Recovery is Complex: Co-Occurring Disorders With Erin Gilmour

Sisters In Sobriety

Erin Gilmour, the founder of Rose Psychotherapy, is back with us for another insightful episode of Sisters in Sobriety! Erin is not only a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) and Certified Canadian Addiction Counsellor (CCAC), but she’s also someone who truly gets it—thanks to her own recovery journey. Known for her compassionate, down-to-earth style, Erin specializes in helping people navigate addictions and eating disorders. She’s also a fierce advocate for marginalized communities, bringing attention to the bigger picture of systemic issues in mental health.

In this episode, we dive into some serious stuff: What exactly are co-occurring disorders? How can anxiety or depression make recovery from substance use that much harder? And most importantly, how can we tackle both at the same time? Erin breaks it all down with her wealth of experience, sharing practical advice on what really works when you're dealing with more than one challenge in recovery.

You'll walk away with a better understanding of how mental health and substance use are interconnected, and why it’s so important to get to the root cause of both. Erin also talks about simple, but effective strategies for managing those tough moments. Plus, you'll learn why focusing on compassion and support can be a total game-changer for recovery.

On a more personal note, Erin shares what it’s like to deal with anxiety and depression while staying sober. Her honesty will hit home for anyone who’s felt overwhelmed on their own journey. She offers real-life tips for finding a balance and being kind to yourself through it all.

This is Sisters in Sobriety, the supportive community that helps women transform their relationship with alcohol. Be sure to check out our Substack for bonus tips, resources, and support!

Highlights:
[00:00:00] Meet Erin Gilmour—back for round two!
[00:01:15] Erin’s approach to helping people with co-occurring disorders
[00:03:00] What are co-occurring disorders, and why are they so tricky?
[00:05:08] How to spot co-occurring disorders in therapy
[00:06:50] Why mental health and addiction often go hand in hand
[00:07:53] Treating multiple disorders—what makes it complicated?
[00:10:50] Figuring out which issue to tackle first in recovery
[00:12:44] How anxiety and substance use fuel each other
[00:14:29] Why alcohol and anxiety don’t mix well (spoiler: it gets worse over time!)
[00:17:50] The frustrating cycle of self-medicating with substances
[00:19:00] Mapping out your triggers—getting practical in therapy
[00:21:40] How Erin helps clients manage both addiction and anxiety
[00:24:00] Social anxiety in recovery—navigating tough situations like AA meetings
[00:26:50] Coping with anxiety in early sobriety (without reaching for a drink)
[00:28:30] The relationship between depression and substance use—what comes first?
[00:30:00] Why it’s hard to separate depression from substance use
[00:32:50] The connection between untreated depression and relapse
[00:36:00] Practical steps for managing depression in sobriety
[00:38:00] Why medication can be key in treating co-occurring disorders
[00:41:00] Eating disorders and addiction—how common is the overlap?
[00:44:01] How to approach both eating disorders and substance use in therapy
[00:46:30] How body image issues can make recovery even harder
[00:49:00] Eating disorders and control—how they tie into addiction
[00:52:30] Food addiction—myth or reality? Erin’s take

Links:

• Contact Erin at www.rosepsychotherapy.ca
• Sisters In Sobriety Substack - find more tips, tricks, resources, and community
• Sisters In Sobriety Email
• Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
• Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
• Kathleen’s Instagram