-harm.

6. Stick to recovery routines
Holidays don’t cancel recovery:
Attend meetings
Check in with peers
Journal daily
Keep sleep and nutrition steady
Structure = stability.

7. Expect emotions; don’t judge them
Grief, loneliness, anger, joy, it can all show up. Feelings are not failures.
Sit with them, talk about them, move through them.

8. Redefine what “celebration” means
Recovery teaches us:
Peace > partying
Presence > performance
Meaning > masking
A quiet Christmas can be a powerful one.

9. Have an exit plan for cravings
If urges hit:
Step outside
Call someone
Leave; no explanations
Remind yourself: cravings pass, consequences don’t

10. Celebrate the win
Getting through the holidays sober is a victory. Even if it’s messy.
Even if it’s emotional.
Even if it looks different than others
You’re not “missing out.”
You’re choosing yourself.

12/17/2025

Thank you

Abakar Kazbekov came to Canada hoping to find a better life for his family through hockey when he was just 15.

He died by su***de three years later, while playing for the London Knights.

I wrote about his life and the search for answers after his death.

His story highlights questions about the pressure Junior hockey players face, the isolation of international players, and the mental health support provided by major junior hockey teams for their players.

(Link in bio.)

12/17/2025

December 17, 2022 won't be forgotten for my entire life.
The phone call.
The denial
The shock
The sadness
The drive home.

Abakar Kazbekov was just a kid living out a dream. He was an incredible friend, an unreal teammate and one hell of a human.

Su***de doesn't discriminate, it doesn't care if you play hockey for the London Knights or any team for that matter. The ripples effect people for generations, the memories never fade, and the hope that it will never happen again is at the forefront.

While I was incredibly grateful to support the Knights after Abby's su***de, there is so much more to be done.

I've moved on from the Knights, they didnt replace me. They are a team now with no mental health support. Hockey business is wild that way. And although I'm on to bigger and better things(ask me), I'm still grateful for my time, space, championships, road wins and home losses with the Knights.

I would give all those experiences back for 1 more day with Abby here.

Talk to your Athletes, remind them Hockey is just a game, if you're not having fun, talk to someone, if you're struggling away from the rink, talk to someone. We don't need more super stars, we need more stars that are great humans.

ForEver Abby
AK15 🪽

12/12/2025

Recovery ⚓️🌙

Is it hard? Good. It’s supposed to be.

Recovery from the past isn’t meant to feel light or easy. You’re undoing years of hurt, habits, patterns, and stories you once believed were permanent. You’re learning how to soothe wounds you never asked for and rewrite chapters you never wanted to live through. That work is supposed to stretch you. It’s supposed to challenge you. It’s supposed to feel unfamiliar.

But here’s the truth nobody says enough:
Hard doesn’t mean hopeless.
Hard doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.
Hard means you’re healing.

Every time you sit with a feeling instead of running from it, you grow.
Every time you choose a healthier response, even once, you grow.
Every time you let yourself be honest, vulnerable, tired, or human… you grow.

The past shaped you, yes, but it doesn’t own you.
You’re building something stronger than what broke you.

So if today feels heavy, take a breath.
You’re not failing.
You’re transforming.
And transformation has always required courage.

Keep going. You’re already further than you think.
Sunset Addiction & Mental Health Recovery

12/10/2025

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆?
At Sunset Recovery, we support people from all walks of life, and the data speaks loudly about what many are facing:

Alcohol – 60%

Cannabis – 50%

Cocaine/Crack – 46%

Crystal M**h – 32%

Gambling – 17%

To***co – 12%

Fentanyl -- 9%

These aren’t just numbers.
They’re real people, real families, real stories, and most importantly, real opportunities for change.

Multi-substance use is becoming more common, and it can feel overwhelming… but help is closer than you think.

At Sunset Recovery, we walk with people through their toughest moments with lived-experience support, compassion, and practical tools that work in the real world.

If you or someone you love is struggling, you’re not alone.
Reach out. A conversation could change everything.

🌅 SunsetRecovery.ca

12/09/2025

ASIST Training Impact ☆ Sunset Recovery

In 2025, Sunset Recovery continued our commitment to building safer, more supported communities through ASIST (Applied Su***de Intervention Skills Training).
This training saves lives, and the people who show up for it are the ones strengthening our communities every single day.

This year, we trained over 100 community members, PLUS:

🚑 Grey County Paramedics
🚑 Bruce County Paramedics
👮 Ontario Provincial Police

💕🪽Salvation Army-Center of Hope-London in 2026

ASIST equips people with practical, compassionate skills to recognize and respond to someone experiencing thoughts of su***de.
These are conversations that matter — conversations that change outcomes.

Thank you to every frontline worker, volunteer, and community member who stepped into this training.
Your willingness to learn and lead makes our communities safer.

Sunset Recovery is proud to walk alongside you. 🌅💛

12/09/2025

Athletic Wellness & Addiction Prevention☆ 2025 Impact

This year, Sunset Recovery had the privilege of supporting 122 athletes through wellness coaching, addiction prevention education, and real conversations about what it means to be mentally strong in sport.

From young talent to elite professionals, the message is the same: your well-being matters more than your performance.

In 2025, we worked with:
🏒 18 Ontario Hockey League players
🏒 22 National Hockey League players
🏒 5 East Coast Hockey League players
🏒 45 GOJHL Jr. B players
🏒 10 PJHL Jr. C players

Every athlete deserves a safe space to talk, learn, and grow.
And we’re just getting started.

Thank you to every athlete who trusted Sunset Recovery this year.
Here’s to a stronger, healthier, and more supported 2026. 🌅💛

12/09/2025

⚓️🏒

12/09/2025

🌅 SUNSET RECOVERY ☆YEAR IN REVIEW 🌅
365 days of support, connection, and real-life recovery.

As we close out the year, we want to share a snapshot of the impact Sunset Recovery has made across our communities. Every conversation, every check-in, every story shared has shaped the past 12 months in a powerful way.

📊 2025 Peer Support Snapshot

Average Age: 28.6

Total Peers Supported: 64

Gender Breakdown:

Male: 76%

Female: 24%

📍 Communities We’ve Served:
Goderich
Strathroy
London
Sarnia
Owen Sound
Wingham
Toronto
Wellington County
Bruce County
Grey County
Huron County
Middlesex County
Lambton Shores
Calgary, Alberta
Montreal, Quebec

From small towns to big cities, the message has stayed the same, recovery is possible, community matters, and no one has to walk this alone.

Thank you to everyone who trusted Sunset Recovery this year. Your courage and vulnerability continue to inspire the work we do.

Here’s to another year of healing, growth, and showing up for each other. 🌅💛

Sunset Addiction & Mental Health Recovery

12/06/2025

Here are 10 tough, honest truths about addiction recovery, the kind people feel but don’t always say out loud:

1. Recovery isn’t linear.
You can be doing everything right and still have bad days. Healing looks more like a heartbeat than a straight line.

2. Motivation won’t always be there.
Some days you’ll feel inspired. Other days you’ll drag yourself through the work. Discipline has to carry what motivation can’t.

3. You will outgrow people you care about.
Not everyone can come with you. Some relationships don’t survive when you start healing.

4. Recovery demands humility.
You’ll need to admit things you’re not proud of, ask for help, and be teachable. That’s uncomfortable, but powerful.

5. Your brain needs time to catch up.
Even when you stop using, the cravings, fog, anxiety, and mood swings can linger. It’s biology, not failure.

6. Guilt and shame don’t instantly disappear.
Recovery means learning to forgive yourself slowly, repeatedly, and imperfectly.

7. It can feel lonely at first.
You’re rebuilding your life from the inside out. Sometimes that means stepping away from old environments and old routines.

8. You have to face emotions you’ve been avoiding.
Substances numb pain. Recovery brings the pain to the surface so you can finally deal with it.

9. Not everyone will understand.
Some people will judge. Others will minimize. Your recovery is yours, not a performance for anyone else.

10. You’re going to have to rebuild trust.
Even when you change, people may take time to believe it. Trust returns slowly, but it does return.

Sunset Addiction & Mental Health Recovery