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Want to know more about Frances Stone?
Frances Stone is a Canadian Certified Addiction Counsellor who throughout her career in mental health and addiction has worked in radio, rehabilitation, and addiction treatment centres for men & women with substance misuse disorder and mental illness. She proudly serves as a Committee Member for səmiq̓ʷəʔelə/Riverview Public Advisory Group with Kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation and B.C. Housing.
Frances is a proud registered member of The Okanagan Band in Vernon, BC (OKIB) She is currently working on her degree in Adult Education at the University of the Fraser Valley and her second memoir,
her personal story of recovery from addiction, abuse and poverty. Frances identifies as a Syilx woman and mother in long-term recovery from addiction with a mental health diagnosis. Her hope is to utilize her education & lived experience to help others that are struggling to achieve and maintain sobriety and mental wellness through books, videos and advocacy.
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Mental Health & Addiction
Education & Empowerment
Every Friday, Frances Stone posts a weekly video to share her experience & education with the hope of empowering people about common challenges and supportive solutions when navigating recovery from addiction, poverty, trauma and mental health issues.
Frances' YouTube Channel will focus on sharing her lived experience of recovery from addiction, poverty, trauma and mental illness. Topics will include relapse prevention, how I got sober, how I stay sober, signs of mental health breakdown, supporting yourself in times of anxiety, depression, stress, etc. We will discuss grief & loss, recovery management, codependency, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, purpose, passion and peace, preventing burnout, workaholism, money and debt recovery, healthy habits and goal setting, creative process, spirituality, perfectionism, core values and beliefs, co-parenting, self-esteem, self-love & self-care. The ideas are endless!
To submit a question for consideration, please send me a message!
Don't forget to include your name or if you prefer to remain anonymous.
Addiction Perspective
Addiction is physical, emotional, mental and spiritual in nature. It is experiencing a craving, loss of control, compulsion and consequences. It is a complex & individual medical issue, not a moral failing. Addiction is continuing to use any substance or behaviour in a compulsive manner despite experiencing harmful consequences in your life. You can be equally addicted to substances such as alcohol, drugs, pills, and nicotine as well as foods such as fat, oil and sugar. Behaviours such as shopping, codependent relationships, sex, work, anger, gaming, gambling, watching television and online streaming services can also be a form of addiction. What is different, is whether the consequences are mild or severe. Once you remove the physical dependency, the feeling and the thinking process are the same. That is why people will often replace one substance or behaviour with another, unable to find lasting peace, stability and recovery. Harm reduction in many forms is the reality of “the progress, not perfection” mantra of the recovery process. But where there is life – there is hope. If we don’t give up, we do recover.
Kind Words
"Frances is an intelligent, inspiring, and empathetic counsellor. Between her education, life experience, and passion for her work, Frances is firmly grounded in her craft and committed to her clients."
Sarah Adelsen-Lipsett, MA, RTC, MTC, Creative Climate Counselling
Mental Illness Perspective
According to the American Psychiatric Association, mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in emotion (mood), thinking or behaviour. Mental illness can be mild or severe. Common mental illnesses are Schizophrenia, Borderline Personality Disorder, Biploar Disorder 1 & 2, Anxiety Disorders, Depression Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Eating Disorders. Receiving a mental health diagnosis is not negative or positive information, it is simply information. The intention of a diagnosis is to move forward in the direction of how to best manage and support mental health. Medication, support, education, mindfulness activities as well as sleep hygiene, healthy diet and regular exercise can all be necessary components of an Individual Recovery Plan (IRP).
Addiction Recovery Memoir -
My Story of Healing & Recovery
Frances' memoir, A Reflection of Love - A Different Kind of Love Story is the inspirational true story of the spiritual experience that gave one mother the power and passion to recover from addiction, mental illness and poverty and become a voice for change for families in recovery.
Ways to Connect & Support:
Please kindly help me share the message that recovery from addiction is possible by kindly
FOLLOWING, SUBSCRIBING, SHARING & LIKING
these platforms and sharing with your friends & family
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