Embark on a transformative journey with Jason VanRuler, a therapist who's turned his own battles with trauma and addiction into a roadmap for healing. Together, Duane and Jason unravel the profound impact of rewriting our inner narratives, a process that Jason has not only lived but also lays out in his latest work, "Get Past Your Past." His story is a testament that even the deepest wounds can lead to a future bright with wholeness and well-being.  Listen as they delve into the steps that can liberate us from the chains of our history and ignite the spark of change within. Shifting from a relentless pursuit of proving worth to embracing genuine happiness, they tackle the entrenched beliefs keeping many from their true potential.  Their conversation illuminates the path from 'doing' to 'being,' where success blooms from authenticity, not fear. Discover the importance of guidance, community, and role models in personal growth, and revel in the hope that comes from witnessing lives rebuilt. Jason's journey and insights offer a beacon of hope, proving that transformation is within reach for all who seek it. In this episode, you will hear: Shifting mindset and challenging core beliefs Finding authenticity and creating safe spaces Importance of clear instructions for achieving change Building a community for mental wellness Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: “Get Past Your Past” https://www.amazon.com/Get-Past-Your-Facing-Connection/dp/0310367417 NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode dives into the Stages of Change Model, a powerful tool for understanding and navigating personal growth. Hosts Duane and Eric explore the six stages: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and relapse. They emphasize the model's humanistic approach, acknowledging that change is a non-linear journey with room for setbacks and restarts. Learn how to identify your current stage, overcome obstacles, and move towards lasting positive change. Download: Stages of Change Model Key Topics: The six stages of the Stages of Change Model Recognizing your current stage of change Overcoming challenges in each stage Moving from contemplation to action The role of relapse in the change process Applying the model to personal growth and addiction recovery Timestamps: Introduction (00:00-01:00) Overview of the Stages of Change Model (01:00-03:32) Deep Dive into the Six Stages (03:32-10:47) Addressing Criticisms and Benefits of the Model (10:47-12:26) Practical Applications and Resources (12:26-15:39) Bonus: Download the free worksheet on the Stages of Change Model in the show notes! Download: Stages of Change Model We want to hear from you! Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Embark on a transformative journey through the landscapes of hope and despair with the esteemed Robert Hilliker, whose expertise in addiction and mental health frames our latest episode. Discover the vital role hope plays in recovery, and how it intertwines with the darkest moments to create a fertile ground for growth. With Robert's guidance, examine the genetic and environmental threads that weave the tapestry of addiction, the indispensability of early intervention, and why a strong community network can dramatically alter one's life course.  Feel the weight of hopelessness lift as Robert and Duane dissect its components – goals, pathways, and agency – and their crucial presence in clinical treatment. The conversation challenges the conventions of traditional recovery models, advocating for a renewed sense of personal empowerment in the healing process. They will explore the burgeoning research collaboration with the University of Alberta, piecing together the clinical impact of hope and its potential to enhance therapeutic practices.  This episode is a testament to the collective strength found in shared experiences and the community's role in rekindling the embers of hope within the throes of despair. Through personal narratives and clinical wisdom, Robert and Duane underscore the significance of embracing our valleys of struggle, where the soil is richest for personal transformation. Join in as they affirm the power of connection and the shared human experience in forging paths of recovery and hope. In this episode, you will hear: Early intervention and community support Misconceptions and blame in addiction treatment  Variables impacting therapeutic change Hope and support in addiction recovery The connection between hope and despair (75 seconds) Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://prairierecovery.com   NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you feeling stuck or uncertain about your next steps after achieving sobriety? In the latest episode of "The Addicted Mind Plus," hosts Duane Osterlind and Eric Osterlind dive into this crucial yet often overlooked aspect of recovery. They explore four foundational pillars designed to guide you towards a fulfilling life beyond sobriety. This episode is a treasure trove of personal insights and practical advice on the importance of reflection, setting meaningful personal goals, building supportive communities, and seeking professional help. Whether you're newly sober or have been on this path for a while, you'll find a roadmap for thriving in your newfound life, emphasizing joy, connection, and personal growth. Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion that promises to inspire and equip you to navigate the next steps in your recovery journey. Main Points: 1. Reflecting on the Journey: Emphasizing the power of journaling and gratitude to assess progress. 2. Setting Personal Goals: Aligning goals with personal desires, not just societal expectations. 3. Building Community: Encouraging the formation of supportive relationships and communities based on shared interests. 4. Seeking Professional Help: Utilizing therapy or specialized coaching to navigate feelings of stuckness and further personal development. Time Stamps: - [00:01:14]: Introduction to the episode's main topic: What to do after achieving sobriety and feeling stuck. - [00:01:56]: Discussion of the four main pillars to address the feeling of being stuck. - [00:02:34]: Pillar 1 - Reflection: Importance of journaling and acknowledging both positive and negative aspects of the past year. - [00:05:16]: Pillar 2 - Setting Goals: Creating personal goals and ensuring they align with true personal desires rather than societal expectations. - [00:08:16]: Pillar 3 - Building Community: Importance of investing in communities and relationships that bring joy and support. - [00:11:24]: Pillar 4 - Seeking Professional Help: Advantages of therapy or coaching, especially when feeling secure in recovery. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Supporting Resources:  Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The moment Meridee Hlokoff realized she'd driven hours without the faintest whisper of a craving was nothing short of miraculous. In this episode, Meridee recounts her incredible transition from a habitual smoker to a smoke-free champion, all thanks to the somewhat mystifying world of cold laser therapy. The conversation peels back the veil on addiction, examining how deeply physical cravings and psychological triggers are intertwined, and how Meridee's skepticism turned to awe-inspiring affirmation of this unconventional treatment's effectiveness.  Victory over addiction rarely comes easy or without its own set of battles, and Meridee's tale is a testament to this truth. Through her narrative, they explore the reality that even after conquering physical dependency, the mental chains of addiction can linger, presenting their own hurdles. Her personal anecdotes shed light on the strategies she employed to navigate through the common triggers of boredom and stress, offering hope to those still fighting the psychological war that persists even after the physical need has subsided.  Bringing a blend of science and personal experience to the table, they uncover the surprising success rates behind cold laser therapy and acupuncture. Meridee doesn't just share her story; she provides a beacon of hope, illuminating the journey for others by acquiring the business that once freed her from her own addiction. Together, they examine how support systems and strategic interventions can pave new neural pathways, reinforcing that recovery is a comprehensive journey of both body and mind.  In this episode, you will hear: Exploring cold laser therapy for addiction Understanding addiction and breaking habits Cold laser therapy success rates and discovery Effectiveness of tongue rings in treatments Cold laser therapy for addiction Overcoming addiction with new neural pathways Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: LaserQuit Therapies: https://laserquittherapy.ca/ NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you want to improve your emotional regulation and decision-making? I will be sharing the key to achieving greater emotional control and better choices. Learn the secret to enhancing your ability to manage your feelings and make sound decisions. Discover the solution to experiencing improved emotional regulation and better decision-making in your life. Download the “Distinguishing between Primary Vs. Secondary Emotions Worksheet” In this episode, you will be able to: Discover effective strategies for mental health and addiction recovery. Learn to identify and manage primary and secondary emotions. Explore the principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for emotional regulation. Cultivate mindfulness and self-reflection for improved emotional well-being. Understand the impact of trauma on decision-making processes. Effective Mental Health Strategies Understanding and managing primary and secondary emotions are crucial strategies for effective mental health. These strategies involve recognizing the differences between valid and genuine emotional responses versus responses that arise from judgments of these primary emotions. This enables individuals to maintain emotional balance by preventing secondary emotions from amplifying the intensity of primary emotions. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Download the worksheet that helps identify primary versus secondary emotions and navigate them effectively. Click Here Share this podcast episode with a friend who might benefit from the wisdom shared about primary and secondary emotions. Write a review for The Addicted Mind podcast on iTunes to show support and help others discover valuable content. Connect with The Addicted Mind podcast on Instagram @addictedmindpodcast and leave suggestions for topics you'd like to hear in future episodes. Leave us a message and let us know what topic you want to be covered on The Addicted Mind + Podcast. Click Here https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Download the “Distinguishing between Primary Vs. Secondary Emotions Worksheet” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unlock the secrets of biochemical restoration with Joseph Eisele, a true authority on the subject, as he joins us to shed light on the profound connection between our body's chemistry and the road to recovery from addiction. Joe's poignant narrative of his own battles with social anxiety and addiction, sparked by an early encounter with codeine cough syrup, sets the stage for a riveting discussion on the power of a tailored approach to recovery. Our episode journeys through Joe's life, from the depths of his struggles to the heights of his achievements in helping others break free from the chains of addiction, all the while emphasizing the pivotal role of individual biochemistry in fostering a life of purpose and connection.  Explore the holistic realm of addiction treatment where traditional methods meet their match against a comprehensive strategy that harmonizes the mind, body, spirit, and environment. Delving into Joe's personal insights and professional expertise, we dissect the impact of histamine on mental health and addiction, and the limitations of one-size-fits-all treatments. We navigate through the complexities of conditions like pyroluria and hypoglycemia, and the importance of biochemical restoration and nutritional interventions, providing a compelling case for a more nuanced, all-encompassing approach to healing. In this episode, you will hear: Biochemical restoration in addiction recovery Codeine cough syrup and euphoria Impact of drinking on socialization Addiction and seeking solutions Desperate journey to sobriety Health in recovering from alcoholism Journey of healing from addiction Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://innerbalancehealthcenter.com/ NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us on an inspiring journey with "The Addicted Mind Plus," a podcast series hosted by Duane Osterlind, alongside his brother Eric Osterlind, a seasoned psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. This series, crafted with heart and expertise, offers a beacon of hope and practical guidance for those navigating the path of addiction recovery. In each concise 15-minute episode, we delve into simple yet powerful steps to transform your life. Our mission is to empower you with profound insights, valuable knowledge, and real-world strategies that foster healing and resilience. Drawing from a wealth of professional experiences and enriched by diverse expert perspectives, every episode is a step toward self-discovery and empowerment. Whether you are taking your first step towards recovery or seeking to strengthen your journey, "The Addicted Mind Plus" is your companion in exploring effective, life-enhancing practices. Tune in every Thursday for episodes that not only answer your deepest questions about recovery but also illuminate the path to a healthier, more fulfilling life. Subscribe now to "The Addicted Mind Plus" and together, let's embrace the journey towards becoming our best selves. Our mission with The Addictive Mind Plus is to provide you with insights, knowledge, and real-world strategies to support your path to healing. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:01 - Introducing the Addicted Mind Plus 00:00:47 - Practical Steps for Recovery 00:01:39 - Expert Insights and Guidance 00:02:14 - Weekly Release Schedule 00:02:39 - Conclusion and Next Steps   Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes, where we'll delve into the first of many steps towards a healthier and more fulfilling life. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheAddictedMindPodcast Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patients with substance use disorder have every right to be pregnant and have children as much as anyone else. Some people look at it as being irresponsible but who are we to judge? In fact, our guest today explains how certain medications for substance use disorders could have played a part in improving the hormonal milieu of patients enough that a pregnancy might occur. On this episode, Duane speaks with Dr. Charles Schauberger, an OB/GYN and Addiction Medicine doctor who specializes in helping women who are struggling with substance use disorder go through pregnancy. This is an issue that doesn't get talked about or thought about a lot unless someone is in this situation.  A strong advocate for addiction treatment and compassionate care, Charles shares his story of getting into this specialty and how women dealing with substance use disorder can have a very healthy and successful pregnancy if they’re given the right support.  His motivation for helping these women comes from recognizing the discrimination against this group of underserved people who have limited resources, not to mention the stigma associated with their drug use which makes their pregnancy even harder.   Charles started practicing as an obstetrician in 1982 and has delivered about 5,000 babies over the course of his career. In 2008, he experienced burnout, left his clinical practice, and became a hospital administrator. After two and a half years, he went back into practice again because he missed patient contact. Charles points out that patients are better off if they are stable in their treatment and recovery before achieving a pregnancy. However, he never talks down to anyone who gets pregnant while they're still actively using. Instead, he uses it as an opportunity to help them achieve recovery. In this episode, you will hear: Charles’ journey into medicine Some myths around pregnancy and substance use The stigmas that pregnant women struggling with substance abuse have Using MAT during pregnancy The real treatment for recovery Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Women and Substance Use Disorders Action Group of the American Society of Addiction Medicine NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Embark on a powerful journey with Marci Hopkins, renowned TV host and recovery expert, as she shares the raw and transformative story of her battle with alcoholism and her road to clarity and purpose. With eight years of sobriety under her belt, Marci talks candidly about the trials of navigating a childhood mired in trauma and addiction and how the pressures of her dream job in the limelight only fueled her struggle. Her compelling narrative, chronicled on "Wake Up with Marci" and in her insightful book "Chaos to Clarity," serves as a beacon of hope, affirming that even from the depths of despair, one can rise to a life of fulfillment and joy.  This episode doesn't just chronicle a story; it's an exploration of the tangible steps towards healing that many face in the anonymity of their own battles with addiction. As we discuss the critical role of the 12-step program, Marci opens up about the importance of surrender, spirituality, and gratitude in her own journey. We tackle practical matters too – the signs of a drinking problem, the dangers of an unsupervised detox, and the wealth of resources available, from online meetings to telehealth services. Most importantly, we shine a light on the crippling effect of shame and how the strength of community can dispel it, underlining the profound truth that sharing one's story can be the lifeline that someone else desperately needs. In this episode, you will hear: Struggling with drinking and seeking alternatives Transformation and healing in recovery Overcoming shame and finding support Shift in perception and acceptance Finding purpose and joy in life Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: “Chaos to Clarity” by Marci Hopkins: https://www.amazon.com/Chaos-Clarity-Seeing-Breaking-Cycles/dp/1955272115  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unlock the secrets to transforming your business into a haven for employee well-being with insights from Cheryl Brown-Merriwether, a trailblazer in marrying corporate HR with addiction recovery education. As we navigate the post-pandemic world, Cheryl lays out the stark realities and innovative solutions needed to foster recovery-friendly workplaces. This episode is a beacon of hope for businesses striving to support their employees' mental health and addiction recovery journeys, featuring discussions on government and institutional advancements, as well as practical initiatives that encourage seeking help.  Step into a conversation that breaks down the barriers between addiction, mental health, and professional success. With Cheryl's expertise, we examine the integral role of empathy, peer support, and HR departments in creating a work culture where recovery is not just supported but celebrated. The dialogue traverses the significance of the Surgeon General's recent framework for mental health in the workplace, offering a roadmap to navigate the complexities of these intertwined challenges. This exchange is a testament to the power of inclusive leadership in initiating a substantial shift within workplace environments to prioritize employee health.  Prepare to be part of a revolutionary movement as Cheryl details the upcoming national launch of an institute designed to promote recovery-friendly workplaces. This landmark initiative aims to arm employers, particularly those leading small businesses, with the tools necessary to build supportive environments while also exploring the benefits awaiting businesses that commit to this cause. We also shine a light on the burgeoning role of recovery coaches in the workplace—not just as a source of support but as a beacon that guides individuals towards a more fulfilling professional and personal life. Join us for a journey through the heart of corporate compassion, where the well-being of each employee is the cornerstone of business success. In this episode, you will hear: Supporting workplace addiction awareness Preventing substance use disorder in workplace Responders and support for substance misuse Leadership supporting systems development Recovery-friendly workplaces made exciting and easy Creating safe and accessible hr programs Professional recovery coaches in the workplace Connecting people for support and resources Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are a lot of negative consequences that can come from behavioral addictions. They include everything from financial problems to legal repercussions to health issues. Whether it’s gambling, gaming, sex, or pornography, it’s important to understand why some people are susceptible to certain behaviors. In fact, the same mechanism that influences chemical addiction could be responsible for behavioral addiction as well. On this episode, Duane speaks with Amanda Giordano, a licensed professional counselor and associate professor at the University of Georgia, who specializes in addiction counseling both in chemical addiction and behavioral addiction. Amanda is the author of a clinical reference book titled A Clinical Guide to Treating Behavioral Addictions.  Today, she imparts her expertise in this field, explaining how the changes in the brain associated with behavioral addictions are actually very similar to the changes associated with chemical addictions.  In other words, instead of becoming addicted to a chemical that originates outside of the body, the body is addicted to the release of its own neurochemicals (dopamine in particular). Once the brain’s reward system is activated, it releases neurotransmitters which can become very difficult for some people to abstain from as they become their primary means of regulating their emotions. Hence, for some susceptible individuals, a rewarding behavior can become an addiction where there’s a loss of control over that behavior. The behavior is continued despite negative consequences and it becomes compulsive for that individual. They experience cravings or a mental preoccupation with the behavior when they're not engaging in it.  When we understand the neuroscience behind it, we can have a lot more empathy for people with addiction because we can now understand that their experience might be very different from the experience of someone who is not genetically predisposed to addiction. Amanda also talks about how to distinguish behavioral addiction from just a high involvement in the behavior by looking for the 4 C’s of addiction.  In this episode, you will hear: How a rewarding behavior can become an addiction Different types of behavioral addiction Resetting the brain takes time The 4 C’s of addiction The behavior becoming the salient part of their life Proven effective methods of treatment Factors that influence the susceptibility to behavioral addiction Positive reinforcement vs. negative reinforcement The three circles technique to identify the warning signs Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Email: amanda.giordano@uga.edu  Amanda’s blog:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/contributors/amanda-l-giordano-phd-lpc   A Clinical Guide to Treating Behavioral Addictions: https://www.amazon.com/Clinical-Guide-Treating-Behavioral-Addictions/dp/0826163165 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5): https://www.amazon.com/Diagnostic-Statistical-Manual-Mental-Disorders/dp/0890425558 Irresistible by Adam Alter: https://www.amazon.com/Irresistible-Addictive-Technology-Business-Keeping/dp/1594206643 Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are a lot of negative consequences that can come from behavioral addictions. They include everything from financial problems to legal repercussions to health issues. Whether it’s gambling, gaming, sex, or pornography, it’s important to understand why some people are susceptible to certain behaviors. In fact, the same mechanism that influences chemical addiction could be responsible for behavioral addiction as well. On this episode, Duane speaks with Amanda Giordano, a licensed professional counselor and associate professor at the University of Georgia, who specializes in addiction counseling both in chemical addiction and behavioral addiction. Amanda is the author of a clinical reference book titled A Clinical Guide to Treating Behavioral Addictions.  Today, she imparts her expertise in this field, explaining how the changes in the brain associated with behavioral addictions are actually very similar to the changes associated with chemical addictions.  In other words, instead of becoming addicted to a chemical that originates outside of the body, the body is addicted to the release of its own neurochemicals (dopamine in particular). Once the brain’s reward system is activated, it releases neurotransmitters which can become very difficult for some people to abstain from as they become their primary means of regulating their emotions. Hence, for some susceptible individuals, a rewarding behavior can become an addiction where there’s a loss of control over that behavior. The behavior is continued despite negative consequences and it becomes compulsive for that individual. They experience cravings or a mental preoccupation with the behavior when they're not engaging in it.  When we understand the neuroscience behind it, we can have a lot more empathy for people with addiction because we can now understand that their experience might be very different from the experience of someone who is not genetically predisposed to addiction. Amanda also talks about how to distinguish behavioral addiction from just a high involvement in the behavior by looking for the 4 C’s of addiction.  In this episode, you will hear: How a rewarding behavior can become an addiction Different types of behavioral addiction Resetting the brain takes time The 4 C’s of addiction The behavior becoming the salient part of their life Proven effective methods of treatment Factors that influence the susceptibility to behavioral addiction Positive reinforcement vs. negative reinforcement The three circles technique to identify the warning signs Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Email: amanda.giordano@uga.edu  Amanda’s blog:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/contributors/amanda-l-giordano-phd-lpc   A Clinical Guide to Treating Behavioral Addictions: https://www.amazon.com/Clinical-Guide-Treating-Behavioral-Addictions/dp/0826163165 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5): https://www.amazon.com/Diagnostic-Statistical-Manual-Mental-Disorders/dp/0890425558 Irresistible by Adam Alter: https://www.amazon.com/Irresistible-Addictive-Technology-Business-Keeping/dp/1594206643 Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a world grappling with addiction, every pathway to recovery is sacred. As we navigate the tumultuous terrain of our own recovery, we find solace and strength in shared stories.  Such as this journey of transformation and discovery by Dr. Michael Gordon, author of "The 12-Step Pathway: A Heroic Journey of Recovery." With insights gained from personal experience and expertise, Michael explores the power of the 12-step program and its symbiotic relationship with the concept of the hero's journey.  In this episode, Duane and Michael also take a deep dive into Joseph Campbell's philosophy, unraveling the profound significance of the hero's journey in the realm of addiction recovery. Highlighting the call to adventure and the subsequent refusal of the call, they provide a comprehensive breakdown of the hero's journey, as well as discuss the courage it takes to face one's dark side and make amends, illustrating the potent parallels between the 12-step recovery process and the hero's journey. As they navigate through the intricate stages of the hero's journey and link them to the recovery process, you'll gain a deep understanding of the emotional evolution that accompanies addiction. While the journey to recovery may be arduous, it's a journey within reach for anyone. Tune in and bear witness to the universal struggle for recovery, and the hero within us all – just waiting to emerge. In this episode, you will hear: 12 steps and hero's journey Campbell’s influence on the hero’s journey The hero's journey in addiction recovery Constructing the book intuitively The importance of the 12 steps Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Book: The 12-Step Pathway: A Heroic Journey of Recovery www.michaelcowlgordon.com/book/the-twelve-step-pathway-a-heroic-journey-of-recovery  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the solution to America's opioid crisis is right under our noses, but fear and misinformation are keeping it out of reach? In today’s episode, Duane speaks with Dr. Arun Gupta, a primary care physician and addiction doctor, and they tackle the question head on.  Dr. Gupta brings his wealth of on-the-ground experience to light the reality of addiction and the urgent need for change. From the criminalization of addiction treatment to the heart-rending impact on individuals and communities, the conversation is a crash course in the complexities of the opioid crisis.  The exploration doesn't stop there, as Duane and Dr. Gupta delve into the controversial subject of Suboxone with Dr. Bickenser and Dr. Adler. They shed light on the vital role it plays in managing withdrawal symptoms and why it's so misunderstood. They also emphasize the importance of attracting more doctors to the field of addiction medicine.  They also sift through the intricacies of harm reduction policies with Dr. Gupta, discussing their potential drawbacks and the importance of shifting from merely reducing harm to effective treatment. The underlying theme is clear – addiction treatment demands our attention, understanding, and urgent action. In this episode, you will hear: Exploring America's opioid crisis Addiction treatment challenges in America Federal concerns on Suboxone treatment Government lawsuit, Suboxone's benefits Drug impact on dopamine levels Harm reduction approach to addiction treatment Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you ready to challenge your preconceived notions about addiction? What if we told you that addiction is not just about behavior, but it significantly impacts one's identity? See addiction in a whole new light after listening to Duane’s conversation with Dr. Paula Hall, a highly esteemed sexual and relationship psychotherapist. Dr. Hall brings her vast experience to the table, opening up about the often stigmatized and misunderstood world of sex and porn addiction. She underscores the vital elements of compassion, courage, and commitment required to conquer this addiction.  Addiction serves as an anesthetic, numbing the sting of difficult emotions. Yet it often goes overlooked in talking therapy. Getting to the core of why we develop addictive behaviors and understanding their impact can be the difference between a habit and an addiction. Dr. Hall presents the case that labeling someone an 'addict' may not be conducive to their recovery and elaborates on the complex relationship between addiction and identity.  Additionally, they delve into Dr. Hall's Pivotal Recovery programme, designed to treat addiction as that numbing anesthetic. They uncover the importance of identifying core beliefs in the recovery process and explore the CHOICES model, a six-step recovery guide. They also touch upon the power of peer support in addiction treatment and the wealth of sources and support for addiction recovery.  In this episode, you will hear: Sex and porn addiction treatment Challenges with traditional therapy for men Understanding therapy progress and goals Personal development for long term recovery Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: www.pivotalrecoverypivotorecovery.org  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do we truly understand substance use disorder? How can we dismantle the barriers to treatment? Join this latest episode with Duane as he interviews Susan Herrick and Dr. Arun Gupta tackle the stark realities of substance use disorder.  Susan, a mother turned advocate, opens up about her son Luke's poignant battle with addiction, underscoring the heartrending struggle to access effective, science-based treatment. Dr. Gupta, contrasting Susan's narrative, brings his clinical expertise honed in India, highlighting the regulatory and educational hurdles that hinder the efforts of those battling addiction.  Their stories align on one point - the desperate need for reform in this space. As we dig deeper, we uncover the shocking missteps and damaging regulations that have shaped the addiction treatment landscape. The criminalization of treatment has delayed access to vital medicines like Suboxone, stigmatizing those in dire need of help. Additionally, the unchecked rise and fall of Oxycontin – its unrestricted use igniting a peak in 2002 and 2003 – provides a chilling backdrop to today’s discussion. This episode uncovers the strength and grit of those battling substance use disorder and highlights the imperative need for effective treatment strategies, leaving us with this question: What if we could erase the stigma surrounding addiction? In this episode, you will hear: Substance use disorder and treatment barriers Implications of regulations on suboxone treatment Stigma's impact on addiction treatment Strategies for addiction treatment and support Expressing gratitude and encouraging interaction Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Slow Dancing with the Devil https://www.amazon.com/Slow-Dancing-Devil-Substance-Disorder/dp/1476693897  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you're grappling with life's toughest struggles, it can be incredibly hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our guest, Halima Anderson, knows this all too well. As a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), Halima faced the challenges of alcohol addiction and survived an abusive relationship. Yet, through these trials, she discovered her true self and the strength within. Her candid narration of her personal journey serves not just as inspiration, but as a beacon for anyone out there enduring similar hardships.  Halima's story sheds light on the complexities of emotional experiences, underscoring the concept that no two people feel emotions the same way. Touching upon the hardship of being in an abusive relationship, she stresses the importance of reaching out for help and finding a supportive community that understands your struggles. Halima beautifully articulates the relief and comfort that come from being understood and supported, from recognizing your need for help and connecting with those who can provide it.  Halima’s path to self-discovery didn’t stop at overcoming abuse and alcohol addiction. She also found herself recognizing her HSP trait, understanding its impact on her life, and learning to navigate her sensitivities. Her experience underscores the importance of building supportive relationships, accepting change, and prioritizing self-care. Halima’s resilience, her determination to find the resources she needed, and her ability to appreciate those who recognize and accept her sensitivities is truly inspiring. Join us as we take a deep dive into Halima's transformational journey, a testament to the power of self-awareness and support. In this episode, you will hear: Halima's journey as highly sensitive Embracing differences and finding support Finding self-awareness and overcoming abuse The power of intuition and the importance of self-care How to access the right people and resources for difficult situations Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you hesitant to confront the unseen impacts of sexual trauma? Are you unsure about how to navigate sexual health and reclaim your pleasure? Armed with insights from Dr. Holly Richmond, a somatic psychotherapist, licensed marriage and family therapist, and certified sex therapist, we venture into an enlightening journey of discovery and healing. Together with Dr. Richmond, we demystify the profound effects of sexual trauma and the addictive processes birthed from it. We navigate through the twists and turns of somatic psychotherapy, shedding light on how this body-informed therapeutic approach is instrumental in regulating the nervous system and reclaiming sexual health. Looking through the lens of Dr. Richmond's book, 'Reclaiming Pleasure', we explore somatic and psychological factors integral to survivors' erotic recovery, and the compulsive sexual behaviors employed by survivors to mitigate their trauma. Bringing Dr. Richmond's wisdom to the fore, we conclude our conversation with a powerful segment on healing and reclaiming pleasure from sexual trauma. We explore the significance of fostering safe spaces, establishing boundaries, and reconnecting with the body. Our conversation also underscores the paramount role of two-way communication in trauma recovery, and the survivors' journey in a world that often sidelines those with traumatic histories. Join us for this vital conversation that promises to enlighten and guide you in your own journey of self-discovery and wellness. In this episode, you will hear: Recovering sexual health after trauma Trauma, compulsivity, and sexual behaviors Healing from sexual trauma and reclaiming pleasure Holly's wisdom and hope Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered how a person can turn adversity into triumph, and then use their victory to uplift others? Today’s today, Randall Bowman, has an incredible story of resilience that you cannot miss. An Indigenous business owner, woodworker, and a living testament to the power of recovery, Randall takes us on a journey from his near-fatal car accident and addiction battles to his awe-inspiring recovery. From a tender age, Randall grappled with substance abuse as a way to manage anxiety. He shares his struggles with drugs and alcohol and the traumatic experiences that led him to heroin and methamphetamine. His story takes a turn when he finds himself fighting for the custody of his son. The pain of failing to win his son back pushes him further into addiction. However, his resilience is apparent when he decides to seek help and turn his life around. His story could change your perspective about addiction and recovery. In this episode, you will hear: Resilience and recovery Struggles with substance abuse and recovery Overcoming addiction and life-changing accidents Overcoming addiction and helping others: the importance of medication, therapy, and support Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it take to overcome life's grueling trials? On today’s episode, Duane sits down with Todd Crandell, an elite athlete and founder of Racing for Recovery, who transformed his life's trajectory by battling and conquering addiction. Discover the powerful tools of mindset as Todd shares his journey from the depths of addiction and trauma to a thriving life, fueled by compassion and commitment to wellness. Join Duane and Todd as they explore the role of community and support systems in recovery. Todd's story is a testament to the transformative power of human connection and the strength that can be found within a supportive community. They delve into the workings and vision behind Racing for Recovery, Todd's organization that serves as a beacon for those battling addiction. We also get a glimpse of Todd's unique journey from being a pharmaceutical sales representative to dedicating his life to uplifting others, a decision that not only revolutionized his life but also enriched the lives of his clients. Todd also shares his transition to veganism at the age of 49, a pivotal decision that has immensely impacted his life and worldview. He sheds light on the harsh realities of animal slaughter and emphasizes the health and environmental benefits of a vegan lifestyle. Todd’s story serves as a gentle reminder of the power of personal transformation and the ripple effect it can have on the world around us.  In this episode, you will hear: Overcoming addiction and thriving in life Embracing change and overcoming addiction Recovery, community, and wellness Quitting drugs and embracing a compassionate lifestyle Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Racing for Recovery: https://racingforrecovery.org/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is addiction so hard to control? Does that mean addiction can’t be treated? On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks to Dr. Paul Kaloostian.  Dr. Paul Kaloostian is a neurosurgeon in Los Angeles as well as an author. His books include The Young Neurosurgeon: Lessons from My Patients and two different poetry books, From The Eyes Of A Doctor and My Surgical Cases Told In Poems. As a neurosurgeon for 17 years now, Dr. Kaloostian has dealt with thousands of cases of people with neurological conditions. Seeing the need for awareness of mental health, he took a poetic approach to his books to make it easier for the world to understand what it’s like for patients who are going through neurological conditions, some of which are caused or aggravated by addiction.  On today's episode, he talks about the brain, his patients, and why we do some of the things we do even when we don't necessarily want to do them.  No one wants to be addicted. But the brain is such a powerful organ that what our brains decide to do is what we do. We don't really have that much control. That’s why addiction is a hard problem to fight and beat. The brain is a powerful organ so once it gets stimulated, it's difficult to change. It takes work and energy – but it's not impossible.  Because of Paul's compassion for his clients and his appreciation for the vulnerability of his clients to come and seek help, this is an episode you need to listen to. While you may not fully understand what people with neurological conditions are going through until you’ve gone through the same experience, having the ability to understand these concepts today is a good way to start to develop empathy. In this episode, you will hear: What drew Paul to neurosurgery Why he took a medical poetic approach in writing his books The need to show empathy to these patients How the brain is linked to addiction Areas of the brain responsible for addiction Why addiction is a pathological condition Why addiction is so hard to control Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: The Young Neurosurgeon: Lessons from My Patients  From The Eyes Of A Doctor My Surgical Cases Told In Poems Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we navigate the trials and tribulations of life, it's essential to remember that we're not alone. Like many of us, our guest for this episode, Elizabeth Cirrito, has journeyed through the dark tunnels of addiction, grief, and trauma. However, even in the bleakest of times, Liz found her guiding light in the power of community, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit. Liz's story resonates with the shared human experience, the fear of vulnerability, and the formidable 'shame monster' that lurks in the shadows of our psyche. In our candid conversation, Liz courageously opens up about her childhood exposure to addiction, the sudden loss of her stepdad, and the unfolding trauma that led her to seek refuge in substances. But amidst the chaos, Liz discovered the transformative power of resilience, support, and the healing potential of Internal Family Systems that allowed her to regain control and start rebuilding her life. From navigating the intricacies of mental health stigma to the complex dynamics of grief, this episode is a deep exploration of the human spirit's strength. Liz's personal experiences offer genuine insights into addiction as a response to suffering, and how acknowledging and taming the 'shame monster' can facilitate healing. Listen in as Liz shares invaluable lessons learned from her recovery journey, her commitment to aiding others, and the affirmation that we are all worthy of healing and support. An episode sure to touch hearts and inspire, it's a testament to the power of the human spirit to overcome even the most daunting challenges. In this episode, you will hear: Power of resilience in addiction recovery Trauma and taboo of mental health Overcoming grief and addiction Overcoming shame and building community Internal family systems and healing Healing and helping other people heal their pain Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fear of abandonment is universal. The problem is – we try to medicate that feeling with whatever gives us instant gratification (drugs, alcohol, food, television, sleeping, social media, shopping, etc.)  Whatever that looks like, addiction can stem from an unhealed abandonment wound. And when you fail to take care of that wound, it can lead to self-sabotage. So how do we heal our abandonment issues? On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Susan Anderson, founder of Abandonment Recovery, a program that helps people with numerous issues such as heartbreak loss, self-sabotage, addiction, and compulsion. Susan shares her own story of how she got into this work of dealing with abandonment. Susan gives us an illustration of what abandonment looks like, how it impacts our life, and what we can do to overcome it. Susan points out that overcoming abandonment is a doing process. Therefore, just knowing about it isn't necessarily going to help you overcome the wound that may be negatively impacting your life. There needs to be action. In this episode, you will hear: Why abandonment is universal The correlation between abandonment and addiction Loneliness as a huge adult trigger Early abandonment vs. normal level of abandonment Self-sabotage and the outer child Forms of self-sabotage The power of visualization Key Quotes: [02:36] - "Abandonment translates to separation anxiety, which is something we all share as human beings. It's universal and we medicate that feeling.” [04:16] - “We all have a fear of abandonment, and when it's triggered by an adult experience, it can create a cascade of hormonal processes in the brain. No matter how strong we are, we can all experience a serious emotional crisis if the trigger is big enough in adulthood." [05:37] - "Overcoming abandonment is a doing process, not just a feeling process. It's a recovery. It's an ongoing process." [10:53] - "When we are going through an adult trigger, even if it's a mild trigger, the thing that we are most vulnerable to is becoming addicted to a substance or to an activity." [19:01] - "If you've had a lot of abandonment, you have a lot of self-sabotage... and you repeat the thing that's so familiar." [29:16] "You don't have to make gigantic changes to have your dreams start to line. You need to make enough of a change just to get that door to swing. It's an amazing thing that small changes make huge differences." [34:18] "Everyone's looking for a magic bullet that's why addictions are so popular... but they have to enter on a journey of developing a new relationship with themselves and it's something they have to really work out and take very seriously." Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Abandonment Recovery https://www.abandonment.net/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, let’s journey through the realms of neuroscience, addiction research, and the promising future of treatment strategies for substance use disorders. On this episode, Duane speaks with Dr. Paul Kenny, a distinguished figure in neuroscience and addiction research. He unravels his research on signaling cascades in rodents' brains, providing fascinating insights into addiction-like behaviors.  The discussion turns engaging as Paul illuminates his groundbreaking work with certain treatments and their potential role in addressing cravings and motivation in substance use disorders is nothing short of fascinating.  They also steer the conversation towards an area often overlooked, which is the relationship between drugs, addiction, and satiety. Paul dissects how potent drugs like cocaine and heroin trigger extreme pleasure and consequently, substance use disorders. He shares his insights into how the satisfaction derived from drug use and the ritualistic patterns of drug consumption could be altered to reduce dependence.  This episode sheds light on the promising field of addiction research and the need to raise public awareness of the issue. This is a testament to the incredible work being done by Cure Addiction Now. By understanding the brain's role in addiction, we can potentially change the way we approach substance use disorders and find innovative ways to help those struggling with addiction. In this episode, you will hear: Groundbreaking research on addiction treatment Exploring medications to control cravings and motivation Drugs, addiction, and satiety relationship GLP-1 enhancers and their potential to treat drug addiction Exploring GLP-1 modulators for addiction treatment About Cure Addiction Now Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Cure Addiction Now https://cureaddictionnow.org/  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does a data-driven approach to addiction recovery look like? Allow Dr. Jared Dempsey and Hunter Williams, the brilliant minds behind TRAC9, to guide you through their innovative platform. Drawing from personal encounters with addiction, they've developed a solution that goes beyond conventional treatments, utilizing the power of data collection, monitoring symptoms, and scientifically validated assessments. Their work emphasizes the importance of ethics in patient data collection, creating a secure environment for individuals in recovery. TRAC9 isn't just a platform; it's a game-changer in the field of addiction treatment. By analyzing subtle changes and symptoms in patients, TRAC9 enables health professionals to tailor treatments, increasing the probability of successful recovery. Reliable data is a treasure trove of insights that could revolutionize the way we understand and treat addiction. Here, patients find a safe haven, where they can be more honest on paper than in direct communication with a provider, offering invaluable insights for treatment success rates. But the magic doesn't end there. Using the cutting-edge fields of machine learning and habituation, TRAC9 goes beyond data collection. It creates predictive models that generate neurochemical reactions to visual triggers, helping to reduce instinctive cravings. By evaluating nine core elements of addiction and two measures of craving, TRAC9 forges a comprehensive path to recovery. Discover how this platform is making waves in the field of addiction, and how it could help you or a loved one find the way towards a sober life. In this episode, you will hear: A data-driven approach to addiction recovery Monitoring symptoms for addiction treatment success Data collection's impact on addiction treatment Understanding addiction treatment and data analysis TRAC9 and making a difference Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a society where the realms of justice, recovery, and public policy intersect in myriad ways, understanding these intersections and how they impact individuals is crucial. There are barriers, often intertwined with justice system involvement, which can pose significant challenges. For instance, minor offenses can escalate into arrest warrants, posing a significant challenge for those already grappling with recovery and housing insecurity.  Join Duane in this riveting conversation with Megan O'Neil, a research investigator at the University of Michigan, who dedicates her work to confronting racial and economic inequality's impacts on health. Duane and Megan delve into the civil justice issues that can create substantial barriers for individuals in early recovery. Megan emphasizes the critical importance of housing in the recovery process, and the struggles faced by individuals in early recovery in securing a stable living environment.  Megan also gives a first-hand look at her groundbreaking Removing Barriers Experiment, which promises to revolutionize opioid treatment centers. Megan's unique insights, fueled by her family's struggles with substance misuse, shed unique light on the multifaceted challenges that people in early recovery face. Her innovative approach to breaking down barriers includes the creation of online court resources for those in recovery. She shares her journey of connecting with the local recovery community, facilitating access to vital services, and fostering open communication with the court system.  Leave this discussion with a profound understanding of the hurdles that individuals in recovery must overcome – from navigating an often unforgiving justice system to the struggle of securing stable housing.  In this episode, you will hear: Insights on public policy, racial and economic inequality How Megan’s Removing Barriers Experiment aims to address the opioid crisis Creating online court resources for recovery Removing barriers to recovery and re-entry Civil justice barriers for vulnerable populations  Housing's importance in addiction recovery Issues in the housing and justice system Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Removing Barriers Experiment: https://meghanoneilcom.wordpress.com/removing-barriers-to-recovery/ NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready to be moved by the story of our remarkable guest Gigi Langer, as she takes us through her raw and insightful journey to sobriety. Gigi's story begins in the Midwest, where her self-worth was initially tied to academic achievements and later, relationships. She opens up about her struggles with alcohol and drugs, the series of consequent failures, how she ended up becoming a functioning alcoholic, and her life-changing decision to quit drinking on January 11th, 1986.  Gigi didn't just stop at overcoming her addiction, she used her experiences as fuel to help others. She chronicles her transition to becoming an author, describing the initial challenge of finding a sponsor in recovery, learning to be vulnerable and honest, and the crucial role played by her mentor Jane. As you tune in, you'll get to hear about her remarkable recovery journey and the process that led her to pen her own book. However, Gigi's story of courage doesn't end there. She confronts the sexual abuse she endured as a child, recounting the healing process, the anger, and powerlessness she once felt, and her journey towards personal healing and empowerment. Through therapy, sponsors, and recovery meetings, Gigi was able to reclaim her power and establish healthier relationships. She provides a beacon of hope for those struggling with similar issues, sharing insights from her books and her own life. Get ready to be inspired by Gigi's resilience and wisdom, as you tune into this deeply personal conversation. In this episode, you will hear: Gigi langer's journey to sobriety Transitioning to writing a book from dark times The journey of recovery and healing Discovery and healing of sexual abuse Personal healing and empowerment journey Interview wrap-up and future connections Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Walking through the uncharted territories of life, we all carry our burdens and battle our demons. One such journey is that of our guest, Courtney Collier, whose teenage curiosity led him down the path of alcohol addiction. In this candid conversation, Courtney bares his soul, recounting how alcohol became more than just a social activity but rather an integral part of his life narrative. His decision to confront his addiction and transform his life is a testament to his indomitable spirit. Courtney's path to recovery was fraught with challenges and required him to make significant lifestyle changes. A significant milestone in his recovery was moving into a sober living house, an environment that provided him with the community support he needed. He shares with us how taking medication, specifically, Naltrexone, helped him manage cravings and build coping mechanisms. Yet, it wasn't just about medication; Courtney had to face his inner trauma, develop a sense of self-efficacy, and establish daily rituals to maintain sobriety.  Courtney's journey didn't stop at recovery. Inspired by his own experiences, he decided to help others on their recovery journeys and became a licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor. Now, he is working towards his second master's degree in clinical mental health counseling and continues to give back to the recovery community. Courtney also shares how he uses social media to stay connected with his art and how it has become a source of motivation and inspiration in his recovery. It's never too late to rewrite your life narrative. In this episode, you will hear: Overcoming fear, shame, and anxiety with alcohol Courtney’s journey into addiction from drinking to IV drug use His eventual treatment after a dramatic incident His decision to move into a sober living house How he worked his inner trauma and built self-efficacy His journey to becoming a licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surviving disaster is a testament to human resilience, the will to live, and the courage to heal. Today, we welcome a truly extraordinary guest, Geralyn Ritter, whose story is an inspiring manifestation of this spirit. As an executive vice president, board director, and author of the memoir 'Bone by Bone,' she recounts her journey of survival, recovery, and acceptance after a deadly train derailment in 2015. Listen in, as Geralyn shares the profound physical and psychological impact of the accident on her life, the challenges of managing potent pain medications, and her path towards acceptance of her life-altering experience. Geralyn's story is more than just overcoming trauma; it's about finding balance and reclaiming life after the unthinkable. Our conversation delves deep into her healing journey, the frustrations she faced, and the silver linings that emerged along the way. She candidly shares her struggle to find equilibrium in life while managing her medical vulnerabilities and her newfound purpose to help other trauma survivors. This episode is not just about survival; it's about resilience, healing, and reclaiming life after a devastating trauma. Listen in and be inspired by Geralyn’s courage and determination, a compelling testament to the strength of the human spirit. In this episode, you will hear: Surviving a deadly train derailment Unrealistic recovery expectations and depression The difficulty of managing both the physical pain and psychological trauma  A radical acceptance of her traumatic experience Finding balance while managing her ongoing medical vulnerabilities Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Bone by Bone by Geralyn Ritter https://www.amazon.com/Bone-Memoir-Trauma-Healing/dp/1950465551  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever felt like you're stuck in a downward spiral of negative thoughts and emotions? Well, you're not alone. Join us as we converse with the spectacular Alex Korb, eminent neuroscientist and author of 'The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time.' Our exchange pivots around his life-changing journey from probing the depths of neuroscience to uncovering the profound understanding of depression. You're in for a treat as Alex reveals the intricate workings of our brains, drawing an engaging comparison between tuning our minds to adjusting the volume on a speaker. Debunking the conventional belief in a one-size-fits-all treatment, Alex emphasizes the necessity of a personalized approach to mental health. Be ready to reframe your understanding of mental health as we traverse this enlightening conversation. Wrapping up our talk, Alex underlines the empowering nature of comprehending the human brain and the sheer potential of minor modifications leading to massive changes in our lives. This absorbing conversation is sure to offer a fresh perspective on mental health and equip you with practical ways to navigate it.  In this episode, you will hear: Personalized approach to mental health as opposed to a one-size-fits-all treatment The role of minor changes in transforming our lives and creating an upward spiral of positivity His journey from being a neuroscience student to understanding depression at a deeper level The importance of physical activity in enhancing neuroplasticity and the sensitivity of brain circuits Understanding the brain's function to empower oneself and instigate positive change Exploration of how small positive changes can lead to a powerful upward spiral in our lives The complexities of depression, and the importance of recognizing it as a biological, not moral, failing Neuroscience as a tool to better understand and manage depression The interaction between depression and addiction, and how understanding the brain can aid in managing both. Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time https://www.amazon.com/Upward-Spiral-Neuroscience-Reverse-Depression/dp/1626251207 NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can we navigate the turbulent waters of personal loss and addiction using the compass of 'Conscious Bravery'? Meet Pamela Brinker, a psychotherapist of 32 years, who has had a firsthand experience with these channeling circumstances. Pamela generously shares her deeply moving journey marked by the tragic loss of her second husband and her son’s struggle with substance misuse. A voyage that has taught her the significance of slowing down, showing tenderness, and steering through the maelstrom with bravery. Pamela's story doesn't end there; it evolves into a powerful technique of 'Conscious Bravery'. She shares her wisdom on collaborating in addiction and practicing self-care, even in the bleakest of times. Pamela's personal and professional experiences have led her to discover the uplifting power of indirect sunlight and structured practices. Tune in as she inspires us to stay awake, alert, and embrace the power of our essence in every moment of life.  As our conversation concludes, Pamela offers a unique perspective on 'Bravery in Caring for Addiction' and shares resources for anyone interested in exploring somatic practices. She introduces the idea of 'assertive surrender', the process of accepting our limitations while recognizing the power we hold to make changes. Even when things don't go as planned, Pamela encourages us to keep moving forward, find something greater to believe in, and be the healthiest we can be. Join us, and let Pamela's inspiring story of resilience, compassion, and conscious bravery guide you through life's most challenging circumstances. In this episode, you will hear: Conscious breathing and bravery in decision-making How she used conscious bravery to help her family cope with her husband's death and her sons' substance misuse How to use conscious bravery to embrace self-care, lift moods, and find inner wisdom Pamela’s experience of assertive surrender, mistakes, and conscious bravery to partner with God and make changes Resources on somatic practices, assertive surrender, and partnering with God Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://pamelabrinker.com/  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you shackled by the chains of a traumatic past? Meet Brooke Bralove, Licensed Clinical Social Worker who shines a light on the path towards healing, with the therapeutic technique known as Accelerated Resolution Therapy, or ART, a therapy to help with trauma stored in the brain and body.  Brooke masterfully guides us through how ART aids in processing traumatic memories and emotions trapped within our minds and bodies, offering an escape from emotional pain and distress. Plunge into the transformative world of ART and learn about how this potent healing tool can help overcome trauma, panic attacks, and even chronic pain.  Brooke, with her expert knowledge, explains how our body's instinctual responses to danger can be managed effectively through ART. Additionally, she explores the benefits of ART in addressing anxiety, depression, body image issues, eating disorders, and chronic illness.  She delves deeper into the profound benefits of ART and walks us through how the use of images and sensations in ART can help process the physical sensations associated with trauma. She signifies the vital role ART can play in complementing existing treatments and providing a holistic healing approach. Learn the relief ART can bring, not only to clients but also to therapists, in reducing burnout, and get equipped to unleash the healing prowess of ART.  In this episode, you will hear: • How ART can help process traumatic memories and feelings that are stored in our brains and bodies • How ART can be an effective tool to manage natural instinctive responses to danger • The benefits of ART therapy • The value of ART to therapists themselves, helping them ward off burnout Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you ready to unravel the complexities of eating disorders? Explore the challenging journey of overcoming eating disorders as Duane sits down with Scarlett O'Connor, a London-based therapist specializing in eating disorder recovery.  Scarlett shares her personal struggle with eating disorders that began at nine, starting with binge eating and then developing into anorexia. She discusses how her sense of self changed as she began to lose weight and receive positive feedback from society, and the physical and emotional toll anorexia took on her body.  They dig deep into the nuts and bolts of eating disorders and their addictive nature. Scarlett shares how her disorder was ingrained in her identity and became an integral part of her life, affecting her mental and physical health. She further dives into her crisis point and the arduous decision she had to make to survive. They also discuss the crucial role of separating one's identity from their disorder and how to help someone who may be at the start of their recovery journey. In this episode, you will hear: Navigating eating disorders and addiction and their impact on physical and mental health Overcoming eating disorders and how to help someone in recovery Separating the disorder from the person and how to talk to the voice of the disorder The sectioning process for eating disorders Supporting eating disorder recovery by focusing on the present Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every day, we put on our armor and head out into the world, often unaware of the battle some are waging within. In today's conversation, Duane sits down with Nadia Davis, a warrior whose story of redemption and recovery is nothing short of awe-inspiring. She takes us through her life story – from her struggles with addiction to her triumph over the odds, all peppered with lessons of love, courage, and the power of human resilience. This conversation between Duane and Nadia took us through the labyrinth of trauma and triggers, further cementing the astounding strength that Nadia embodies. She enlightened us with her wisdom, shedding light on how embracing our inner truth can arm us against the fears and judgments that reside within us. Nadia's insights were backed by practical techniques to nurture this perspective daily, affirming the power of choosing love over fear. She stressed the importance of gentleness towards ourselves, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, we can reach out for love. As we ventured deeper into her journey, Nadia shared her experience of writing a book about her father's heritage story and her endeavor to free a wrongfully convicted person. She used her darkest hours as a canvas, painting a picture of wisdom for those struggling. We explored her resources – her website, retreats, yoga classes, and book events, all designed to reach out and help others battling addiction. This episode with Nadia triumphs as a beacon of hope, a testament to the power of love and redemption. Join us and bear witness to the power of the human spirit. In this episode, you will hear: Unraveling addiction and overcoming trauma Understanding unhealthy attachments and overwhelming shame  Surviving trauma and finding inner peace  Choosing love over fear and judgment  Manifesting, yoga, and writing a book  Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOTE: Since the date of recording this episode, our guest for this week has embarked on her gender transition. While you’ll hear her referred to by her previous name (often called a ‘deadname’) in the episode, we’ve updated the show notes to reflect this. Her name is Hana Leyland and she uses She/Her pronouns. What happens when you face your darkest fears and emerge stronger on the other side? We're thrilled to welcome the extraordinarily resilient Hana Leland to the show, who's about to unfold an absorbing narrative of personal transformation, navigating a queer identity, and dealing with a mother's mental health battle. Hana's life-changing journey saw her grappling with addiction and trauma, yet she found an unexpected superpower in the midst of these darkest hours. On today’s episode, Duane and Hana unravel the complex layers of her identity, and how she navigated through her queer identity in an ever-evolving world. The discussion takes a deep dive into the concept of Peter Pan Syndrome and its link with addiction, a rampant issue within the queer community. Hana's story is a testament to the power of self-exploration guided by therapy and internal family systems. She shines a light on the importance of mentors within the LGBTQ+ community and how they play a pivotal role in shaping identity. Moving forward, we explore the transformative journey toward authenticity. Hana highlights the role of sobriety in illuminating her own identity, and how harnessing the power of storytelling has been instrumental in reclaiming her authenticity. Not shying away from vulnerability, she emphasizes the need for support and mentorship on one's journey to self-discovery. Hana's narrative is an inspiring reminder that embracing our unique values and identities can lead to profound transformation and that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but strength. Tune in and let this heartfelt story inspire your own journey toward self-actualization. In this episode, you will hear: Overcoming addiction and finding grace Navigating LGBTQ+ identity and trauma Exploring identity and overcoming dark parts Asking for help and authenticity Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you could conquer a 26-year-long addiction and transform your life in just two years? Join us for a compelling conversation with Nic Kalo, who shares her incredible journey from the depths of drug addiction to a life filled with supportive, goal-driven individuals and mentors. Nic opens up about her relentless pursuit of the next high, her illegal shoplifting business, and the pivotal moments that led her to recovery. In this powerful episode, we explore Nic's experiences with rehab and the vital role of personal development and mentorship in overcoming addiction. Discover how attending a life-changing event during her newfound sobriety and surrounding herself with positive influences allowed her to believe in herself as others believed in her. Nic also discusses her insights on why her previous rehab attempts failed and what ultimately led her to take a much-needed deeper approach to recovery. Now, Nic is giving back by mentoring teens in high school and sharing her experiences. We'll delve into the importance of having a cheer squad and the powerful impact of a mentor's guidance and encouragement.  In this episode, you will hear: The shift from addiction to a book The importance of believing in yourself and your goals The importance of small steps and small wins The process of building a support network Mentoring teens in high school Mentorship and having a mentor About “The Power of Mental Wealth” Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: The Power of Mental Wealth: Success Begins From Within, Volume 3 https://www.amazon.com/POWER-MENTAL-WEALTH-Featuring-Kalo/dp/1951502779  http://www.novusmindfullife.com/ Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up in a small town Brethren church, Aaron Porter's journey through life and faith has been far from ordinary. From his accidental career as a pastor to the way his faith was shaped by suffering, Aaron shares with Duane his experiences and insights with us in this captivating conversation. They explore the wisdom he's gained from Buddhist friends on viewing suffering differently and delve into the profound lessons found in the book of Job, even sharing a humorous moment along the way. In a world that often feels dark and heavy, Aaron reminds us of the importance of love, fun, and understanding the "person and work of Christ" in Christianity. They discuss the need to balance work and self-reflection with joy and play, and how slowing down can help us cultivate a deeper sense of self. Aaron also shares his thoughts on the power of language in shaping our identity, as well as the usefulness of tools like the Enneagram in understanding our natural tendencies. Don't miss this engaging and insightful conversation with Aaron Porter, co-host of the Pirate Monk podcast. In this episode, you will hear: Finding love and fun in Christianity Contemplating hope and self-reflection Finding God through suffering and spirituality Navigating suffering and growth Unconditional love and simplicity Hope's misconceptions The Quaker clearing committee Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com http://www.novusmindfullife.com/  https://piratemonkpodcast.com/ Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you imagine overcoming addiction with the help of an app? In this fascinating episode, Duane had the pleasure of speaking with Chandler Rogers, CEO and co-founder of Relay, a digital group-based program for finding healing from addiction. Chandler opened up about his inspiring journey of overcoming behavioral addiction and the development of Relay, aiming to make recovery smarter and more accessible. They delve into Chandler's struggles with pornography, shame, and self-esteem, and how group therapy provided the compassionate accountability necessary for change. Chandler shares how the power of connection and support inspired him to create a digital tool that could help others in their recovery journey. Learn about the incredible development and support of the app, as well as the success stories that have come from those who have found healing through the program. By the end, they discuss Chandler's vision for the future of addiction recovery technology and how Relay is transforming lives. Explore how the app guides users through creating their recovery plan, feeling empowered and supported every step of the way. Learn more about this innovative tool and the incredible impact it's having on those struggling with addiction. In this episode, you will hear: The dangers of Internet pornography Teamwork and accountability in recovery  Building a tool for addiction support  Starting a company  Passion for Relay project  Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Relay App: www.joinrelay.app/addicted-mind http://www.novusmindfullife.com/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know that addiction has been recognized as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act for well over 20 years now? This means that people with addictions have substantial legal rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This is such an important topic to talk and think about, as we learn how best to help everyone struggling with addiction as well as the pain and suffering that come along with addiction so we can help alleviate those. On today's episode, Duane sits down with John T Maier to discuss the concept of viewing addiction as a disability instead of a disease. Their conversation delves into the implications this has on how we handle addiction in society and when dealing with addiction personally. John T Maier holds an MSW in clinical social work from Simmons University and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton. He is a staff clinician at the Seeder Clinic and teaches regularly at Lesley University, with a book on the disability view of addiction currently in the works. In this episode, you will hear: How addiction is being viewed by society over the years The difference between disease and disability Policy on addiction and disability Disclosure of addiction and privacy The disability model as identity-driven vs. behavior-driven Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Duane speaks with Andrew Drazan and Dr. Edmond Hakimi to discuss the pressing topic of addiction and addiction research.  Andrew Drazan is the founder and current chairman of Wellbridge Addiction Treatment and Research, which has been providing personalized care to individuals struggling with addiction for over a decade. Dr. Edmond Hakimi, the medical director of Wellbridge, brings his extensive expertise in addiction treatment to the conversation.  Today, delve into the medical model of treating addiction, the importance of research in this field, and the individualized care approach taken by Wellbridge. We will also address topical issues such as the opioid epidemic and the growing prevalence of synthetic drugs.  In this episode, you will hear: The medical model of treating addiction Bringing research into the addiction space How to measure the outcome of addiction treatment The importance of individualized care in the field of addiction Addressing the opioid epidemic in the United States Are synthetic drugs becoming even more addictive? The importance of a weekly dose of medication Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://wellbridge.org/ http://www.novusmindfullife.com/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The journey from trauma to peace and acceptance involves an intermediate space of transition. During trauma, the body is in a hyper-vigilant state, leading to pain, hurt, and suffering. Moving away from trauma requires a shift towards something different - a space of healing and inner peace. In today's episode, Duane interviews Robert Common, who shares his personal story and discusses the work he does with clients who are dealing with addiction and mental health issues. Robert also advocates for protecting women and children from violence, and we'll be delving into that topic as well. He talks about how his Buddhism and experiences with trauma intersected and helped him overcome addiction, and how all these factors played a role in his journey to recovery. In this episode, you will hear: The intersection of trauma, addiction, and Buddhism The space of transition from trauma to peacefulness Buddhism and the noble truths How trauma pulls away from compassion How trauma can be a force for good The gift of pain and the power of mindfulness Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: http://www.novusmindfullife.com/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*DISCLAIMER EXPLICIT CONTENT* Trauma is something that no one would choose to go through, but it can also be an opportunity for personal growth and wisdom. We may all have different stories and personal circumstances, but often, the dynamics at play are very similar in terms of how we heal.  In this episode of the podcast, Duane speaks with Nikki Eisenhauer, a psychotherapist, licensed professional counselor, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, and life coach specializing in trauma, addiction, grief, and loss in highly sensitive people. Nikkis is also a yoga and meditation teacher and host of the hit mental health podcast Emotional Badass: Where Moxie Meets Mindful. Through her personal and professional experiences, Nikki encourages us to take charge of our lives, even in the face of pain and suffering. By developing emotional intelligence and resilience, we can create a more peaceful, joyful, and fulfilling life.  Listen in as Nikki shares her story of resilience and emphasizes the importance of emotional resilience in overcoming difficult experiences. The conversation also touches on the topics of sexual abuse and incest, so if this is something that’s difficult for you, please approach it with caution. In this episode, you will hear: What it means to be an emotional badass Why incest is a taboo topic The importance of emotional intelligence in childhood Interpreting intuitive messages into verbal language The common plight of eldest children in dysfunctional families Guilt and shame as a big beach ball for the abusers The power of listening to and trusting your intuition How your body feels what your mind knows Cultivating patience and kindness to yourself Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Emotional Badass: Where Moxie Meets Mindful NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Movies, as much as they’re entertaining, can also play a major role in addiction recovery. Films and movies tell us a lot about our humanity, and stories in films always follow a very familiar pattern – they're all about transformation, a relatable theme for anyone in recovery. In an engaging conversation with Duane, Ted Perkins shares his passion for using movies to promote addiction recovery. As the author of Addicted in Film: Movies We Love About the Habits We Hate, you can use Ted's workbook to explore self-discovery questions while enjoying recovery-related movies. Ted is also the Founder/CEO of Recovery Movie Meet-Ups, where individuals in recovery can support each other. Having been in recovery himself, Ted is dedicated to helping others break the stigma of addiction and move forward, as we all overcome addiction, together. In this episode, you will hear: How film and addiction are intertwined Identifying with the movie characters  Addiction as a subjective mental experience How movies help in addiction recovery Putting screenwriting and recovery together Understanding the mental models of the future Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Addicted in Film https://www.addictedinfilm.com  Recovery Movie Meet-Ups https://www.recoverymoviemeetups.com/  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As you're trying to find hope in the grit of addiction and trauma recovery, there's power in being part of a community that can move us from a place of struggle to freedom. On this episode, Duane speaks with Caroline Beidler about her new book, “Downstairs Church: Finding Hope in The Grit of Addiction and Trauma Recovery,” and how one can find hope in their own journey of addiction and trauma recovery by harnessing the power of sharing their story.  Caroline Beidler is an author, recovery advocate, and founder of the storytelling platform Bright Story Shine. With almost 20 years in leadership within social work and ministry, Caroline is a team writer for The Grit and Grace Project and a blogger at the global recovery platform, In The Rooms. Caroline's insights and personal experiences offer practical advice and inspiration for those navigating similar struggles. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking for hope and healing in their own life. In this episode, you will hear: Why she came up with the title, “Downstairs Church” How she took the first steps down into the basement church How to find hope in the grit of addiction Having a personal relationship with God takes time How adversities give rise to healing The importance of showing up vulnerably  Highlighting the power of story Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Website: www.carolinebeidler.com Bright Story Shine https://www.brightstoryshine.com/  The Grit and Grace Project https://thegritandgraceproject.org/  In The Rooms https://www.intherooms.com/home/  Downstairs Church: Finding Hope in The Grit of Addiction and Trauma Recovery https://www.amazon.com/Downstairs-Church-Finding-Addiction-Recovery/dp/1631959786 NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of people who may be struggling with a family member that is in the throes of addiction think the person needs to go get help. But there's this whole system that probably has to be addressed. In this episode, Duane and Dr. Brooke Keels discuss the importance of family therapy in addiction recovery from a systems perspective. Dr. Keels highlights the importance of each family member doing their own individual work to achieve health for the entire system.  With her experience in clinical and leadership roles within the recovery industry for over 15 years, Dr. Keels shares her passion for the process and the positive impact it can have on people's lives. Dr. Brooke Keels holds a Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy. She works to create, implement, and oversee the Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Program and Individual and Family Therapy Programs at Lighthouse Recovery, Texas.  Listen in to learn more about the family's role in addiction recovery and how to work towards health and happiness for all. In this episode, you will hear: The importance of family in addiction treatment The power of seeing the system Why family healing is so important What hope looks like in a dysfunctional family The value of validating the reality of the situation Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Lighthouse Recovery Texas NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life is going to throw curveballs at you, and that’s a given. The question is, how willing are you to withstand those? On today’s episode, Duane talks with Andrew E. Guy, the author of Work Your Words: Finding Your Pathway to Personal Success. Andrew helps corporate leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs integrate work, life, and self-care to improve well-being so they can pursue purposeful living. Andrew is a professional certified educator, an educational engagement expert, and is certified in the prevention and management of aggressive behavior.  Today, Andrew is going to talk about his book, Work Your Words, specifically about resilience and stepping out of pain, hurt, and darkness to live your best life. With a contagious inspirational spirit, Andrew shares his incredible story of resilience that encourages people to take control of their lives and the life they're meant to live.  Andrew believes in the power of words. He believes that when you’re able to work the right words, the right things happen, and what you say about yourself makes a huge difference. You're not living this life for yourself, because you're actually living this life so you can help others to live and people will live through your experience. In this episode, you will hear: Unworthiness as a symptom of depression Not your fault, but it’s your choice Finding a community that will support your changes The willingness to be vulnerable The HOPE acronym How finding your purpose changes everything in your life Navigating your pain and trauma Participating in your own miracle Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: www.andrewguyspeaks.com  Work Your Words: Finding Your Pathway to Personal Success https://www.amazon.com/Work-Your-Words-Finding-Personal/dp/1987890019  The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma-ebook/dp/B00G3L1C2K  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of people go through an experience where they fall madly in love with someone, they crave them, and they want to be with them. There's this addictive nature of romantic love. And then for whatever reason, it doesn't work and you break up. Now, what? That being said, falling in love does not mean something’s wrong with you. Dr. Cortney S. Warren is a Board Certified Clinical Psychologist and Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).  Having won numerous professional awards for her research, Cortney is an expert on addictions, self-deception, romantic relationships, eating pathology, and the practice of psychotherapy from a cross-cultural perspective.  Today, we’re going to talk about her book, Letting Go of Your Ex: CBT Skills to Heal the Pain of a Breakup and Overcome Love Addiction (2023). This is perfect for readers who are trying to explore breakups through an addictive framework. In this episode, you will hear: How is love addictive? How do we know when we're in a relationship that might be love addicted?  What to do when we're ending the relationship and how do we get out of that relationship in a way that brings about personal growth and self-actualization? How love addiction goes awry What is love addiction? Evaluating your core beliefs about romantic love How romantic love is portrayed in the media The addictive nature of a breakup What is CBT and how does it work? Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Dr. Cortney Warren’s Social Media links:  Website: https://drcortney.com/ Psychology Today Naked Truth Blog: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/naked-truth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CortneySWarren  Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCortneyWarren  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcortney/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQGXD7Ms5oR3GzsPZl3Tjl_9qj71MezHj Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Ka7bam4AAAAJ&hl=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcortneywarren/?hl=en TEDx Talk: Honest Liars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpEeSa6zBTE&t=2s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drcortneywarren?lang=en  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About four years ago, in the face of what little did she know was going to be an increasing horror show in terms of deaths due to opioid use, Debra Gonsher Vinik decided to do a documentary on the opioid crisis. She also wanted to put the spotlight on women because, as she says, women are almost absent in terms of the media coverage of what's going on. Since 1999, we have lost over 200,000 women to the opioid crisis.  On this episode, Duane and Debra take a deep dive into her new documentary, Attention Must Be Paid: Women Lost in The Opioid Crisis. Addiction is so stigmatized that the idea of women coming forward is a big thing. These brave women featured in the documentary have put aside any concern or worry about other people's perception of them so they can speak their truth and their story in order to help other women. Hopefully, other women who will watch this can also relate and feel that, after all, they’re not alone.  In this episode, you will hear: The psychological dependence on opioid addiction The story of a mother who didn’t want to film The most explicit recipe for tragedy The story of two women from different walks of life Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://divacommunications.com/ Attention Must Be Paid: Women Lost in The Opioid Crisis https://divacommunications.com/attention/  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're trying to move away from addiction and all the falsehoods, you have to start looking through that lens and replace them with axioms or self-evident truths. Once you’re in harmony with the world you live in, you get clarity on who you really are. In today’s episode, Duane speaks with Rio Timberlane to talk about the power of decision-making, how to get clear on your identity, and understanding axioms or self-evident truth. Rio Timberlane is a relationship scientist who has spent about two decades looking at the underlying axioms that we all operate in as humans.  In this episode, you will hear: Understanding axioms or the self-evident truth The importance of having the right mindset The power of decision-making Asking the right questions What does it mean to be a tree The simplexity of love How to get clear on identity Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: ELAO.guru https://www.riowrks.org NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever heard of the phrase, “Boys make choices, men make decisions”? What’s the difference? On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Carlos Navarro, who has a 20-year entertainment career that spans from radio, television, and film, to commercials and video games. He has acted on shows and films as The Walking Dead, The Outsider, Unbreakable, and Marvel's Hawkeye. Carlos is also co-host of the number one rated Orlando, Florida talk show, Monsters in the Morning. Along with that journey, he was also struggling with alcoholism, until he finally made the decision to quit drinking. Listen in as Carlos walks us through his journey to sobriety and why he believes it's a moral obligation to share his story to help others. Carlos is frank about his past experience of drinking where he was just oblivious to how he was and the impact he had on others. Then he finally realized he needed to change and do something different. Sobriety has now become a big part of his life as he also helps others who may be struggling.  In this episode, you will hear: Carlos’ addiction and recovery journey Making a choice versus making a decision The power of journaling and planning Why willpower doesn’t work Identifying the things you want and writing them down The power of sharing your story. Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: www.iamcarlosnavarro.com  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anybody can be impacted by addiction, whether you’re a doctor or not. And for certain people in healthcare, anesthesiologists most especially, access to drugs like opioids is super easy.  On this episode, Duane speaks with Steven Orebaugh about how his own personal experiences of witnessing his colleagues get trapped in addiction inspired him to write the book, “The Stairs on Billy Buck Hill.” He wrote the book having witnessed a number of ruined careers among his peers because they have access to these highly addictive substances. And so, Steven hopes that his book will help fellow physicians and healthcare workers create that healthy fear so they could steer clear of addiction. Steven is an anesthesiologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He has published some 75 works in the medical literature, including peer-reviewed articles, textbook chapters, and review articles.  In this episode, you will hear: Why anesthesiologists have easy access to drugs Understanding how opioids become the downfall of some people The impact addiction has on physicians addicted to drugs About the book, The Stairs on Billy Buck Hill Dealing with the shame and guilt as a doctor The need for emotional support Nurturing a healthy fear Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://www.steveorebaugh.com/  The Stairs on Billy Buck Hill https://www.amazon.com/Stairs-Billy-Buck-Hill/dp/1620068664  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a parent, how do you deal with a child who’s struggling with addiction? How can you fully support your kid at this most trying time of their lives? Today, Duane speaks with Steve D. about parenting a child with addiction. A father of five children, the youngest of whom had a near-lethal addiction to alcohol, Steve retired from a 30-year career on Wall Street to learn about addiction, to help his family, and to help others.  Steve’s eight-year journey includes getting trained as a parent peer addiction coach, completing a fellowship at Harvard University studying addiction, co-creating a podcast called My Child & Addiction and volunteering at a national addiction nonprofit to create educational tools for families. Recently, he developed a free resource, Love the Kid, Hate the Disease, with a mission to deliver the most important information, concepts, tools, and personal experiences from his 8 years of dealing with addiction to help parents and caregivers better understand the disease and help address it. Steve is the EVP for Shatterproof, a nonprofit with a mission to help businesses and communities educate their constituencies about the disease of addiction and the most effective, evidence-based treatment practices. In this episode, you will hear: Understanding that there is hope The importance of setting boundaries His child’s addiction and recovery journey The importance of telling personal stories about addiction The value of a parent support group meeting The power of sharing your story Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Shatterproof https://www.shatterproof.org/  My Child & Addiction https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-child-addiction/id1233772510  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Using hypnosis on ourselves is more powerful than we think. But is it also effective in treating addiction?  On today’s episode, Duane speaks with David Spiegel, Wilson Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. Having been at Stanford for over 45 years, David runs the Center on Stress and Health at Stanford and the Center for Integrative Medicine. One of his interests is to find out how people can better control their minds and bodies using hypnosis.  David talks about hypnosis, how that works, how suggestibility works in the brain, how it can help us, and the top-down processing, and how our unconscious can really help us heal. David has used hypnosis with about 7,000 people in his career now, and he has published more than 100 papers of research on hypnosis: what it is, how it works, and what it does.  In this episode, you will hear: How hypnosis works in providing mind-body comfort How hypnosis can help with addiction, cravings, and pain relief Playing the role of a parent to your own body About the Reveri app  Giving pain the right amount of attention, and not more than it needs Why get a licensed and trained professional to help you with this Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Reveri app NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drinking when pregnant is a cultural norm. In fact, one in seven pregnant people reports consuming alcohol during pregnancy (which is pretty high). A significant number of pregnant women haven’t been told by their physicians that it’s not safe to drink while pregnant, and some even tell them it’s safe. But no amount or type of alcohol is safe to consume during pregnancy. Prevent fetal alcohol syndrome disorder (FASD) along with so many of the lifelong effects including substance use, poor mental health outcomes, and incarceration can be associated with alcohol during pregnancy.  On today's conversation, Duane and Jackie Franks talk about the importance of prevention and raising awareness about this issue. We have to create more awareness to help prevent a lot of future problems, conditions, and experiences with law enforcement or incarceration. And if we think upstream, the prevention of prenatal exposure to alcohol is the most important thing.  Jackie is the executive director of the Indiana Alliance on Prenatal Substance Exposure. They recently launched BRAIN, a first-of-its-kind, online FASD screening tool that assesses cognitive and behavioral features associated with FASD.  In this episode, you will hear: How FASD is diagnosed as ADHD How to know FASD is present Social determinants of health and prevention Statistics on alcohol consumption during pregnancy The link between FASD and addiction About the BRAIN screening tool Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Indiana Alliance on Prenatal Substance Exposure https://inalliancepse.org/  BRAIN screening tool https://inalliancepse.org/brain-online/  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recovery is a long and difficult process, but it can be done. And once you’re able to combine spiritual habits with behavior change, the results can be amazing!  On today’s conversation, Duane speaks with Eric Zimmer, the host of The One You Feed Podcast and the genius behind the Spiritual Habits Program, where he takes spiritual wisdom and combines it with behavior change so people can make the changes they need and find joy and healing in their lives.  When he was 24 years old, Eric found himself as a 100-pound, homeless heroin addict who had hepatitis C and was looking at going to jail for about 50 years. He got sober at 25 and stayed sober for about eight years until he went out and drank again. He has been sober 15 years since then. He was doing really good on the outside, but he was just as sick as that homeless heroin addict at 24. Eric shares more about his journey today – his road to recovery and how he’s now helping other people through their own recovery journey. In this episode, you will hear: What spirituality is Open-mindedness and curiosity as key elements of recovery What spiritual habits are – and how to develop them Using emotional triggers for the positive The importance of a community that supports you The benefits of group coaching Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: The One You Feed Podcast https://www.oneyoufeed.net/  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part of the work we do to treat addiction is to work through the other preexisting conditions and environmental factors that could contribute to addictive behavior. Those who suffer from a co-morbid condition will notice that addiction recovery is much harder to treat without also addressing the other condition. Recently, we have more insight than ever before how Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) plays a role in sex addiction in particular. Today, our guest is Dr. John Sealy, who has been an advocate and forerunner in how ADD and Addiction influence one another. As we learn more and more about the treatment of ADD, we can also change how we treat sex addiction. Dr. Sealy is passionate about ensuring that people get the help they need. He does not treat addiction as a single issue but looks at the whole patient to assess the care they need. Due to the inherent stigma and shame that many sufferers carry around Sex Addiction, it has historically been difficult for these people to receive treatment. Dr. Sealy is working to change that. We are excited to bring to you today all the latest research, methodology, and new insight that will be liberating for many in the recovery process. This will be an episode that is helpful and encouraging to those who are in recovery. Help and hope are available for you. More to learn in this episode: How our understanding and controversy of Sex Addiction has changed since the study was pioneered. Understanding the diagnosis of Sexual Addiction. The co-morbid conditions that we see playing a major role in Sex Addiction recovery. How the unique cognitive hallmarks of ADD make it a likely co-morbid condition for addiction. Resources Work with Dr. Sealy: https://novusmindfullife.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is value in your struggles. But also part of working through your struggles is the ability to ask for help and find a community that has the capacity to support you. On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Dane Ensley, the founder of Reconstruction Unlimited, a mental health coaching agency that designs therapeutic ecosystems for clients. Dane has worked as a coach for the world's leading interventionists and has traveled the world working with a broad spectrum of clients.  Dane's encouraging attitude, patience, and understanding allowed him to carve a very distinct path in the wellness industry. His core belief is that good things can be born from struggle. He also believes that everything good that has ever happened to him was a direct result of him helping someone else. Hear more of Dane's own recovery story and how we can turn our struggles into positive change.  In this episode, you will hear: The man box that we’re taught as men Finding value in the struggles Seeking out healthy challenges to grow from The importance of solitude Finding your community Developing the muscle to ask for help Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Reconstruction Unlimited https://www.reconstructionunlimited.com/  Instagram: @reconstructionunlimited and @daneensley NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s so easy to get lost in the mundanity of life that we lose sight of each present moment. But what if we just focused on today, and make each day our Day One? On today’s episode, Duane speaks with J.D. Frost, author of the book, Life Ledger: How to Build a System to Reach Your Goals, where he dives into the concept of Day One, the power of writing, and how keeping a daily ledger of your life helps you gain the clarity that you need to help you reach your goals.  J.D. Frost is an accountant and the co-founder and CEO of Croft and Frost, a husband, and a father of three girls. J.D. started drinking at 19 years old and became an alcoholic. In January 2018, his family finally did an intervention for him – something he’s now super grateful for.  In this episode, you will hear: The concept of day one To accomplish anything, you must write something down. How to get the habit of writing started Auditing your day through a daily ledger Accountability is a reminder of what you want. Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com https://www.croftandfrost.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdfrost.today/  Life Ledger https://www.amazon.com/Life-Ledger-Build-System-Reach/dp/1637583893  The Everyday Hero Manifesto by Robin Sharma https://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Hero-Manifesto-Robin-Sharma/dp/1443465356  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you found out earlier on in your youth that you actually have a genetic propensity toward addiction, would you have made decisions a lot differently? Addiction is a bio-psycho-social model, but we don't really look at the bio part of it. Sometimes, we have to look at the physiology of things to understand addiction better. And there has to be a paradigm shift in thinking about how we operate and exist in this world.  On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Dr. Evelyn Higgins about genes and biomarkers, how they influence our behavior, how they play out in addiction, and why knowing about this part of ourselves is an important step in addiction treatment and recovery.  Dr. Evelyn Higgins is the founder and CEO of Wired For Addiction and a recognized international expert in the epidemiology of addiction. With 34 years in clinical practice, Dr. Higgins has spent over 16 years dedicated to research and development in the science of addiction recovery, and she finds herself at the nexus of epigenetics, neuroscience, and addiction.  In this episode, you will hear: What it means to look at errors in genetic coding Epigenetics and aberrant behaviors Why addiction is not a moral flaw, but a disease The first step is getting objective information. The common genetic markers of addiction How seeing addiction from a biological perspective impacts the families Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Wired For Addiction Dr. Higgins’ TEDTalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XNk8tNsaco  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are thousands of women who are drinking and suffering in silence. And when we're dealing with our internal struggles, we feel alone. There’s pain and misery attached to that. How are we then able to provide a safe space for women to follow down a path to recovery and give them the kind of support they need?    On this episode, Duane speaks with Casey Davidson about the topic of gray area drinking, what that means, what that looks like, and the benefits of being sober, curious, and maybe just taking a longer break from alcohol to see if that betters your life. Casey also shares her own personal story of doing that, how she realized alcohol was not what she needed, and how she was able to stop just trying to moderate her drinking and remove alcohol from her life.   An ex-red wine girl turned life and sobriety coach, Casey helps women create lives they love without alcohol. She hosts The Hello Someday Podcast, created for gray area drinkers and sober curious women. Casey is passionate about helping women – who are doing all the things and then coming home and drinking to forget all the things – change their relationship with alcohol.    In this episode, you will hear: Casey’s journey through alcoholism and recovery The benefits of removing alcohol from your life What gray area drinking means Dealing with the stigma around going to AA What the sober curious movement is about Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Website: https://hellosomedaycoaching.com/    The Hello Someday Podcast https://hellosomedaycoaching.com/podcast/  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addiction does not only impact the one addicted, it also affects their family and friends. It’s hard to see your loved one hurting and struggling. But you can’t help them heal with guilt and shame. There are tools and resources to help you help your loved one make a positive change. The goal is to help them feel safe, heard and seen, supported, and understood.  On today’s episode, Duane talks with licensed clinical psychologist and research scientist Kenneth Carpenter, PhD. He is the co-author of The Beyond Addiction Workbook for Family and Friends: Evidence-Based Skills to Help a Loved One Make Positive Change. Ken is the Director of Training for the Center for Motivation and Change (CMC) and CMC: Foundation for Change. He has held academic and research science positions at New York-based universities and state agencies.  If you have a loved one who might be bound by the chains of addiction, learn how you can foster an open communication with them and hopefully, bring lasting change.  In this episode, you will hear: Motivation that comes from hope instead of pain What is motivational interviewing Understanding that ambivalence is part of the process How to set the tone of your conversations Practicing self-awareness and connecting to your values Using positive reinforcement to support the change process Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://cmcffc.org/  The Beyond Addiction Workbook for Family and Friends https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Addiction-Workbook-Family-Friends/dp/1648480187  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of us resonate with movies because we get to learn about the world through them. Making movies is hard enough. Now, imagine a documentary of someone making a movie during their rehab journey.    On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Jared Callahan about his new feature-length documentary. Clean Slate provides an immersive, veritate look into the world of recovery amid the biggest drug epidemic in American history. It follows two individuals Cassidy and Josh, as they attempt to make a short film during their recovery and rehab state.   Jared is an award-winning director, producer, and founder of Emmy-nominated production company The People People Media Foundation. Based on a 95-acre farm in the San Francisco East Bay, they specialize in personal and unique stories that help give others a voice.    In making this documentary, Jared had to spend 18 months at a recovery facility that he got completely enveloped in their world. He hopes the film would move people the way he has been deeply touched by it. Hopefully, it will change how people view and treat addiction – giving more grace and developing more empathy for people struggling with it, instead of condemning them and stereotyping their condition like it’s a crime or a disease.    In this episode, you will hear: How Clean Slate came to be and why Jared accepted the project Lessons Jared learned about addiction and recovery while making this film The experience of being immersed in a recovery facility Battling the powerlessness of being a documentary filmmaker The process of making the film Understanding the different cultures in the world of recovery Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: www.peoplepeoplemedia.com  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America is in the midst of a new drug crisis. Earlier this year, the CDC reported a staggering 107,000 overdose deaths in 2021. That's one every five minutes. It's up almost 15% from 2020 and nearly 70% of those deaths involved fentanyl.    On today's episode, Duane speaks with Sam Quinones who has been sounding the alarm for years. A journalist and storyteller, Sam is a former LA Times reporter and author of four acclaimed books of narrative nonfiction, including New York Times bestseller and National Book Critics Circle Award winner, Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic. She’s also the author of the National Book Critics Circle Award finalist, The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth, which captures the devastation of this new epidemic of synthetic drugs, but at the same time, offers a lot of hope.   Duane and Sam explore the root of this whole opioid crisis and the need for us, as a society, to embrace recovery without anonymity, no more euphemisms, and no more hiding. We all have to get out of the shame that comes with addiction. We’re also living in a culture of addictive stuff where fast food, sugars, and pornography are legal. All this boils down to social change that is best achieved in small ways and small daily efforts – and it all starts with you!   In this episode, you will hear: The supply of synthetic drugs in Mexico How his book focuses on the message of hope in the midst of the opioid era Dr. Lou Ortenzio’s story of addiction and recovery Getting rid of the anonymity and euphemisms How we’re living in a culture of addictive stuff Becoming a master of your own fate What you can do on an individual level Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://samquinones.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samquinonesjournalist  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samquinones_author/  Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic https://www.amazon.com/Dreamland-YA-Americas-Opiate-Epidemic/dp/1547601310  The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth https://www.amazon.com/Least-Us-Tales-America-Fentanyl-ebook/dp/B0932RRNVL?ref_=ast_sto_dp  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we break the stigma around addiction and mental health support for people of color? It’s important that different communities are able to change that narrative so everyone is provided the adequate support they need.   On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Jessica Dueñas who shares her story of addiction, recovery, and using her voice to help other people find their way out of pain. Jessica started with binge eating in her bedroom as a Latina girl growing up in New York City. By the time she got to college, her addiction had morphed into alcoholism. Years later, she was awarded Teacher of the Year in Kentucky but was still drinking a fifth of bourbon a day – a secret she had to hide from her peers, friends, and students.   When she found her boyfriend lifeless from a drug overdose in his apartment, Jessica got out of control and deeper into her addiction, nearly dying herself in the months after his passing. Ultimately, she found recovery and has been sober since November 2020.   Listen in as Jessica shares her story to help break the stigma of addiction and mental health treatment. Through her platform, Bottomless to Sober, she shares stories of people's recovery and continues to break the stigma of addiction.    In this episode, you will hear: Drinking through the pain and pressure to be perfect as an immigrant The decision to step forward and speak up about her story What it was like for her to bring mental health issues into the light Breaking the stigma around mental health support for people of color Specific issues people of color face when getting treatment The importance of cultural competence in mental health care The power of sharing your story to help others Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://www.bottomlesstosober.com/  NovusMindfulLife.com The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is it that a lot of successful people, even superstars, and athletes, end up in a downward spiral of depression? Usually, what's missing is a spiritual component of life. On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Adam Jablin, a best-selling author, inspirational keynote speaker, transformational life coach, and spiritual and recovery mentor.    Adam is passionate about helping people break through any traumas and old addictions or harmful patterns, and ignite the hero that lives within them so they can accomplish their goals and realize the things pulling them back. Adam is also the author of the book, Lotsaholic: From a Sick to Sober Superman.   Adam grew up in a culture where he had to do more to be more. Growing up as a fat kid made him feel insecure. But while he was able to make everyone like him through his humor, he was still broken inside. He thought all the drugs and alcohol filled the void initially, until those didn’t work. Living in denial, Adam eventually realized there is a higher power – greater than him and any of us – that’s around us all the time, nurturing us and healing our wounds.   In this episode, you will hear: How Adam got into addiction Living in a culture of “more is more” and learning that less is more Why you can’t get more of spirituality, but you can enhance it Healthy spirituality vs. unhealthy spirituality Breaking through the armor that protects your traumas to be healed Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://adamjablin.com/  Lotsaholic: From a Sick to Sober Superman by Adam Jablin https://www.amazon.com/Lotsaholic-Sober-Superman-Adam-Jablin/dp/0998829900 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamjablin/  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Several statistics show that children of alcoholics will grow up to either become alcoholic themselves, or marry one because they're so conditioned to that lifestyle. A huge part of that is because they could get so rooted in their own belief systems that they end up in self-sabotage without even realizing it. And somehow, transformation only occurs when intense suffering forces them to make that shift. On today's episode, Duane chats with Maggie Jenson, an alternative recovery coach. Maggie is the creator of The Magnify Method, an up-to-date, science-backed program devoted to personal development and overcoming addictive behavior. A behavioral change specialist, Maggie utilizes her knowledge in nutrition coaching and personal training in helping clients learn “to think different to drink different, or never again ” through practicing holistic Mind-Body-Soul recovery. Maggie grew up in an alcoholic home, specifically, a mom who was alcoholic even until her death. Her biggest trauma was at 12 years old when her brother took away his life while they were home alone. Dealing with feelings of guilt and pain, Maggie started drinking six months after. And while her brother’s death was the reason that she began drinking, her father’s death, on the other hand, paved the way for her to make a radical shift. Listen in as Maggie shares more about her story, how to break free from your program, and how nutrition and fitness play a huge role in recovery. In this episode, you will hear: The impact of alcoholics on kids How trauma is exacerbated when we don’t talk about it What motivated her to pursue her passion for nutrition and fitness The courage to take the risk to go against your self-limiting beliefs It’s the little things that build up your confidence How nutrition affects your mood and your belief system The power of affirmation to override your program Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Website: https://www.magnifypw.com/  Habits-for-Happiness Workbook: https://www.magnifypw.com/habits  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magnifymaggie/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@magnifymaggiej  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@magnifymaggie  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recovery can be more challenging when we get caught in that spiral of addiction and narcissism. Somehow, you will have to get to the point where you just have to surrender to a higher power. On today's episode, Duane speaks with recovery coach and leadership expert Bart Nollenberger. Bart shares his journey of moving from someone who was self-absorbed in his addiction to a person who is truly about giving and surrendering the self. Bart went from wrecking six cars in high school either because he was drunk or he was seeking attention and his relationship with cocaine began when he was 20 years old. When he was 27 years old, he went in for treatment and he remembers pulling out a bundle of cocaine from his pocket and flushing it down the toilet. It wasn’t until 10 years after being sober that he finally found his higher power in Jesus. To date, Bart is celebrating 37 and a half years of sobriety from drugs and alcohol.  Bart is a successful motivational speaker, author, and trainer. He has taught sales and leadership for some of the top companies in the world, including Ford Motor Company, Toyota USA, and some of the largest auto dealership groups. But more than anything, Bart is passionate about recovery and living life in recovery. He recently authored the book, Keep the Change, and he also hosts a podcast of the same name, where he shares his personal experience, wisdom, personal development, and spirituality in an authentic way to spark change in others.   In this episode, you will hear: Making the decision to stop but still having to do the work Bart’s journey to recovery Letting go and letting God Finding integrity and humility through recovery The impetus behind Keep the Change – the podcast and the book How everything aligns when healing takes place Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xfURkXZGEHVYIOK0DdR9S  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bart.nollenberger/?hl=en Call: 480-327-8751 Email: bart@bartnollenberger.com  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

​​It’s so easy to break down and find yourself in an emotional spiral when adversity strikes at the height of your career and then all the things you’ve worked hard for are suddenly taken away from you.    On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Ryan, as he talks about his journey through addiction and recovery. As the founding drummer of the band Maroon 5, Ryan Dusick was busy touring for years, until a chronic injury caused him to lose everything. And the way he coped with all the pain and trauma was through alcohol and drugs.    Now living a whole new life filled with purpose and meaning as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and mental health advocate, Ryan has also authored the book, Harder to Breathe: A Memoir of Making Maroon 5, Losing It All, and Finding Recovery. He’s sending a powerful message that there's hope in recovery and finding a new path in life.   In this episode, you will hear: Ryan's breakdown as a performer – physically and emotionally His experience with self-loathing and self-medication How pride gets in the way of growth Humbling moments during the last six months of his addiction What recovery looked like for Ryan Writing the book as the culmination of his journey   Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: www.ryandusick.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/ryan_michael_dusick  Harder to Breathe: A Memoir of Making Maroon 5, Losing It All, and Finding Recovery https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/harder-to-breathe-ryan-dusick/1141008275  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know that your eye movements could free you from all the trauma and pain? Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR for short, is a unique type of psychotherapy proven to help people recover from trauma and improve the quality of their lives.    On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Dr. Deborah Korn and Michael Baldwin, co-authors of Every Memory Deserves Respect: EMDR, the Proven Trauma Therapy with the Power to Heal.    Deborah is a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is on the faculties of the EMDR Institute in California and the Trauma Research Foundation in Boston. Deborah presents and consults internationally on the treatment of adult survivors of childhood abuse and neglect.    Michael is an accomplished leader in the communications industry with more than 35 years of award-winning work in advertising. He is the founder and principal of the branding and communication firm Michael Baldwin Inc, in New York. Michael is a trauma survivor actively engaged in the process of recovery through EMDR therapy.    Both Deborah and Michael bring their experiences together to write this book, which they will talk about today. They’re sharing valuable insights into the process of EMDR and how it can be helpful for anyone struggling with trauma.   In this episode, you will hear: How EMDR works The desensitization effect of bilateral stimulation How memories of trauma are reactivated The “big-T” trauma events versus the “little-t” traumas What it looks like when you enter into EMDR therapy Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: www.everymemorydeservesrespect.com    NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re sharing a special episode from another podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, from Pushkin Industries. In this preview, four-time Grammy Award-winning musician Jason Isbell discusses how his early career was plagued by addiction. Getting sober allowed him to re-examine aspects of his personality that he once saw as his greatest weaknesses. Hear more from A Slight Change of Plans at https://podcasts.pushkin.fm/scp5?sid=addicted.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addiction recovery is a long process that’s why we need long-term solutions to help people move into a recovery state. We need a community and we need all the resources around us to maintain a sober world. But what do blockchain and cryptocurrency have to do with addiction and recovery?    On today's episode, Duane speaks with Dr. Harold Jonas, a licensed mental health counselor and the founder and CEO of the Soberverse. They discuss how his projects including Sobercoin and the Sober Systems mobile app help with addiction recovery, as well as the concept of contingency management as an effective tool for harm reduction   Harold also talks about his own addiction and recovery journey and how he's continuing to move forward in self-care and help people dealing with addiction and mental disorders by leveraging technology in healthcare. Since 1999, Harold has been at the center of Sober Network, Inc. and each of its related digital properties. His unparalleled experience with both web and award-winning app development for the addiction and recovery industry. Along with his team, Harold continues to be at the forefront of innovative technology for the addiction and recovery industry.   In this episode, you will hear: How the internet leveled the playing field for every treatment center Coaching and accountability in recovery to reduce relapse How Sobercoin works The definition of blockchain and cryptocurrency The benefits of using blockchain What contingency management looks like Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Soberverse https://www.soberverse.com/ Sober Network, Inc. https://sobernetwork.com/  Sober Systems https://sobersystems.com/  Email Dr. Harold Jonas at jonas@sobernetwork.com  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addiction is not the problem, it's the result of not knowing how to access a safe place within – and a lot of that has to do with regulating your emotions. When you don’t have the toolbox for emotional regulation, that’s when addiction starts to arise. You start to feel this void and so you fill it up with food, drugs, alcohol, or something detrimental to your health and well-being.    Learn how to equip yourself with the right tools and techniques to help you on this journey to finding peace and calmness so you can finally manifest your vision of a fresh start. On today’s episode, Duane speaks with wellness and stress management coach, Edwige Gilbert Blade.    Edwige is the founder of New Life Directions and the author of The Fresh Start Promise: 28 Days to Total Mind, Body, Spirit Transformation. She has over 30 years of experience working with individuals and groups and conducting seminars, retreats, and lectures around the world. Her forte is teaching people how to transform stress into success, clear unwanted habits, and live healthier and happier lives.    Edwige holds certifications in neurolinguistic programming, NLP hypnotherapy, substance abuse counseling, behavioral change yoga, and Qigong. Today, she shares her wisdom, knowledge, and experience of how we can change our situation by using the power of the mind from a centered space so we can create new possibilities.    In this episode, you will hear: The 3 C’s of mindful meditation How hypnosis is helpful in treating addiction How to get to a state of calmness and release anxiety Why having a vision is very important Becoming your own inner coach vs. the inner critic Finding ways to regulate your emotions  Self-compassion vs. self-indulgence Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: New Life Directions http://newlifedirections.com  Follow Edwige on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwigegilbert/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edwige.gilbert.7  Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdwigeGilbert  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwige-gilbert-3331162/ NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Change is possible. There is hope. You just need a roadmap toward that change. On today's episode, Duane speaks with Lee LaMee, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who has a lot of wisdom and experience in the field of change.    Lee talks about his book, The Theory & Practice of Well-Being: Your Comprehensive & Actionable Guide to the Good Life, which he has put together in a digestible, down-to-earth, pragmatic way so people can take action. He also shares his personal experience, having worked on both sides of this field – the medical side and the mental health side – and how that all came together to create a guide to help people live their best life.   With a background in various settings including oncology, psychiatry, Veterans Affairs, and medical-surgical nursing, Lee studied in Amsterdam before continuing his studies in the United Kingdom. He has worked as a registered nurse and is also a U.S. Air Force veteran. Lee is very passionate about human behavior and helping others improve their mental well-being.    In this episode, you will hear: The correlation between illnesses and the mind-body connection Two reasons people change The 5A’s: the foundational concepts to forward your own sense of well being The antidote to chronic guilt and shame The role of spirituality and the invisible line in life The triad of passivity, rigidity, and chaos Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com The Theory & Practice of Well-Being: Your Comprehensive & Actionable Guide to the Good Life https://www.amazon.com/Theory-Practice-Well-Being-Comprehensive-Actionable/dp/1544529406  *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine if you were in college right now, do you think you could ever survive it? Today, college students are met with so many issues. At this stage of their life where they’re exploring their identity, they’re presented with all of this information on social media telling them that they're not enough and not doing enough. Add that to the already massive amount of academic pressure, especially in prominent universities. Plus, the pandemic, which has exacerbated the mental health concerns of many.    And when you're not sure of who you are and who you want to be in the world, all this can be very detrimental. Due to a lack of access to coping strategies or social support, it’s prevalent for this demographic to turn to either self-medication or substance abuse. How then should college students navigate through this season of their life knowing and feeling that they’re enough and they’re supported?   On today's episode, Duane speaks with Dr. Christine Catipon, a licensed clinical psychologist, about the impact of the COVID pandemic related to substance use and self-medication among college students. Having been in college counseling settings for the last 12 years, Christine has seen a significant amount of shift and growth – a lot of it has to do with accessibility to information on social media, which is a major stressor to a lot of college students.   Christine works full-time at the Counseling and Psychological Services Center at Stanford University, is the current vice president of the Asian-American Psychological Association, and has held numerous leadership positions in the Filipino-American community.    In this episode, you will hear: Christine’s career background and her passion for helping college students A rise in anti-Asian hate on social media and how it’s impacting students Some challenges college students are experiencing today Why college students resort to self-medication Coping strategies and resources to help students through tough times Ways to manage your anxiety Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Connect with Christine on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-catipon-psy-d-68a25969/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addiction is not a new problem in the workplace. In fact, about 70% of folks that are using illicit drugs are employed in the workplace, either full-time or part-time. However, this is not a comfortable topic for people to talk about obviously due to the stigma around it.    How do we then bridge that gap and break the silence so people get the help they need, and for total recovery to take place?   On today's episode, Duane speaks with Cheryl Brown-Merriwether, HR professional and recovery support professional, about the innovations in the workplace as well as addiction and recovery from a workplace perspective and a human relations perspective.    Cheryl holds a number of certifications with several years of experience working with clinical professionals in addiction and recovery support services. Through educational programs, Cheryl is committed to helping people in the workplace understand addiction, substance use disorder, and recovery. Cheryl hopes to reduce the stigma and change the whole perspective around addiction and recovery in the workplace.    In this episode, you will hear: What’s changing in the workplace How to break the stigma of recovery The benefits of external partnership Working with people who struggled with addiction The importance of connecting at all three levels of the workplace How to extend the workforce and empower the frontliners About the International Center of Addiction and Recovery Education Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s important to look at addiction from the perspective of seeing how the body operates, specifically our nervous system. By figuring out what changes can be done from a neurological approach, we then begin to heal, treat, and change for the better.   If your nervous system isn't in tune, then you're not going to be able to make those connections. You go down the path of loneliness and because it’s too painful, you try to find a way out. And if you don’t know what’s going on in your nervous system, then you resort to sex, drug, alcohol, etc. – and you get stuck.    On this episode, Duane speaks with Dr. Michael Barta, a licensed professional counselor and certified sex addiction therapist, about the neurological approach to the treatment of addiction. Dr. Barta created the TINSA and ENTUNE models to show how working directly with the brain and nervous system enables individuals to reestablish authentic connections so people struggling with addiction can heal their traumas.    Dr. Michael Barta is a leading expert in addressing and treating the source of sexually compulsive behaviors. He is a pioneer in the neurobiological treatment of addictions. His research-based cutting-edge treatments have successfully treated hundreds of men, women, and couples facing the devastation caused by sexually compulsive behaviors, helping them return to living authentic lives.    In this episode, you will hear: What is the polyvagal system? What is TINSA? What is ENTUNE? Working with a system instead of trying to control a system What is a deprivation trauma? The need for co-regulation of the social engagement system  How to activate the social engagement system Key Quotes: [08:08] - "Polyvagal means that the autonomic nervous system is broken down into three branches. This was revolutionary because up until that time, we thought it was just two branches." [10:36] - "My work became about how these traumatic events affect the person. And what I found in my work was that this nervous system was malaligned." [12:47] - "What sex addiction has been called for years – intimacy disorder. But there's never been a super great neuroscientific explanation of intimacy disorder." [15:00] - "We have this operating system inside of us. And each one of us has one. And it happens below our level of consciousness. But it's responsible for everything we think, say, and do." [23:10] - "It wasn't about the high. It was about the quiet. It was about finally, the noise turned off in my body – the anxiety, the self-loathing, the insecurity – it was gone." [39:54] - "You're doing it because you're hurt, and start healing the hurt. If we heal the hurt, we don't have to kill the pain." Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: https://drmichaelbarta.com/  NovusMindfulLife.com TINSA: A Neurological Approach to the Treatment of Sex Addiction https://www.amazon.com/TINSA-Neurological-Approach-Treatment-Addiction/dp/198173869X The Polyvagal Theory by Dr. Stephen W. Porges https://www.amazon.com/Polyvagal-Theory-Neurophysiological-Communication-Self-Regulation/dp/0393707008  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many people go through their day always having to do something. Whether that’s getting involved in your kid’s activities, running errands, or working – you do things every day to ignite your fire. Even when you work out, you think the harder, faster, or heavier it is, the better.  The question is, do you still have the time to breathe? It’s important to understand that as much as you’re igniting your fire within, you also have to find your breath.  On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Michelle Hillier, speaker, recovery coach, and mind/body educator, about finding your breath and fire and balancing both as you come home to your authentic self. Michelle shares her story of alcoholism and recovery. Now sober for over a year, Michelle feels she has entered her authentic self again, after being lost for 25 years. Movement, yoga, and breathwork were essential parts of her recovery process, which she also teaches to other people through her speaking and workshops across organizations. In this episode, you will hear: Michelle’s story of recovery Hiding the need for support through alcohol Glamorizing booze amidst the pandemic How she found her authentic self Finding her middle way between breath and fire How to use movement, breathwork, and yoga to connect to your authentic self Key Quotes: [16:32] - “I thought ‘what would my life look like without alcohol? And then I would just not want to think about it and continue drinking.” [27:26] - "Breath and Fire was birthed out of my recovery." [29:03] - “Having either a pilot light or a blazing inferno, how do we find this optimal, controlled blaze? The birth of Breath and Fire is from recognizing in my day – when do I need breath and when do I need fire?” [31:09] - “When are you taking time, even just 10 minutes, to let your nervous system settle and find your breath?” [32:59] - “If you want to squat or do a stretch or whatever it is, move the energy through your body.” [34:15] - "Meditation is just being aware of our thoughts. Sitting in physical stillness and closing your eyes... connect to your breath, be aware of it." [40:56] - “There's lots of power in one breath. Never forget that.” Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Website: https://www.breathandfire.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breathandfire  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the years, our society has normalized drinking. At almost every party or event, booze is a huge part of the celebration. No booze = no fun. But what if we could create a space where everyone can just have fun while still being their authentic self – minus the alcohol? On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Drew Davis, Founder of Gem Life + Bar. Drew tells her story of healing trauma, her resiliency, and her drive to move forward and create a space of wellness that gives people the opportunity to enjoy social spaces without alcohol.  Over the last decade, Drew has battled the ugly side effects of autoimmune diseases. At the same time, she struggled with depression which led her to resort to drinking. After experiencing some life-threatening issues with some of her autoimmune diseases, Drew knew it was time for her to reevaluate the toxic things in her life and move towards a healthy and authentic space.  Drew created Gem Bar, an inclusive alcohol-free space that allows people to indulge, experience, and connect with booze-free options, as well as achieve sustainable wellness and self-care.  In this episode, you will hear: What it’s like to struggle with autoimmune diseases How to deal with trauma head-on An elevated living with an alcohol-free life What happens at the Gem Bar How to deal with the negative voices in your head Key Quotes: [09:41] - "There was a lot of healing I have to do in order to become a better human to myself and to everybody around me." [11:08] - "There was so much trauma stored in my body. And I knew that's what was causing me to be sick." [18:25] - “It's just a beautiful place to be when you have nothing to influence you but you're just your raw authentic self.” [19:34] - “Our society teaches us the opposite. There’s always so much shame and guilt about being who we are a lot of times and that causes trauma.” [20:52] - “Sometimes you feel like you're alone in your trauma or nobody understands. It's nice to connect with people who understand a certain level without judgment.  [20:56] - “Giving is always healing, without expectations of receiving.” [22:43] - “It's just beautiful to watch the shift in the mindset of normalizing not drinking.” Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Website: https://gemlifecollective.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gemlifeandbar/​​  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dealing with Codependency in the LGBTQ+ Community with Miriam Geiger The LGBTQ community has long been underserved by the mental health care system as well as recovery supports, despite being an increasingly visible and sizable part of the general population. In part, this is due to the ongoing discrimination and prejudice that members of the LGBTQ community face on a daily basis.  According to Marriage and Family therapist, Miriam Geiger, who is also part of the LGBTQ+ community, many LGBTQ people find themselves struggling with issues of codependency in their relationships due to the overlapping issues of trauma, marginalization, and lack of safe spaces to express themselves and their identity. If you want to learn more about Miriam and her work around codependency and relationships, check out https://theaddictedmind.com/198 and her website miriamgeiger.com. In this episode, you will hear: Codependency in the LGBTQ+ community Dealing with a sense of distorted self Why the LGBTQ+ people are the most empathetic people Other common issues that the LGBTQ+ community faces The challenges of being in such a small community Thinking about the developmental process and lifespan as an LGBTQ Finding your way to recovery Key Quotes: [10:01] - “The self wants to be accepted by the community.” [13:38] - “We need other people to love us… But the problem is that the drive is so strong, that when you layer on this other stuff, it gets a little convoluted." [20:25] - "The LGBTQ people are some of the most empathetic, sweetest, and loving. When you come out of hard things, it also creates all this tenderness and the ability to have empathy." [24:58] - “Just asking ‘what was your coming out’ like can be great. It's not all about sexuality or gender, necessarily, but it's not ‘not about it’ at the same time.” [27:07] - "Think about people in a developmental process almost, that it does affect every little part of the lifespan in its own unique way. It's very different to be an LGBTQ senior." [29:53] - "One thing I've learned is that people are all the same, and they're all incredibly different."  [33:33] - "Find something that resonates and gives you some sense of hope, and also some sense of direction." Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com www.MiriamGeiger.com  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Amy Liz Harrison, host of the Eternally Amy podcast and author of several amazing books "Eternally Expecting" and "Eternally Awkward."  Amy shares her story of struggling with alcohol, being a mom of eight, and how finally, in one very difficult moment, she had to face herself and the consequences of her drinking. She unveils her whole story from the beginning, all the way to the end, and finally, to where she is now, living a fulfilling life that is meaningful, connected, and authentic. Growing up, Amy felt she didn’t belong. She built a life and a foundation around faith so she was conditioned that she should be able to get through anything because she’s got God. And so, there was this thread of shame as an overarching theme in her life, thinking she didn’t have the right to feel that way. She was concerned about where to find this manual to life, because it was not showing up in her mailbox. Eventually, she found herself addicted to drinking and faking her way through rehab – until that one fateful day when she was left with no other choice but to surrender. Learn more about Amy’s inspiring story today and how one little spark of willingness is all it took for her to finally come to healing and light.    In this episode, you will hear: Her first experience with alcohol and how her alcohol use progressed Getting into rehab through the help of her husband The mental gymnastics involved The pivotal moment getting a DUI Going through recovery for yourself and not for anyone else The importance of having someone to hold space for you early on Finding empowerment and realizing you have power in the situation Key Quotes: [18:13] - "The alcohol was like pouring gasoline on a fire. It just didn't help at all, if anything, it completely inflamed the situation." [22:11] - "I faked my way through rehab... I spent the next two weeks telling all those neighbor friends and everybody I knew that rehab had taught me how to drink normally." [25:07] - "Before I understood the disease of addiction, I had no tolerance at all, no empathy for any of these stories." [28:17] - "I'm going to have to try and do this for me... I just had a little tiny spark of willingness at that point. And that was what I needed." [30:03] - “The onset of the crazy and wildly wonderful part of recovery is that so many things were the opposite of what I thought." [38:23] - "What is my part in all the resentments that I've developed over the years and all of the things that I've wanted to blame somebody else for?"  [41:47] - "I realized it was okay to be a human being with feelings. To walk through those feelings and to process them was so much better than trying to numb them out."  [46:09] - “Consider the possibility that maybe – just maybe – it could be better on the other side. Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Instagram: @amylizharrison Email: amy@amylizharrison.com  Podcast: https://sites.libsyn.com/411644  Website: amylizharrison.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fear of abandonment is universal. The problem is – we try to medicate that feeling with whatever gives us instant gratification (drugs, alcohol, food, television, sleeping, social media, shopping, etc.)  Whatever that looks like, addiction can stem from an unhealed abandonment wound. And when you fail to take care of that wound, it can lead to self-sabotage. So how do we heal our abandonment issues? On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Susan Anderson, founder of Abandonment Recovery, a program that helps people with numerous issues such as heartbreak loss, self-sabotage, addiction, and compulsion. Susan shares her own story of how she got into this work of dealing with abandonment. Susan gives us an illustration of what abandonment looks like, how it impacts our life, and what we can do to overcome it. Susan points out that overcoming abandonment is a doing process. Therefore, just knowing about it isn't necessarily going to help you overcome the wound that may be negatively impacting your life. There needs to be action. In this episode, you will hear: Why abandonment is universal The correlation between abandonment and addiction Loneliness as a huge adult trigger Early abandonment vs. normal level of abandonment Self-sabotage and the outer child Forms of self-sabotage The power of visualization Key Quotes: [02:36] - "Abandonment translates to separation anxiety, which is something we all share as human beings. It's universal and we medicate that feeling.” [04:16] - “We all have a fear of abandonment, and when it's triggered by an adult experience, it can create a cascade of hormonal processes in the brain. No matter how strong we are, we can all experience a serious emotional crisis if the trigger is big enough in adulthood." [05:37] - "Overcoming abandonment is a doing process, not just a feeling process. It's a recovery. It's an ongoing process." [10:53] - "When we are going through an adult trigger, even if it's a mild trigger, the thing that we are most vulnerable to is becoming addicted to a substance or to an activity." [19:01] - "If you've had a lot of abandonment, you have a lot of self-sabotage... and you repeat the thing that's so familiar." [29:16] "You don't have to make gigantic changes to have your dreams start to line. You need to make enough of a change just to get that door to swing. It's an amazing thing that small changes make huge differences." [34:18] "Everyone's looking for a magic bullet that's why addictions are so popular... but they have to enter on a journey of developing a new relationship with themselves and it's something they have to really work out and take very seriously." Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Abandonment Recovery https://www.abandonment.net/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane speaks with ultra-runner and recovering alcoholic and addict, Henry Ward, as he shares his own story of recovery, about how alcoholism and drugs took his whole life, and finally getting into treatment.  For a few years, Henry was wandering around, not being able to do anything, until he stumbled into running. Today, he shares how running has impacted his life, and how he uses running, not only in his own recovery but also to bring his passion for running to others through his nonprofit Running Without the Devil.  Growing up in a family and community where alcohol was prevalent, Henry subconsciously knew he got the addictive gene. Eventually, he got stuck into this vicious cycle which caused a lot of damage to his reputation and pushed away relationships. Ultimately, he went into treatment and discovered his passion for running. The more runner’s high he got, the more he felt like himself. After 22 years of drinking and using, Henry had dealt with all the pain, the shame, and the guilt. And so, for him, his physical pain from running was nothing compared to what he went through back then – because if he got through that, then he can get through anything.  In this episode, you will hear: Henry’s story of addiction Putting the work in to set yourself up for success Discovering his passion for running What is an ultra-marathon? Pushing through the stinking thinking How he used his history of addiction to his advantage Key Quotes: [33:19] - "There is no magic pill. It doesn't matter if it's diet or exercise or recovery from addiction, you have to put the work in. If you want to succeed in a career, you can't just half-ass it.” [33:30] - "If you have a half-assed recovery, you're going to get half-assed results, and you probably go back out there." [38:15] - "I found that thing that helps you burn off the anxiety, get me out of my own head, get my confidence back. And when I run, I feel like myself. The more runner's high you get, the more I feel like myself." [40:22] - "You get a lot of time on your feet. But you get a lot of time in your head, and you really learn a lot about yourself and what the human body is capable of." [43:02] - "Quiet the negative voices. Quiet that devil and just take it like a small little fragment, and break it down... it teaches you to stay in the moment." [46:22] - "Everything always works out for the better and better than you imagine. It doesn't matter what it is, you get what you put into it." [46:29] - "Keep hustling, keep trying, keep asking people and keep networking, and something good is going to come of it. Put the time in, but it's not worth worrying about." Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Running Without the Devil https://runningwithoutthedevil.com  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s always shame and guilt attached to addiction. But once you get to the other side of addiction, it’s going to be better than the life you had before. One of the mindset shifts important in recovery is being able to separate yourself from the addiction. Addiction is a chronic disease, it’s not a moral failing. Therefore, you should learn not to take it personally. On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Tish Marsh who shares her own struggle with opioid addiction that started after she had some medical procedures. Tish was a high-functioning addict that as a pharmacist, she still managed to work with drugs daily. But she reckons her profession was also instrumental to her recovery. Listen in as Tish also talks about her YouTube channel, Ask Pharmacist Tish, where she interviews the homeless community and advocates for mental health and addiction treatment and support. Her purpose is to expose the addiction and mental health issues that need to be treated so people can ultimately get out of homelessness.  In this episode, you will hear: Her addiction and recovery story How addiction gets you to a survival mode How being a pharmacist helped her with her addiction Understanding the science behind the addiction Homelessness and addiction Talking to the homeless, hearing their stories, and validating their pain Key Quotes: [09:30] - "If you don't have those medications or whatever you're addicted to… everything is tunnel vision… Everything is about survival. You're in survival mode.” [10:12] - "Because I was a pharmacist, that helped me separate the addiction from myself... understanding it was the nature of the beast.” [11:02] - "It doesn't matter who you are, addiction will grab you. And if you don't know how to wrestle with it, it's going to pull you down with it.” [17:10] - "With addiction, you get so embarrassed...know what the drugs are... don't take it personally. Back away from the stigma." [25:48] - "My purpose is to expose or to bring to the surface the mental health that needs to be treated, and the addiction that needs to be treated from that to get out of the homelessness." [30:56] - "There's life on the other end of that and you're still alive. You still have a purpose." [31:58] - "Don't take it personally. It's a chronic disease. It's not a moral failing. Get a purpose, do something else. This addiction is lame, do something else." Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com YouTube: Ask Pharmacist Trish: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbJGHpudhkX3JPrfED2U9fg  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's an epidemic of a chemical overdose in our country today where more and more people are sick and dying faster. In fact, a 2021 report from the Centers for Disease Control suggests that over 100,000 people died of chemical overdoses in one year. This is not just an entrepreneurial, academic exercise. It’s now a moral obligation. Is there a way to do better than the conventional recovery industry? What does it take? Could we use innovation to build a platform that includes technology, residential, medical, psychotherapeutic engagement, and long-term aftercare?  On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Tom Feegel, CEO of Beond Treatment. Not only does he have his own story of addiction and recovery to tell, but he also talks about how his entrepreneurial spirit has led him to create a place for individuals who are struggling with addiction and emotional trauma.  Discover how a medicinal plant derivative called Ibogaine can help treat addiction and trauma so people who are suffering can finally unlock the chains and start a new life beyond addiction and trauma.  In this episode, you will hear: Tom’s story of addiction and recovery How his entrepreneurial spirit influenced his own recovery The importance of learning to listen De-risking a venture What is Ibogaine and how does it work? Key Quotes: [05:35] - “There's actually one psychedelic that is conventionally used to overcome first opioid addiction and it was oftentimes used in other types of addiction – it’s called Ibogaine.” [07:41] - "About two and a half million people will go to rehab in the United States this year. And the statistical probability of success is debated somewhere around single-digit percentage for many.” [11:31] - “In de-risking a venture, oftentimes, the biggest failure is giving people what they say they want or need, rather than what they truly want or need.” [14:20] - “In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control says for the first time in U.S. history, over 100,000 people will have died this year of chemical overdose, and that it was rising. It's not just an entrepreneurial, academic exercise. This is a moral obligation." [25:18] - "The Iboga plant is used ceremonially and has been used since time immemorial in Gabon, specifically for initiation in the transitions of life." [28:31] - “After they take Ibogaine, the first step is they don't feel a craving. The second step is they want to change. Now they want to heal and have a sense of purpose and renewal. That's when we surround them with the conventional tools of recovery in psychotherapy.” [29:01] - "Iboga is the natural derivative of this plant. It's actually the bark of the root. Ibogaine is refined hydrochloride that's purified and testable for its purity." [43:36] - "Many people have come before you and recovered. I'm one of them. You deserve it. You deserve to heal because you can put all that pain to work. And you can help someone who will come after you. Never give up." Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com https://www.beond.us/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIG_mKl-lzULk8s8s4J3-PA  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stress and peer pressure are big issues with teens which could result in feelings of anxiety and depression, or worse, substance or alcohol abuse. School is complicated with all the peer pressure involved. And so, as parents, we need to give them the support they need as they walk their way through life.  Oftentimes, parents are very focused on getting their kids better, but they're not doing anything to support themselves. What if there was a program that provides holistic support to both parents and teens? Well, the good news is there is – and it doesn’t cost anything to get the resources that you and your kids need.  On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Kim Bemis of Gobi, a comprehensive educational platform that provides the first online drug and alcohol prevention and early intervention programs for parents and their teenagers that you do together. Gobi is dedicated to helping middle and high school teens and their families rethink their relationship with drugs and alcohol.  Gobi is a platform for teens and parents to navigate difficult conversations about substance misuse. It helps teens get the skills needed to handle stress, peer pressure, and substance abuse, and it helps parents support their teenagers who might be struggling with it or are experimenting with it.  In this episode, you will hear: Providing support to parents and teens What the 21-day program entails Why parents and teens are required to take walks together A focus on building skills to handle stress and peer pressure Common challenges of kids who walk through their program Motivational listening and interviewing with parents Prevention vs. intervention Key Quotes: [11:33] - "We all think that we should let our teenagers go and grow up, but we actually need to pay a little more attention to them." [13:35] - "We don't talk about how evil substance use is; we focus on building skills." [16:20] - "What I really hope is that we can disrupt the cycle for some of these kids and give them a different way of handling some of these pressures and ideas so that they don't end up being addicted." [18:29] - "Of the 65% of the kids who complete the program, 70% say they're willing to consider reducing or eliminating their substance use." [19:29] - "The hard part is getting the teen to talk to you."  [21:04] - "Oftentimes, parents are very focused on getting their kid better, but they're not doing anything to support themselves." [24:25] - "We encourage parents to have a conversation with their kid about rules and consequences… The clearer you are about that messaging upfront, the less likely your kid is going to use.” Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com www.gobi.support Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether it's divorce, job loss, addiction, or being the spouse of an addict, we're all going through recovery from something. We can make our own path – and that’s what recovery is all about. You’ve just got to learn how to pick up and move on.  On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with certified recovery and family addiction coach, Dana Golden, who talks about living on the other side of addiction. She shares what it was like living with a partner struggling with addiction and how she found her own freedom through that. Growing up, Dana's dad had a process addiction – gambling, sex, alcohol, you name it. From that, she learned some very maladaptive behaviors to cope with, which she carried over later on with her other relationships, including her then-husband. She eventually got sick and tired of being sick and tired. Having been brought up with the idea that she needs a man, she finally understood that her whole recovery journey was all about advocating for herself and celebrating her independence as a woman. Fast-forward to today, Dana and her ex-husband have come full circle, having co-authored the book “Addiction Rescue: The NO-BS Guide to Recovery,” and maintaining a great relationship, now as business partners and certified recovery coaches, helping other families heal. In this episode, you will hear: Going into a cycle of dysfunctional relationships How her ex-spouse gambled everything away Learning how to separate the person from the addiction How she came full-circle with her ex-husband Setting boundaries for yourself What happens during an intervention Key Quotes: [04:30] - "I thought by dumping his cocaine down the toilet, or emptying his bottles of booze in the sink that I can control his use... I quickly learned I wasn't going to cure him and I needed to cure me." [06:56] - "Just like an addict that's sick and tired of being sick and tired, I was sick and tired of being sick and tired." [10:31] - “We can make our own path and that's what recovery is all about. We have to recover from everything in life, whether it's divorce, job loss, addiction, or being the spouse of an addict. We're all in recovery from something.” [13:44] - "It doesn't matter how many times you fall down, it's just about picking yourself up again, and how many times you can get up – because anything's possible." [18:45] - "Relapse is a part of addiction... every time there's a relapse, it's an opportunity for growth." [20:55] - "Boundaries are so important. And before you can set them, you have to know that it's a boundary you can keep." Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com www.DanaGolden.com www.liferecoverycoach.com  Email: dana@danagolden.com  Addiction Rescue: The NO-BS Guide to Recovery by David Marlon and Dana Golden Find out what maladaptive role you've taken on in your relationship: www.danagolden.com/quiz.  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with Sarah Michaud, clinical psychologist and author of Co-Crazy: One Psychologist's Recovery from Codependency and Addiction: A Memoir and Roadmap to Freedom.  One of the reasons Sarah published a book on codependency is that after working with patients and clients for the last 30 years, Sarah noticed that a lot of them were recovering addicts and alcoholics. In her book, Co-Crazy, Sarah shares her own story as well. In 2006, Sarah married a guy, who was 15 years sober, and thought he was the man of her dreams. Unfortunately, he ended up relapsing after getting surgery and getting into the opiates. The major underlying issue for a lot of recovering addicts is unresolved codependency. Codependent behavior comes out of fear and addiction comes out of fear or unresolved feelings. For an addicted person, there’s all that rationalizing, minimizing, and denial happening. It’s the same process for the codependent as well. How do you then recover from codependency and addiction? Today, Sarah discusses how focusing on yourself and understanding your own needs and wants first, is the way to find peace and freedom in your life – not sacrificing yourself for someone else's addiction. In this episode, you will hear: Codependency and addiction How codependency becomes progressive Focusing on yourself to get better The consequences of codependency Reconnection to the self Confronting the discomfort and being with it Key Quotes: [02:47] - “Codependent behavior comes out of fear, and addiction comes out of fear or unresolved feelings." [06:17] "Many people who are codependent don't have an addiction. They're just preoccupied with their partner's lives." [10:36] "Until I realized that I had to focus on myself to get better, and start figuring out what I needed, I couldn't change the situation." [11:37] "The biggest fear is the person dying… the delusion is that you're controlling the other person's behavior." [15:17] “The consequence of codependent behavior is that the people around us start to believe they can't take care of themselves.”  [32:47] "If you can confront the discomfort and be with the discomfort, there might be a spike of intense bodily sensations. But if you set the boundary that is for longer-term comfort, then you're not going to have to experience it.” [36:45] “Check in with yourself even if it's five minutes a day and say, “What do I want? What do I need? What works for me?” because recovery is all about getting more in touch with yourself.” Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Co-Crazy: One Psychologist's Recovery from Codependency and Addiction: A Memoir and Roadmap to Freedom www.amazon.com/Co-Crazy-Psychologists-Recovery-Codependency-Addiction/dp/1736720430 Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks with keynote speaker, author, executive coach, and humanitarian, Ron Kardashian.  Author of the book, 30-Second Solution: Transform Your Body, Business, Relationships, and Life in Just Seconds at a Time, Ron discusses how making micro-changes in your life can change your brain and live the life you want. We all can change that narrative – and in changing that narrative and that belief system, we can change our life.  Ron’s career started as a national strength and conditioning specialist; in other words, he was a personal trainer. His word of choice is Kinesiology, which is basically the study of human movement, and so, it was natural for him to fall in love with health and fitness. Ron played sports all the way through high school, and it landed him his own private practice in California. By the time he was 25, Ron had made it to the NFL consulting for professional athletes. One day, a gentleman from the San Francisco 49ers asked for his help. And what began as this in-depth study on human behavior and human performance from a mental standpoint has ultimately launched Ron's career as an executive coach for the last 20 years. Eventually, his practice moved into coaching business leaders, ecumenical leaders, heads of government, and heads of state. At that time, Ron was also suffering from his own addictions. And so, it was a three-fold quest to be healed, to become a practitioner, and to help other people. In this episode, you will hear: The correlation between success and personal development Hiring someone to trust Knowing yourself better through deep introspection Education - a very important element in addiction recovery Understanding the law of neuroplasticity The power of investing in yourself Choosing to be a better person in our micro-decisions Key Quotes: [04:38] - “As you unpack human behavior, you find the underlying root cause connected to traumas people go through... then the drug of choice is birthed because they're trying to learn coping mechanisms to smother these feelings and behaviors."  [05:43] "The path of self-discovery is the home of the human soul in that we are on a personal quest to become better me's." [06:13] "The most wealthy people and the most successful people all have personal development as a core value." [07:28] “The side effect of a traumatized person is that you become very reclusive… if you can't find somebody that you trust, you can hire someone to trust.” [21:22] "The worst thing that human beings can do is hide areas they need to disclose, you have to get it out. It's a toxic poison." [24:16] "When somebody takes time to invest in themselves, it substantiates value. It sends a message to the brain that says, ``I am worthy." [32:50] - “These 30-second choices to choose an excellent spirit will transform your thinking and transform the lives of other people. It's very powerful.”   If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Websites: https://leconfidant.com/ www.ronkardashian.com  Books:  30-Second Solution: Transform Your Body, Business, Relationships, and Life in Just Seconds at a Time https://www.amazon.com/Ron-Kardashians-30-Second-Solution-Relationships/dp/0757315852  Getting In Shape God's Way https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Shape-Gods-Way-Fitness/dp/1599793628  Podcast:  Higher with Coach Ron Kardashian https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/higher-with-coach-ron-kardashian/id1570716544  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, Duane interviews Dr. Ursula Whiteside, a clinician, researcher, and trainer in the area of suicide prevention. Ursula struggled with her suicidal thoughts throughout her life, and in 1999, she moved to Washington state to learn from Marsha Linehan, the creator of DBT (dialectical behavior therapy). Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in some age groups and is more prevalent than car accidents, homicides, and breast cancer. Beyond these statistics, it is estimated that 10 million Americans every year have suicidal ideation.   The exciting thing is that this overwhelming emotional crisis that can lead to suicidal ideation is not sustainable in the brain for more than 48 hours. So while people are within this timeframe, it often feels like things will always be this bad and that there is no hope. While it might not be helpful for them to think that they might feel this way for a couple of days, it might be beneficial for them to know that they will only feel this way for a couple of days at most. When Ursula talks with someone amid their suicidal ideation, she tells them to wait until this suicidal period passes before deciding to act on their ideation.   There are a few simple things that someone in an overwhelming emotional crisis can do: (1) try to describe what is happening, (2) practice mindfulness by being in touch with your emotions, and (3) submerge your face in cold water for 20 seconds at a time for 3-5 minutes. For friends and family members, it can be helpful to know how to respond to their loved one’s thoughts and feelings. The best way to support them is by listening to them, taking care of them, and just being there for them. Suicidal thoughts are not uncommon, especially during adolescence, and in addition to DBT and ongoing conversations with your physician, the Now Matters Now website is an excellent resource for learning how to cope with difficult emotions and how to get through an overwhelming emotional crisis step-by-step.   Ursula wants everyone struggling with suicidal thoughts that you can make plans for things to be different. You don’t have to believe your thoughts, and you can reach out for help in navigating these.   Links: https://depts.washington.edu/uwbrtc/our-team/marsha-linehan/ https://www.dbsalliance.org/   Connect with Ursula: https://www.ursulawhiteside.org/ https://www.nowmattersnow.org/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you train your brain to improve your sleep, better your health, and possibly abolish your tolerance for alcohol, drugs, or other things you might be struggling with? According to today’s guest, Dr. Andrew Hill, peak performance coach and the founding director of Peak Brain Institute, one of the most insidious things about brain and mind-stuff is that we feel like things are not going to change, and that is just not true. The brain shift happens – it's not a question of if, but how. Peak Brain Institute is a gym for your brain. It is a brain optimization company across life stages for some people. Neuroscientists help people take control of their own neuroscience the same way your favorite personal trainer at your gym helps you learn how to move through transformation goals. Also known as brain training, most forms of neurofeedback are a passive form of operant conditioning, but in an involuntary form. It’s essentially taking something you're not usually aware of. For instance, they’re raising information from the brain waves or blood flow up to a level where the brain can interact with it. Dr. Hill emphasizes the use of the brain, not the mind. Hence, it’s different from the classic biofeedback techniques such as the use of relaxation therapy. Neurofeedback is an option for you to help with your brain, and studies show its positive impact on people dealing with issues pertaining to anxiety, stress, alcohol use, and drug use. On this episode, Dr. Hill talks about what's going on and what's happening in the brain as this process is unfolding so you can gain a better understanding of your brain, what makes up who you are, and how you can change or improve that.  In this episode, you will hear: Biofeedback versus neurofeedback How your brain is trained to achieve your goals How brain mapping works The differences in results with eyes closed versus eyes opened The impact of brain training on physical fitness How neurofeedback impacts people with alcohol and substance issues Key Quotes: [04:46] "Neurofeedback is biofeedback, or a form of control, shaping, or exercise of stuff in your brain.”  [04:55] - "All neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback, but not all forms of biofeedback are done in the brain." [07:53] - “It's mostly involuntary because you can't feel your beta waves or your theta waves. But after about three or four sessions, you get this lingering effect that tends to show up for a couple of hours to about a day. It tends to impact the resources you have trained like your sleep, stress, and attention, and you get noticeable changes." [10:00] - "Your brain is mostly an electrical and mechanical machine... and the resources of your brain are roughly the same." [11:35] - "There are some things that emerge in the EEG that are almost diagnostic, or that are at least useful." [21:41] - "Other brains with similar complaints and similar goals don't respond the same way when you start doing neurofeedback. And so, you have to be very aware of the actual person's experience." [32:08] - "If you do a few weeks of neurofeedback, you abolish the tolerance for cannabis." [39:21] "One of the most insidious things about brain and mind-stuff is that we feel like things are not going to change, and that is just not true. The brain shift happens... It's not a question of if, it's how." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Peak Brain Institute https://peakbraininstitute.com  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Teenagers are normally withdrawn. But once you see some shifts in behavior or probably a liquor missing from the liquor cabinet, these could be red flags that your young adult is struggling with addiction. On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with Maks Ezrin, certified recovery coach and co-founder of Youth Prevention Mentors, and shares what they’re currently doing to help mentor young adults so they don’t fall into the trap of addiction – striking addiction before addiction strikes. Maks had his own experience with early addiction. Born and raised in New York City, Maks was living with his loving parents and pretty much had everything life had to offer. But wanting to be perceived as the cool kid in the bunch, Maks pretty much began partying and experimenting with drugs and alcohol at 13 years old. And by the age he was 15, he tried cocaine and ecstasy.  By college, Maks was doubling down on substance abuse. His four years of college involved daily use of marijuana and Xanax then all of the other maladaptive behaviors came with it. Maks was practically living a double life because his parents knew nothing about it. He was compartmentalizing all these different pieces in his life that were giving him tremendous anxiety and angst, feeding into his addiction. Until one day, he woke up in the back of an ambulance and was still in denial that it was caused by an overdose.  Eventually, Maks came across Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) through his friend who introduced him to it. Over the course of three months, he was using substances and going to meetings until it wasn't fun anymore. He was tired of lying to himself and the people around him who truly wanted him to get better. So on September 24, 2016, he made the full leap into the program. In this episode, you will hear: Maks’ story of addiction and recovery A feeling of being not enough Developing maladaptive behaviors along with the addiction Getting introduced to AA The birth of Youth Prevention Mentors  How YPM provides support to young adults Signs your kids might be struggling The inverse cult of adolescence Breaking the stigma around mental health Key Quotes: [05:17] - "That's a big part of my story being perceived a certain way to kind of fill the void of not being enough." [10:42] - "I didn't have the foresight or the ability to look inward and kind of focus on, you know, what's really making me feel this way and how is this affecting my actions." [21:30] - "This disease takes people and it does not discriminate." [26:03] - "I didn't get the support that I needed and it led to an existence of chaos and overdose and substance misuse – and that doesn't need to be you. Let me give you some education."  [28:03] - “When working with young adults, you have to take on the family.” [29:26] - “We create a life team around the family so that they feel support from all angles, and that there's that united approach of - we all know what direction we're going and we're all being held accountable by our separate parties.” [38:43] - "There's nothing wrong with meeting someone to get some help for your mental health or struggle with addiction." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Youth Prevention Mentors www.youthpreventionmentors.com  Instagram: @youthpreventionmentors Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How has music played an impact on your life? In addiction treatment, there are various ways you can do to get the help you need or get to that place where you can find healing for true recovery to happen – music, being one of them.  On today’s episode, Duane speaks with John Dillon – a singer and songwriter, radio producer, guitar maker, and author – to talk about his latest album, Hope Road: From Addiction to Recovery. John shares his story of finally finding sobriety and spiritual growth through the 12-step community and what led him to share his hope and wisdom through his music.  It's interesting to hear John talk about how he tracked his own recovery through his album. John decided to write this album and share it with others who may still be struggling and who need more hope in their life so they can ultimately achieve recovery. John learned how to play the guitar at 13 years old. Growing up in the 60s, which was the hippie generation, John was a rebellious teenager. And back then, drugs and alcohol were part of the music scene. Seven more years later, the drugs and alcohol were not fun anymore. Then in the 80s, he just became addicted to cocaine.  There was also a time when John joined a spiritual community in New Mexico, which gave him a sheltered life, without drugs and alcohol for eight years. Once he left that path, the drugs and alcohol started to creep back into his life again.  John’s divine intervention came in the form of a run-in with the law, where he ended up getting pulled over by cops who found a bag of cocaine inside his car, along with an opened bottle of wine. At that point, he was ready to surrender and got into the 12-step program. In this episode, you will hear: John’s love of music His addiction to cocaine Going deep into his spirituality From being sober to coming back to addiction Living a double life Running in with the law as the start of his surrender process His 12-step journey How music played a role in his recovery A walk through some tracks in his album Key Quotes: [16:55] - "Music has been a very important part of my life, all through these ups and downs." [22:59] - "There's a certain magic about music. It carries a message in a way that can reach people more directly, more powerfully than the spoken word." [24:30] - "All my life I've there have been little pieces that are starting to make sense." [27:49] - "Being grateful and sharing gratitude is a real key to my sobriety." [28:45] - "It doesn't matter what your religion is, there's a way to get better." [30:18] - "The drug is just the beginning, then you get to dig in deep and find out what were the causes and conditions, and what things you can change and how you can change them." Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Get John’s album on www.hoperoadmusic.com (on a "Pay What You Wish" basis)  Book: The 20-20 Creativity Solution https://motherjonesinheaven.com/product/the-20-20-creativity-solution-book-by-john-dillon/ Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know that in some states, in two weeks after someone is released from incarceration, they are up to 127 times more likely to die of a drug overdose than the general population? On top of that, over two-thirds of people incarcerated are struggling with substance use disorders.  On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Victoria Garrow, co-founding member of The Lookout Project, a nonprofit founded by five college students at the University of Michigan. Victoria explains the reason behind that big overlap between incarcerated people and overdose deaths, as well as their harm reduction approach to addiction treatment and recovery – one overdose response kit at a time. Victoria also shares her own experience with addiction in her family, losing her mother to a drug overdose when she was still 13 years old, and the impact it had on her, eventually turning that experience into founding The Lookout Project. Their hope is that people will be on the lookout for an overdose, especially among incarcerated people once they get out of prison. The antithesis of treatment is isolation. We saw it during the COVID-19 pandemic when many people were dying of overdoses and the rate of addiction was escalating – mainly because they were completely alone.  Through these harm reduction approaches, more people can get access to services despite using drugs. This allows for human interaction, kindness, and connection, thereby, taking away some of the stigma surrounding drug use and welcoming people who use drugs into a space that lets them feel they deserve to be alive. In this episode, you will hear: The big overlap between incarcerated people and drug overdose Why people coming out of incarceration are so vulnerable to overdose How Narcan works for emergency treatment Getting funding for The Lookout Project How the project overcame its struggles in the midst of COVID What’s inside an overdose response kit How to spot an overdose The importance of testing fentanyl in drugs The harm reduction approach to addiction treatment Key Quotes: [04:41] - “In the two weeks after someone is released from incarceration, they're up to 127 times more likely to die of a drug overdose than the general population." [08:20] "The reason why people coming out of incarceration are so vulnerable to overdose is that after being incarcerated, drugs are leaving their system. They're forced into detox and through that process, their tolerance is dropping way down." [09:04] "When those opioid receptors in the brain are full, that actually halts breathing. And so, the Narcan is able to push those opioids out of the receptors and allow breathing to return again." [10:14] "Our hope is that people will be on the lookout for an overdose... or when someone is incarcerated, looking out to when they aren't going to be incarcerated anymore and thinking about how they can prevent overdoses for themselves and also people in their lives." [25:07] "Recovery is any positive step towards change and improvement in one's life... it could just be testing your drugs and using clean needles and making sure you have Narcan with you." [26:11] "Having these harm reduction approaches where more people can get access to services despite using drugs allows for human interaction, kindness, and connection.” If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: The Lookout Project https://www.lookoutproject.org/  Email: victoria@thelookoutproject.org  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of people who come in and seek treatment for addiction are carrying complex trauma from growing up in a narcissistic family structure. And for a lot of people who have grown up in narcissistic families, it can be hard to see the patterns that are there.  Everyone has a level of healthy narcissism. We all see things through our lens to some degree. The narcissist, however, has pathological levels of self-involvement and he or she experiences fundamental developmental deficits early on in life. On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Julie Hall, author of “The Narcissist In Your Life: Recognizing the Patterns and Learning to Break Free,” to talk about narcissism. Released in December 2019, the book aims to examine narcissistic personality disorder and how it affects the people close to a narcissist. Julie does an excellent job of breaking it down and pulling the pieces apart so people will have more clarity around this type of disorder. An educational writer, poet, and journalist, Julie comes from a narcissistic family as well. While working on her memoirs, she came to realize that narcissism had been a major theme throughout her life, so she shifted gears and began to write specifically about narcissism. This became part of Julie’s healing process. Julie has a popular blog called The Narcissist Family Files, and you can find the articles that she writes regularly in Psychology Today. She also has articles in The HuffPost and various other places on the internet.  In this episode, you will hear: What motivated Julie to write the book The narcissistic family The traits of a narcissist Addiction and narcissism Coming out of the denial mechanism Why you need to be careful when seeking a therapist The importance of educating yourself about narcissistic personality disorder Key Quotes: [03:14] - "There are differences unique to a narcissistic family as opposed to an alcoholic family or an addicted family." [13:23] - “Addiction is a huge part of this whole narcissistic family system... people coming out of families like this are dysregulated themselves, and they are carrying complex trauma." [16:20] - "The first step is coming out of denial, taking a hard look at that origin family and those parents, and being willing to acknowledge the ways in which they hurt us and couldn't love us." [17:26] - "Some have had a series of failures with therapists who didn't understand the realities, narcissistic abuse, trauma, what that looks like and what that feels like." [17:41] - "The narcissistic personality will not take responsibility for their behavior. They will not self-reflect. They will not acknowledge fault or flaw, or any kind of behavior that hurts other people, and they don't have that empathy. They don't care." [20:49] - “The narcissist is really operating with different rules, there's a different playbook. And it's important to recognize that and be aware of that to protect ourselves. It's a grieving process.” [21:29] - "Children who grow up in narcissistic families have the same brain scan as war veterans." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Julie’s website and blog: www.narcissistfamilyfiles.com  Books Mentioned:  The Narcissist In Your Life, Recognizing the Patterns and Learning to Break Free by Julie Hall The Narcissistic Family: Diagnosis and Treatment by Robert M. Pressman and Stephanie Donaldson-Pressman Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Depression sucks and it’s such a hard place to be. On the other hand, addiction used to be framed as this lack of moral character or willpower, and addiction, too, is a very hard place to be. But there's hope. On this episode, Duane speaks with Ben Spielberg, the founder and CEO of TMS & Brain Health clinics. Ben is a specialist in neuroscience, neuromodulation, and neuroimaging. Today, Ben is going to talk about TMS or transcranial magnetic stimulation, and how TMS offers hope to people struggling with addiction and its underlying mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, and ultimately, returning joy and passion back to their lives. Ben started working in the field of mental health in 2010 as a biofeedback technician at a Substance Abuse and Recovery Treatment Center in Los Angeles. Part of his work was doing neurofeedback and he was just fascinated at how it impacted people, becoming more resilient to stressors without involving any medication or intervention.  Eventually, Ben got a master's degree in neuroscience at Columbia with the hope to specialize in the overarching field called neuromodulation, which refers to evidence-based, nonpharmaceutical ways to create real changes in the brain. With neurofeedback, all people need to do is to show up. It doesn't really matter what you’re thinking about. Your brain is picking up on the signals regardless. Listen in as Ben sheds some light on how TMS targets and activates specific areas of the brain that help reduce depression, anxiety, and all other underlying issues that lead to addiction. In this episode, you will hear: Ben’s experience in neurofeedback and neuromodulation The concept of neuroplasticity What is TMS and how does it work? Cognitive-behavioral therapy vs. TMS Types of issues TMS can treat The role of ADHD in addiction The history of TMS Key Quotes: [05:54] - "With neurofeedback, all you have to do is show up. It doesn't really matter what you think about. Your brain is picking up on the signals regardless."  [09:53] - "There's a part of the brain called the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex... it's the left top side of your head and that area has been shown to be underactive in people with depression." [10:35] - "When people do TMS typically five days a week, week by week, the symptoms of depression start to go away, just as this other part of the brain starts to come back online." [12:55] - "Cognitive behavioral therapy is definitely an evidence-based treatment for depression. But when it's not working, there's nowhere to go unless you're actually creating real changes in the brain." [15:37] - "People with ADHD are much more likely to be addicted than a neurotypical person… as well as way more likely to be incarcerated and a really a number of issues in life." [17:26] - "ADHD is an issue of sustained focus, whereas normally, people have the ability to continue focusing on things when they want to, and they're not necessarily bothered by any external or internal stimulus." [29:41] - "Addiction is really just a symptom of some other underlying mental health diagnosis." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: TMS & Brain Health Clinics https://www.tmsbrainhealth.com/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When dealing with addiction, whether you’re addicted to alcohol, drugs, porn, food, or whatever it is, one of the most effective ways to achieve recovery is by going all the way back to your inner child and figuring out what triggers your pain points so you can eventually take mindful action. Author and licensed professional counselor, Eddie Capparucci, who specializes in the treatment of sex and pornography addiction, created the inner child recovery process to help people struggling with addiction.  Eddie's father died when he was five and his mother who was left with four children had a nervous breakdown. All kids were then sent out to relatives they didn't even know and they stayed there for a year while she was recovering. Growing up, he found himself very isolated and developed an abandonment issue. With the early pain that he experienced with the loss of his father and his mother leaving him, Eddie was completely alone. As early as 16 years old, Eddie felt he needed to have more than one woman in his life. When he married in his 20s, once again, he found himself looking outside the marriage for companionship and company, even though what he had in his marriage was fine. He was caught cheating and he decided to walk away from his marriage to seek therapy. It was after that when Eddie married his current wife now. He has been happily married for 23 years now and has been faithful the entire time after doing that work. In this episode, Eddie discusses how healing our inner child plays a huge role in the road to addiction, and he specifically, outlines the nine different kinds of the inner child, and how the inner child impacts sexual addiction. In this episode, you will hear: What having a sense of abandonment feels like Bringing your defense mechanisms as a child into the adult world Eddie’s recovery journey How the cycle of addiction works How the inner child recovery process works The nine different kinds of the inner child Being mindful of the triggers The power of slowing down Dealing with high-speed internet pornography Key Quotes: [02:58] - "The road to recovery for our addiction goes to our childhood." [17:25] - "When you start to feel that ugliness within you... that just keeps you in the cycle. You go back to your addiction in order to forget and not feel. And that's the biggest problem."  [17:42] - "One of the keys to dealing with sexual pornography addiction, or any addiction, is learning how to sit with that emotional pain, feel it, and understand that it's not going to kill you no matter how uncomfortable it is.” [21:10] - “By recognizing the childhood pain points, we understand the triggers that activate those pain points. And then the next most important thing in this whole process is mindfulness.” [23:54] - "You have to slow everything down... It's the compulsive behaviors that get us in the situation in the first place." [37:23] - "There are a lot of great resources that are out there that you can tap into so that you can make those substantial changes in your life, and that you can finish strong." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: www.innerchild-sexaddiction.com https://abundantlifecounselingga.com Connect with Eddie: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecapparucci  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/capparucci/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edcappa/  Email: edcappa@gmail.com  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Intimacy is such a key part of healing from trauma and addiction. The more we can be intimate, the more we can heal, and the more we can walk through our suffering. Ultimately, we realize we’re not alone. On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Zoe Kors, a sex and intimacy coach and the author of “Radical Intimacy: Cultivate the Deeply Connected Relationships You Desire and Deserve.” Zoe hosts The Radical Intimacy Podcast, which she launched in conjunction with the book to continue the conversation. As a Zen practitioner, yoga practitioner, and lifelong meditator, Zoe learned how Eastern philosophies and practices lend themselves to alleviating loneliness and disconnection. Especially when the pandemic hit, there’s that whole new level of needing to navigate human connection as well as a new paradigm – and at the foundation of that is the connection with ourselves We are taught to invest resources, time, energy, and money into things like financial stability, physical fitness, and health and wellness. But we are also told not to talk about intimacy, sex, or relationships because we're told it just takes care of itself. But that’s not really true. This is the reason Zoe wrote the book having seen how people have this fear and anxiety around intimacy, but also have a real longing to feel deeply connected. Hence, most of her work is right through the Radical Intimacy Matrix, a roadmap to the intersection of the three levels and the three kinds of intimacy thereby creating these nine areas of opportunity to cultivate connection or intimacy.  In this episode, you will hear: Why a book about radical intimacy Understanding the human conditioning around sex and intimacy 3 levels of intimacy The Radical Intimacy Matrix Cultivating intimacy and working on all the nine areas of the matrix Accessing self-intimacy through central awareness Stepping into witness consciousness Key Quotes: [05:05] - "When the pandemic hit, that's just a whole new level of needing to navigate human connection and a new paradigm. Ultimately, at the foundation of that is the connection with ourselves." [06:24] - “We can only meet each other to the extent that we can meet ourselves. We can't share a piece of ourselves if we don't know what it is that we're sharing." [09:04] "Physical intimacy is the experience of connection and familiarity with our own physicality as well as that of another's." [08:53] - "Emotional intimacy is the experience of recognizing, articulating, expressing, and accepting the feelings and sentiments and moods of ourselves and others." [09:53] - "Energetic intimacy is the experience of feeling deeply connected to someone or ourselves beyond the utility of speech and touch." [18:49] - "Every time there's a difficult situation… step into witness consciousness. What it means is that you're able to simultaneously be in the experience, but also witness yourself in the experience.” [22:47] - “Cultivating intimacy and working all nine areas of the matrix really fortifies your life and balances you in a way that you can move through relationships skillfully." [29:43] - “We're not taught to sort of work this part of our lives. But we're also not taught to be with ourselves.” If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: https://www.zoekors.com/  Radical Intimacy: Cultivate the Deeply Connected Relationships You Desire and Deserve https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Intimacy-Cultivate-Connected-Relationships/dp/0306826607  The Radical Intimacy Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/0dwm96DWeTZ8I0wGIztmbO  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s so easy to compare your own trauma with somebody else's trauma but trauma is trauma. You can have no kids and not be married, and put your dog down. And that can be just as traumatic as somebody who went through losing a child. All of our pain is unique to us and it's painful to us no matter what it is. But at the end of the day, we are all left with two roads – one is the road of anger, despair, and hatred and the other is a road of inspiration and motivation – which one are you going to take? On this episode, Duane speaks with Jeff Johnston about his story of loss and grief, losing his eldest son and his wife to addiction, and having to deal with his own recovery from alcoholism.   Jeff was a functional alcoholic who has been drinking since he was in eighth grade. He was also a compulsive gambler for 15 years. But his pivot point in his life came in October 2016 when his 23-year-old son, Seth died from fentanyl poisoning and heroin overdose. Jeff initially drank his way to cope with the pain. Then in December 2017, as an alcoholic since eighth grade, he just woke up and realized he was tired of being tired. Although we always have two choices, there was only one choice for him because the bitter road was never an option for him. In June 2021, his wife died of alcohol abuse at the age of 46.  Jeff took the deaths in his family as the beginning of something beautiful. For Jeff, things didn’t happen to him, but things had to happen for him. With this kind of mindset, he is committed to living a life undeterred. He made a choice to turn his pain and suffering into something transformative, not only for him but also for other people. And out of that came his Living Undeterred project, where he tours around the United States, working to change the narrative on mental health, substance abuse, and addiction.    In this episode, you will hear: Jeff’s story of losing his 23-year-old son The two roads you can go down Do things happen to you or for you? Pain is unavoidable, suffering is a choice Jeff’s coping mechanisms Keeping yourself from being addicted to your vulnerability Reframing your situation Ending the stigma of addiction About Living Undeterred The opposite of addiction The quiver of arrows metaphor in life  Key Quotes: [08:43] - “Death presented an opportunity for me to be a better man, not a bitter man.” [10:20] - "We have one road of anger, despair, and hatred, and we become alcoholics ourselves. Or we have a road of inspiration and motivation, and this can be the single greatest moment in our lives to make our own lives better and those around us." [11:40] - "As an alcoholic since eighth grade, I just woke up and said, I'm tired of being tired." [13:21] - “Do things happen to you or do things happen for you?” [15:20] - "Pain is unavoidable, but suffering is a choice." [23:00] - “A death of somebody doesn't have to be the end of you. It can be the beginning of something beautiful." [27:59] - “The opposite of addiction is connection.” [31:06] - "We all have a "why" and you just have to find it. And then when you find it, your way gets revealed right in front of you."  If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Living Undeterred https://www.livingundeterred.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmGZTTnszWNlkG0sIGcp-YQ  This One's For You: An Inspirational Journey Through Addiction, Death, and Meaning https://www.thisonesforyoubook.com/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Etel Leit, who talks about her own story of living with addiction – not her own addiction, but in her relationship – and how addiction doesn't just impact the person struggling with addiction, but also everyone around that person.  Addiction is not a one-person thing, but it's something that flows all over. It impacts the family, friends, bosses, and the people around them. Most often, too, addiction is looked at as a family disease.  There’s this idea of trying to change the addicted person and becoming obsessed with it, that they eventually lose their identity along the way and it brings about feelings of shame and embarrassment.  Therefore, part of the healing is not only looking into what goes into an addicted person’s mind, but also acknowledging what’s also going on in the mind of the person living next to the addict so then both parties can go through the healing journey together.   If you’re somebody living with a person struggling with addiction, tune in to learn some tools you can use to heal yourself in the process. Etel also shares her healing journey, going through it and coming out the other side of that, and now working to help others going through the same.  Etel’s book, “UnAddicted to You: Loving Yourself Through the Darkness” is a great read that offers some tools a person living next to an addicted person can use so they can find their spark within them once again. In this episode, you will hear: How relationship problems go all the way back since we were babies What goes on in the mind of a person living with an addicted person Putting a stop to people-pleasing Creating boundaries as a form of self-love Putting down the magnifying the glass and picking up the mirror The 3 C’s of a person living with an addicted person The first step is acknowledgement Key Quotes: "Addiction is not a one-person thing. It's something that flows all over – the family, friends, bosses." “The idea of going and trying to change the other person is something that is really embedded in people who are living next to the addict.” “A person who lives either with an active addict or active alcoholic, they even don't know what their hobbies are. Their hobby is the person.” “People-pleasing is lying– not only do I lie to the other person, but deeply, I lie to myself.” “Mean what you say, say what you mean, but don’t say it mean.”   “When you see someone that isn't next to alcoholic or addict, they don't have the spark, they're in the dark.” “Put down the magnifying glass and pick up the mirror... stop judging others, look at yourself.” Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: www.etelleit.com (Promo code: THEADDICTMIND) UnAddicted to You: Loving Yourself Through the Darkness https://www.amazon.com/UnAddicted-You-Yourself-Through-Darkness/dp/0578871874  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a rising popularity in the field of psychedelics as it relates to addiction treatment and healing trauma. But aren’t psychedelics addictive?  On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Ronan Levy, co-founder of Field Trip Health, a company with a mission to heal the sick and better the well through psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapies. Ronan explains the role of psychedelics in healing trauma and addiction treatment and recovery. A trained lawyer by profession, Ronan hopped into the entrepreneurial world over 10 years ago and got an opportunity to start a business in the medical cannabis industry in Canada. Eventually, he discovered the role of psychedelics and since then, he has been committed to using this platform that opens up conversations to a whole new audience so he could reach more people in the hope that we can shift the conversation around mental health from a reactive place into something we do proactively.  Ronan initially thought that if he could get people thinking about their mental health like their physical health and becoming proactive in developing emotional awareness and emotional resilience, then we would all be doing justice to the world and our healthcare systems. That’s when he started exploring psychedelic therapies and their potential to build a business around them. But more importantly, it’s not just the physical effects of psychedelics that drew him to this space, but how psychedelics play a significant role in raising the consciousness of humanity on a global scale.   In this episode, you will hear: Psychedelics and healing trauma What are psychedelics? The risk of taking psychedelics The impact of psilocybin-assisted therapies  What’s going on in the brain during a psychedelic experience The cross country ski track analogy Other benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapies What a psychedelic experience feels like Key Quotes: [07:02] - "If we could get people thinking about their mental health like their physical health, and being proactive and developing emotional awareness... we would be doing such a justice to the world."  [08:08] - “It's about the conscious evolution of consciousness – how do we elevate humanity in a way that we can deal with the challenges that we face as a species and as a planet?” [08:28] - “Trying to use old techniques to address new problems is not going to work.” [10:19] - “It's virtually impossible to overdose on psychedelics. And when done in a proper therapeutic environment with medical professionals or psychotherapeutic professionals, the risk of the so-called bad trip or going crazy is virtually negligible.” [12:14] - "These are not just medicines, they actually change people and help them see the world from a different lens." [13:07] - “Psychedelics, particularly ketamine is such a powerful medicine for acute suicidal ideation… you have these layers of effect going on that are not only changing the emotional resonance of what's going on, but they're also actually changing the physical operation of your brain in a healthy and productive way.” [19:34] - "Through psychedelics and some of my personal experiences with psychedelics, I can start to see myself as being worthy of love and as being a successful human being even if I don't have a successful business." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Field Trip Health Twitter: @RonanDLevy Instagram: @RonanDLevy Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Duane speaks with Caroline Beidler who shares her story and talks specifically about building resiliency and recovery, the importance of resiliency, especially when it relates to overcoming trauma, and how she discovered that process in her own life. Caroline also shares a few things that you can do in your life immediately to help build resilience. Caroline's mental health recovery and addiction recovery were intertwined. She knew that if she wanted to thrive in her recovery, she had to heal her trauma and build resilience. Then a couple of years later, she decided to go back to school to become a social worker and help others who also seek recovery. Caroline lived with undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder for over 20 years. Caroline recalls experiencing panic attacks, anxiety, and depression triggered by her experiences of being in a room full of men. She struggled more with disordered eating and was in very unhealthy and emotionally abusive relationships. After finally seeking a mental health therapist, Caroline realized that so much of what was happening in her life was because of untreated trauma symptoms.  As she discovered more practical tools to help her mental health and trauma resilience, her life and her world changed. With her healing transformed, she reached the next level in recovery and founded Bright Story Shine, a storytelling platform created to share and celebrate stories of recovery and resilience without judgment and shame.   By bringing these stories out into the open, our pain can be witnessed and we can also witness other people's pain. There is something in that process that allows us to move forward and shift that story. In this episode, you will hear: Caroline’s story of recovery What resilience means Developing safe coping skills to promote resilience The role of storytelling in healing Skills that you can build in recovery Some characteristics of resilient people Key Quotes: [03:26] - "It's so much more recovery and healing than just putting the substances down." [07:28] - “We can choose healing. We can make a decision to turn another way, take another path, and go another route.” [09:29] - "Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress." [13:04] - “Research that shows storytelling, or telling our recovery and mental health stories actually promote healing in the brain.” [14:27] - “Over 80% of women in addiction recovery have experienced some type of trauma, most often sexual violence.” [15:09] - "We have the ability to shift our stories... in the next level of recovery, if we embrace our trauma healing and building resilience, we can really move forward into new levels of freedom." [16:57] - "Some of our unhealthy patterns in recovery are really closely linked with some of the trauma that we experienced early on in our life." Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Bright Story Shine Seeking Safety Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with Justin Larson, the director of health systems for Thrive Peer Recovery, as he shares his story about his alcoholism and recovery. Justin was diagnosed with depression at the young age of eight. He was feeling fearful and anxious all the time until that time he picked up a drink and it just made all of those go away. At that moment, he fell in love with alcohol. Soon, it became his best friend that later controlled his life.  Drinking became his number one coping mechanism. For him, it was the missing link to life, having found the one thing that enabled him to cope with life. From about the age of 15 to 32, what started out as this magic elixir that gave him the courage and made him feel whole, slowly turned into a necessity that he couldn’t go without. Alcohol slowly turned down on him. It reached a point in Justin’s life where he ran out of options for dealing with all his pain. He found himself in such a dark place that the only thing he could do was attempt suicide. Fortunately, Justin decided to seek treatment.  Justin saw the value of peer recovery support because it assured him that he was not alone. Having gone through hell and clawed his way out of it, he wanted to pay it forward by helping others, who are going through the same path, claw their way out of the deep pit, too. In this episode, you will hear: Being diagnosed with depression at age 8 The decision to seek treatment The importance of peer recovery support What makes being with a peer unique The difference between a peer supporter and a counselor or therapist The role of a peer supporter Key Quotes: [09:37] - "That's a dangerous place to be in when I will do anything possible to get that next drink." [11:13] - “The alcohol was my best friend since I picked it up at a young age.” [21:51] - "I went through hell and clawed my way out of it. And I want to be able to lend my hand to others to help them get out of that, too." [23:47] "It's a very organic conversation that comes up between a peer and a peer recovery supporter. It's that identification piece that the peer can relate to the peer recovery supporter.” [28:12] - “It's part of that clinical team. But it's a non-clinical role that sometimes fills the void." [31:37] - "There's no greater high than helping others." [32:06] - “Hold on, it gets better. I know what you're going through. I've been there myself. It seems like there's no options, and there's no way out." [32:28] - "Please accept the help. Please be willing to make a change. I know it's scary. It was for me. But it's so worth it." Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Thrive Peer Support Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anxiety and worry are things we all can struggle with at times and the core of those feelings is fear. But at some point, we have to realize we have our own loving power that’s bigger than our fear. And we need to claim that to free ourselves from the bondage of pain and lack of self-worth. The body sometimes knows how much you can handle – and if you're open enough, it'll give you what you need to keep growing. On this episode, Duane talks to Gigi Langer about her award-winning book “50 Ways to Worry Less Now.” She takes us through her own recovery story, how worry and fear were a major part of it, and how she learned to overcome it and create the life that she loves and thrives in.  Growing up in a family with an alcoholic in the family, Gigi chose to be the "good girl." At 40, she was completing her Ph.D. at Stanford and was under a lot of stress and pressure. She had a lot of crash and burn relationships and had divorced twice by the time she was in her doctoral program. She discovered marijuana, which somehow softened the blow of all her disappointments from all the tension and failed relationships. She thought her achievements and romance were going to take care of her feelings, but those didn't work obviously. Gigi practically lived a double life, being the good girl as the assistant professor at Stanford, and also living a life of promiscuity and in the early stages of alcoholism. She then proved to herself over the next six months that she could not predict what behavior she would display even if she only had one drink. Eventually, her third husband went to an Al-Anon meeting and Gigi went to AA. She stuck with the program and therapy. She got divorced after a year of all the therapy, this time, in a responsible way. The following year, she met her husband whom she has been married to for over 30 years now – happy and fulfilled. In this episode, you will hear: Gigi’s addiction and recovery journey The healing of the old patterns The whispered lies we tell ourselves Claiming your true self or loving power, bigger than your own fear Her desire to write a book The unconditional positive regard The biggest worry-buster and anxiety-buster technique Connecting with your authentic self Key Quotes: [11:57] - "The true self or loving power... we have to be honest and we have to claim some kind of power bigger than our own fear.” [13:37] - "I was afraid that if I ripped the band-aid off and started getting honest, all the feelings would come out and just completely destroy me. And that was not my experience. It still felt scary when those things came up. But I could handle them." [18:57] - "We think what our minds are producing is real and that our feelings are 100% real… but it is a story that our minds have made up based on our past." [19:33] - “The lies that we tell ourselves have nothing to do with who we are at base.” [25:41] - "Most of the things that are advertised and glorified are things that numb us away from our true selves… if we're numbing our feelings out with any habitual behavior, our chance of becoming happy is almost nil because we won't be able to get honest and own what's going on with us." [28:26] - "Scary things scare us. That's never going to stop. It's what happens once I notice I'm scared... Call someone, reach out for help, pray, meditate, and use some of the tools. Enter the process of working with it." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: www.gigilanger.com 50 Ways to Worry Less Now by Gigi Langer A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're in the worst phase of human history where people are so stressed out, so afraid of judgment, and tentative as it relates to saying anything these days because of this “cancel culture” society.  We have lost an enormous amount of substance and the ability to effectively communicate our thoughts and emotions verbally, vocally, and physically because we’re afraid of the ramifications. But if we can just get back to our basics and start talking to each other as humans, we're going to be in a much better situation.  On today's episode, Duane speaks with keynote speaker and performance coach Brett Lavender about language communication and being the master of our own mind.   Brett is the Founder and CEO of Persuasive Lion, a speaking, training, and coaching practice based on The Lost Languages program that teaches people valuable techniques of persuasive verbal & non-verbal communication to help people lead better and exceed their personal and professional goals. Brett’s father was killed right after his 6th birthday, and at 19, his mother died of liver cancer. He ended up in a very precarious situation with the couple who took him under their care and wasted all the money his mom had left him. At 21, Brett ended up 100% on his own. Soon after, he started studying humans, and how they would react to his behaviors.  Over decades of self-education, Brett trained hundreds of speakers and communicators. And then it dawned on him how he could also use this to train civilians, who are not speakers, performers, or professionals, but just real humans, who need a better grasp on how to communicate with their boss, their employees, their co-workers, or their family. As he went through this process, he became very aware that we, as humans, are lost in terms of communication, thus, the concept of the lost languages.  In this episode, you will hear: The difference between persuasion and manipulation How humans are forced to communicate with one another The concept of the lost languages The three quadrants of the human brain The value of speaking from an upturn to a downturn Why nonverbal is more important than verbal Self-talk is the most important of the lost languages How we have lost an enormous amount of substance Key Quotes: [02:01] - “There's a very fine line between persuasion and manipulation. They're very closely related behaviors. However, the intention is different.” [04:55] - “The only interaction that different species of life have in the natural world is to kill or be killed. Yet we're living in a very unnatural melting pot of all different species of human, forced to communicate with one another.” [17:06] - “Somewhere in our evolution, we have consistently lost the ability to communicate effectively interpersonally. It's getting worse and worse and worse and it's a downward spiral.” [27:54] - ​​"Nonverbal is way more important than verbal… Communication is not an easy thing, especially if you're uncomfortable." [31:41] - "How we train ourselves to react to situations is going to effectively create a different reaction from our audience." [33:42] "This is something that people who are struggling with addiction suffer from – not being able to expose themselves and communicate authentically and be real." [37:44] - "It's not about how you feel. It's about how you feel, about how you feel." [49:40] - "The most valuable conversations that we will ever have with anyone in our lives are the conversations that we have with ourselves." Supporting Resources: https://www.thepersuasivelion.com/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Shahjehan Khan, a voiceover artist, actor, and musician based in Boston. He is the host of the King of the World podcast, which explores his life as a Pakistani American Muslim in the post-9/11 era, 20 years later. Shahjehan shares how he weaved his struggle with addiction to cannabis, how all of that came together for him, and how he got into recovery.  Son of Pakistani American immigrants, Shahjehan grew up as an average American young person in the suburbs of Massachusetts. When 9/11 happened, he remembers being a senior in high school, sitting in a calculus class. At that time, he was already a struggling teenager, which also marked the beginnings of heavy substance use. By the time he got to college, he dropped out after a year, came home, and had his first suicide attempt.  He was then introduced to AA, but it really didn’t resonate with him. He had a relapse a year after he joined a band. Until he realized he had to make that change. Now eleven years sober, Shahjehan found therapy to be the one thing that has helped him through his recovery journey. During the pandemic, he also found a community of recovering folks he could relate with. It also made him realize it was okay to be a multifaceted person. At the time, he felt like there were a bunch of little pieces that never felt like a cohesive whole. When he was first approached to tell his story, he didn't want to tell another 9/11-centered Muslim story because he was sick of it. Then he realized he could frame it in a coming-of-age way, being able to show the parallels of his own personal struggles with what was happening in his outer world post 9/11. The King of the World podcast is shining light on the American Muslim experience. And seeing the impact it had on him and the people he interviewed is also important for us to understand and grow as a society.  In this episode, you will hear: Shahjehan’s addiction and recovery journey His experience the next day after 9/11 The moment he decided he needed change Experiencing a relapse being in a band  Finding the right method of recovery for yourself Why he stopped attending meetings and focused on therapy The impact of the King of the World podcast on other people His recovery process Key Quotes: [11:28] - "Doing the podcast in itself was an act of realizing that it's okay to be this multifaceted person... there were all these little pieces that never felt like a cohesive whole." [11:40] - "A lot of people in early recovery feel like fragmented people.. it's that process of that exploration." [14:43] - "9/11 made it so that we would always be responsible for something we never did."  [21:09] - "We're starting to finally become a voice for people in a way but it's this complicated thing where I myself inside, I'm sort of using that as a crutch almost." [26:43] - "It's not that it just happened overnight. It is a continuous process for sure." [27:30] - "You're so used to being that 'other' in the room that you almost welcome it in a way." [43:12] - “You should always be redefining success for yourself.” [48:18] - "Find one person that you can be brutally honest with... and that can hear you out. And that's where the healing can start." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: King of the World Podcast Immigrantly Podcast www.shahjehankhan.com  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stigma of addiction is so bad that people who are struggling with it choose to hide it. However, addiction is not the real problem, but rather the symptom of all these underlying hurts, pains, and suffering.  Today’s episode is a replay of an interview with David Poses, who recently passed away, in honor of his life and legacy. A writer, speaker, and activist, David was a tireless advocate for all who struggled with mental health or addiction issues. David is the author of The Weight of Air: A Story About the Lies of Addiction and the Truth of Recovery.  David struggled with addiction, which he chose to hide for a long time. After trying to find a treatment that worked for him, he soon discovered buprenorphine, an opioid used to treat opioid-use disorders, which also saved his life from heroin. David also realized that being sober only means abstaining from whatever it is you’re addicted to, while recovery happens only when you’ve healed the wounds that led you to addiction in the first place. That being said, there are different ways to treat addiction, and so, ultimately, you have to find one that works for you.  In this episode, you will hear: Resorting to heroin due to depression but it was also heroin that caused his depression Why AA wasn’t the right solution for him Finding the treatment and recovery method that works for us How opioids affect the brain Two medications that have been proven to dramatically reduce your risk of death, relapse, and overdose How buprenorphine saved David’s life Achieving recovery through healing the wounds that led you to addiction The stigma of addiction   Key Quotes: [13:58] - "For every kind of vice or addiction, your neurotransmitters rewire, and they seek out the next hit. There’s the idea that sobriety gets easier with time and your brain heals in time and things go back to normal... But there have been a lot of studies about opioids that show that it doesn't necessarily go back." [21:12] - "There are two medications that are proven to dramatically reduce your risk of death, relapse, and overdose: methadone and buprenorphine. All other forms of treatment or medications do not, and many others actually do the exact opposite." [21:31] - “Any kind of abstinence-based treatment, whether it's forced or voluntary, increases your risk of overdose because you come out of it, you have no tolerance, and that's when people die.” [23:10] - "Addiction has been so siloed off away from medicine for so long. Even with doctors, I tell the doctor the history and they assume I'm in there looking for drugs." [35:03] - "If sobriety is I'm not taking drugs anymore or abstinence. Recovery is healing the wounds that led you to drugs in the first place." [39:09] - "The stigma of addiction is so bad that I was seriously contemplating suicide." [41:02] - "Addiction is not the problem. Addiction is definitely a problem but drugs are a form of self-medication." [47:12] - "With any physical or psychological thing, we identify the source of pain, and we treat it so you can heal. With addiction, we explicitly tell you to ignore the source of pain because it's an excuse." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: GoFundMe campaign to support David Poses’ family https://www.gofundme.com/f/we-love-you-david-posesand-love-your-family  The Weight of Air: A Story About the Lies of Addiction and the Truth of Recovery https://davidposes.com/the-weight-of-air  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of people are oblivious to recurring issues they encounter in life when those are actually the result of some unresolved childhood trauma manifesting in different ways. Whether it’s addiction, alcoholism, a toxic romantic relationship, a dysfunctional family, people-pleasing, impulsiveness, or you’re struggling with saying no – all these can be telltale signs of an inner wound that needs to be healed. In this episode, Duane speaks with Andrea Ashley, host of The Adult Child Podcast, about her own journey of recovery and how she went deeper in recovery when she started to deal with her adult child issues. Andrea shares what it took her to finally find some deeper healing purpose and meaning in her life. Andrea grew up in an alcoholic home and was the only child of an alcoholic mom and alcoholic dad. She turned to drugs and alcohol at 12 and became the focus of the family for the next seven years. She got sent to rehab for the first time in eighth grade. For seven years, she was in and out of rehabs and boarding schools. It did work in saving her family because her mom stopped drinking as much and her parents stopped fighting as much since they had to come together to deal with the nightmare that she was.  At 19, Andrea got sober. But that was only the beginning of yet another journey through a deeper recovery of healing her adult child. Seven years sober, she found herself in a toxic relationship. Dating for less than a month and she reacted as if her life was over. She became a non-functioning human. But she had an aha moment realizing that her feeling wasn’t actually connected to the heartbreak but it was rooted in her childhood.   Nine years sober, she found herself again in another toxic relationship that was associated with feelings of shame and powerlessness. When that relationship ended, she knew she had to treat it just as seriously as her alcoholism.  It has been four years and the transformation has been mind-blowing. Her journey to healing her unresolved childhood pain led Andrea to launch the Adult Child Podcast, which now impacts thousands of people who are also dealing with their own adult children. In this episode, you will hear: The concept of the adult child Her journey recovering from toxic relationships Andrea’s childhood memories of having alcoholic parents The manifestations of complex trauma Addiction to excitement Finding a therapist that can help you Healing the little “t” trauma Embracing the pain Key Quotes: [18:17] - "As soon as I decided I like the guy, my peace of mind would just be hijacked in a second… and I had no idea that I was suffering from complex trauma." [20:49] - "Complex trauma doesn't have to be like big events, but recurring incidents. It doesn't even have to be big, but just a parent being hypercritical of you over and over." [24:16] - "Our template for relationship and love is developed during childhood." [24:37] - "One of the characteristics of an adult child is that we become addicted to excitement." [29:04] - “The core wound is all of this faulty programming that occurred during childhood.” [39:30] - “We don't grow unless we're in pain... I can get sober and never feel pain again. But it's not really presenting very many opportunities for growth." [41:46] - "There's nothing shameful or embarrassing about growing up in a dysfunctional family. Change is possible and you don't have to do it alone." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: The Adult Child Podcast Adult Children of Alcoholics/Dysfunctional Families The Addictions Institute with Stephanie Brown The ACA laundry list - the 14 common characteristics of an adult child Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with Constance Scharff, co-author of Rock to Recovery: Music as a Catalyst for Human Transformation, and author of the award-winning poetry book, Meeting God at Midnight. They talk about other things you can do in your life to bring about recovery and create a meaningful, joyful life, specifically, through using music, meditation, and breathing to help heal from addiction and trauma.  Constance has a Ph.D. in transformative studies where she studies the nature of change and how the change occurs in an individual. Having been sober for more than 23 years now, Constance saw how people coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan weren't getting sober and a lot of them were killing themselves. At that time, Constance was suicidally sober. And so, she thought there has to be a better treatment. She then changed the direction of her graduate studies and devoted her life to finding a better treatment – and there is!  Constance went through a very significant early childhood trauma and she used alcohol to dampen the trauma symptoms and make her feel better. She drank until she felt nothing. In sobriety, when she wasn't pouring alcohol on those feelings, and at a time when there wasn't any good trauma treatment, she was just plagued with trauma symptoms.  She figured that the reason some people end up killing themselves was that sobriety doesn't feel good and there were no options. The treatment they were getting didn’t solve the problem. She soon realized that trauma is stored in the body, but once she was able to feel those feelings and release them, they longer had any hold over her. In this episode, you will hear: The goal of recovery The misunderstanding around addiction The role of trauma in addiction What are complementary therapies? Examples of complementary therapies Understanding the neurological component  The role of epigenetics in addiction Key Quotes: [03:25] "We get sober not to just get through life, but to really enjoy our lives and connect with other people and be part of our communities. The goal of recovery is connection." [05:51] "We assume that... if I remove alcohol, and alcohol is the problem, then I should get better... but they don't get better, they get worse." [08:46] "I really understood why the veterans would kill themselves because sobriety doesn't feel good and there are no other options. The treatment that you're getting doesn't solve the problem." [10:37] “Complementary therapies are about teaching us life skills that will serve us in our mental health and our recovery.” [13:23] “You don't have to be good to write music, play music, sing, write poetry, journal, craft, or act because the brain doesn't know the difference between skilled and unskilled. It only knows that you do it.” [19:44] "There are facts that are true... but how I relate to those facts is what makes all the difference." [32:29] “Trauma is stored in the body and when I can feel those feelings and release them, they no longer have a hold over me.” [43:27] “Each thing affects the mind and body in a different way. And so you want to keep poking the brain so that you don't over-focus because addiction is about obsession.” If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: www.constancescharff.com Rock to Recovery: Music as a Catalyst for Human Transformation Meeting God at Midnight Instagram: @constancescharff Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with Tricia Parido, an international master addictions coach and a recovery lifestyle enthusiast. Passionate about helping people attain sober lifestyles so they can live free and fulfilled, Tricia established the Turning Leaves Recovery Life and Wellness Coaching.  Tricia has a 30-year story of addictions, negative attachments, and habits holding her hostage in life, and she also has a 25-year recovery journey because not everything was ready to recover at the same time. The last bit of her journey was getting rid of the alcohol and the benzodiazepines that really took her out. Tricia started drinking at 12 and as she got older, she became an open daily drinker. She worked hard to be a high-functioning alcoholic so she could keep her daily drinking. In her early 30s, Tricia developed a generalized anxiety disorder. The doctor prescribed Xanax for her anxiety and it worked. But there's that feedback loop in taking things like Xanax where you initially feel good immediately and then there’s that kickback effect that intensifies things and your anxiety gets worse. Sadly, that becomes so difficult to handle when you don’t have the skills to deal with it. At 43, Tricia found herself stuck in psychological addictions, dealing with eating disorders, people-pleasing, shopping addiction, and codependence. Being the control freak she is, she no longer had any control. Driven by curiosity about why those things were happening to her at that age, she decided to seek help. For the most part, education was a big part of her recovery. She got her psychology degree and went into an intensive coaching program accredited for addiction. She studied all things that were behavioral and chemical addiction in nature. Eventually, Tricia found coaching as a modality that fit her personality. In this episode, you will hear: Tricia’s addiction and recovery journey Finding a modality that fits your personality Creating and nurturing emotional intelligence  The locus of control theory How a recovery lifestyle works The power of changing your perspective Manifestation through action What stops people from putting their skills into practical application Understanding post-acute withdrawal The role of nutrition in your recovery Key Quotes: [06:24] - “We weren't taught emotional intelligence. We weren't taught impulse control, distress, tolerance, and emotion regulation.” [10:44] - "Anybody that's aspiring to be a practitioner, find the modality that speaks your language because you're going to help more people." [13:48] - “The substance isn't really the problem. Sure, it exacerbates them. But there's a reason it came about, to begin with. And it's different for everybody.” [14:46] - “The alcohol, the marijuana, whatever it is, it's an external locus of control. You are relying on something outside of yourself to bring you peace, joy, comfort, relief, value, validity, and worthiness.” [20:57] - “We have to learn how to live for ourselves first without feeling guilty, selfish, punished or restricted.” [23:19] - “​​If you don't like the way you're perceiving your life, it's up to you to change your perception.” [26:39] - “​​Manifestation is an action word – it requires you to do something. You must get up off your couch to manifest anything.” If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: https://www.triciaparido.com https://www.turningleavesrecovery.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with Serge Prengel, the author of The Proactive Twelve Steps for Mindful Recovery. They dive deep into the process of change and this concept of the virtuous cycle that creates a positive feedback loop in our lives so we can make the strategic change and create a meaningful life that feels good and is purposeful.  Serge is a therapist who's big on experiential or somatic psychotherapy. He believes that everybody is very different and every situation is very different. Serge talks about how you can be proactive in your approach, and over time, gradually step out of feeling stuck and powerless so you can enjoy a balanced and happy life.  Serge has had a long-term dialogue with the 12 Steps for the past 30 years, which he discovered through friends who were in recovery. He always admired the power of the 12-step culture, the idea of having a common path, and the community it has created. He admires the system where people can have peer support and they can pull themselves together out of something that would feel like a morass. That being said, Serge also had a problem with the 12 Step’s concept of reliance on divine intervention or higher power. However, at the same time, he sees that something is working. This led him to a path of going deeper into the dialogue around the 12-Step to get a better understanding of what works. Then he would be able to translate it so other people can understand it better and be able to follow the path more effectively. In this episode, you will hear: A more generalized concept of healing His definition of trauma Building the tools through practice The importance of group work The inner power instead of the higher power How the felt sense experience functions as a guide The virtuous cycle of trauma healing The power of the mindful pause How the change starts to manifest itself Key Quotes: [09:55] - “It's impossible to be a human being, without having had some situations and some experiences, which are beyond their capacity to digest at the time.” [11:27] - “In the moment of being confronted with trauma as an individual, you're exactly in the position where you're disempowered, where you are with the least access to your capacities. And so it takes practical tools to actually overcome these kinds of moments.” [12:08] - “We're different people when different parts of the nervous system are in gear. And so, you cannot build the tools when you're activated." [18:24] - “The inner experience of being saved by God is an inner experience that actually can be also experienced by people who don't believe in God, and that's progressively connecting to that sense of higher power.” [24:31] - “Being more connected to ourselves is the healing, and the healing enables us to be more connected to ourselves. This is how we hit that virtuous cycle. And then the vicious cycle is that progressive cycle of disconnection.” [25:34] - "When you're in the midst of trauma, you cannot have access to that simplicity. What feels obvious when you're out of it does not feel obvious when you're in it." [27:17] - "That mindful pause becomes the DNA of the process because it's something that moment by moment helps you orient but is also something that helps you stay and be progressively more able to accept." [32:59] - "Look for kindred spirits who are willing to engage in a process of healing together." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: The Proactive Twelve Steps for Mindful Recovery Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane speaks with author Benjamin Boyce about his addiction story and how the war on drugs impacted his ability to better his life and live a meaningful life. The discussion dives deep into the war on drugs, how it can exacerbate the problems of addiction, and its impact on our society as a whole.   Benjamin is the author of Dr. Junkie: One Man's Story of Addiction and Crime That Will Challenge Everything You Know About the War on Drugs and the host of The Dr. Junkie Show. Benjamin was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (now part of the autism spectrum). Studies in the last 5-10 years have shown that people with Asperger's or on the autism spectrum that use marijuana or other cannabis products show reduced social anxiety. However, he realized that criminality showed up right behind it because he had to hide the marijuana and not tell people about it. For him, becoming the bad guy was just self-fulfilling.  Like most of us, Benjamin grew up misinformed about drugs. It was misinformation that exploded into a lifestyle of crime and punishment. Benjamin was told he was a criminal so once he ran out of money, it was easy to start stealing stuff. He ended up shooting mainline injecting heroin and cocaine for four or five years.  Then this “war on drugs” that has put him in the system just made things worse. He went to prison in 2004 and spent some time in the largest walled prison on earth. Once out of prison, he found a loophole in the system’s full-time employment requirement by going to college. So he got a Bachelor's and a Master's and then he worked through getting his Ph.D. Benjamin is now teaching at Denver University and the University of Colorado. The latter has a recent program where they now teach degree classes to people in prison. The zero-tolerance that the system has put in place is an antithesis of the help people need. When really, the goal is to get people in life, not just in a consistent loop of use. In this episode, you will hear: Benjamin’s addiction and recovery journey The roots of the war on drugs Survival mode vs. healing mode How we can become role models to our kids Having a strong support network Defining your own recovery Key Quotes: [07:14] - "Lots of studies nowadays, in the last 5-10 years, have shown that people with Asperger's or on the autism spectrum that use marijuana or other cannabis products show reduced social anxiety." [11:11] - “It increases the likelihood of overdose when somebody gets out because you're taking them at a moment of trauma, doubling that trauma, putting them in a hole and making sure they know the people around you don't care." [13:38] - “We’ve built the war on drugs to make sure a victory looks like making sure the price of street drugs goes up tomorrow.” [18:05] - "There's a way to do this that leans into our humanity. But I think we've also got to keep it in the confines and the framework of what our culture demands." [20:51] - "Why are we spending all of this effort and energy fighting a 100-year old war that is largely against our own citizens who could all be, instead of costing us money, paying taxes, running businesses, and having productive lives?" [21:41] - “There are other ways to achieve those same states that we use drugs to get to. You get preoccupied chasing the drug when you're in an addiction loop. But if you can put that aside for a day or a week or a month or a year, the wound starts to heal.” If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Dr. Junkie: One Man's Story of Addiction and Crime That Will Challenge Everything You Know About the War on Drugs The Dr. Junkie Show Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks with Paul Schulte, the author of We Agnostics: How William James, Father of American Psychology, Advanced A Spiritual Solution to Addiction: How a Venerated Harvard Doctor Inspired the 12 Step Movement.  Paul is going to talk about Williams James's philosophy, what he brought to addiction treatment and addiction care, and how his work strongly influenced the work of Bill Wilson, founder of the 12-step program, Alcoholics Anonymous. He talks about how William James was able to articulate the theme he saw in human change – something that has been talked about in religious circles and spirituality for over 3,000 years. It’s the theme of a person who is lost, feels broken, and ultimately is able to find serenity and calmness.  With a degree in drug and alcohol addiction counseling, Paul did an internship at the UCLA School of Medicine. There, he was drawn into what was going on with the different types of treatment and the influences of the 12-step movement.  He came across William James’ Book, The Varieties of Religious Experience, which has had a tremendous influence on American life. Paul very much resonated with William’s experiences, how he had developed all of his ideas about the unconscious, and where these urges to suddenly stop what seems like a chronic behavior comes from in humans. William questions what causes these transformations in humans. Way before Freud developed his idea of the subconscious, William was one of the early pioneers of the subconscious and the desire to move towards a new form of regeneration of the human spirit coming from the subconscious. In this episode, you will hear: How Paul resonated with William James The universality of the human condition The 3 marks of the soul-sick The two-fold mark of a spiritual experience Why William James says we are all agnostic How Bill W. adopted the idea of William James Beautiful analogies in William’s book that describes the human experience and its similarities to the 12-step movement Dealing with chaotic emotions and purging fear  Not excusing the behavior but forgiving it The sense of regeneration Key Quotes: [06:19] - “William James was on to something about the obsession of the mind. But certainly, the spiritual element of trying to get cleaned up. That was a very big quantum leap in the understanding of addiction.” [10:09] - “I had this thing in me, this weird soul-sickness in the way before I picked up my first drink." [14:20] - “That feeling of self-loathing, and alienation and fear, which are basically the three marks of that soul sick.” [14:39] - “The mark of a spiritual experience is twofold. One, life gets bigger. And number two, we feel like we belong and that there's a union with other people.” [23:26] - “We're not falling apart, when we think we're falling apart, we're actually falling together.” [27:05] - “It's from this sense of destitution, that we rebuild ourselves, and when all the shams and all the lies of dishonesty are peeled away." [30:50] - "We don't go around excusing behavior. We forgive the behavior." [33:57] - “The fundamental point of helping others is self-forgetfulness, and the more that we engage in self-forgetfulness, the better off we are going to be because we get away from that oppressive ego, which wants to reassert itself.” If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: We Agnostics: How William James, Father of American Psychology, Advanced A Spiritual Solution to Addiction: How a Venerated Harvard Doctor Inspired the 12 Step Movement The Varieties Of Religious Experience: A Study In Human Nature The Big Book Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Michael Anthony, author of Think Unbroken: Understanding and Overcoming Childhood Trauma. When you have a history of childhood trauma, there are things that you just have to unlearn and reframe. But to do that, you have to bring awareness to it.  When Michael was four years old, his mother, who was a drug addict and alcoholic, cut off his right index finger. His mother was a victim of abuse and his stepfather was highly abusive. Michael was in and out of the hospital multiple times. For the majority of his childhood, he was homeless and deeply in poverty. By the time he was 12 years old, he had lived with 30 different families. They were always getting bounced around, getting evicted, or getting their water and heat turned off. Michael got high for the first time when he was 12 and drunk when he was 13. At 15 years old, he was expelled from school for selling drugs. He was put into the last chance program and still did not graduate high school on time.  Michael thought money was the solution to abuse, homelessness, and poverty. So he decided to chase money – legally. He worked really hard and ended up getting a job with a Fortune 10 company at 20 years old. With no high school diploma and no college education, he started making six figures but his life got so much worse. Heading into 26 years old, he found himself being 350 pounds, smoking two packs a day, drinking himself to sleep, and then attempting suicide for the second time. Money was supposed to solve the problem but he was done. When he woke up the next morning and went to the bathroom, he looked at himself in the mirror and asked himself, “What are you willing to do to have the life that you want to have?” The answer was no excuses, just results.  11 years later, Michael is here talking about his journey. He has done a tremendous amount of work – every modality of therapy, coaching, reading books, and going to seminars. He has dived deep into understanding himself and now has over 30 trauma-informed certifications. In this episode, you will hear: Michael’s journey through addiction and recovery Why being homeless was one of the greatest things that happened to him Why people with trauma lie to therapists The identity crisis Understanding the biology and physiology behind your body’s response The crux of self and putting rational meaning to your behavioral patterns The worst-case scenario and the power of changing your energy What mindset really is Key Quotes: [11:25] - “When you come from a very traumatic background, the opportunity for you to discover who you are is literally stolen from you.” [15:02] - “The key to life is to do what you want to do, and not do what you don't want to do.” [17:55] - “Indecision is a decision. You have to get off the fence about your life. Then you have to put yourself in this position to operate in a way that feels true for you."  [22:46] - “When you stop tying your identity to the end goal of everything that you're trying to do in your life, but instead just into the day to day moments in the way that you operate with the effort and energy that you put in, that failure becomes less burdensome." [24:54] - “The longer you wait to be you, the more painful it's going to be to tear the band-aid off.” [25:36] - “The worst-case scenario is death. Outside of that, that means you have an opportunity.” [27:13] - “What you think becomes what you speak, what you speak becomes your actions, and your actions become your reality.” [33:09] - “If you look for joy, you will find it. And if you look for the pain, it'll be there too." Supporting Resources: Think Unbroken: Understanding and Overcoming Childhood Trauma Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Chris Howard, the founder of Ethos Recovery, a long-term recovery house for men. He’s also the founder of Lifestyle Interventions where he offers family intervention mentoring.  Chris shares his journey of addiction and recovery and his experience working with families, helping them deal with addiction, and helping them heal as a whole system. A Los Angeles native, Chris grew up in a home with a schizoaffective mother and ended up in foster care. As a young man, Chris turned to drugs and alcohol to help escape his troubles in life and thought that his rite of passage into adulthood was going to prison. Chris eventually became a drug addict and drug dealer. He was engaging in all this maladaptive behavior without anyone telling him anything. After more than a decade of struggling with addiction, Chris finally decided to change his course and help other people going through the same thing. Now working in a helping field, Chris wants to help people without belittling them or making them feel worse about their suffering. He believes that his job is to help people question their maladaptive belief systems, their coping strategies, and why they (and even their families) are afraid of being honest.  During the conversation, Chris explains that we’re now seeing a pendulum shift in treatment and recovery from being a heavily social model – that could be lacking in accountability – into one that is very clinical and lacking in empathy.  These two have to meet somewhere in the middle. We must hold people accountable while also having love and compassion as we walk them through their recovery journey. There has to be a balance between both in order to create a potent formula for healing, personal growth, and being your best self.  In this episode, you will hear: Chris’ journey through addiction and recovery How he began working with families Understanding the family dynamic Why trauma isn’t always the root cause of addiction Emotional reasoning tied into trauma The accountability perspective with DBT or Dialectical Behavior Therapy If drugs aren’t the problem, what is? The need to balance accountability and empathy How to heal as a family unit Key Quotes: [07:54] - “The group dynamic at times can help elevate your level of consciousness.” [12:30] - "The hardest thing to watch is people who maybe are more personality disordered and the families can't let go... they put themselves through so much pain and suffering as a result of their love for this person who either can't or will not change." [13:28] - “Trauma is the dominant narrative in mental health and substance abuse treatment at this point. It's not that I don't believe in trauma, I just don't believe every addict is a result of trauma.” [20:31] - “Working on mental health and substance abuse problems, it often gets worse before it gets better because you no longer have that to shield you to cope.” [21:14] - “Drugs aren't the problem. They're actually a phenomenal solution for human beings. The problem is they can't cope for some reason.” [24:40] - “The empathy aspect might actually even be one of the most important aspects because a lot of times, the mental state that individuals who struggle with mental health and substance abuse are in, is so deprived as a result of their life experience.” [32:48] - "Families often equate more money with better treatment. And it's not necessarily true." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Ethos Recovery  Lifestyle Interventions Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you heal from addiction and alcoholism that you created? You may impact others through your addiction but you can also impact them through your recovery and healing. On today’s episode, Duane talks with Wendy Adamson, author of Mother Load and Incorrigible, about intergenerational trauma and how that impacts addiction recovery, getting better, mental health, relationships, and more.   As a teen, Wendy was labeled as incorrigible which is defined as, "not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed.” That's what the justice system called her. They pretty much gave up on her and put her into the system. Wendy was taken away from her father, plucked from her life, and put in a juvenile hall. From there, she went to foster homes with different environments that nobody ever questioned. Nobody was asking about her or what she had been through. She was locked up not just physically but also mentally. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of trauma-informed language for kids going into the system. Saying to a parent that their kid is incorrigible just sounds hopeless. Part of Wendy's desire to write a book is to give other people hope that they are not incorrigible and that they can come out on the other side. Taking her experience and using it as a tool to help others became a transformative experience for her.   Wendy explains that there’s intergenerational trauma being passed on unconsciously through children until somebody wakes up in the family. Wendy’s mother was 38 when she had a psychotic break and killed herself. She lost her mind and never got an opportunity to get it back. Wendy, too, had a drug-induced psychotic break at 38 and ended up shooting her husband's girlfriend in the arm. She didn’t own any responsibility for it. She was blaming others and deflecting as addicts do.  When Wendy finally reached a moment of clarity, she realized she was not only breaking her own heart but her children's as well because the trauma was being transmitted to them. It was the same trauma that she had not resolved. As a result, her older son went into the juvenile court system just like she did. In this episode, you will hear: The lack of trauma-informed language in our society evidenced by our justice system labeling teens as incorrigible The shame around mental illness Going from a moment of victimization to a moment of clarity Taking one step in the right direction There’s no defense against kindness How to create a positive feedback loop Understanding the impact of ​​intergenerational trauma Letting go of the outcome We’re always getting opportunities to redeem ourselves. Key Quotes: [03:14] - “You may impact others through your addiction, but you can impact them through your recovery and through your healing.” [12:27] - "When you're level to the point where you're out of ideas, and you surrender, and people are kind to you, you have no defense against kindness." [15:41] - “What we put out there, we get back, the universe responds by corresponding to my nature.” [22:05] - “We have the power to transmute the trauma when one person decides to change, there is a ripple effect within the family system.” [25:28] - "As a parent, you're just throwing information over the wall and you don't know if it's landing and if they're catching it." [31:08] - “There's something that happens and the things are revealed to you that you didn't know through your writing.” [33:42] - "Life is not a snapshot. You know, it's not just one image frozen in time. We get opportunities and we're always getting opportunities to redeem ourselves." Supporting Resources: www.wendyadamson.com  Mother Load: A Memoir of Addiction, Gun Violence & Finding a Life of Purpose Incorrigible: A Coming-of-Age Memoir of Loss, Addiction & Incarceration Hav A Sole Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Mike Grant about his recovery story and how he used running as a tool to help him through his recovery process.  Mike currently works in the health care system as a licensed clinical social worker. He primarily works with people stuck in addiction. He’s an alcohol and drug counselor and the author of (Re)Making A Sandwich: An Addiction Case Study. As a lover of ultra marathons, Mike started a local running club for people in recovery and they have organized runs and done races together.  Mike grew up with some anger issues as a result of things that happened in his home. He started drinking at 13 years old and thought it would help him for many years. Instead, drinking at such a young age stunted his emotional development. He lacked the emotional skill set he needed to make good decisions in his life. Part of Mike’s story was being a habitual DUI offender. After being placed on county probation due to multiple DUI offenses, Mike finally realized that the consequences of his drinking could negatively affect his son. He got tired of backtracking his life with law issues, financial issues, and everything else he couldn't juggle or keep straight because of his relationship with alcohol. Knowing that he needed mandated treatment for himself, Mike did a three-year diversion program that changed his life and he has been sober ever since. The diversion program was more of a life management program to him than a non-drinking program because he learned how to live life in a lot of ways. Ultimately, working with people in active addiction allows Mike to connect with the rawness of what addiction really is. There's no romanticizing it from the side of recovery because he knows what it's really like.  In this episode, you will hear: Mike’s alcohol addiction and recovery journey How he invested in his progress through running How to make the huge mental shift from “I can’t” to “I can” How running helps some people in recovery Why grit is a transferable skill you can bring from addiction to recovery  Key Quotes: [07:02] - "I would make some progress in something and then alcohol would knock me back or my behaviors while drinking would knock me back." [12:04] - "I've shifted this perspective of shame-based thinking where I can't do something to why can't I?" [13:27] - ​​"If you actually enjoy the work that you're doing, it can make a workweek more tolerable." [14:31] - "Running is a metaphor for so many things. You have to do it. No one can do it for you. Set goals. You get out there and do it." [19:01] - "When you're in recovery, building grit is so important because you've got to weather some difficult things." [19:28] - “​​Grit is a transferable skill from your addiction…if you can use those skills that you learned in your addiction and bring to your recovery, that grit will get you far.” [22:33] - “Life doesn't have to be changed overnight. You just do little consistent things and get back to it, and monumental things can happen in 10 years.” [26:09] - “Life is messy and beating yourself up over it isn't going to help.” Supporting Resources: (Re)Making A Sandwich: An Addiction Case Study Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane talks with Justin B. Long about his journey through childhood trauma and how he tried to escape it through alcoholism. We discuss the traps of toxic masculinity, the idea that, as men, we can't share our feelings. We can't be vulnerable. We should be stoic at all times. In the episode, you’ll learn how that idea prevents us from being able to heal from our past wounds. Justin shares his story of hope and healing for everyone else out there who's struggling with the same issues.  Justin is the author of The Righteous Rage of a Ten-Year-Old Boy: A Journey of Self-Discovery. In his book, he talks about uncovering our deeper feelings by addressing childhood events and traumas and changing how our emotions are tied to those memories. Justin has poured his deepest, darkest secrets into the book. As he pointed out, the more sunshine gets on those secrets, the less power they have over him.   As he was trying to recover from alcoholism in his mid-30's, Justin had to go back to the beginning of time to understand what drove him to alcoholism. Justin grew up with two very emotionally dysfunctional parents: his dad was a workaholic and a rageaholic and his mom was deep into extreme religiosity and hoped that God would solve her emotional challenges. He found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. His parents didn't have any emotional tools to support him or help him. Therefore, he grew up in an unhealthy environment. The way his dad treated him taught him that he was a failure no matter what he did.  Feeling unworthy, uncomfortable, and untrusting, Justin turned to books as a way to escape reality. Then, as he got older, he discovered alcohol. It made him feel good about himself and he felt accepted for the first time in his life. So, alcohol became his tool to feel good about himself. Justin didn’t realize that it wasn’t a solution or that it was just a band-aid. However, like all external things, it had diminishing returns over time. It worked less and less until it stopped working altogether. In this episode, you will hear: Justin’s childhood trauma What it was like to not know how to handle his feelings  How covering up feelings of shame and guilt through drinking became a cycle How he changed his perspective from being a failure to being okay How a recovery meeting became the first pinprick that showed him reality What his righteous rage looked like and how letting it go allowed him to achieve true freedom What happens when your pain is greater than your fear Why it’s okay to feel your feelings Justin’s motivation to put his book out there Key Quotes: [09:21] - "My biggest problem that made me decide I had to quit drinking was that the more I got drunk around other people, the more I misbehaved and just couldn't seem to control myself." [13:15] - “Everything that I thought I knew about myself to be true was not true. And I get to rewrite that story." [16:12] - "In your formative years, you take everything from around you, and you believe that to be true." [18:33] - “True freedom comes in moving past that and letting go of that rage, even if it's justified.” [21:02] - “The pain has to get greater than the fear. And that's how it was for me. It hurt bad enough that I was willing to step into the fear." [22:14] - “I'm trying to learn how to feel the feelings and be okay with them. And sometimes it hurts, but I've learned that that's okay, too. It's part of it.” [25:17] - “The more sunshine gets on those secrets, the less power they have over me.” Supporting Resources: The Righteous Rage of a Ten-Year-Old Boy: A Journey of Self-Discovery Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with Gill Tietz, a biochemist and the host of the Sober Powered Podcast. Gill shares her alcohol addiction journey, the connection between our brain chemistry and addiction, and how she used her knowledge of science to achieve sobriety, change her way of thinking, and ultimately change her life. Gill had her first drink at 18 years old and, after feeling shame and guilt, she decided not to drink anymore after that. Four years later, when she was at grad school, she started drinking with her colleagues. Having dealt with bullying and trauma early in life, Gill just wanted to fit in. Once she had just one drink, she thought it was magic and the best feeling in the world. Best of all, she finally felt included.  Within a year, she became a daily drinker. Drinking was a huge part of the culture of the lab she worked at so she thought it was normal behavior. By the second year, she was drinking a lot more with 80% or more alcohol in her drinks. She was blacking out several nights a week and going to work massively hungover. Towards the end, she started having several mental health issues, hating herself, and becoming very suicidal.  Finally, Gill braved through her alcohol issue by accepting reality and looking at her drinking for what it was versus what she was hoping it could be someday. By removing emotions from the equation, she started to look at things from a more scientific perspective. Having removed feelings of shame and guilt, she opened herself up to self-compassion.  In this episode, you will hear: What it’s like to be in a work culture where drinking is normal  How drinking impacts mental health The science behind addiction How understanding the science behind it opened Gill up to self-compassion How sobriety is achieved by looking at facts and removing emotions How brain chemistry is related to addiction The study looking at endorphin levels for social drinkers and people with alcohol issues The misconception about dopamine The concept of neuroplasticity Key Quotes: [10:08] - "I really didn't think my behavior was weird. I was just doing what you're supposed to do." [19:42] - “In science, you're trained to be very objective. Your thoughts and beliefs about something don't make it true.” [20:07] - “The big reason I was able to stop – I finally accepted reality and looked at my drinking for what it actually was." [22:56] - “When you can disconnect yourself from that, and just look at the actual facts of what's going on, it's helpful to make a good decision." [24:47] - “It's a bunch of different risks that add and subtract from each other. And if they add up enough, your risk of having a problem is very, very high. And then bam, you have a problem." [29:15] - “As you abuse alcohol, it makes changes to your reward system and other areas of your brain.  [29:27] - “Not everyone's brain reacts exactly the same to alcohol.” [32:26] - “Endorphins actually trigger the release of dopamine." Supporting Resources: Sober Powered Podcast Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks with author Benjamin Hardy about his personal experience with addiction and the chaos that comes along with it. Benjamin describes the process overcoming his own addictions involved going through a “redemptive process,” which involved forgiving his father and rebuilding the relationship there. With trauma, you’re always looking in the rear-view mirror, but you need to make meaning going forward. Meaning is not going to strike you—you have to make it yourself. The beauty of this is that you can change the meaning of your past, Benjamin says. It’s key to have empathy for your old self.   Benjamin also talks about how writing about your trauma can really help. Turning away from the past, you can have hope for the future. Without a hope for the future, Benjamin says, the present becomes meaningless. You can also choose to ascribe a meaning to your past. We call it “meaning-making,” Benjamin says. Part of becoming emotionally-developed includes this idea of choosing the meaning of your past. He shares a story about how you can actively work to a solution for something that didn’t go exactly how you planned instead of snapping to a quick decision. You can choose to frame it in a new way instead of being defined by a failure. Choosing the meaning going forward can change how you store that forever. In his story, Benjamin points to the fact that he was vulnerable enough to share his feelings with the people in question as part of the process. Moving onto his book, Benjamin unpacks the idea that your personality is going to change, and that you have the power to choose who you want to be in the future. Your personality is just how you consistently show up. It’s crucial to have your identity based on who you actually want to be in the future. The same courage that moves you to say “I need help” is the courage it takes to tell people who you want to be in the future. It takes courage, as Benjamin says, because it’s uncertain. You’ll realize you might be rejected, but that you also need to do some “rejecting” to get you where you ultimately want to be. When you are open and honest, nothing is hiding anymore.  Key quotes: 05:05 — “There’s capital ‘T’ trauma and lowercase ‘t’ trauma.” 07:55 — “While I was running, I think I was subconsciously building confidence and thinking about my future.” 09:25 — “Memory is not objective; it’s more of a set of meanings we’ve given.” 12:40 — ”You’re a normal person even though you’ve made mistakes—and by the way, we’ve all made mistakes.” 16:45 — “We get stuck remembering the past rather than imagining the future.” 29:45 — “You shorten the refractory period by taking action.” 33:30 — “Identity and personality are two different things.” 36:50 — “Who you want to be is part of your true self.” 38:30 — “We’re more likely to believe the stories we tell people about who we are.” 41:15 — “There is potential for you to look back at this thing you’re going through and be grateful.” Supporting Resources: Check out Benjamin’s website at https://benjaminhardy.com EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with Dr. Joseph Volpicelli, a world-renowned scientist clinician whose research led to the discovery of naltrexone (a drug that treats alcohol addiction) among many other discoveries related to addiction treatment.   Today, he talks about how naltrexone can help someone struggling with alcohol addiction reduce their cravings. With the help of naltrexone as one of the tools in their toolkit of recovery, people can now start to build a meaningful, purposeful life. They also talk about the importance of the other component: not just the medical intervention, but also the psychosocial interventions for recovery. Dr. Volpicelli has been interested in addiction treatment and research for 40 years now. Such interest started when he was a medical student working with individuals who were returning from Vietnam who had developed an alcohol addiction. Many of them were using opiates but when they came back to the United States, they started drinking more alcohol.  For a long time, he has been interested in the relationship between stress, alcohol drinking, and opiates, and has taken that observation into the laboratory working with rats. What he found out was that the ability to control trauma had a very profound effect in terms of one's ability to fight something like cancer. When you're exposed to uncontrollable trauma, your brain releases endogenous endorphins and endogenous morphine-like molecules that help kill the pain. The problem with addiction is that the behavior makes you feel better temporarily but it sows the seeds for the next episode when you’ll need to use alcohol or drugs again, thereby creating an addictive cycle. Dr. Volpicelli discovered how naltrexone helps moderate the highs and lows and, therefore, helps break that addictive cycle. This then gives a person a chance to find other things in life and gives them a sense of purpose and social connectedness. In this episode, you will hear: How Dr. Volpicelli got interested in addiction treatment Trauma and its effects on physical or behavioral disorders How stress is related to alcohol addiction Withdrawal from your own endogenous opiates The endorphin effect that happens in addiction How naltrexone breaks the addictive cycle Understanding the logical brain vs. the emotional brain The BRENDA Approach to enhance adherence Key Quotes: [04:06] - “The ability to control the trauma had a very profound effect in terms of one's ability to fight something like cancer.” [08:05] - “When you're exposed to uncontrollable trauma, your brain releases endogenous endorphins and endogenous morphine-like molecules that help kill the pain.” [09:24] - “A lot of times when people have a very stressful week, on the weekends, they just feel like sitting on a couch eating potato chips, and for some folks when they drink, it helps improve their mood… that's probably withdrawal from your own endogenous opiates.” [10:53] - "The problem with addiction is that the behavior, drinking alcohol or any other behavior, makes you feel better temporarily. But it sows the seeds for the next episode where you need to use the drug again. And so it creates an addictive cycle." [13:58] - “The naltrexone helps moderate the highs and lows so it helps break that addictive cycle.” [15:33] - “By breaking that cycle, the medicine then gives a person a chance to find other things in life to give them a sense of purpose and social connectedness.” [23:24] - "Rather than fight our emotional brain, it's important to understand how it works." [25:55] - "We like to do something purposeful and meaningful in our lives. And people who establish that have much less risk of going back to relapse." Supporting Resources: https://volpicellicenter.com  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Duane speaks with Howard Lipp about the recovery he experienced after coming up against a wall that he couldn't move. He also shares about the experience he had in rehab that led him to do some work with psychedelics. This enabled him to transcend and find a way out of his suffering and pain. Howard jumped into the world of recovery in 2002 after hitting a wall with drugs and alcohol which he describes as impenetrable. He later realized he had a callous on his forehead from running into the same wall for such a long time without realizing it. Although he wasn't actively suicidal, he no longer wanted to live the way he was living. Therefore, he went through a Pavlovian conditioning program that worked for a while. The problem was that it didn't solve the internal conflict he had within him: his feelings of worthlessness and all the pain he carried from his past of abuse and bullying.  Howard went through most of his life believing there was something foundationally wrong with him. It was easy to grab evidence from his experience as a child and from the fact that he needed something outside of himself to feel okay in his skin. The only thing that shut that up was alcohol. It worked well. The problem is, eventually every substance will fail. Howard went to a treatment center and had the most unusual experience after being awake for 21 days. Then, he didn't move for three days and had no detox symptoms or medications applied to his body.  Today, Howard talks about the out-of-body experience he had at this treatment center. He also shares his first experience with plant-based medicine and how it broke through something within him. He felt an immediate connection to the presence of a great mystery of spirit.  He later realized that his addiction was not to a substance but to his thinking. He believed every single thought he had and that the thinker was him rather than the construct itself. He also started to see how his experience had informed his beliefs.  In this episode, you will hear: The belief that leads to a feeling of unworthiness Looking beyond the constructive self The self-flagellating false self that beats the crap out of us The belief that we’re separate from the Divine Why circumstances are not the challenge but the thinking mind is What happens when you use your mind as the guidance system for living The benefits of plant-based medicine in healing addiction and trauma Key Quotes: [03:13] - “You can't solve the problem with the thing that's causing the problem.” [04:50] - "We come from the realm of the great mystery, and land into a body and we're not received as this whole and complete being. Instead, we're given lots of reasons why we're not whole and complete." [12:28] - "As Michael Palin says, ‘If you really want to change your mind, you're going to have to address these false selves.’"  [16:25] - "Nobody is really suffering from an addiction to a substance and that is a known fact that it's a symptom." [23:16] - “Psychedelics bring you into the present moment and you can't run away.” [29:32] - “My suffering is not what's happening in the moment. It's the story I tell myself about it.” [42:02] - "The greatest lie we tell ourselves and our kids is that the value of a human being can be codified or quantified by anything of this world, our job, or money or all of that. But the essence of what we are can’t be measured." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: www.enaandhoward.com  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Getting through the first two years of recovery can be extremely difficult. Just when you think you've gone as far as you can go, you realize you’re only at the beginning. You need to develop the skill set to master recovery and live your best life. On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Barry Lehman about achieving long-term recovery or recovery after the first two years of sobriety. They specifically talk about what that looks like and how we can gain mastery so we can live our best life and find joy and happiness in recovery.  Barry is a retired pastor and has been sober for 33 years now. While he was in ministry as a parish pastor, he discovered he was an alcoholic. He went into a treatment program and stayed in the ministry for another 11 years after getting sober. He also got his Doctor of Ministry in Counseling and got his license as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor which he has served as part-time for 28 years now. Through his recovery journey, Barry learned how to be healthy and he now hopes he can share his story with others. In his book, Mastering Recovery, Barry talks about long-term recovery. He realized that the nitty-gritty of staying sober for more than two years isn't talked about enough.  When you’re in recovery, everything changes drastically. You have to find out how to live again and that’s not easy. In your first two years of recovery, you learn how to go about normal life and enjoy various occasions without alcohol. However, once you hit the third year, you can’t just go on doing things you used to do and just try doing them sober. If that’s all you do, you’ll end up having lots of cravings as well as mental and emotional relapses.   In this episode, you will hear: Why Barry wrote the book Mastering Recovery What mastery really is Practice as the path to mastery How to do a personal inventory Trauma-informed treatment Finding meaning and purpose Building a recovery-positive list Key Quotes: [07:44] - “The real nitty-gritty down and dirty way of staying sober beyond two years isn't very often talked about.” [12:29] - “Getting better at something important to you. – that's what mastery is.” [12:56] - “That's the path of mastery, keep practicing… When you think you've come to the end, you're only just beginning.” [18:42] - “Trauma-informed treatment, while it’s a buzzword, it's also very real.” [20:25] "Learning about movement, learning about exercise, is a big step that many of us need to take at that two-year mark, if not before." [27:50] - "Even when you're angry and upset, or frustrated, you begin to learn how to deal with those. And that's part of the practice." [29:45] - "I got to have that awareness of myself and my world of who I am. That's long-term recovery." [31:42] - "If you're lucky enough to have good people around you, who have been through good treatment and good therapy, you'll be able to lay down the stepping stones that will keep you growing in that area." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: www.balehman.com Book: Mastering Recovery Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Duane talks with Faith Elicia about her nine-year journey through an eating disorder. They discuss how she struggled several times to get help and how she finally found something that worked for her. They also talk about what helped her deal with not only her eating disorder but also with her anxiety, depression, and family history of addiction and family dysfunction. Faith's story provides a lot of hope that, even when you feel at your worst and like you can't go on, there's still hope out there.  Faith comes from an addictive household, being a child of an alcoholic. She used to believe that all dads yelled. She was scared of all fathers and generalized that all dads are mean. At 16, Faith saw her dad drunk for the first time, throwing a chair while she was hiding under the table. Then, he sought help and got sober for 30 years until his death three years ago. She also has a sister who found recovery in Narcotics Anonymous and another sister who found recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous. Although she was very familiar with the behaviors of addiction growing up, she wasn't aware that there was addiction in their house because of shame. Everything had to stay within the walls.  After she had her third child, Faith dealt with anxiety, panic, and agoraphobia. This was in the 80s and there wasn't really an understanding of anxiety disorders at that time. She couldn't tell anyone for fear they would lock her up in a psychiatric ward. Mental health just wasn't talked about like it is now. Understandably, Faith was petrified.  She was very afraid of drugs and alcohol. However, impulsive compulsive behavior can come out in other forms. Food became her way of coping and dealing with her internal chaos. Faith’s anxiety disorder turned into an eating disorder. It wasn't until she started to incorporate a mindfulness practice that things shifted for her. In this episode, you will hear: Growing up in a family with addictive behaviors Depression and anxiety during her third pregnancy How her anxiety disorder morphed into an eating disorder  Feeling guilt knowing her daughter also had an eating disorder Finding her home in Codependency Anonymous The shift that occurred when she joined the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program How she deals with the eating disorder voice that comes in Digging deeper into what’s really going on Key Quotes: [08:39] - “Addiction is a disease. It's a sickness.” [14:41] - ​​"It becomes all-consuming, weighing myself all day. It really took over." [16:26] - “It's very important for someone who thinks they have an eating disorder to seek help from someone who specializes in it and who really understands it." [19:00] - “No two eating disorders are the same. No two recoveries are the same. ... this is a process. It's a journey.” [19:21] - “This is a journey of self-awareness, self-discovery, retraining my thoughts filling that void that was always inside with self-care." [32:34] - "When the eating disorder voice is trying to distract me, it's from some feeling or situation that I don't want to deal with." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Do You See What I See? by Faith Elicia The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz Codependency Anonymous Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Duane speaks with Jan Winhall, the author of Treating Trauma and Addiction with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model: A Bottom-Up Approach. Jan's book is a combination of over 40 years of working with trauma and addiction and reflecting on how to bring an embodied approach to addiction treatment.   We currently understand trauma and addiction from more of a top-down cognitive approach. For example, the DSM, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, sees it through a pathologizing lens. When Jan started her work, she was fresh out of graduate school where she got assigned to run a group for young women who were incest survivors. Early on, it taught her how to understand addiction through the nervous system.  As feminist therapists, they were very curious about using new models because they felt the current models were misogynistic. Instead of helping women feel empowered, they did the opposite. They were shocked to see how these women who were viewed as victims of violence were actually being pathologized, getting admitted to hospitals, and being put on medications. This led to the basis of the Polyvagal model which asserted that their responses weren’t maladaptive; rather, their responses were adaptive in maladaptive environments. Today, Jan explains how our nervous system influences our behavioral choices and how we perceive the world and our situations. She also teaches how we can use the felt sense with the help of others to create a sense of safety in our lives. With that sense of safety, we will be able to choose more strategic behaviors that lead us to become our best selves.  In this episode, you will hear: How the dual system of the vagus nerve works The Polyvagal model explained What happens when the body gets stuck in freeze Other blended states in the nervous system How to develop felt sensing practices to heal from trauma How the state we’re in determines how we experience the world Key Quotes: [03:52] - "It was shocking to see how these women that I viewed as being victims of violence were really being pathologized." [06:49] - “All of these behavioral addictions and substance abuse stuff were ways that we're helping them to numb they kind of got that on some level.” [09:05] - "Our autonomic nervous system is the part of us that watches to see if we're safe. And if we don't feel safe enough, then we move into that flight-fight place in the sympathetic branch." [09:24] - “The dorsal branch of the vagus nerve simultaneously helps you and kicks in when you're in a big trouble by shutting everything down in the body.” [10:42] - “Our bodies have this way of protecting us when we really need to shut down. The problem is that we get stuck there.”  [12:40] - “You can see when someone gets triggered, the traumatic experience becomes as fresh as if it was happening right now.” [17:32] - “Through the practice of felt sensing, you're learning slowly, over time, how to feel safe enough in your body to connect with your feelings and let go of dissociating, and numbing, and being more and more and more present with yourself.” [21:32] - “To take responsibility, you have to be present and you have to be gentle with yourself.” [24:53] - "How we feel, how we experience the world is determined by what state we're in." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: https://janwinhall.com/ Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Dr. Karol Darsa about how to recognize trauma as well as some of the first steps you need to take to deal with trauma. Karol is the author of the book, The Trauma Map: Five Steps to Reconnect With Yourself. She dives deep into how trauma impacts us in our everyday life as well as what we can do to deal with our traumatic histories so we can heal and feel better. If you have struggled with some trauma in your past, hopefully you will get a lot of insights from this episode as Karol shares her professional wisdom on recovering from trauma. A licensed psychologist for 23 years, Karol found herself repeating certain information over and over again. She realized what was really missing in a lot of people's minds was the understanding of what trauma is and what it does. Maybe they knew what trauma was but didn't understand that it could impact them to the degree that it was impacting them.  Many people think trauma only applies to people who have been to war or were sexually abused. They don't consider other things to be trauma. However, trauma can also result from smaller incidents when people didn't even realize they felt traumatized.  Hoping to explain the basics of trauma and how it works, Karol decided to write the book, The Trauma Map: Five Steps to Reconnect With Yourself. Karol also noticed an overarching characteristic of self-blame among her clients who were dealing with trauma. They were quick to judge themselves much more than they should. Therefore, Karol also wrote the book as a great tool for minimizing self-blame. In this episode, you will hear: What trauma is What the different types of trauma could look like Why the power of positive thinking sometimes backfires for people Recognizing relational trauma How trauma causes you to disconnect from your body Why people find it difficult to face painful situations Dismissing your feelings means a lack of self-acceptance How to eliminate self-blame Key Quotes: [03:49] - “What was really missing in a lot of people's minds is really the understanding of what trauma is, and what it does.” [04:57] - “The power of the positive thinking, sometimes that actually backfires for a lot of people.” [05:56] - “Many people think trauma means if you been to war, or maybe if you were sexually abused, but other than that, people don't consider other things as trauma.” [06:31] - “Trauma is a situation where it's so overwhelming that it makes you feel powerless, basically unable to cope.” [07:13] - “The most common trauma that people minimize is relational trauma.” [09:30] - "In the relational traumas, reactions don't function that way. People have to be able to look at their symptoms and recognize it." [13:50] - "We have a limited capacity to actually face painful situations. As human beings, we all are that way." [17:17] - "One of the problems of dismissing feelings or putting things away or dismissing our body is that we are ultimately not accepting who we are." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: The Trauma Map Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We cannot overstate the impact this pandemic has had on our healthcare providers. When you think about all the stress and pressures these front-liners are going through day in and day out, you can see how a lot of aspects are playing in that are leading to clinical burnout and, ultimately, addiction. Yet, we need to recognize that this is just a part of a larger system that's going on in the individual. On this episode, Duane talks with clinical psychologist Michael Tkach as he shares about addiction and other issues that healthcare workers are facing during these COVID times. A clinical psychologist by training, Michael is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Behavioral Health Officer for Affinity Empowering, a technology-based solutions provider that supports overall health and wellness endeavors and that has also become a major provider of COVID-19 testing. Michael recently conducted research on medical care providers who are providing care to individuals diagnosed with terminal illnesses. What was highlighted in the research was a sense of powerlessness. These providers have no power to change the course of the etiology of the disease and they’re left with no other option but to simply manage the disease.  Michael was drawn into the mental health field after growing up in a neighborhood with a high prevalence of addiction as well as death by suicide. He eventually ended up at Hazelden Betty Ford for postdoctoral residency and then later came on staff there holding a variety of different roles.  Today, Michael shares his expertise and wisdom about addiction treatment and how we can help individuals struggling with addiction, especially our frontline healthcare workers who are working so hard to provide the best care they can under extremely difficult circumstances. If you're a healthcare worker out there struggling, please reach out for help so you can get the support you need.  In this episode, you will hear: Looking at addiction from a much larger scope Clinical burnout caused by a sense of powerlessness The perfect storm of many social supports not being there The lack of social support when people are looking to reduce stress and disengage How alcohol sales have increased during the pandemic The overlapping Venn diagram of prevalence between traumatic experiences and substance use Getting in-person support vs. virtual support Key Quotes: [05:23] - "The way that I approach addiction and addiction treatment is how all of those factors coalesce and come into a single point to affect the individual rather than trying to be reductionistic."  [09:26] - “When we start looking at what happened with COVID and how places were overwhelmed, what you started seeing is that clinical burnout that goes along with that feeling of helplessness.” [13:39] - "A lot of times, we think of addiction as a disease state that really thrives in isolation, people have shame. They hide it, they want to downplay how much they're using." [14:38] - “During the beginning of the pandemic, globally from April to June of 2020, alcohol sales increased over 34% to the year prior.” [18:15] - “There are those traumatic experiences where people are talking about loss, they're talking about those experiences and those pressures to keep going that leads towards burnout.” [18:25] - “There is this overlapping Venn diagram of prevalence between traumatic experiences and substance use." [23:53] - “As much as we love to think that therapy is therapy and supportive support, it is a different skill set to do it virtually than to do it in person.” If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Affinity Empowering Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Entrepreneurs and high-performing individuals are highly persistent and driven. Oftentimes, they are in control as they push themselves to success. They look really good on the outside. However, when they have an undercurrent of hurt and pain that is never expressed or paid attention to, they’re also likely to numb out from the pain through alcohol, drugs, sex, or something else. Let’s add to that the fact that drinking is pretty normalized in Canada, the US, and Western Europe. It’s even more normalized in many businesses as their way of closing deals. Unfortunately, we need to understand the progressive nature of this disease. On today’s episode, Duane speaks with David Greer, an entrepreneur, author, and coach who shares about his own recovery journey, specifically from the perspective of being a successful entrepreneur.  David was a high-functioning alcoholic who had a difficult time recognizing that he had an issue with alcohol. For decades, he was in denial because he had it all together on the outside. His moment of clarity came to him one evening while sailing on the Mediterranean under the stars. He feels that his higher power touched him at that very moment. David has been in recovery for over 12 years now. For the last six years, he has been a business coach and a facilitator of strategic planning who works exclusively with entrepreneurs. He decided to break his anonymity from the 12-step program and come out publicly to help other entrepreneurs who are running successful businesses and also struggling with alcohol or addiction so they can move to the next level. In this episode, you will hear: Drinking being normalized in certain cultures and in business Sailing through the Mediterranean Sea The moment David’s higher power touched him Hiring a coach on his 50th birthday David’s three biggest fears His breakthrough moment of admitting he was an alcoholic The #1 characteristic of entrepreneurs Why self-care is very critical as entrepreneurs Hiring a coach versus a consultant Navigating through challenging social situations when you’re early in recovery Key Quotes: [06:16] - “Drinking is normalized in Canada, in the U.S., and Western Europe. But then, in a business context, in many cases, I think it's even more normalized like it's the lubricant to close deals.” [08:43] - "I was in denial for decades because I just had a massive capacity to drink and not show a lot of adverse effects." [22:40] - "The bottom line is I don't like negative feelings... and my three biggest fears are I'm not good enough... it's my fault...and who do you think you are – to deserve a great life?" [26:08] - "I'm uncomfortable with crying because that wasn't allowed in the household that I grew up in." [27:59] - "People ask me, like, what's the number one characteristic of entrepreneurs? And my response to that is persistence." [29:04] - “There's three parts to your life… when you're setting goals for yourself for the year or the quarter – career/finances, business; your life, your relationships, your significant other, your family; and then in the middle is yourself.” [31:20] - "There's a whole myth that to build a successful business, you have to be a workaholic." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: www.coachdjgreer.com David’s book: Wind in Your Sails: Vital Strategies That Accelerate Your Entrepreneurial Growth Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Duane speaks with spiritual leader and author Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati. In her book Hollywood to the Himalayas, she shares the journey of her transformation from trauma and abuse to healing and freedom. Her hope is to bring people into the natural state of freedom, peace, and joy and, ultimately, free people from suffering, pain, and addiction. Although Sadhvi has written other books on her teachings, she reveals that this was the first time she shared her actual full story – uncensored, raw, deep, vulnerable, honest, and genuine. She decided to write the book after seeing how critical it is to bridge spirituality and humanity at this time when too many people are in the throes of human struggle, including addiction. Sadhvi grew up in Hollywood. She lived a privileged life, had access to the best education, and graduated from Stanford University. And yet, as everyone with addiction understands, something was bubbling beneath the surface.  At an early age, Sadhvi dealt with sexual abuse and abandonment and, as a result, was yearning for love and approval. While she was succeeding beautifully in every external way, inside she felt like she had done something wrong and there was something wrong with her. Addiction became her go-to stress response and it never occurred to her that she could be free. At the age of 25, Sadhvi went to India and had an extraordinary spiritual awakening experience. It was unexpected, unanticipated, and unsought for on any conscious level. From that moment on, she knew she was one with all of the Divine creation and the rest of her life began.  In this episode, you will hear: Sadhvi’s journey through addiction and spiritual awakening Letting go of pain and the identification with pain Practicing to keep the mind on track How we become slaves to our thoughts What forgiveness means The two arcs of the book, Hollywood to the Himalayas Key Quotes: [03:18] - “It seems so critical today that we bridge spirituality and humanity.” [16:02] - “The dilemma with using psychedelics to get there is you have to just keep using them, which of course does not benefit anyone when you substitute awakening for addiction, and instead of freedom, you end up a slave.”  [18:10] - “What to do comes really naturally once you have an experience of who you are. The dilemma for so many of us is we don't know who we are and so we don't know what to do.” [20:03] - “The most extraordinary lesson has been that our freedom is our highest goal… and the question always is – is this pain, is this grudge, is this identity – is it worth my freedom?” [20:43] - “We act like thoughts run the show. We act like we are slaves and the thoughts are the master.” [23:46] - “Forgiveness says regardless of what you have done to me, regardless of what your anger, ignorance, fear, confusion, your patterns, regardless of what those made you do to me, I still deserve to be free. That is my birthright.” [26:55] - “Regardless of how stuck you feel, you can be free. You have that veto power." [29:10] - “You're not your body any more than you are your car. Your car is a vehicle that takes you places. Your body is a vehicle. It's what the soul is using on this particular leg of the karmic journey, but you're not the body." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Hollywood to Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Michelle Chalfant, host of The Adult Chair Podcast, about being our best selves by sitting in the adult chair and how our adult self can help us navigate all parts of our trauma, inner child, and ego. Michelle gives practical advice that can help you move forward in your life in a way that will create meaning and purpose.  A therapist and coach, Michelle currently does coaching certification and workshops based on the Adult Chair Model, which was a culmination and combination of several teachers she has worked with over the last 25 years. The Adult Chair Model is a manual for life. It helps you learn how to feel your emotions, something that many of us have not been taught to do well. Michelle says that a lot of us know how to be physically healthy and have a good understanding of that. However, when it comes to emotional health, humans aren't great at it. Learning how to live as a healthy adult is the touchstone of The Adult Chair Model. When you begin to live with compassion, boundaries, and empowerment, and when you’re connected to your emotions instead of reacting to them, you become an emotionally healthy adult and the most authentic version of yourself. Growing up, Michelle was part of an Italian family and was raised with alcoholism all around her.  She recalls moments in college when she felt unhappy and even had suicidal thoughts. As her way of escaping from pain, she resorted to three things: smoking pot, drinking, and overeating.  After consulting a psychiatrist, she got diagnosed with depression and was given four days’ worth of medication. Three days later, she stopped taking the meds and decided to find another way to heal herself.  In this episode, you will hear: Her addiction and recovery journey from depression Turning towards the pain and learning how to feel your emotions How to become friends with your emotions Your body as your navigation system Checking in with your inner child Key Quotes: [03:20] - “The Adult Chair Model is a manual for life.” [03:40] - “A lot of us know to be physically healthy… but when it comes to emotional health, humans aren't great at that.” [14:46] - “You can only take people as far as you've gone.” [15:29] - "It's pausing life temporarily and then you hit play again the moment all the effects wear off, and all of a sudden, you're back in it and the pain is right there again. You have to turn toward the pain." [15:48] - “You've got to get to know your pain and we have to learn how to feel our emotions. And that is something human beings are not taught well how to do.” [19:20] - “You've got to go in there and let those feelings come through." [22:30] - “I found that I had to become friends with my emotions.” [26:54] - "When we tune into the body, we realize it's a navigation system for us and it tells us when we're off, when we're on, when we're okay, and when we're not okay." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: https://theadultchair.com/ The Adult Chair Podcast Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are a lot of negative consequences that can come from behavioral addictions. They include everything from financial problems to legal repercussions to health issues. Whether it’s gambling, gaming, sex, or pornography, it’s important to understand why some people are susceptible to certain behaviors. In fact, the same mechanism that influences chemical addiction could be responsible for behavioral addiction as well. On this episode, Duane speaks with Amanda Giordano, a licensed professional counselor and associate professor at the University of Georgia, who specializes in addiction counseling both in chemical addiction and behavioral addiction. Amanda is the author of a clinical reference book titled A Clinical Guide to Treating Behavioral Addictions.  Today, she imparts her expertise in this field, explaining how the changes in the brain associated with behavioral addictions are actually very similar to the changes associated with chemical addictions.  In other words, instead of becoming addicted to a chemical that originates outside of the body, the body is addicted to the release of its own neurochemicals (dopamine in particular). Once the brain’s reward system is activated, it releases neurotransmitters which can become very difficult for some people to abstain from as they become their primary means of regulating their emotions. Hence, for some susceptible individuals, a rewarding behavior can become an addiction where there’s a loss of control over that behavior. The behavior is continued despite negative consequences and it becomes compulsive for that individual. They experience cravings or a mental preoccupation with the behavior when they're not engaging in it.  In this episode, you will hear: How a rewarding behavior can become an addiction Different types of behavioral addiction Resetting the brain takes time The 4 C’s of addiction The behavior becoming the salient part of their life Proven effective methods of treatment Factors that influence the susceptibility to behavioral addiction Positive reinforcement vs. negative reinforcement The three circles technique to identify the warning signs Key Quotes: [04:24] - “There are changes in the brain associated with behavioral addictions that are very similar to changes associated with chemical addictions.” [06:37] - “Instead of becoming addicted to a chemical that originates outside of the body, we're really becoming addicted to the release of our own neurochemicals.” [09:29] - “The brain can reset, but it takes time… It takes a little bit of time for the brain to reset and to again, start functioning the way it did prior to the start of the addiction.” [14:42] - “There are a lot of negative consequences that can come from behavioral addictions, everything from finances to legal repercussions to health issues.” [17:25] - “The chronic elevation of dopamine tricks the brain into thinking this must be a really important activity and must be necessary for my survival.” [30:26] - “If we can find alternative, healthier, more adaptive ways to regulate our emotions, then we might not need to turn to some of these problematic behaviors.” [42:13] - “Isolation, shame, and secrecy are some of the weapons that addiction uses to keep us silent and keep us sick." Supporting Resources: Email: amanda.giordano@uga.edu  Amanda’s blog:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/contributors/amanda-l-giordano-phd-lpc   A Clinical Guide to Treating Behavioral Addictions: https://www.amazon.com/Clinical-Guide-Treating-Behavioral-Addictions/dp/0826163165 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5): https://www.amazon.com/Diagnostic-Statistical-Manual-Mental-Disorders/dp/0890425558 Irresistible by Adam Alter: https://www.amazon.com/Irresistible-Addictive-Technology-Business-Keeping/dp/1594206643 Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sophie Aghdami is an addiction recovery coach in Australia. Today, she shares her own story of recovery from alcoholism as well as how a particular parable helped change her whole perspective on recovery, find success in healing, and create a thriving life.  Sophie grew up in Switzerland and the UK and moved to Australia just two years ago. Her drinking started as an early teen. In the UK, it’s a cultural thing to start drinking early or at least be around it a lot. It was just the norm for Sophie. She also worked at a pub surrounded by people who were always drinking and, as she went through university, she stayed in that line of work. Sophie then started managing restaurants. She loved this job but it was very stressful and the hours were long. As a result, drinking became her coping and stress-release mechanism. She began drinking earlier and earlier in the day until it became her brain's reaction to cope with stressful situations. Eventually, Sophie realized that drinking was no longer a fun option for her but a necessity to kickstart her brain to face the day. It was then that she got out of the restaurant industry. Unfortunately, she still found herself stuck in alcoholism afterward. Finally, after a compassionate conversation with her brother, she decided to go to a five-week rehab in Thailand which was life-changing for her. Soon after, she found her calling as an addiction recovery coach. In this role, she not only helps others but also assists herself in her own recovery. In this episode, you will hear: When Sophie realized she had a drinking issue The pivotal moment when she decided to go to rehab Removing herself from a toxic environment How she found her calling as a recovery coach The parable that inspired Sophie to name her coaching company Recovery starts when you start feeding the good wolf  Breaking down recovery into smaller steps and celebrating each tiny thing The need for support, especially in the early stages Key Quotes: [02:14] - "In the UK, it was a very cultural thing to start drinking very early, or at least be around it a lot." [05:43] - "In the restaurant industry, and especially alcohol, it's so socially acceptable. It's perceived as just doing something really fun." [17:24] - “When I was feeding my bad wolf, the relapses would begin or the addiction just continued.” [17:30] - “​​Feeding the good wolf, releasing that shame, giving ourselves compassion, love, having a connection, all of those things that I mentioned from the parable – that's where recovery really starts to strengthen and we're able to maintain it.” [20:03] - “To think of the bigger things that started being added in, over time, was too overwhelming so I ended up not doing anything. So I thought the best thing to do is do something tiny, and celebrate that tiny thing." [22:23] - "Courage is there so just try and reach out and step out of that dark place. There will always be someone there to help because the support is necessary." [24:57] - "When we build up the strong wolf, things like self-compassion do get stronger." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: www.thewolfyoufeed.com  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane talks with Charlie Gray about his journey of hope and resiliency through his toxic relationship with vodka and the one thing that allowed him to stay sober. In his memoir, At Least I’m Not The Frog: A Zany Memoir of Alcoholism & Recovery, Charlie Gray tells his story of being a recovering alcoholic sharing his experience of addiction, relapse, and recovery. Living as a high-functioning alcoholic for 11 years, his plan was to keep his job, make some good money, and just drink his way through. This went on until, physically, he could no longer do so. The way he puts it is, “You can only drink a gallon and a half of vodka every day or so for so long before even a young man's body begins to shut down.”  The root cause behind such a behavior was his early childhood trauma from losing his mother. He was so focused on creating a life of purpose in honor of his mother that he never dreamed addiction would be something on the table for him. But then began 11 years of a toxic relationship with vodka. Charlie attended a number of treatment centers across the country. Over the years, he had gathered all of the tools necessary for recovery. He was receptive to advice on what to do to better himself; he just didn’t implement it.  However, when the body says no more and your pain is too great, there comes a point when you decide to do something. One day, Charlie just woke up ready to receive the love and the message from his higher power that if he would just spend a little time trying the practices he had learned through those years, he would stay sober. And so, that’s what he did. In this episode, you will hear: Dealing with the loss of a mother The brain as a powerful tool for coping The huge disconnect between the heart and the head Charlie’s decision to use the tools he learned to stay sober A daily struggle to not succumb to the craving How writing has helped him recover Key Quotes: [04:36] - “I was so focused on creating a life of purpose in honor of my mother that I never dreamed that addiction would be something on the table for me.” [05:54] - “Your brain is such a powerful tool without you knowing it." [09:47] - “Thinking that you can control it – that's another great example of how clever our minds can be and the rationale they can create when you have proven 1000 times that you cannot control it.” [12:39] - “You can only drink a gallon and a half of vodka every day or so, for so long before even a young man's body begins to shut down." [20:38] - "It really wasn't until about a month or two after I'd been sober, that I began writing, and that is how I was able to stay sober through the rest of the pandemic.”  [24:14] - “A lot of terrible things have happened to me. But I overcame them and I'm not the frog.” [32:57] - "Keep trying that even when it feels like you're never going to find your identity or you're never going to find your sobriety, it is out there." Supporting Resources: At Least I'm Not The Frog: A Zany Memoir Of Alcoholism & Recovery Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Duane speaks with Robert Kanter, an international recovery advocate addressing the opioid epidemic. Today, he talks about his advocacy work with the opioid epidemic. He also tells his own story of recovery from alcohol and substance use disorders and how his daughter's struggles became the genesis of his advocacy work. In 2020, overdose fatalities hit 93,000 in the US. This was a record-breaking amount with COVID exacerbating the existing opioid crisis. It was an epidemic within the pandemic. Just to give you context of how serious this problem is, Robert says that we lost more people last year to overdose fatalities than we lost in the entire Vietnam War. Robert is in recovery from alcohol use disorder and substance use disorder and has now been sober for many years. Three years ago, his daughter almost overdosed on opiates and heroin, locked in an apartment with a drug-dealing boyfriend. Now, she just celebrated three years of sobriety. As a father, Robert felt completely powerless to do anything. This was a big part of what pushed him into the advocacy work he does now: helping other families who are in the same situation as he was. Hear more about his passion for getting the word out there and how he’s working to hold some companies and individuals accountable who are responsible for this opioid epidemic. One of the reasons this podcast exists is to change that stigma around addiction. Robert coming on the show today to talk about this brings a human face to it all. In this episode, you will hear: How the opioid epidemic started and who’s responsible The pill dumping in West Virginia as a landmark trial The role of the FDA in this whole crisis The Portugal model of harm reduction How people struggling with addiction are dissociated from their families  The role of the media in reversing the epidemic Key Quotes: [02:25] - "There were 88,000 overdose fatalities in this country. It was revised up to 93,000, which is a record because you have the perfect storm of the pandemic, and you have fentanyl on the street...an epidemic within a pandemic." [03:19] - "We lost more people last year to overdose fatalities than we lost in the entire Vietnam War." [04:14] - “It's not like people are just going to stop being addicted. Money has to be there for treatment programs."  [05:14] - “My vote for the real entity that really caused the epidemic is the Food and Drug Administration because they are the gatekeepers. They're the ones that are supposed to protect the American public.” [11:05] - “It's a step in the right direction. If these other lawsuits go through quickly, now, the money for treatment around the country is really starting to open up.” [20:56] - “You have to have the media and a consistent basis, covering the positive things that are happening." [23:43] - "We understand your pain and your suffering. And we have resources for you. And we have resources for your families. This is a family illness, the people we hurt the most are the people we love the most." [30:32] - "The more people that lose loved ones, the more these people are then going to get involved and really understand what happened. That's one of the unfortunate silver linings of all this." Supporting Resources: Faces & Voices of Recovery Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have to work and deal with our internal and early trauma. This can be more difficult to see and process without a reliable, trustworthy “other” in our lives. Sometimes it even takes an expert who can walk us through that journey in order for us to get to that safe space for healing and recovery. Today, Duane talks with Andrew Susskind about his book, It's Not About the Sex: Moving from Isolation to Intimacy after Sexual Addiction. They go into depth about attachment, emotional regulation, the need for reliable people to heal your traumatic wounds, and how we can do that when we're in recovery and still struggling with internal chaos.   Andrew is a licensed clinical social worker, a Somatic Experiencing practitioner, a Brainspotting practitioner, and a certified group psychotherapist. The book is Andrew's passion project where he wrote about themes that have been on his mind for three decades now. Since then, so much has changed in the mental health field as well as the addiction and trauma world. Andrew’s book reflects many of those changes.  Andrew not only leans on the experiences of his clients but on his personal experience as well. In 1994, Andrew went to his first SCA meeting, which stands for Sexual Compulsives Anonymous. In the therapy room, he noticed that people were learning how to stop their addictive behaviors. However, that's just the starting gate. His book covers some themes and different areas of healing that can happen beyond stopping destructive behavior. In this episode, you will hear: Somatic Experiencing and Brainspotting The mechanism behind our nervous system regulation The concept of upregulation vs. downregulation Why it’s not just about sex Having reliable relationships as a platform for healing Key Quotes: [06:57] - “Somatic Experiencing and Brainspotting are both trauma healing modalities that focus on Nervous System regulation.” [07:40] - “One of the keys to regulating the nervous system is knowing when we're dysregulated.” [08:29] - “Someone who feels most comfortable in their skin feels calm, peaceful, grounded, and hopefully feels resourceful, resilient, and buoyant.” [11:51] - “Even though it looks like compulsive sexual behavior, on the surface, once we scratch the surface, it's really about broken-heartedness.” [14:20] - “When someone is trying to regulate themselves, it's actually an attempt to feel better.” [17:49] - “If you scratch the surface on anyone who's sexually compulsive, you're going to find some kind of avoidant attachment within that.” [23:08] - “If we're connected within and to one another, and to something greater than ourselves, that's going to create a platform for healing.” Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: www.westsidetherapist.com It's Not About the Sex: Moving from Isolation to Intimacy after Sexual Addiction by Andrew Susskind  www.Brainspotting.com   Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patients with substance use disorder have every right to be pregnant and have children as much as anyone else. Some people look at it as being irresponsible but who are we to judge? In fact, our guest today explains how certain medications for substance use disorders could have played a part in improving the hormonal milieu of patients enough that a pregnancy might occur. On this episode, Duane speaks with Dr. Charles Schauberger, an OB/GYN and Addiction Medicine doctor who specializes in helping women who are struggling with substance use disorder go through pregnancy. This is an issue that doesn't get talked about or thought about a lot unless someone is in this situation.  A strong advocate for addiction treatment and compassionate care, Charles shares his story of getting into this specialty and how women dealing with substance use disorder can have a very healthy and successful pregnancy if they’re given the right support.  His motivation for helping these women comes from recognizing the discrimination against this group of underserved people who have limited resources, not to mention the stigma associated with their drug use which makes their pregnancy even harder.   Charles started practicing as an obstetrician in 1982 and has delivered about 5,000 babies over the course of his career. In 2008, he experienced burnout, left his clinical practice, and became a hospital administrator. After two and a half years, he went back into practice again because he missed patient contact. In this episode, you will hear: Charles’ journey into medicine Some myths around pregnancy and substance use The stigmas that pregnant women struggling with substance abuse have Using MAT during pregnancy The real treatment for recovery Key Quotes: [08:06] - “Patients who have substance use disorder, have every right to be pregnant and have children as much as anyone else.” [10:28] - "I do suggest patients are better off if they are stable in their treatment and recovery before achieving a pregnancy. But I never talk down to anyone who gets pregnant while they're still actively using." [11:53] - "There are a lot of women who fear that their babies are going to be taken away from them." [13:31] - “I've never seen a baby with that severe of withdrawal symptoms. If they have received care, and are carefully monitored, their babies will not suffer.” [14:15] - “There have been theories that acute withdrawal from heroin or other opioids might be associated with greater risk of miscarriage or stillbirth. But for the most part, that's probably not the case.” [14:58] - “A dead mother leads to a dead baby so we really want to emphasize the importance of the use of those medications.” [15:57] - "Alcohol is particularly a bad drug when we think of the effects of alcohol on developing fetuses and newborns. The fetal alcohol syndrome is a significant concern." [19:30] - "Getting a decent job, or, and building relationships with people that are in recovery, clearing up your legal issues so that you can put that behind you – those are the things that build recovery and are so important to people with substance use disorder." [34:37] - "If they can seek help early in pregnancy, we have a better chance to help them through some of the difficulties and make for a successful and safe pregnancy." Supporting Resources: Women and Substance Use Disorders Action Group of the American Society of Addiction Medicine Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when your pain is greater than your fears? On this episode, Duane speaks with Recovery Pastor Craig Brown and author of the book, Stop Hiding, Start Healing.  Craig shares his recovery journey coming out of an abusive, dysfunctional family and how he peeled off the layers of his pain, shame, and guilt, and finally found freedom again once he decided to surrender and give his life over to Christ-centered recovery. One of the striking things Craig also mentioned during this interview is that people think recovery is about addiction and about the drug addict, but recovery is about restoring souls.  Growing up, Craig was feeling the pressure of having a dad who was a pastor, being in an environment where they were forced to fake it so his dad would look good in public. But the man he saw standing in the pulpit was entirely different than the one he saw at home. He had a lot of demons within him as well as a lot of struggles that he took out on Craig and his siblings. So at a very young age, Craig had to learn some coping mechanisms to deal with what he was going through. He didn't have good nurturing nor did he have any emotional, mental, or spiritual development. Once he got to high school, he started drinking. He felt a huge void and he wanted to get away from God and his family. From there, he began his descent to what he calls the pit of hell. He was partying everywhere and had no self-control. He felt totally isolated and didn’t have anybody he could talk to and trust. He just didn’t feel safe.  His streak of unfortunate events continued on as he dropped out of college and took a job at a bar restaurant owned by the biggest cocaine dealer on the East Coast at the time. There, he got sucked up into the drug world. He was depressed and dark with no mission or vision until the pain in his life got greater than his fear of changing. It was then that he finally decided to surrender and God took over his life. From that surrender came freedom. In this episode, you will hear: Craig’s addiction and recovery journey The conscious decision to get well Shattering the bondage of shame and guilt Why the Bible is a blueprint for recovery Replacing negative self-talk with positive input The role of community in recovery Key Quotes: [06:28] - "Oftentimes, we take on the identity of our struggle, our pain. our shame. our guilt, failure." [07:09] - “When the pain is greater than my fear of changing, my fear of shame, my fear of embarrassment, when you're at that point, more often than not, you're going to do whatever it takes to get well.” [13:00] - “People have so many resources available to get well. But the shame of their past is debilitating.” [13:49] - “That shame and that guilt that is just keeping you in bondage. Let it be cracked and shattered, so you can be set free and begin healing.” [14:31] - “Of all places that people should be accepted. It's the church. And oftentimes that's not the case, unfortunately.” [15:56] - “If you've had adverse childhood events and painful events, you're going to find a way to cope, and you're more likely to turn to a substance, or pornography, or sex or food or whatever it is to make yourself feel medicated.” [18:31] - “Churches that teach practical application of Scripture, do extremely well in helping people fully understand how it applies to their situation.” [23:26] - "Whatever your community is, it has to be healthy, it has to be relational." Supporting Resources: Book: www.stophidingstarthealingbook.com   Website: www.craigdbrown.com  Facebook: Stop Hiding Start Healing Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addictions are many things. But to simplify, they represent parts of our personalities that are out of balance. They represent a part of our body, mind, soul, or spirit that needs a lot of attention and that perhaps was neglected in childhood. As we continue using external substances, these imbalances get louder and louder until they have to be dealt with. Eventually, we get stuck in a cycle of shame and guilt that leads to hopelessness. On this episode, Duane speaks with Paul Churchill, the host and founder of Recovery Elevator. In 2015, Paul launched the podcast, which he thought was a risky move having only been six months sober from alcohol. It was a calculated gamble that actually saved his life. Now, it has opened a lot of doors for him to meet great people and impact other people’s lives. Paul was a normal drinker for about seven years since he was 15 years old. Soon, he found how the drug alcohol let him overcome his insecurities and fears in early childhood. At 22, after he graduated college, he moved to Granada, Spain and bought a bar. Moving to a foreign country with a drinking problem to buy a bar in Spain at a young age was a total dumpster fire. It was both the best time and the worst time of his life. The tipping point came at the very end when he blacked out for three straight days and realized he was tiptoeing around life and death. In 2010, he decided to go a month without alcohol and ended up going two and a half years without it. He was going forward on willpower. When you’re viewing life without alcohol as a sacrifice, your time is limited. So he went back to drinking, stopped again, and then went back to alcohol again. It was a cycle that gave him a sense of hopelessness to the point of him attempting suicide. In 2014, he finally surrendered and stopped fighting. Now, here he is – seven years later. He believes his addiction served a purpose that directed him to move forward in life without alcohol and to go internal instead of external for happiness and support. In this episode, you will hear: Paul’s addiction and recovery journey Being stuck in a cycle of shame and hopelessness How Paul was finding habits or distractions as part of his recovery Addiction as an adaptive behavior The endowment theory that forces us to connect  Ending the stigma of addiction itself and getting help for it Overcoming addiction through community and accountability Key Quotes: [03:13] - “Addictions are many things. But to simplify them, they represent parts of our personalities that are out of balance.” [04:16] - “Alcohol was a self medicating elixir in it. It worked wonders. The problem was it wasn't sustainable.” [07:11] - “It's a real dangerous cycle that we can get on where we have intense anxiety, alcohol relieves it. And then when alcohol goes away, there's more anxiety.” [10:18] - “Hope is constantly looking into the future for a better world, and that's a trap in itself.” [10:23] - “When you have lost all hope, and you really come crashing down into the present moment, that's where the bulk of the recovery work happens in this present moment.” [14:50] - “A lot of these addictions, especially in modern society, they're adaptive behaviors.” [19:40] - “Overall human beings, they're wired to help. And most human beings are really good people.” [23:08] - “It is a societal issue. And it's not the issue for just the addict or the alcoholic. And it's not even really their fault. A lot of this is generational and passed down.” [24:06] - “How to depart from addiction is complicated... but it can also be as simple as community and accountability.” Supporting Resources: https://www.recoveryelevator.com/  In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Dr. Gabor Maté  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we are in deep pain or we have these hardships in our life, we have to learn how to transmute them and turn them into something different – not just overcoming it. As for KL Wells, she decided to transmute her pain into service by helping others whose loved ones are struggling with addiction. KL is a businesswoman and she has a 30-year-old son who is a recovering addict. Through the course of her life, she has lived the generational story around addiction, not struggling with addiction herself, but being able to see addiction from a different perspective. Her mom was addicted to prescription medications, which was something popular back in those days. Then she had a brother who was addicted to cocaine. She married an alcoholic and divorced, and had her son out of that marriage. She subsequently remarried a recovering alcoholic of 28 years.  Seeing her son being arrested at gunpoint and who was yelling at her to save him was a very traumatic experience for her. In that moment, every dream she had for him shattered. Her heart broke, but in that "cracking open," she also knew it was meant to happen for her, fully aware that you have to give yourself permission to completely dissolve, and let the emotions work through you.  Hearing KL’s story, there's so much resilience flowing through her. When you have a child who is suffering from a disease that could kill him or her, it has a catalytic impact on us, as parents, like nothing else can. She knew she had to put this down in a way that she can help other people because it's incredibly painful to witness the people you love in so much suffering. Today, KL talks about her project, Voices InCourage, a community that provides that space where you actually feel heard on a multitude of layers and levels, and that people get you because they've walked that path. Then you can be raw and real, and transmute it for yourself so it serves your journey.   In this episode, you will hear: KL’s journey as the loved one of different addicts The two major questions from which Voices InCourage was born out of The two life-defining moments for KL Transmuting your challenges instead of overcoming them Embracing our traumas and grief Key Quotes: [06:56] - “Pain pushes until vision pulls.” [08:36] - "When you have a child who is suffering with the disease that could kill him or her, it has a catalytic impact on us as parents, like nothing else can." [12:17] - “You have to give yourself permission to completely dissolve, and let the emotions work through you.” [14:53] - “In the midst of COVID, with all the numbers just skyrocketing in terms of overdoses and relapses, addiction going up, alcoholism going up, and abuse going up… We're in a pandemic of proportions we've never seen before.” [16:59] - “We are on the planet to serve. All of our life experiences are building blocks to service.” [18:26] - “We're human beings, and we have a full component of emotions and sadness and grief are part of life.” [25:37] - "95% of our success or failure is predicated on the community that we surround ourselves with." [26:46] - "One of the top human needs is to be heard and we're not trained to do this as a society, as a culture, as a world." Supporting Resources: https://voicesincourage.com/ Man's Search for Meaning Book by Viktor Frankl Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For most people who get into recovery, at some point, food and sugar become an issue in their life. It serves as a secondary feel-good mechanism when they're not feeling great. But why is sugar so appealing? Why do some people struggle so much with it that it causes problems in their life?  On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with Mike Collins about the science behind sugar addiction and how it negatively impacts people in recovery. When Mike got sober, he went right back to sugar in massive amounts and a lot of people in recovery do that. Completely sugar-free for over 30 years now, Mike is the Chairman of the Board of a Food Addiction Institute that helps raise awareness about processed food and sugar worldwide. He is the founder of SugarAddiction.com which has been helping thousands successfully quit sugar for over nine years. Mike talks about the concept of an emotional management system where we are literally managing our emotions with a ubiquitous, almost free product that's available anywhere. Some people may stop for 30 days. But they revert back to their emotional management system, which has been co-opted by sugar.  There are two major things here. First is how the food industry has weaponized this knowledge of the neurological workings of our brain – sugar being the gateway drug. It has that long shelf life so it's cheap to manufacture. And once they get you kind of addicted to it, they keep selling it to you. It's not just food, it's a mood changer. Mike shares his own story of how sugar impacted his own life when he started recovery, the impact of sugar addiction, and how to work through that process and get away from sugar addiction.  In this episode, you will hear: Why sugar is the original gateway drug The science behind sugar addiction Why people are struggling with sugar addiction Sugar as a cultural norm Understanding the emotional management system The epidemic of overweight children and the real problem that’s causing it Key Quotes: [02:59] - “A group of people who are in recovery from drugs and alcohol have struggled with sugar.” [05:46] - “The nucleus accumbens, the dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, adrenal glands, oxytocin, even your endorphins – all these things are affected by sugar.” [07:32] - “We are literally managing our emotions with a ubiquitous, almost free product that's available anywhere.” [08:53] - “We have to separate hyper palatable foods and sugar from real food." [11:32] - “When you stop eating these refined carbohydrates and processed foods, even the gut biome has to start to shift and change and adapt to not having this product in the body.” [18:17] - “When you're consuming a large amount of sugar, your body is putting this hormone out that drives your behavior. Until you shift that, it becomes really hard to even stop the process.” [20:55] - “People fall back to the old emotional management system when something difficult comes up.” [35:13] - “We have an epidemic of overweight children, and they're not out shopping for food.” [36:19] - "The concept of calories needs to be destroyed. It's a ridiculous construct."  Supporting Resources: www.sugaraddiction.com Hooked: Food, Free Will, and How the Food Giants Exploit Our Addictions by Michael Moss https://www.amazon.com/Hooked-Food-Giants-Exploit-Addictions/dp/0812997298 Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine by Robert H Lustig https://www.amazon.com/Metabolical-Processed-Nutrition-Modern-Medicine/dp/0063027712  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Being in the restaurant industry, serving alcohol is such a big part of it. It’s intended to create an experience, just like the food, music, and the interior of the space. But if you're struggling with alcohol or drugs, it would be such a hard industry to be in because you're going to be around those all the time.  In fact, about 17% to 24% of restaurant workers around the country have issues with alcohol and drugs. And that’s because it’s the only industry where drinking and drugging have become the norm. They’ve created that kind of atmosphere where it's widely accepted and readily available.  Our guest today is Mickey Bakst, the co-founder of Ben’s Friends, a recovery community dedicated to helping struggling addicts in the food and beverage industry find sobriety and seek recovery and support – without having to give up their lives and their careers.  At the forefront of what they do is creating a community of people who not only understand the addiction, but understand the life that the F&B workers live in. Active since 2016, Ben’s Friends is a safe space to talk about it knowing that they will not be judged. In the treatment of all kinds of addictions, when people can talk about it and connect with others, and they can feel heard and understood – that's when change happens. 38 years sober now, Mickey was found in a hotel room after four days of drugging and drinking and ended up at the emergency room table. Because of his addiction, he also ended up losing his restaurant business, his home, and anybody who cared about him. Now at 69 years old, Mickey continues to live out his passion for helping individuals in the F&B industry who are struggling with addiction and he sets an example for those seeking sobriety.  On this episode, Mickey shares a little bit of his own story, some of the unique struggles that come with working in the restaurant community, and why Ben’s Friends can be so helpful for someone in the restaurant industry who’s struggling with alcohol and substance abuse. In this episode, you will hear: His struggles at AA The parts of AA that resonated with Mickey the most How Ben’s Friends started Why the restaurant industry is prone to alcohol and drug addiction How Ben’s Friends is able to create a strong community within their industry  Key Quotes: [08:29] - Nothing happened for me until I made a decision that for me, I wanted to live and I knew I couldn't live the way I was. [14:03] - "Anywhere from 17 to 24% of restaurant workers around the country are having issues with alcohol and drugs." [15:39] - "We're the only industry where drinking and drugging is the norm. It's accepted." [18:14] - "At the forefront of what we do is creating a community of people who not only understand the addiction, but understand the life that the F&B workers live in." [26:18] - "Once you make a decision, and that decision flows through your being that you can no longer drink if you want to live the life you want to live." [26:35] - "Ben's Friends gives people who are struggling with that obstacle a place to talk about it where they're not judged."   If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: www.bensfriendshope.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/bensfriendsnational Facebook: www.facebook.com/bensfriendsnational  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mindfulness – everybody hears about it and they have all kinds of ideas of what mindfulness is. A lot of times, they think it's this really complicated thing and that you have to do the whole kung fu thing to be mindful. But you don't have to. On today’s episode, Duane carries an inspiring conversation with Janet Fouts, the author of Microdosed Mindfulness.  Janet devolved into depression when her partner was diagnosed with cancer. She found it hard to handle things well, considering how she had to take care of her partner while also running her business. As her way of numbing the pain, she began to drink a lot and tried a few drugs. She found it hard to get out of it but she knew she had to stop. She ended up going to a mindfulness-based stress reduction course, a weekend retreat that blew her mind and led her to learn about mindfulness and dive deep into studying, quitting her job, and becoming a teacher. Janet identifies self-judgment as the biggest hurdle of a person’s mindfulness journey. When you stop to recognize that judgment, you begin to back away and get centered. Recognize that it's okay to come back to it. That's part of the process. So don't be hard on yourself if you didn't get to meditate today. All you need are microdoses, moments to start living mindfully instead of practicing mindfulness. Once mindfulness dawns on you, you realize it’s just about being aware. And when you're aware of the fact that you're not aware, you switch back to being aware again. It’s such a simple concept but it can take a long time for some people to get there. When you're in emotional suffering and a lot of pain, your body's telling you that you've got to get out and do something to stop the pain. It may tell you to do so by using drugs, for instance. In those times, sitting with mindfulness can be really challenging, even if it's just 10 seconds. But it can be done! In this episode, you will hear: How mindfulness came into Janet’s life What awareness means How to get started with practicing mindfulness What it means when you normalize something How mindfulness shifts your perspective The biggest hurdle of starting a mindfulness journey Why you also need to celebrate Key Quotes: [02:45] - "I was convinced that if I just learned to meditate that everything would start to move slower, and I would be able to manage my life and everything would be wonderful." [05:34] - “It's really so simple when it dawns on you that all mindfulness is simply being aware.” [06:08] - “Another word I like to use is ‘notice’ - and that’s the simplest version of awareness.” [08:53] - “When we're aware, and when we're paying attention, we're such better human beings.” [15:39] - "We just need the microdoses. We just need the moments and pretty soon, we start living mindfully, instead of practicing mindfulness." [18:10] - “There's tons of maladaptive behaviors that we can get into if we want to. But sometimes you really just have to go, ‘Wow,’ this really hurts.” [21:08] - "We can actually retrain our brain to be happier, to have more joy simply by recognizing joy more often." Supporting Resources: www.microdosedmindfulness.com  Microdosed Mindfulness book: www.microdosedmindfulness.com/#e-book  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest today is AdaPia d'Errico and she is going to talk about intuition and paying attention to our authentic self. Her book is titled Productive Intuition: Connecting To The Subtle.  Often, our intuition and our authentic self can be very subtle and difficult to pay attention to, especially if we've struggled with trauma and hardship.  AdaPia is really passionate about her work, sharing her story, and sharing her wisdom.  Her Story AdaPia was at a point in her life where she was so completely lost and essentially went through a spiritual crisis. Everything she knew how to do was not working. She completely lost her marbles. She didn't have anybody to talk to.  She was prejudging herself before even going into something new. What life or the universe or God delivered to her was just failure. Her whole identity fell apart and, in that process, she realized it wasn't actually failure; it was a different door she had to go through to get clarity and trust herself. Her book comes out of her last few years of getting that clarity and discovering how intuitive she is, how intuitive we all are, and how to use that intuition intentionally. We all have intuition. Sometimes we use it and it works but we don't understand it. Other times we don't listen to it at all. If we've had trauma or hardship, especially early childhood trauma, listening to intuition can be difficult. In some ways, it doesn't even seem like it's there. We've all had different levels and types of trauma. What connects all of us as humans is trauma. The conditioning and stories we grew up with as well as being told who we should be and how to please were all essentially traumatic. In this episode, you will hear: How trauma connects all humans What the intuitive space is How we're neurologically biologically hardwired for intuition Ways of understanding our intuition Why it’s so hard to let go of a thought This takes work and energy! Key Quotes: [04:30] - "We've all had different levels and types of trauma, and what connects all of us as humans is trauma because we've all had it." [05:49] - “You just know. You're not believing something, you're not listening to a voice, it's not a voice, it's a knowing. And that is inherently tied to intuition.” [07:02] - "It's super important to get the left brain on board to really understand instead of blindly believing, because blind belief isn't going to get us anywhere." [07:40] - “There's all these different mechanisms inside of us that are ways of moving inward instead of outward.” [08:26] - “Noticing our own pattern starts to bring us inward because we're focusing on ourselves instead of on somebody else or on an outside object.” [10:30] - “That emotional, energetic charge lives in our body, which is why so much somatic work is really important to help us release the stories and release the thought.” Supporting Resources: Productive Intuition: Connecting To The Subtle www.adapiaderrico.com/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is addiction so hard to control? Does that mean addiction can’t be treated? On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks to Dr. Paul Kaloostian.  Dr. Paul Kaloostian is a neurosurgeon in Los Angeles as well as an author. His books include The Young Neurosurgeon: Lessons from My Patients and two different poetry books, From The Eyes Of A Doctor and My Surgical Cases Told In Poems. As a neurosurgeon for 17 years now, Dr. Kaloostian has dealt with thousands of cases of people with neurological conditions. Seeing the need for awareness of mental health, he took a poetic approach to his books to make it easier for the world to understand what it’s like for patients who are going through neurological conditions, some of which are caused or aggravated by addiction.  On today's episode, he talks about the brain, his patients, and why we do some of the things we do even when we don't necessarily want to do them.  No one wants to be addicted. But the brain is such a powerful organ that what our brains decide to do is what we do. We don't really have that much control. That’s why addiction is a hard problem to fight and beat. The brain is a powerful organ so once it gets stimulated, it's difficult to change. It takes work and energy – but it's not impossible.  Because of Paul's compassion for his clients and his appreciation for the vulnerability of his clients to come and seek help, this is an episode you need to listen to. While you may not fully understand what people with neurological conditions are going through until you’ve gone through the same experience, having the ability to understand these concepts today is a good way to start to develop empathy. In this episode, you will hear: What drew Paul to neurosurgery Why he took a medical poetic approach in writing his books The need to show empathy to these patients How the brain is linked to addiction Areas of the brain responsible for addiction Why addiction is a pathological condition Why addiction is so hard to control Key Quotes: [04:30] - "A single cell of the brain has so many different functions within it. It's literally a universe within a cell." [06:54] - “We only really use about five to 10% of our brains… And just imagine if we're able to utilize another 10% of our brains, what we would know, and 50% more of our brains, what we would know.” [12:02] - “Addiction is a big, big problem, not only in the field I'm in but just globally, in terms of economic costs, and medical costs and violence that happens." [12:44] - “After a while of doing drugs, alcohol, or smoking, the brain thinks that's normal so it makes your body want to stay in that environment.” [15:08] - "It's really the reward part that dominates because people like that high feeling of winning, being happy and super excited. That always will win over any other type of feeling in your brain. That's just part of the addiction process.” [15:54] - "What our brains decide to do is what we do. That's why the brain is such a fascinating and critical aspect of our lives." [16:37] - "The brain is very, very powerful. And once the brain gets stimulated, it's a powerful organ to change. It takes work and energy. But it's not impossible." Supporting Resources: The Young Neurosurgeon: Lessons from My Patients  From The Eyes Of A Doctor My Surgical Cases Told In Poems Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People going through addiction recovery deal with feelings of shame, guilt, and unworthiness that no one else can understand unless they’ve gone through a similar situation. However, if someone comes to them at their level, they can automatically pull some of that shame away. This is where peer specialists can help people through addiction treatment and recovery.  Today’s guest is Kabir Singh, the CEO and Founder of Fresh Start Recovery Center and the Chief Operating Officer for Amatus Health. He talks about his journey through recovery and how he’s also helping others get the treatment they need and find healing in the process, all with human connection at its core. Kabir began gravitating towards substance abuse at an early age, not realizing he had a need for help that went unnoticed. Struggling at school, he always felt he wasn’t good enough and that he couldn’t measure up. He thought resorting to substance abuse was the only thing he was capable of doing. After getting a DUI three times throughout his life, he finally entered into the halls of recovery at 34 years old. He learned about his disease, about his addicted mind, and what drove and fueled his addiction.  In 2013, he became one of the first certified peer recovery specialists in the state of Maryland. In this episode, he talks about his role as a peer specialist, who can become one, how to be certified, how they’re different from counselors and therapists, and the value they provide to people struggling with substance abuse disorder. Ultimately, it’s by bringing humaneness to our connection that people heal. When we find ourselves in extreme pain, we don’t know if we still have anything to give. Healing is all about reminding each other of our value and that we all have something to offer the world.  In this episode, you will hear: Kabir’s road to addiction and recovery How he became a CPRS What peer recovery specialists do  The advantages of a peer group Why peer intervention is very helpful in helping people heal The need for self-care as a peer specialist Key Quotes: [11:23] - "There are multiple pathways to recovery, and that's what the peer movement is about.” [11:44] - "My heart was always in the right place. But my thinking was not." [17:08] - "I entered into the halls of recovery, learned about the disease... I learned about my addicted mind, what drove and fueled the addiction." [22:55] - "You do not have to be a person in recovery, and you can be what's considered an ally to recovery." [24:59] - "We're all on the same level in the group." [25:36] - "When you have a therapist and a client, there is this kind of hierarchical, unspoken structure there." [28:26] - "You already feel so much shame, you're already in the hospital, and this person comes to you at your level, automatically pulls some of that shame away." [30:26] - " What a better way to reach folks than to bring down all those walls of inequality and level out the playing field." [33:42] - "More often than not, we are in recovery. And it's very important that we as peers, and I as a peer, do the work I need to do on myself outside so that I don't mix up the two." [35:56] - "The greatest sign of strength is asking for help." Supporting Resources: Fresh Start Recovery Center Amatus Health Connecticut Community of Addiction Recovery Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks with relationship maven Abby Medcalf. Abby is a psychologist, author, podcast host, and a TEDx speaker. Abby is the author of the #1 Amazon best-selling book, Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won't Do A Thing and host of the top-rated Relationships Made Easy Podcast.  Abby is in long-term recovery from heroin. She was very functional and very good at hiding it for many years. Along her journey of recovery, she got a business degree and eventually started counseling her colleagues and helping them improve their relationships. That marked the beginning of her beautiful journey from self-recovery to helping people recover in life and relationships. Abby has helped thousands of people think differently so they can create connection, ease, and joy in their relationships. With over 30 years of experience, Abby is a recognized authority and sought-after speaker at organizations such as Google, Apple, AT&T, Kaiser, PG&E, American Airlines, and Chevron.  Today, Abby shares some key insights from her book. She also touches on taking personal responsibility for your own feelings and the things you can do to change them. Abby has a ton of positive energy that she brings to this episode along with practical advice and steps backed up by research to help you feel better and change your life.  In this episode, you will hear: Abby’s journey through heroin addiction recovery. The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety, but connection. What is compassionate responsibility? Why you need to stop hitting the snooze button. How to keep yourself in positive momentum all day. What is the Reticular Activating System (RAS)? The reason people are not connecting. Planning your feelings like you plan your day. Key Quotes: [06:10] - “The opposite of addiction isn't sobriety – it's connection.” [06:37] - "You can be happily married and in a happy relationship if you're not married, even if your partner won't do anything because it's all about what you do." [08:10] "You're the dominant vibration. Have other people calibrate to you, don't you calibrate to them. And this is part of taking responsibility." [12:47] - "If you can just take one thing from your gratitude list, really feel it, feel the state of it, and be in it, you will have so much more bang for your buck than writing 15 pages of something." [16:33] - "Going places sometimes where no one knows you, you do have that chance to start over again."  [18:29] - “The reticular activating system or RAS is your filter between your conscious and your subconscious mind. When you consciously think of something, it sends it as an order or an instruction to the subconscious to look for it.” [21:04] - "Our conscious brains process information at a rate of 50 bits per second, while our unconscious or subconscious brains process information at a rate of 11 million bits per second." [23:04] - "Why aren't we connecting? It's because people hear what you mean, not what you say. They can feel where that's from." Supporting Resources: www.abbymedcalf.com  Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won't Do A Thing  Relationships Made Easy Podcast Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What most people don't realize about addiction, whether it’s to alcohol, drugs, shopping, overeating, or porn, is that it’s not the core of the problem. The addicted person just uses it to cope with their real problem: their addicted mind or funky brain. For recovery to happen, people need to change their thinking to grow to new levels of awareness. On this episode, Duane talks with Dennis Berry, the author of Funky Wisdom: A Practical Guide to Life and the host of The Funky Brain Podcast. He has been sober since April 8, 2003 and now has expertise in life mastery. During the time since 2003, he became a successful businessman, athlete, and family man. His journey and recovery helped him find his mission in life: to help others achieve inner peace, success, and mastery in every area of their lives.  Dennis knows what it's like to be helpless and hopeless with no positive direction. He was able to climb out of the gutter and transform his life so now he spends his life helping others do the same. His goal is to help people understand life on a whole different level and to see the world differently. Living by his mantra of gratitude and service, he hopes to shorten people's learning curve for growing to new levels of awareness to six months or a year instead of five or seven years.  Dennis calls himself a grateful alcoholic because all that he did got him to this new place of living, growth, understanding, and awareness.  Today, Dennis talks about practical steps you can take to mitigate your suffering, ease your pain, and create the meaningful life you want. Hopefully, this episode helps you on your journey through recovery.  In this episode, you will hear: It’s not about drinking but emotional sobriety. The inspiration behind his book and why “funky wisdom.” The HOW approach to what. What you need to do when your world changes. What can you do with your most valuable asset? If addiction is not the real problem, what is? How do you create willingness? Why he's a grateful alcoholic. The value of having an expert in every area of your life. Rewiring your beliefs and behaviors in six categories of your life. Why writing is more powerful than talk therapy. Key Quotes: [02:30] - "It wasn't about not drinking... it's about following up. It's about looking at the world in the eye and acting like a mature adult. And what we strive for really is emotional sobriety” [07:32] - "You can't solve a problem you can't admit exists." [07:43] - "When you're in enough pain, that's when the change can occur because we don't like change as human beings." [08:15] - “When I'm stressed out, angry, resentful, fearful, you know, what I find is usually that the world changed, and I didn't change along with it." [13:47] - “We need to really change our thinking to really grow to new levels of awareness.” [23:19] - “It may not help them at this moment. But we're planting those seeds." [28:17] - "We want to surround ourselves with success all the time, whenever possible. So I was taught to have an expert in every area of your life." [30:37] - "There's no shame in asking for help. In fact, it'll get you there faster." [32:50] - “What we need to do is focus on one goal at a time. We start knocking down each of those goals at a high level. And then all of a sudden, we start changing.” Supporting Resources: Funky Wisdom: A Practical Guide to Life The Funky Brain Podcast Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When a partner has a substance use disorder, there's a lot of mistrust. There's a lot of lying and hiding which damages the intimacy, connection, and faith in the relationship. Afterward, all of that has to be repaired. On today’s episode, Duane talks with international corporate attorney Chantal Jauvin about her journey to recovery as a partner of someone with a substance abuse disorder. As an international corporate attorney with expertise in trade law and financial services, Chantal has worked with Fortune 500 companies from around the world, dealing with matters from free trade zone manufacturing in Costa Rica to fast-moving consumer goods in Europe. Her work has allowed her to travel to different places including Cambodia, Russia, and Vienna. Chantal's journey of recovery started by meeting the man that she fell in love with (who eventually became her husband). Soon, she found out about his dark secret: he was a functional alcoholic. She was not aware that he was struggling with a disease or that he was hiding it. She was initially in denial of his addiction. She made excuses that just left her blindsided. Finally, they went to relationship counseling and that paved the way for her husband’s healing process. In her new book, “Love Without Martinis: How Couples Build Healthy Relationships in Recovery Based on Real Stories,” Chantal shares her wisdom about healing through the stories of real couples going through the same experience. As she says in the interview, it is the book she wished she had at the beginning of her journey of understanding and growing while loving someone who is in their own recovery.  Today, she talks about her experience, how she got to this book, and how she was able to get other couples to talk about their experiences and share their wisdom of what they learned going through this experience.  In this episode, you will hear: Chantal’s professional background as an attorney Her journey of recovery with her husband’s addiction problems How her husband’s changing behavior prompted her to change as well The different phases that a partner of someone with substance abuse disorder goes through The benefits of having a third party to help your partner through addiction treatment What Chantal did during the treatment and recovery process How the relationship needs to be fixed as well How she got other couples to share their own stories of addiction recovery Key Quotes: [06:19] - “I do what I think a lot of us who love someone who struggles with alcohol is, in my mind, I make a lot of excuses.” [08:08] - “When you love someone who has an addiction, all of a sudden your world closes in and all you can think of is how you're going to get them to stop drinking.” [10:24] - “I wasn't happy with my own behavior, how I was becoming so wrapped in him." [12:59] - “I was not aware that he was struggling with a disease. But I knew something wasn't right about all this alcohol.” [15:18] - “What happens when you have a third party that comes into the conversation, they're able to bring perspective and able to ask the right questions.” [17:32] - “I had to learn to let him be in charge of his own recovery, but be supportive of him."  [21:33] - “In recovery, when you're in a relationship there is – I am recovering. My partner is recovering, but our relationship is recovering.” [22:38] - “It's hard to be vulnerable to someone who has not been trustworthy. So how do you re-establish that connection?” [31:52] - "The thing about addiction, we have to remember is we're not dealing with the person, we're really dealing with the disease." Supporting Resources: Love Without Martinis: How Couples Build Healthy Relationships in Recovery Based on Real Stories Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You could be suffering from chronic stress without knowing it. Alternatively, you might know it but are just so used to it that you think it’s normal. Well, it’s not normal. You have to act on it before it takes a toll on your health and happiness. We have many different stressors in life. The human alarm is in the brain but we are wired to ignore it because we're wired for fight or flight. Humans evolved but, like other creatures, we used to live in caves or under trees. We had to know where the bears and wolves were. We had to be on guard against predators. As humans moved into cities and suburbs, most of us didn't have those worries but our brains haven't caught up. The alarm system hasn't evolved. It still sends chemicals throughout the body that lead to chronic stress.  Chronic stress has various symptoms, including weight loss, weight gain, sugar cravings, salt cravings, disrupted sleep, fatigue, and muscle tension. Some people escape into alcohol, drugs, pornography, video games, work, or just about anything else to distract their brains from stress and pretend it isn’t happening. We just can’t tolerate it. On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Jennifer Love, the co-author of When Crisis Strikes: Five Steps to Heal Your Brain, Body, and Life From Chronic Stress. The book has outlined five steps to help people heal from life’s chronic stressors. If you have a crisis that comes up, you can walk through these steps. The more you do so, the better you're going to get at it and the more resilient you're going to become. Over time, you will have less stress.  Jennifer is a board-certified psychiatrist in Addiction Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine and is a diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Addiction Medicine. She is an award-winning researcher and international speaker who focuses on stress and the brain.  In this episode, you will hear: Writing the book, When Crisis Strikes and why Jennifer wrote a book about chronic stress What chronic stress is The Crisis Response System: what’s going on in the body when we’re under unconscious stress 5 steps to get you through chronic stress and become a better version of yourself How COVID has impacted chronic stress Key Quotes: [04:43] - “‘Your health doesn't freeze. Your dad's health doesn't freeze. Your divorce process or your unhappy marriage doesn't freeze. Nothing freezes in COVID except the economy." [15:16] - “We gain weight. We have disrupted sleep, or sugar cravings, salt cravings, fatigue, and muscle tension. It all comes out physically because our brains are now in survival mode.” [17:26] - “The fuel in life is stress.” [22:43] - “You can't really treat that stress when you're in the middle of it.” [27:23] - “We have to get the brain away from the alarm enough that we can focus on the things that will actually get us through the crisis until that alarm turns off.” [28:59] - “Some people escape into alcohol, drugs, pornography, video games, work. It's just anything to distract my brain from this. I need to pretend this isn't happening. I can't tolerate it.” [42:30] - “Our beliefs are firmly rooted in who we are.” [48:53] - “We still have the ability to rise. We have that within us and crisis makes us feel we do not. And hope is what teaches us that we do.” Supporting Resources: Book: https://www.amazon.com/When-Crisis-Strikes-Chronic-Stress/dp/0806540818  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addiction is a response to pain and trauma. Reaching out and making yourself vulnerable is challenging when you've been traumatized. You may not trust people and you may not trust the process. So what needs to be done to discharge the trauma off your body and break free from the symptoms – addiction being one of them? In this episode, Duane talks with Mike Govoni, an integrative holistic recovery coach who specializes in healing not only addiction but trauma as well. He has extensive experience in helping addicts overcome trauma and free themselves from addiction, a path that he has walked personally.  Mike was traumatized in utero, which led to his early-onset illness in long-term recovery. This set him up for addiction. As a result of childhood trauma, pain, and suffering, Mike escaped through alcohol and drugs at an early age. He smoked his first joint at 11. By the time he was 18 years old, he got addicted to oxycontin – the first substance that took his soul out of him. He had always thought it was under control until he finally had to reach out for help. When he was hit with depression, his mom brought him to a 12-step meeting which was his first exposure to life in recovery. At that point, he got sober and has been for about 16 years now. Interestingly, he never knew he was suffering from unprocessed unhealed trauma. It took the universe to conspire for his awakening and for him to have a mystical experience that led to profound healing. That's what led him on the journey to what he does today. Today, Mike and Duane are going to have an in-depth conversation about trauma, early trauma, how it hides in the body, and how we can begin to process through that trauma to be able to release it, find freedom, and be our authentic selves. In this episode, you will hear: Mike’s entry into addiction and where his childhood trauma came from How addiction is related to trauma What keeps people from seeking help Why trauma starts in utero What trauma really means and how it’s been programmed in the subconscious How our nervous system can help discharge the trauma The role of others in the process of healing yourself Key Quotes: [07:18] - “Addiction is a response to pain and trauma. And reaching out and making yourself vulnerable is challenging when you've been traumatized.” [07:58] - "If you look at the work of Stanislav Grof, who is a well-known psychotherapist, he talked about birth as the first real trauma."  [09:28] - "Trauma is really misunderstood. There's a lot of different definitions of trauma." [10:52] - “You can be in long-term recovery, and still be suffering from the symptoms of trauma.” [13:23] - “Many of us have traumas that we have suppressed and repressed so much that it's below consciousness.” [27:11] - “The nervous system naturally knows how to move through the cycle and discharge the trauma." [32:56] - “When you're stuck in survival mode, you don't have access to your creativity or have access to the full potential of who you are." [33:25] - “It's no wonder why people in addiction isolate and don't have access to this social engagement system. We're social primates. We are built for connection. We are built for touch.” Supporting Resources: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve probably heard of someone who’s suffered from chronic pain, gone to doctors, ran all the tests necessary, and surprisingly, none of the doctors could actually diagnose the problem.  Andrew Hahn, Founder of Life Centered Therapy, joins today’s episode to explain how chronic pain, limiting beliefs, and even addictions are not physical in nature, but energetic.  Hahn is a licensed clinical psychologist who received his A.B. Magna Cum Laude in Social Studies/Psychology from Harvard University and his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Hahnemann University. He is certified by Helen Palmer to teach the Enneagram and has also been a faculty member in the graduate Counseling Programs at Lesley University and Northeastern University.  On this episode, Andrew talks about regressions, past lives, and changing our internalized narrative. He shares how our symptoms and suffering are an invitation for awareness, integrations, and mastery of experiences that we have yet been unable to handle. Part of the conversation covers how every kind of suffering is something that couldn't be handled and taken in stride. Whether you call it chronic pain, fibromyalgia, autoimmune disease, depression, anxiety, addiction, bad relationships – it's something that couldn't be handled and integrated. Trauma is subjective. It's something that can't be handled. And so, people need to be free of their reactivity.  Every symptom you have is, on the surface, awful – but on a soul level, it's a clue to what it is that couldn't be handled and integrated. That includes addiction.  In order to heal, one has to master what couldn't be handled and integrated and then change his or her narrative. Once you’ve conquered that, you transcend it. Then you're not in that piece of suffering anymore.  In this episode, you will hear: The beginnings of Life Centered Therapy The concept of pain and where it’s coming from Healing from pain and trauma through a shift of perspective Understanding your story of betrayal How changing your narrative leads to growth and healing The reason for chronic pain that can’t be explained even by doctors The positive emotional charge behind addiction as well as anticipatory fears Key Quotes: [11:10] - “Everything you suffer about is something that couldn't be handled and taken in stride. “ [11:42] - “Trauma is subjective. It's just simply something that can't be handled.” [13:02] - "What is healing? – mastering what couldn't be handled and integrated." [14:12] - “The shift is from being identified with the one who is traumatized to identifying with the one who is holding or hosting or witnessing the one who is traumatized, which is who we really are.” [24:28] - “Every discomfort is a narrative that couldn't be handled, and anything you can't handle has an exact associated discomfort, becomes the discomfort, and the world's changed.” [26:09] - "Find what you're suffering about. Drop, whatever you think it is. Scan your body. Find the sensation. Bring all your awareness to such a degree there that you become that sensation from the inside-out." [37:30] - "The thing you think is an accident and fate, you unconsciously create without awareness because that sensation acts like a magnet." Supporting Resources: www.lifecenteredtherapy.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You could be raised by parents who are very nice people and they may not have any drinking or drug use issues. They could be super religious. But that doesn’t guarantee it’s going to save you from drug addiction or alcoholism. It's perfectly acceptable to ask for prayers if somebody is sick. But what happens when you do a repeated bad behavior that you can't seem to control? As children, we don’t really have the power to change our environment that has been created by adults. We have been taught to be fundamentally flawed and that we are all sinners. And sometimes, when our brains have been wired that way, it naturally brings feelings of guilt, shame, and pain – that the only way to numb those is resorting to addiction.  On today’s episode, Duane talks to Arlina Allen, host of The One Day at a Time podcast and creator of the Sober Life School.  Arlina Allen has been sober since 1994 after living a wild life of drugs, alcohol, and sex. Her tagline at the time was – “If it was in a bottle, a bag or blue jeans, I was doing it!” Alina had quite a rough childhood. She started seeing a shrink at age 9, drinking at age 10, and started smoking weed in junior high. Her parents got divorced when she was young, and she was sexually abused by their neighbor. Growing up, she only had two feelings: guilty and wrong – and she used addiction as her way out of pain. Eventually, this left her feeling lost, full of self-loathing, demoralized, and hopeless. Then she finally reached out to some sober friends who offered her a little bit of hope and safety to be able to look inward. Today, Arlina shares her understanding of how our own natural tendency for negativity and confirmation bias creates a painful feedback loop of continued self-loathing and continued pain, and finally, how reaching out to others can help change that process so we can unpack our baggage, see things more clearly with compassion, and begin to make the changes we want. In this episode, you will hear: How the shame spiral keeps going Understanding confirmation bias, negativity bias, and the brain’s default network What prompted her to finally make that switch to the other side How part of the AA’s 12-step program allows you to unload all of your baggage The role of community in addiction recovery Key Quotes: [07:11] - “In childhood, we develop these beliefs about who we are, it's like the subconscious mind. It's how we operate from it's like a computer's operating system. We then operate from that presupposition about who we think we are, and what we deserve, and what we're capable of.  [07:36] - “Confirmation bias meaning I've made a decision about who I was and what I was worth. And then my subconscious mind then looks for information to support my belief.” [08:16] - "The default mode network is like a thermostat, where you don't get too high, and you don't get too low. We live within this comfort zone." [15:54] - “We do have a negativity bias where we're looking for the problem so that we can solve it so that we can survive. But what we don't realize is that we are forgetting about our assets. We're forgetting to focus on the thousand things that go right every day.” [21:08] - "I just didn't see a way out. I was so self-centered but incapable of self-examination." [25:45] - “The how of recovery is honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness.” [31:54] - “There is no doing this alone because our minds are compromised. And so we need an outside objective, compassionate, third-party perspective on what's going on.” Supporting Resources: Arlina’s Self-Esteem Course: https://www.selfesteemcourse.com/ The One Day at a Time: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-podcast/id1453590397  Sober Life School: https://www.soberlifeschool.com/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recovery is not one size fits all. It is also not a one-and-done situation. Rather, recovery is a process and a journey.  When someone gets sober and begins recovery, they are just starting to walk down the path of healing. Many of their previous feelings and temptations may continue to come up. However, they are gradually learning the tools they need to stay on their new path.  Shelby John is passionate about helping people who are in this stage of recovery. She is the host of the Confident Sober Women podcast and the founder of the Facebook group by the same name. Shelby particularly loves to work with women who struggle with substances by helping them control their minds and bodies and build confidence, using everything she has learned in her own recovery.  In this episode, you will hear: Shelby’s mental health and addiction story. What being self-centered really means. The problem with hiding and inauthenticity in our culture. The eye-opening moment for Shelby in her alcoholism. Why we can’t fight addiction by trying harder on our own. How Shelby helps others who are walking through recovery. How trauma is relative and can lead to addiction no matter what it looks like. What generational trauma is. The link between anxiety and not understanding your core values. How to determine your values and make decisions that align with them. Key Quotes: [4:56] - “I didn't have a lot of reasons why I didn't feel comfortable within myself. I mean I had some… trauma in my childhood but not like what I viewed as to be very extreme. And so I spent a lot of time thinking, ‘What's wrong with you? Why don't you feel good enough? You have all this life... you've got this boyfriend and these parents and you go to school.’ But yet I still felt really kind of dark on the inside.” [9:15] - “I was immediately like, ‘I'm not self-centered. What are you talking about? I can't stand myself.’ And what I came to learn, was taught that self-centeredness isn't what I think about myself but how often. And I learned that I thought about myself all the time… When was I gonna drink, when was the next time I was going to drink, when was I going to act out in this way, when was I going to have to lie, when was I gonna have to lie about the lie?” [18:57] - “There was a lot of things that didn't happen to me. I've never had a DUI. I've never been in trouble other than that… My marriage stayed intact. I have three beautiful teenagers… As I was told early on, when I started working through some step work... you know, my list of transgressions or whatever might not have been that long, but it's… still pretty big, what was on there. So I needed that, I needed that powerful statement right in my face for me to kind of get it because I was a little stubborn and it was helpful. And it's helpful for me to look back to remind myself where I came from.” [31:31] - “A lot of people don't reach out for help because they feel like they shouldn't have problems, like, they feel like they shouldn't be anxious or they shouldn't be depressed and they judge themselves and then all that shame comes up. And then they don't reach out for help and they don't get support and they have to turn to these isolative ways to cope: alcohol, drugs, sex… gambling, whatever it is to try and just numb that out, get that away.” [35:20] - “Our backgrounds or our upbringings or our situations, maybe even your stress… it doesn't excuse you lashing out at your child and acting a fool, but it sure does help explain it.” Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Shelby’s website Confident Sober Women Facebook group Confident Sober Women podcast Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. That cliche is true even (and sometimes especially) when dealing with addiction. Today’s guest is a prime example. David Poses is the author of The Weight of Air: A Story About the Lies of Addiction and the Truth of Recovery. In this memoir, David covers his heroin addiction and how he used buprenorphine to help him overcome it.  Throughout the show, David is sharing about the struggles he encountered when trying to find treatment. Many methods that were common at the time weren’t working for him until he finally found a doctor that would prescribe him buprenorphine. That is what saved his life from heroin.  Based on his experience, David has amazing insight into addiction treatment and some of the real issues surrounding how it is viewed today. Tune in to hear it all. In this episode, you will hear: How David’s struggle with depression led him to seek out heroin. One of the biggest misunderstandings of mental health. Why we need to find the recovery method that works for us. The unique way opioids affect our brains. When heroin started becoming problematic for David. How he started looking at alternative treatments. What methadone is. David’s journey through meeting his wife, having their daughter, and relapsing. How buprenorphine saved his life. Why addiction isn’t the real problem but what leads people to self-medicate is. Key Quotes: [5:36] - “If you sprained your ankle and it's all kind of sympathy and we know that, you know, you're not going to be able to will that pain away or snap out of it, you know, you go to the hospital and get the crutches and whatever. With emotional pain, you know, people tell you, you know, “Calm down, snap out of it, don't you want to be happy?” That doesn't matter. I mean, that kind of stuff just made me feel so much worse.”  [13:23] - “I'm a big supporter of 12 step groups because they offer support and community. But I also understand that it, you know, addiction, disease, our physical bodies, our brain, our neurobiology is complex and we don't understand everything, but having a support community, I think can be really crucial for healing. But at the same time, it has its limitations… There's a lot of options out there and there's a lot of ways to get sober and there's a lot of ways to get recovery, or even if sobriety, as they say, is not your purpose, you have to find what works for you.” [18:33] - “I hated the lying. I hated the nonstop risks. I hated not knowing what I was doing.” [24:14] - “Yeah, I was ashamed. And... addiction has been so siloed off away from, you know, medicine for so long. That, you know, even with doctors, even today, like I tell a doctor that you know, I have a history of whatever and, you know, they assume that like I'm in there looking for drugs.” [28:35] - “So Ruby and I walked to the drugstore and picked up the refill and we're on our way home. And I just knew that this was not gonna end well. And we got back home and I brought her up to the bathroom with me and I opened the Percocet and I just was like looking at her and I flushed them.” [33:57] - “The idea that craving is, you know, we're not talking about ice cream here. So it was like, your foot’s chopped off, you're craving morphine, you're drowning underwater, you're craving oxygen. So, you know, it's that kind of craving.” [42:04] - “If you're at a point in your life where you're, you know, sticking needles in your arm, like, something's not right. Addiction is not the problem. You know, addiction is definitely a problem. But like, we're self-medicating, drugs are a form of self-medication.”    Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com David’s website The Weight of Air David on Twitter David on Instagram David on Facebook Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we’ve had trauma in our life, we can get really disconnected from our emotions. We don’t know how to express them or how to use them. Often, we turn to the only thing that we think will work: a substance or behavior that helps us escape or avoid those emotions. However, what if we tried something different? Journaling has grown in popularity over the past few years. People have found its power as a method of getting their emotions down onto a page and helping them see their lives a little differently.  Today’s guest used journaling in this exact way to help her recover from addiction. Harriet Hunter is the author of the daily devotional book Miracles of Recovery. Today, Harriet is sharing her compelling story of moving out of addiction, experiencing incredible loss, and continuing to move forward despite it all. Join our conversation to hear more.  In this episode, you will hear: Harriet’s hardships in childhood that led to her addiction. When and how she began recovery and got sober. Her tumultuous relationship with her daughter. How writing helped her get and stay sober. How she has taken her grief and used it to help others. How journaling can help anybody change their perspective. Key Quotes: [4:56] - “Marijuana was my love of choice, though… it just did for me what I could not do for myself. And that is absolutely take me away.” [8:20] - “I was a high-functioning drunk. I could entertain 40 people, keep smiling, but I never could remember the next day who was there or what happened.” [10:26] - “I got sober in 1999 and I never looked back because I did all my relapsing in that 30-year run.”  [18:12] - “I learned now, if I hadn’t learned which I had with my husband, that I am powerless. But you know, God was with me every day. And AA saved my life.” [26:30] - “We have found out collectively that something happens to the brain. It sees it and hears it in a much more intentional, focused way than just talking. I found out that when I write, I can't get away from myself. I have to slow my brain down.” [31:32] - “One of the ways I ask women to write their gratitudes is not to just put a word at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, happy, sad, whatever. No, no, you have to be able to see what it is you feel. If you don't see it, then it's not real.” Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Journaling with a Purpose Miracles of Recovery: Daily Meditations of Hope, Courage, and Faith Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 9zXov7o76D1d1WeRh9p0 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hiding--many addicts do it. It’s what keeps them locked in prisons of guilt and shame. It’s how they convince even themselves that they don’t have a problem. It’s the very thing that prevents them from getting the help that they so desperately need. Today’s guest, Wanja Joy, has experience with hiding. She hid her alcohol addiction from everyone in her life. Even after she reached out for help and started seeing a therapist, she hid her struggle with alcohol from him. However, today she is the host of Wanja on Air: Actions in Recovery. On her podcast, she shares her story of struggling with alcohol and how she used it to cover up. She tells how she eventually overcame her guilt, shame, and perfectionism and reached out for help. Wanja changed her life and now brings that change to others.  Wanja is just a genuine spirit who wants to bring joy to other people, so tune in to hear our incredible conversation about her story of recovery. In this episode, you will hear: All about Wanja’s childhood and how perfectionism began brewing in her at a very young age. How addiction can start in our minds. When and how Wanja first began to realize she has an issue with alcohol. Her struggle with hiding her addiction. When she first started being honest and asked for help. The intense drive that pushed her forward her entire life. The tools she learned in rehab that helped her begin to abstain from alcohol. When she decided to share her story with others. What her podcast and coaching are all about. Key Quotes: [04:05] - “My mom is a teacher and I'm her daughter, and we weren't given an option to do things like reading. It was not an option to have good grades. Those things were not optional. So when I ended up in the height of my disease, I realized that I was actually brewing perfectionism from a very young age.” [05:33] - “Way before I picked up a substance, I did have a disease of perception... it was all made in my mind and it started really young.” [08:29] - “And in my mind, when growing up and everything else in between, I just thought alcohol is a liquid and you could have it or leave it. But at some point, for me, I was obsessive about it. And I knew that wasn’t normal. So my choice was, at the time with this mind of mine that plants a seed and blows it up, I'm just going to hide it.” [13:01] - “I was in such denial that I actually believed my own lies.” [19:24] - “But somehow I had this mind that was made up that I needed to do certain things at certain times. And I felt like I was being delayed because now I'm setting my degree later than I wanted to and so I have to catch up.” [30:17] - “I was really vigilant about feeding my alcoholism. So now I started feeding my recovery at the same rate. It started being beautiful but it wasn’t at the beginning.” [36:25] - “So many times I think so many of us can get lost that we don't realize we're like everybody else. We all have these fears and insecurities and shame and sometimes trauma. And if we share our story, I think it helps so many more people and to mitigate that suffering.” [42:15] - “We can get addicted to stress without even knowing, to a core belief without even knowing.” Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Wanja on AiR (Actions in Recovery) podcast Book a free call with Wanja Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addiction is often the result of pain in our early years of life. Whether it’s passed down through genetics or an attempt to escape the pain, many addicts can point to a hard childhood as the source of their addiction. This is why it’s so important to recognize our family patterns and root out the disease of addiction while we still can.  Today’s guest, Kate Russell, grew up in just such an unhealthy environment. She was physically abused as a child and was raised by an alcoholic mother. However, she now holds amazing compassion as a result of having worked through her trauma and eventual addiction. Kate is now the author of Down The Rabbit Hole, a memoir of abuse, addiction, and recovery. Getting to read her book, hear her story, and then talk to her on the other side of it all was amazing. Kate inspired me and I think she will do the same for all of you. Tune in to hear all about her book and how she not only endured but grew through her difficult life experiences. In this episode, you will hear: The “God voice” that helped Kate get through the abuse she endured in her childhood. The way abuse got so deeply embedded into her that she began to abuse her sister. When she first began to see the parallel between her, her mom, and addiction. Where the term “rabbit hole” in the title of her book came from. How she became addicted to marijuana and alcohol. The hole that’s left in our hearts when we heal from an addiction. Kate’s journey towards sobriety. How recovery looks different than she expected. How she has developed such compassion for herself and her parents. Why it’s so important to feel all of your feelings and let yourself cry sometimes. Key Quotes: [04:38] - “That’s really what the book ended up being about, for me, was the mind... it’s just how our minds work. Not just addicts, but just how the mind works.”  [16:17] - “So ‘Down a Rabbit Hole’ refers to falling down into triggered thinking. So triggered thinking is when we revert back into a helpless childhood, that helplessness we felt in our childhood.” [20:28] - “The drugs... aren’t very successful at covering up that that deeper level of pain or loneliness or depression or whatever it is. And then you start to realize, ‘Oh, wait, this isn't quite working anymore.’” [23:06] - “I was always reaching out for help but wasn’t always met with the results I would have hoped.” [26:25] - “That’s what I think recovery is. It’s just like slowly unpeeling the onion.” [28:19] “When I got sober, there's a pink cloud, if you will call it… life is… different, but everything’s the same. I had the same job, same apartment, same car, but I was sober… everything was new and different.” [30:01] - “The addictive mind is fear: a fear to change. It's fear. You are set in your ways.” [32:28] - “It's always when you get to the other side, you always look back and go, ‘It wasn't that bad.’ Or, ‘You know what, it was hard at times. It was. But I got through it. And if I can get through it, so can you.’”  Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com KateRussellAuthor.com Down the Rabbit Hole Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we go through extreme pain, it’s easy to feel like we’re all alone. We doubt that anybody has felt the level of pain that we are currently experiencing. Life begins to feel hopeless and we start believing that there is just no reason to carry on. However, there is always some good ahead. Think of the countless stories of those who have survived unimaginable circumstances and lived to tell about it. If we will just do what we can at the moment, taking as few steps as we can muster, and keep our eyes locked on the amazing things to come, we, too, can endure any trial.  Today I am speaking with Steve Melen, the author of Killing Graces. Steve carries a resiliency and a hope for getting through the hard stuff in life that is inspiring.  During our conversation, we discuss his journey through stomach cancer, addiction, and survival. Steve is an amazing example of someone who has gone through extreme struggle and pain and made it out to the other side. His story is both riveting and hopeful, so tune in to hear it all for yourself. In this episode, you will hear: The story of how Steve found out he had stomach cancer and how he endured all of his treatments. How he got addicted to opiates. When he first realized he had a real problem with opiate addiction. How he began to get off of the pain meds. How being a father gave him the strength to push through withdrawal. His attempts at getting back to a sense of normalcy. The emotional pain he was holding inside and how he worked through it. The patterns of numbing he fell into. How therapy helped him finally heal. Where the idea for Killer Graces came from. How he came up with that title for his book. Key Quotes: [09:16] - “Everyone... thought the worst was going to happen and so they weren’t going to stop me from numbing my pain.” [13:21] - “So, I left the hospital and said, ‘Now I'm just going to… fight this. I'm going to go through this battle of detox and I'm going to take it on. And I did and I didn't realize how hard it was. It was the hardest thing I've ever done.’” [16:55] - “If I didn't have her I don't know where I would have gone. I would have probably found some other purpose. But at that point… that’s what I had. I needed… not… to have her be 15, 14 years old like she is now and be like, ‘Oh, I don't really remember,’ or just look at pictures of me. I did not want that to be the case.” [17:23] “When you're in all of that pain, just focus on that: this is where I am going, this is what I am doing, this is how I'm going to go.” [17:35] “The focus has to go off of yourself.” [30:07] “I hope no one goes through this. But we all have family, children, parents, relatives going through these things. And it's going to be hard. Something's going to be hard for you at some point.” [32:51] “You just said, ‘I'll just do the next step. I'll just do the next thing in front of me. I'll just keep doing it, one little thing at a time.’ And really, that's all you need to do and you'll get there.” [35:49] “Have faith in yourself that you can do more than you think you can… face it and do what is suggested and what you feel is right... Try to make progress, as little as the progress can be. Supporting Resources: Steve’s website: https://stevemelen.com/ Killer Graces: https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Graces-power-breakthrough-living/dp/1735165719/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=killer+graces&qid=1614194588&sr=8-1 NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever seen or heard of people who would come in for addiction treatment over and over again – like they almost always come in for the same problem with the same sense of empowerment? You could throw as many drugs at them or do all kinds of physical interventions but nothing changes.  If you're just living in your physical body, doctors can help you just fine. But if you're living in your physical body and your spiritual body is in need of healing, then they would have a hard time doing that. Western medicine tries to generalize in this physics-based realm, which is very important. But there’s also this spiritual realm addressed mainly by alternative medicine. In this episode, Duane speaks with Mona Balogh and she’s going to talk about her book, “How to Stay Out of My Emergency Room: Master Your Health and Find Joy in Your Life by Balancing the Power of Your Mind, Your Body, and Your Higher Self.” Today, Mona talks about her discoveries as an ER doctor and working with people who were continually coming into the ER. And she was left wondering why they kept coming back. Nothing was changing. Until one day, she stumbled into an addiction treatment conference that shifted everything for her. She began looking through her clients and realized that the bigger issue was not just the behavior, but it was something spiritual – an emptiness in their soul that needed to be filled.  In this episode, you will hear: How her spiritual awareness journey began Who are the frequent flyers? How the addiction medicine conference became her turning point How energy medicine is applied to addiction treatment The power of someone who compassionately sees you The difference between Western medicine and alternative medicine Dealing with the pressure of doing alternative medicine being an allopathic doctor The 2 separate, but related paths mentioned in her book that can be achieved through meditation Key Quotes: [06:15] - “Drug addicts and alcoholics have an emptiness in their soul and that emptiness needed to be filled with something.” [07:03] - “Frequent flyers are people who would come in over and over again, almost always for the same problem with the same sense of empowerment.”  [08:35] - "It's this huge gorilla in the room that's completely being ignored. I'm rolling my eyes, they're rolling their eyes back at me. And nothing's changing." [10:54] - “Whether you’re the addict or you're the treater of the addiction, or just the loved one or caregiver – it's enormous work because you're dealing with an enormous gorilla.” [14:22] - "The 12-step program is all about having others listen and hear you, but not getting away with anything that they don't already know." [15:20] - “Western medicine tries to generalize in this physics-based realm, which is very important... but then, there's a special realm, which is what the alternative medicine addresses." [16:20] - "One of the things that nontraditional medicine has opened my eyes up to is the richness and the beauty of the special treatments." [21:32] - "There's something far greater, far better than our physical self." [25:06] - "To get to the point where you're always striving towards your higher self, your Yang self, you need to know how to meditate and how to behave within that meditation.” Supporting Resources: “How to Stay Out of My Emergency Room: Master Your Health and Find Joy in Your Life by Balancing the Power of Your Mind, Your Body, and Your Higher Self” www.MonaBalogh.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Children who grow up in an addictive home internalize a lot of toxic shame where they lose the ability to believe in their own worth and value. For some people, it has never been instilled in them, to begin with. But there is an emotional connection between the addict and their family. Regardless of how old you are – if you were raised with addiction, you deserve to be acknowledged. On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks to Dr. Claudia Black, a world-renowned expert on addiction and codependency. Claudia has been working in the field of addictive disorders for over 40 years. She recently released the third edition of her book, “It Will Never Happen to Me: Growing Up with Addiction as Youngsters, Adolescents, and Adults.” Growing up with substance use disorders, there was really a lot of fear that permeated her life – the fear that also permeates the lives of so many people growing up in an addictive home.  Claudia believes that nobody deserves to live with fear and shame. Children don't deserve that. Partners don't deserve that. And certainly, the addicted person doesn't deserve that. And it's that belief that has driven Claudia to her 40-year-plus career, and eventually, writing the book, which now has over 2 million copies in print.  Challenging the status quo in the late 70’s, Claudia’s work has been a fundamental part of recovery treatment and it has laid a big foundation in the recovery community today. Her work has given a voice and validation to this suffering that people didn't even know how to name back then. In fact, her work around family roles and rules had a huge impact on Duane's recovery and growth.  In this episode, you will hear: Growing up in toxic shame, fear, and sadness How the book came to be The emotional connection between the addict and their family The systematic approach to treatment How Claudia’s work challenged the status quo back then Acknowledging the children of addiction Recognizing the different family roles and how to address them How to walk through pain  The two big resistances to recovery and the value of self-help groups Key Quotes: [03:20] - “As children, we internalize a lot of toxic shame... we lose the ability to believe in our own worth and value.” [06:47] - “If you were raised with addiction, I don't care how old you were, you deserve to be acknowledged.” [09:22] - “In the treatment, we're not working with just the person who comes for treatment – but truly, the family is the client.” [14:17] - "The addiction in the family would be ignored by everybody else if they could ignore it."  [15:36] - "The issues are ageless... we may understand more about it, we may be more sophisticated in our treatment, but the experience for the person really doesn't change." [20:05] - “That's what recovery is about for a teenager or an adult child – is what you didn't learn, as well as challenging the beliefs along the way.” [25:12] - "For some people, things are more blatant than for others, but it is so chronic." [30:31] - “A lot of people get in trouble as they try and do the skill work without looking at the emotional work or looking at the belief that's associated.” Supporting Resources: It Will Never Happen to Me: Growing Up with Addiction as Youngsters, Adolescents, and Adults Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of times, parents out there have kids struggling with addiction and they don’t know what to do or how to notice it. Unfortunately, adolescent addiction is oftentimes written off by a lot of parents because they think what they see as some crazy teenage behavior is just a normal developmental issue – but that may not be the case.  Let’s add the fact that kids hardly tell their parents about their substance abuse for fear of being judged. And this becomes a huge motivator for them to shut down. How do we bridge this gap then? On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks with Richard Capriola, substance abuse counselor and author of the book The Addicted Child: A Parent's Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse.  Whether you’re a parent with an adolescent kid struggling with substance or alcohol abuse, or you know someone whose kid is struggling from substance or alcohol abuse, or you suspect your kid is struggling with this issue because you’re noticing some changes in their appearance, behavior, attitude – adolescent addiction isn’t something you should be taking lightly.  While addiction affects the child, it also affects the entire family system. And this is why the family has to be there throughout this whole process as well. They all should work together as a team to ensure a better outcome. In this episode, you will hear: The Addicted Child as a roadmap for parents and children struggling with substance abuse Two differences between adult addiction and adolescent addiction Treatment for substance abuse among adolescents How the family is involved in the treatment Common reactions from parents The importance of looking at the warning signs How to lessen the possibility of addiction in your children Key Quotes: [02:58] - “A lot of parents were surprised at the extent of their child's use of substances.” [05:43] - “For a 14, 15, 16-year-old adolescent, their brain is still in the process of developing so putting alcohol or drugs into a developing brain runs at much higher risk of more serious consequences.” [08:19] - “The motivation factor many times is to identify and then address the underlying issue that is really driving the child to use the alcohol or the marijuana.” [09:04] - “Once you can move the discussion away from focusing on alcohol and drug abuse, then you've opened the door for them talking about what's really troubling them.” [11:58] - “The addiction affects the child, but it also has effects on the entire family system as well.” [16:06] - “A lot of parents misinterpret the signals they're seeing… they tend to write it off as just being some type of developmental issue.” [26:50] - “Look beyond just the alcohol and drug use. There might be an underlying issue that needs to be treated as well.” [28:05] - “A large part of treatment involves not only addressing the alcohol and the drug use but teaching kids these coping skills.” Supporting Resources: www.helptheaddictedchild.com  The Addicted Child: A Parent's Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse https://www.amazon.com/Addicted-Child-Parents-Adolescent-Substance/dp/1098327233 Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Substance abuse disorder is something that people don't always discuss, and what you don't know, is where you can go awry. On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks to Cathy Ferree, the CEO of the Indiana State Museum, about their exhibit called FIX: Heartbreak and Hope Inside Our Opioid Crisis.  It's an amazing exhibit that really delves into the opioid crisis from a human perspective. It’s a story that creates compassion and understanding all at the same time. Cathy wants to change the narrative about opioid addiction, mental health in general, and to really take away that stigma.  Having been raised to be very cognizant of people and their feelings, and how much people try to live behind things rather than in front of them, Cathy took charge in finding a role that a museum could play in helping with this crisis. Museums are a place where people trust to give you information and put things in context for you. And it's great to be able to put this into a museum and have an exhibit that really talks about it in a reliable way.  There are two things that really stand out to me here – the interactive part, which is the knowledge part, and also the extreme compassion for someone who is struggling with addiction because it can be very hard for people who have not struggled with addiction to really understand it.  Hopefully, this helps shift the community outlook on addiction to one of recovery, one of hope, and to a possibility of change. In this episode, you will hear: How the exhibit came to be and why Why they partnered with the recovery community Some hurdles they had to overcome 3 things they want visitors to walk away with The goal to have multiple entry points for a better understanding How they were able to put all the creativity together Key Quotes: [05:33] - “People trust museums. We give you information, we ask you to ask questions, we put things in context for you.” [05:55] - “Substance abuse disorder is something that people don't always discuss. And what we know is what you don't know, is where you can go awry.” [13:00] - “It's not a linear experience, you could start with the science, and understand that this is a disease.” [16:25] - "Opioid has an ability to take hold of your brain in a way no other drug does."  [17:10] - "We want people to really better understand so they can then be more compassionate and have an opportunity to really contribute to the benefit of someone they know that may be suffering or in a difficult situation, rather than making it worse." [20:33] - "This is a disease that people are struggling with, and you can help them. This is a disease that you could be struggling with. And we hope this helps you." [25:06] "At the end of the day, people will help one another. So please look for help, because there is always help somewhere." Supporting Resources: FIX: Heartbreak and Hope Inside Our Opioid Crisis https://www.indianamuseum.org/experiences/fix-heartbreak-hope/ Video 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4i-vJoQHhk Video 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BNsHrvGGQ Video 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXK-u2TOGj8 Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Opium has been around but what many people don't realize is how much it has shaped society and culture. The United States has spent over $1 trillion on drug enforcement since President Nixon declared a war on drugs. And by any measure, that crisis has become worse. Could we ever imagine a time where humanity is finally free of these substances?  On today's episode, Duane talks with John Halpern and David Blistein, co-authors of the book, Opium: How an Ancient Flower Shaped and Poisoned Our World, where they talk about the history of opium and the reasons they wrote this book. It’s a call for compassion and care for people who are struggling with addiction. Unfortunately, our current system is not providing proper treatment. Worse, we punish people for not accepting treatment or seeking it out in the United States. The person who gets blamed is the one who's suffering. Whatever people need to do politically or as a society about these issues of drug abuse should not be legislated onto the backs of our patients' suffering and pain. And yet, that's still is happening. The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration admits that over 90% of people in the United States who would like to get serviced have no ability to get treatment.  There’s a confusing message we’re sending out to people that there’s no safe way to use it. We're not talking about what these drugs do. We're not accepting how they are medicines and that they have these horrible side effects, and extreme versions of those side effects when we see somebody addicted.  Instead, we punish them as if they had a full volitional choice when it’s causing changes to their brain over time. At the end of the day, we need to welcome people with substance abuse issues for being the human beings that they are and with the problems they have because we all have problems. And we need to treat them with respect and love and understanding and learn from them. In this episode, you will hear: When the use of opium began What does the term chasing the dragon mean  The potential of peptides to replace opiates The current justice system as it relates to drug courts How the interdiction of drugs corrupts the governments at all levels The lack of proper treatment How the opioid epidemic started with Purdue Pharma Possible strategies and solutions to solve this problem The confusing message we’re sending out to people that there’s no safe way to use it Key Quotes: [08:26] - "For 5000 years, virtually the only antidepressant we had was opium." [10:03] - "A drug is not a drug is not a drug, how people get addicted to a drug is different and understanding some of the impact they have on us also can be different."  [12:59] - "We are tethered much more tightly to the opium plant, a plant that does not even exist in the wild today more than ever." [14:10] - "The person who gets blamed is the one who's suffering." [17:19] - "I consider drug court a human rights crime because we have prosecutors and judges pretending that they can practice medicine when they have no training in it." [20:25] - "We turn around without providing proper treatment, and then we punish people for not accepting treatment or seeking it out in the United States." [28:15] - "There are more people dying each year now from opioid-related overdoses than those that died in the Vietnam War. That's 70,000 people a year dying now." [35:23] - "Labeling heroin and other opiates as drugs of abuse doesn't erase the fact that they are medicines in the United States." Supporting Resources: https://www.facebook.com/addictedmindpodcast/ Opium: How an Ancient Flower Shaped and Poisoned Our World by John Halpern and David Blistein https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Opium/John-H-Halpern/9780316417679?id=8111534007531 Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with mother and son, Laura and Tom Boldt, authors of Unraveled, A Mother and Son Story of Addiction and Redemption. They talk about their story of recovery and how they worked together to get recovery. They each share how their recovery impacts each other, and how they were able to do it. It is a great story of hope, compassion, and gratitude for the life they've created in recovery together – as a family.  A Mother and Son’s Story Coming from a family of many alcoholics, Laura was certain she wasn't going to end up like her alcoholic mom. But fast-forward to having four children, Laura fell into full-blown alcoholism when her youngest child was two years old. It was on Halloween night 2008 that everything changed for her when she got into a serious car accident. She could barely remember what happened to her the next morning. At that point, she knew she needed help. At that time when Laura stopped drinking, her son, Tom, had already experienced bullying and switched schools a few times. He simply wanted a place to belong, which he had found in drinking and drugs. While alcoholism reflected how Laura was living free and having fun, it was completely opposite for Tom. It was more violent. There was more blood and there were more hospital visits. His alcoholism worsened to the point that it not only led to broken bones, but also, broken relationships. Then one Halloween night in 2012, he got in a couple of bar fights and ended up running down the freeway. The next morning, he just decided he was done. Addiction is a family disease because everybody around you suffers from it. The family essentially has a very important role to play during this healing process and there needs to be understanding and compassion. Part of Laura and Tom’s healing process was writing the book, which was not only cathartic to both of them, but an opportunity for them to send this message of hope. In this episode, you will hear: Laura’s story of alcoholism and the turning point that made her decided to stop Tom’s story of alcoholism and drug abuse, and his decision to stop The effects of drinking on Laura and Tom Their journey through recovery together The role of the family in addiction recovery The difficulties and challenges in recovery together What they discovered about each other Writing the book as a cathartic process for them and as a way to send their message of hope Key Quotes: [02:36] - "When you try to control your drinking, you only realize that it's controlling you." [03:39] - "People around you are far more aware of your alcoholism before you are." [07:18] - "I could have killed somebody else. My kids could be without a mother because of drinking." [13:07] - "I was completely unaware of the effects of alcohol... I just thought it was normal." [19:56] - "I started learning so much about the disease and Laura was so amazing and would fill me in on her journey and her experience." [22:42] - "Not all families have the opportunity to heal for whatever reason. But it does make it easier for the alcoholic and the addict to have a family that plays into that healing." [23:23] - "Resentments can cause relapse... it's a daily practice for us to stay healthy." [32:48] - "My life is filled with so much joy, so much fun, and, and true laughter that's not ignited by alcohol, and it really is a more peaceful way to live." Supporting Resources: https://unraveledthebook.com/ Unraveled, A Mother and Son Story of Addiction and Redemption https://www.amazon.com/Unraveled-Mother-Story-Addiction-Redemption/dp/1632993198 Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane sits down with Jeff Nash to talk about addiction, recovery, and the importance of finding and engaging in a recovery community. Jeff is the executive director at Habilitat in Hawaii. Raised in Dallas, Jeff struggled with drug addiction for most of his adult life. By the time he was sixteen, Jeff was shooting heroin and other drugs. By 30, he finally was in the right spot to get on top of his addictions. While staying at Habilitat, he was trained under their philosophy and now runs many programs. He talks about having gone through fourteen different treatment facilities—mostly at the behest of his parents. It took being in jail at 29 and quitting methadone cold-turkey to see that he couldn’t continue to live this way as an addict. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series He saw a model for change at Habilitat, even though getting out of jail was the initial motivator. Its different approach than medical treatment centers attracted Jeff because they treat the individual. Their methods changed the way he thought and ultimately prepared him for life. As far as how it looked different, they gave him a sense of belonging. The socialization perspective was not medical but rather behavioral. They have this element of treating the criminogenic needs, Jeff says. Habilitat addresses by teaching people how to interact with other people healthily. Habilitat is big on emotional intelligence, including how to respond and how to react in an emotionally mature way. Jeff says, “for those of us that continue to struggle, we may need to look for long-term treatment options.” He urges the listeners to continue to work at it. He quotes his late father: “you’re going to quit using drugs one way or another.” It fell on deaf ears at the time, but he realized that it was ultimately up to him to prevent drug use from taking his life. He wants all the listeners to know that change is possible, and there is help available. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks to Dylan Beynon, founder, and CEO of Mindbloom, a health and well-being company that provides physician-prescribed psychedelics and guided ketamine therapy. Dylan describes the time he first experienced MDMA at the suggestion of a friend who thought he needed to break out of his shell. Having an enlightening experience, Dylan sought to figure out how to use ketamine to help people break out of their traumas and addictions. But how does ketamine actually help you? Two years ago, under ketamine therapy, Dylan personally realized the therapeutic value of psychedelics. He explains that the effects of ketamine therapy are that they open up the brain’s neuroplasticity, which allows people to lay down some new ways of thinking. It can ultimately push people out of their established neuropathways to open their eyes to new options for positive change. What is the difference between recreational and therapeutic use? Research has shown that single, recreational use of ketamine in a controlled environment has a response rate for symptoms of depression of 65 to 70%, Dylan explains, which is much higher than common SSRIs like Lexapro and Wellbutrin. Mindbloom has three main goals: Dramatically increase access to psychedelic therapy. Which means dropping prices and translating to telehealth options. This also means investing in education and content resources. Deliver exceptional clinical outcome, and Deliver exceptional client experience. A lot of psychedelic therapy is in setting the stage for lasting behavioral changes from engaging neuroplastic states. Preparation, experience, and integration are the three stages of psychedelic therapy. Great effort goes into preparing clients for the experience and what to do when under a psychedelic experience. They try to get clients to get into the habit of journaling so that they do not forget the new “feelings” or “memories” they experience during the opened window of neuroplasticity. The mission at Mindbloom is to “transform minds today to transform lives tomorrow.” Their protocol is four ketamine therapy sessions over 1-2 months. The neuroplasticity and behavioral changes should compound over that time period. The goal, though, is indefinite lasting change. And overall, it is extremely safe to use in a controlled setting. There are dangers when used recreationally, but Mindbloom is committed to providing safe access to this revolutionary means of therapy. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with author, teacher, and mother Mary Burns. During their discussion, Mary meditates on grief, loss, and her son’s struggle with addiction and mental illness. As early as seven, Mary’s son, Eric, started to have something like screaming fits. She believed it was a phase that would pass. By the time he was a teenager, the screaming fits became “rages.” Looking back, Mary could tell that there was something wrong. The rages were extremely out of character. Eventually, he would turn to hard drugs. After several months, Eric asked his mom for help. The hospitals, unfortunately, turned Eric away because they determined his addiction was not “severe enough.” In New Jersey, Mary was only able to get Eric checked into an outpatient facility with her insurance coverage. Her company only wanted to provide ten days treatment after his first relapse. Perhaps, she muses, Eric would have been able to work through his addiction and avoid relapse.  Duane posits that the mythology of addiction is hurting our ability to really help people that are struggling in less visible ways. Four days before he died, he spoke of his strength through Jesus Christ. But for some reason, he took drugs, overdosed, and died. It shows just how insidious drugs are, Mary says. Moving onto Eric’s death, Mary talks about how leaning on her faith really helped her to get through it. It gave her perspective to grasp onto the good times, despite all the loss. He struggled with life, but he let the good things reflect while absorbing the negative. She believes he’s in a better place, which is the little bit of hope she needs. Since our understanding of addiction has moved from a moral issue to a genuine pathology, our attitudes have changed. But treatment has not kept up. Mary and Duane talk toward the end about how the protocol for addiction treatment needs serious reform to actually help the people that need attentive care. They need an intensive support network to really get them through it. The old philosophies come from old paradigms that misunderstand addiction. You don’t need to hit rock bottom, Duane says. There’s no such thing—you can get help now. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks with author, speaker, and teacher Jenna Riemersma about internal family systems, or IFS. Jenna describes how IFS can help to transform your feelings about addictions and past trauma. Jenna talks about how IFS argues that all of our parts are good. And as counterintuitive as that is, it’s important to understand that the core of your Self is fundamentally good. Experiencing a “part” of yourself is similar to the idea of having “parts” of our personalities. We want to give those parts their credit because they come from our true Selves, which are good. When a part of us is taken over by a burden, it’s hard for us to take those parts back. Jenna gives an example of a playful part being burdened by a trauma. IFS calls these parts “exiles,” and they carry a lot of weight, especially when you want to try to access those formerly playful parts of yourself. Jenna illustrates this point with the Manager and the addicted Firefighter, and how we have these competing identities who both want the destruction of addiction while simultaneously wanting to be free of addiction. The Manager wants to seek counsel, but the Firefighter is afraid of the change and pain. 10 times out of 10, the Firefighter actually hates contributing to that pain. We wouldn’t start with that kind of revelation, but we would eventually work our way toward the patient understanding that ultimately the center of their being wants to be free from addiction. Being able to confront these parts of ourselves without judgment is key. Have you ever experienced a time where all parts of yourself have been welcomed, Jenna asks. IFS helps us to uncover what is already there by surrendering a quality of self that is locked up in shame and hate. Michelangelo once said of a sculpture that he was “releasing the angel trapped in the stone.” We need to ask ourselves what am I feeling toward, and if it’s anything but the 8 Cs, we need to step back and try to change the situation. Do you think it’s possible to change the way that your Firefighter part sees the world? Many think that it’s impossible, but if you’re willing to at least engage in the process, IFS can help you to not feel so hopeless, so alarmed, and so defeated. Jenna wants to emphasize that all parts of you are welcome, and all parts of you are safe here. The 8 Cs of IFS are: Calm Connection Compassion Creativity Clarity Curiosity Confidence, and Courage Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks to hip-hop artist Chris Hamilton (aka “ILL TONE”) about the struggle of addiction and the joy of recovery. He struggled with social anxiety and wrestling with his sexual identity while amongst conservatives on Vancouver Island. He found hip hop after getting expelled from school and identified with the fact that they talked about struggle. Duane and Chris talk about the fellowship and the validating aspect of group therapy. To be able to speak honestly, as Chris says, frees you from feeling like a monster. It helps to know that you are not alone. He started on cocaine around age 15, even though he had previously told himself that he would never do that. After his third car accident at 19, he felt so bad about it that he decided to commit himself to a residential treatment. He relapsed with weed in the parking lot after getting out of the treatment facility. Before long, he’d returned back to using daily. Over time, he started binging on the weekend instead of using every day, which freed up some time for him to focus on building his skills, finishing school, and working on his future in music. His music has been helpful, but Chris talks about how his group is the most important aspect to his recovery. Having access to a bunch of people who understand the struggle and can offer in-person support is the most helpful tool in his belt. Chris’ addiction prevented him from being able to feel and enjoy his life fully. Chris says to grow your network. It doesn’t matter what your problem is, you can find people that are going through what you are. And these people will support you and help you to overcome your addiction. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks to author Marques Marchand about addiction, dual diagnoses, and understanding your past. Christmas 2009, Marques was working at a restaurant and woke up with flu-like symptoms. He hit rock bottom a year later, and decided to quit everything cold, right after Thanksgiving. He struggled to keep friendships and work, and eventually he snapped. From 2006-2010, he sought mental health advice from therapists. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness His recovery process was long and arduous. Besides going to the ER every couple of weeks and racking up thousands of dollars of debt, he also discovered he was an alcoholic and had bipolar disorder type II. Now with a few different medications, the help of the 12-step programs, and better health practices, Marques has been able to free himself from the ups and downs of his addictive behavior. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Sometime in his 30s, while working as a concierge in San Francisco, Marques started writing and it took off. He originally started by just telling his story in Junk Knowledge, but he hasn’t been able to satiate the writing bug since. He loves the idea of working through his shame and helping other people to work through recovery by sharing his own story. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/107 Marques is about to publish his third book, which is not about addiction, but rather about his time working in the hotel industry. He describes his time leading up to COVID and how that affected his industry. He works a full time job working for his uncle’s business, but now he also has a lot of time to help people in his neighborhood. The one thing he’d like to tell listeners is that the beginning of a healthy, successful life is to first reach out. “Don’t be afraid to be a fool for your life,” Marques says. Someone is going to want to listen to you and help. There are so many people going through the same thing. Take a chance on yourself for your own recovery. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane sits down with Tracy Kenela about “calming the chaos” and creating peace and calm in our lives. Therapist and podcast host, Tracy discusses how she came to start studying “overwhelm” as a psychological concept. An expert in chaos, Tracy explains how chaotic factors contribute to our being overwhelmed. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Traci breaks down the different kinds of shock and responses that may manifest when our brain confronts chaos. It seems as though people get addicted to chaos or the absence of chaos. These things really just distract people from addressing the issues that matter. If you’ve grown up in chaos, it’s possible you’re reenacting chaos as a means of coping with trauma. Tracy and Duane both urge people in this case to seek counseling because they can break the cycle of chaos if they really want to. There is a phenomenon of victimhood in chaos addiction, too. People tend to self-create this chaos to get the right kind of attention or reactions from people around them. This is different from legitimate chaos (like the kind that just shows up in your life), but you still will need to respond to the chaos. Having a strategy to respond to chaos could save your life. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Tracy then briefly talks about how she would go about treating someone who may need help dealing with the chaos in their lives. She will validate the chaos first and then offer ways to “calm the shock.” This part is rather physical, honestly. She may offer ice or a heat pack—some people even respond to particularly strong smells. Anything to help counteract the shock. She uses some motivational interviewing, but most of her work uses the trans-theoretical model. This model helps her to figure out at what point they’re at in regards to changing their behavior and moving away from the chaos. She then encourages her patients to take steps toward control. Even a small step like working on daily mindfulness can help you make huge gains in your focus and productivity. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/106 What does coping with the chaos look like? It’s usually slower, Tracy says. Taking slow, deliberate steps. Taking deep breaths and moving slowly—these things will help you to become more mindful. If you think you’re dealing with chaos, the first step is to talk to a professional to get help with relaxation tools and mindfulness practices. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane sits down with Dr. Robb Kelly to discuss alcohol and opioid addiction. Educated at Oxford, he drank through most of school. He was fired from his job as a police officer, which made him realize that his drinking was problematic. Unfortunately for Robb, it would take him losing everything to finally course correct. Robb realized that the alcoholic mind preys on you. Toward his own story, he talks about committing suicide four times, two of which his heart actually stopped. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness At his most broken moment, he started crying and realized that he couldn’t get over the alcohol on his own. He knew there was something different, which got him interested in neuroscience. He knows that he was born with the addictive brain, and he has to be careful about his relationships as a result. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Robb talks about how his brain is wired differently, and the key to his success was realizing that. He started to notice the symptoms of alcoholism when he would buy a bottle and he immediately felt better. “For the alcoholic, the brain is telling them that they need alcohol to survive,” Robb says. In his research, Robb found that we can change the way that we think. The neuroplasticity of the brain allows us to redirect our thoughts. We can literally change the direction of our most damning thoughts. Robb also damns the medical research community for not prioritizing treatment of the disease. He says there’s no money in it and so the disease persists. Moving to neuro-linguistic programming, Robb explains the role it plays in the addict’s mind. Back in the tribal days, Robb explains, a primal feeling used to wake cavemen up. But now, we don’t really listen to that feeling because we are driven by fear. If you think you can’t do something, Robb says, someone put that there. And it’s not true. If you can’t visualize it, you can’t make it happen. You have to manipulate your brain to break down those barriers. “I don’t say ‘impossible’—I say, ‘I’m possible.’” We don’t see ourselves as others see us, Robb argues, and if we did, we’d be able to do anything. You have to actually believe that your mindset is important. And stop living in fear. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/105 Toward the end, Robb shares a story about visiting his friend and famed chef, Gordon Ramsay. At one point after dinner, Ramsay turned to Robb and asked, “do you know why I’m the best chef in the world?” Robb answered: “because you’re a damned good cook?” Ramsay replied, “because I tell everybody.” There is so much importance in finding the people who live the life you want. They will inspire and propel you forward. Even through tragedy and difficulty, Duane says, it’s all in the mindset. And in the end, Robb says, you need to just take the first step. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks with Daniel Snyder about decriminalizing drugs, the opioid crisis, and dealing with addiction. Based in Vancouver, Daniel describes working through the opioid epidemic in British Columbia. He shares some stories that demonstrate that addiction is a hidden thing for many people; that is, it’s not always as visible as the media would have you believe. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness He does believe that recovery is a process, which includes setbacks. Daniel initially believed that every relapse was a complete failure, but he soon figured out how to change his thinking around the recovery process. A friend asked him a pressing question that pushed him to realize he can learn through recovery. Overcoming the stigma of “once an addict, always an addict” was key. In Canada, there is an in-depth data evaluation process for fentanyl. They are offering guidance even in the midst of COVID for people struggling with addiction, but fentanyl has all but “saturated” the drug supply at large. Daniel was fortunate enough to have gone through his addiction behind closed doors. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Duane and Daniel also discuss how people struggling through addiction actually need to be connected to people to be successful. The intervention method of breaking addiction is dismally effective because it pits people against the last people in the world that they could still be connected with. Moving on to the politics of drug enforcement, Daniel discusses how people under addiction struggles are not free to just “decide” to get their act together, as the legality of it would suggest. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/104 Daniel explains that many of the now-antiquated ideas around drugs that informed initial federal policy are backwards. The criminalization of drug use was not born out of a compassion for people struggling with addiction. He advocates for reform that would consider this. The grim reality, he says, is that people ultimately die as a result of doing business with the drug dealer. It seems counterintuitive, Daniel explains, because we still look at drug use as criminal. In Mexico, a black market for alcohol popped up after the government shut down liquor stores in the wake of COVID. That market killed 100 people in a month from alcohol poisoning. There is also a fear attached to what a world with legalized drugs would look like. Daniel argues that ultimately it would reduce crime, it would reduce death, and it would reduce cost to the public in the health and human services sphere. People are now looking at the potential benefits that legalization could offer. If we can meet people where they’re at, we could actually save lives, Daniel posits. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks Georgia-based counselor Eddie Capparucci about his personal experience with addiction and how to fight off sex and porn addiction. He also talks about the impact of fears of abandonment and how that drives sexually destructive behavior. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Jumping into the idea of the inner child, Eddie explains that children make up for not being seen by creating new realities in their mind. Playing out fantasies in their heads is part of how they cope with abandonment. He never realized that because of that pain, he was using women. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> After you get through the period of regret, Eddie says, you experience a kind of euphoria in understanding what the problem is. Eddie walked away from two marriages because he felt that his infidelity couldn’t be fixed. Soon after, he sought therapy and began to understand his abandonment issues. Eddie also discusses his idea of the “inner child.” It provides insight into why people engage in addictive behaviors. By identifying the core emotional triggers, you can take control. He names nine different kinds in his Inner Child model: The Bored Child The Unaffirmed Child The Unnoticed Child The Emotionally Void Child The Lack-of-Control Child The Entitled Child The Inferior-Weak Child The Stressed Child The Sexually Early/Stimulated/Abused Child Most people identify with three of four of these kids. Some people identify with all nine of them. The goal here is to identify the triggers associated with your inner child. Moving onto treatment, Eddie talks about how you need to produce mindfulness. Once you’ve identified your triggers, you can start to apply them to situations moving forward that activate your inner child. People with sex and porn addictions are trying to comfort the inner child. It’s easier to feel sexual arousal, Duane says, than to feel depression or isolation. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/103 Eddie is concerned about how the ease of access to porn will affect the next generation. He believes that young boys are going to be taught that objectification is normalized and even encouraged. When you understand your own trauma, you can move forward. You’re no longer stuck as a “bad person.” But people have to hit the point where they do want change in their lives. And someone actually interested in the sex industry only gets there because their self worth has already been eroded. It’s tough because most people don’t really want to look back and look their pain in the face. They don’t want to spend time thinking about how they were hurt in their childhood. But ultimately — there’s a benefit to doing this work. You can change your life. There are a ton of resources you can tap into and you can finish strong. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks with author Benjamin Hardy about his personal experience with addiction and the chaos that comes along with it. Benjamin describes the process overcoming his own addictions involved going through a “redemptive process,” which involved forgiving his father and rebuilding the relationship there. With trauma, you’re always looking in the rear-view mirror, but you need to make meaning going forward. Meaning is not going to strike you—you have to make it yourself. The beauty of this is that you can change the meaning of your past, Benjamin says. It’s key to have empathy for your old self. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Benjamin also talks about how writing about your trauma can really help. Turning away from the past, you can have hope for the future. Without a hope for the future, Benjamin says, the present becomes meaningless. You can also choose to ascribe a meaning to your past. We call it “meaning-making,” Benjamin says. Part of becoming emotionally-developed includes this idea of choosing the meaning of your past. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> He shares a story about how you can actively work to a solution for something that didn’t go exactly how you planned instead of snapping to a quick decision. You can choose to frame it in a new way instead of being defined by a failure. Choosing the meaning going forward can change how you store that forever. In his story, Benjamin points to the fact that he was vulnerable enough to share his feelings with the people in question as part of the process. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/102 Moving onto his book, Benjamin unpacks the idea that your personality is going to change, and that you have the power to choose who you want to be in the future. Your personality is just how you consistently show up. It’s crucial to have your identity based on who you actually want to be in the future. The same courage that moves you to say “I need help” is the courage it takes to tell people who you want to be in the future. It takes courage, as Benjamin says, because it’s uncertain. You’ll realize you might be rejected, but that you also need to do some “rejecting” to get you where you ultimately want to be. When you are open and honest, nothing is hiding anymore. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks with Andrew P. about the concept of cognitive bias and how this process works in the middle of addiction. Andrew also talks about his own journey with addiction in light cognitive bias. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Alongside his medical practice, Andrew ran a psychotherapy practice for 15 years before becoming addicted to alcohol and opiates. After hitting rock bottom, Andrew’s friends brought him to a 12-step program and a light went off that allowed for him. Being able to see that other people were able to get themselves out of the pit was huge. It’s crucial to understand that there’s nothing wrong with you, but that the symptoms of addiction are common. Cognitive bias, or our natural inclination to make information match what we already believe, was the research focus for Andrew for many years. He found that people with addictions distort information to the extremes using a very intense form of cognitive bias. In other words, addiction amplifies the effects of cognitive bias. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Being able to recognize cognitive bias at all can help the addict, because it challenges you to think about the way that you’re thinking: metacognition or plain mindfulness. People ultimately want to know the why; they want to know why they think the way they do, and why their brain works the way it does. Andrew encourages people to be open-minded, which he recognizes is difficult. Creating a list of feedback from other people can help to defeat cognitive bias. The empty chair technique works to try to visualize the situation if you don’t have someone in arm’s reach to offer feedback. There are techniques you can actually use to challenge your cognitive biases, which can help you to overcome your addiction. Andrew wants everyone to know that all are capable of a lasting recovery if they only accept the help that is out there. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/101 Andrew breaks down three prominent forms of cognitive bias that The attentional bias, or the bias that’s attached to our attention. The optimism bias, where we cling to the belief that things will end up okay, despite all evidence pointing to your own destruction. The recall bias, in which the addict recalls what they want to believe. They forget the bad stuff and recall the bad days as something rosy-glassed.   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane sits down with father, husband, sales executive, speaker, and author Kyle Dean Houston. They speak about being in the throes of addiction, despairing for hope, staring down your own doom, and ultimately persevering through recovery. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Kyle openly describes trying methamphetamines and quickly spiraling into a needle-using meth user. At rock bottom, Kyle was overcome with depression and tried to overdose, but failed. He talks about spending months in county jail trying to learn to make the right decisions. Making and breaking promises to his family, Kyle eventually realized that he was powerless over his own actions and he couldn’t continue to live that way. Coming to grips with the role that the brain plays in your addiction was crucial during this time. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> The moment that really changed everything was when he realized he could have a purpose for his life. Being alone in jail put Kyle in the position to finally start thinking about what he could actually do to change his life. His relationship with God and the spiritual goes back to his childhood, but in the moments alone in jail, his understanding of the spiritual really opened up. He began to see the full weight of his own ability to take control of his life. It struck him like a hammer, he says. He says that in the jail cell, he never felt so alone. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/100 In transitioning out of prison, Kyle was institutionalized and he was scared to death. He knew that people were aware of his problems, his PTSD, and he felt prison would’ve been better. But only five months later, he met his future-wife, who would go on to be his rock and cornerstone. Kyle credits her for virtually all of his success. That, and his intense drive to accomplish what he sets out to do. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane interviews Erika Flint about hypnosis, hypnotherapy, and how the two can help you to overcome mental blocks in your life. Formerly a software engineer, Erika loves the idea of reprogramming, even your mind. Her recent book, Can You Be a Hypnotist? shows how virtually anyone who wants to be a hypnotist can become one. She tries to subvert the idea that all hypnotists are stage hypnotists. There is a more practical kind of hypnosis that can help you with your mental health. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Though her job was great on paper, it ultimately wasn’t fulfilling. After going through her struggles with alcohol, she hit her rock bottom. Seeking meaning, she found hypnosis was useful in battling demons and fighting off addictions. Now, she spends her time helping people to get their lives back, to love their lives fundamentally. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Interestingly, people are regularly entering into hypnosis, whether they know it or not. The goal of Erika’s work is to get people to enter that state intentionally to achieve some specific purpose. Hypnosis helps to cut through the conscious mind into the unconscious mind. It helps to target beliefs and values to get to the source of particular behaviors. Hypnosis can help to identify “limiting beliefs” and uproot them, dismantling unhealthy thoughts and behaviors in the process. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/99 Because hypnosis is an “opt-in” experience, it cannot be done in covert. There has to be a willingness on the part of both people in order to be successful. Because so many of the decisions we make are based on convictions in the subconscious, hypnosis tries to get to those baked in prejudices to free up the conscious mind. And contrary to popular belief, it all happens very quickly. Erika’s style, called “insight hypnosis” is directed at coming to moments of insight. The goal is for her clients to have massive “aha” moments and generate great results in just one session. Erika mentions her concept of “bad data,” which is basically bad or misinformed perspectives and attitudes that can be corrected by illuminating truths through insight hypnosis. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks to author and counselor Rabbi Simon Jacobson about making meaning out of suffering, and understanding your own purpose. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Rabbi Jacobson talks about how surrendering to a higher power, and relinquishing control over your circumstances gives you an edge on dealing with pain. Unfortunately, we don’t have an answer to injustices writ large, but we can have some hope in giving up control. This change in power can give you the strength to make positive action as a result of suffering. Duane shares a bit from his past to illustrate how you oftentimes need to let go of the desire to understand why loss happens, because you ultimately will not find the reason. Letting go of that need for a reason can help you to heal and move forward. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> There is a healthy way to channel pain from loss and trauma. You can reinvest your time into healing and supporting other people going through the same thing. At the end of this, it will not be in vain if you are able to help others walk through their darkest moments. Toward the end, Rabbi Jacobson talks about his academic life and his background as a writer. Interested by the seeming homogeneity across people’s concerns for their lives, Rabbi Jacobson conducted some research into how to actually make your life meaningful. Perhaps, with the right effort, we could achieve a higher state of human consciousness that values meaning over meaninglessness and places high values on human life. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/98 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane sits down with author Robert Imbeault to talk about his book Before I Leave You. Robert also speaks to his own battle with addiction, his suicide attempts, and his eventual recovery.  Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Based in Ottawa, Canada, Rob shares his story of how experiencing a memory of being raped as an eight-year-old turned his life upside-down as he became a shell of himself fueled by drugs and alcohol as a result. After hitting many rock-bottoms, he attempted suicide a few times. But in recovery, he reminds us that despite how dark the story can be, there is hope on the other side. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Unable to find authentic happiness, Rob pushed further into his work obsession at the sacrifice of his personal relationships. When a memory of his childhood assault comes crashing back, Rob is left catatonic and unable to fully confront his trauma. He let his marriage deteriorate during his spiraling. On a trip to Las Vegas, Rob discovered how alive he felt on ecstasy and cocaine. He believes, too, that these mistakes ultimately empowered him. He’d become all but non-functional at home and at work. The duality between his personal destruction and business success continued to escalate and tear at him. His then-girlfriend’s decision to make him confront his drug addiction more or less made him wake up. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/97 After visiting Walden, Rob knew that he wanted to live. But before this, his awakening to the notion that he was not a good human in any sense made the idea of suicide tempting to him. Ultimately, Rob felt it would free him of all of his burdens. What actually helped turn all of this around for Rob was the decision to write out his rationalizations. He calls them “secret goodbyes,” and Rob credits his writing with freeing him from the bonds of his mental place. It was his “solace” to write. He then started meditating and became a practicing Buddhist. Rob and his wife became pregnant, which enforced their “zero-tolerance” policy. They’ve both been clean ever since. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks to Tyler Farnham about his skydiving accident and his subsequent journey through addiction and recovery. Tyler says that having goals and making active decisions about who is in your circle can change your life. Originally from Cocoa Beach, Tyler now lives in Bali. Even before his accident, Tyler had already dabbled a little with pain pills in the form of 20mg Percocets. After becoming somewhat dependent on them, Tyler found it harder and harder to get off of them. In a leadership position as a lifeguard, he felt the call to give up the pain pills. It was around this time that Tyler realized that the company he kept mattered. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness When he was 18, Tyler started jumping out of airplanes. He jokes about being addicted to it, but in some ways, he feels he really was addicted to the rush, anyway. In the crash, he shattered his right femur and they almost had to amputate. His left femur broke. He shattered his jaw, fractured his skull, and lost nine teeth. He was placed in a five-day medically-induced coma, and he woke up on his 26th birthday. On a morphine drip and in excruciating pain, Tyler was confined to a wheelchair and even had to attend speech therapy during his recovery. He had to have his mouth wired shut. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Depression set in and it started to feel impossible to see the hope in his situation. Tyler started to journal as a means of keeping up hope. It helped him to track his progress and feel some sort of hope and motivation. Having something to do that’s physically active helped Tyler to overcome the dependency. The natural endorphins you encounter can boost your positivity. He encourages others to find the same. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/96 Tyler shares a story about how his inability to refill a script affected his mood so severely that he felt he couldn't even do his job. Because he didn't want to hurt people, he decided to try to find a solution. This is when he decided to seek treatment. Put on Suboxone initially, Tyler started to work toward changing his life. Tyler’s message to someone struggling with addiction now: reach out to someone. And write things down. The importance of this cannot be overstated. These are small promises to yourself. Keeping them can give you the motivation to keep moving forward. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks to sex coach and educator Stacie Ysidro about addiction and healing your sexuality during the recovery process. Stacie has studied virtually every corner of addictive sexuality and has focused her career on helping people navigate sober sexuality once they’ve recovered. She has something of a passion for sexology and the relationship between sexuality and spirituality. She realized that people need coaching around their sexuality in recovery. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Stacie discusses how sex is typically seen through the lens of people-pleasing and not through an honoring one. When not using a substance to escape, you have to more or less face your real sexual self. And yet it’s hard to honor yourself after trauma. Because sexuality is so vulnerable, it gives you access to every other part of yourself. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Duane and Stacie talk about the link between vulnerability and sex with regard to treatment programs, our relationships, and the broader culture. Part of this process deals in releasing ourselves from shame and forgiving ourselves. Stacie uses something called a Sexual Values System to help assess where people are. The system has people scrutinize their own values, beliefs, and even definitions surrounding their own sexuality, including desires and expectations. Doing this work in a shame-free environment allows people to find new words, change their understanding, and set and realize goals. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/95 Stacie’s work helps people to see their own worth. She encourages people that are curious about healing their sexuality to start asking questions about their own sex lives to try to better understand their attitudes about sex. To come into presence with your body is the only way to authentically step into pleasure, free from judgment. And to do this is to ultimately unite our spirits with our sexuality. As Stacie says, “pleasure is our divine right.” Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with author Carder Stout about his book, Lost in Ghost Town, the story of his addiction and recovery. Duane also addresses the difficulty of the ongoing COVID-19 situation by starting a campaign of stories trying to spread hope in a time of darkness. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Carder grew up in Georgetown, where his father constantly worked and his mother was an alcoholic. From an early age, he had feelings of disillusionment and worthlessness. By the time he was 11, his parents had divorced, securing the disarray in his home. By twenty, he’d already gone through eating disorders and was living on cocaine in New York. He thought that moving to Los Angeles would help him distance himself from the people he knew and his addiction, but in Venice, the epicenter of crack at the time, Carder’s addiction spiraled. Carder meets a drug dealer in Venice named Flynn, who, with his grandmother Beatrice, actually showed Carder the familial love that he never received from his actual family.  Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness As a child, Carder experimented with drugs and alcohol as early as age 7. By age ten, he was regularly smoking weed, bein altogether unsupervised. He talks about receiving visions, for lack of a better term, from his grandmother, as frightening as that is. His grandmother, who was a clairvoyant in her life, ultimately became something of a spirit guide for him while he was high. While in the midst of dealing drugs, Carder talks specifically about being surrounded by guns in the culture. In the middle of a lot of psychological pain, he says that he could not stop the “loop” of obsession and compulsion, the things that kept his addiction rolling. In a lot of ways, Flynn became the person that loved him through the cycle of addiction.  In Santa Fe, Carder is accepted into a psychology school after getting out of in-patient care. He worked 2 or 3 jobs for almost ten years working on his degree. Now, he’s a practicing psychologist in Los Angeles. Part of his platform is pushing the idea that developing a sense of purpose is one of the first steps people can take toward a successful recovery program. Forgiveness also plays a vital role in recovery. Carder talks about forgiving his family and forgiving himself, and how that opens the door to freedom. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/94 Carder carved out 4 hours a day, three days a week and set a goal to write. He found some hope in the writing process, which allowed him to tell his story and materialize healing. A publisher under Simon & Schuster picked up his book and he was able to do a reading before an audience before the COVID-19 outbreak. In his sobriety, he married and had two children, and he points to his life as living proof that addicts can recover. There is hope for those who actively seek support. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is Dr. Don Wood, from the Inspired Performance Institute, and he will be talking to us about trauma and how to heal from it. Don helps people reprocess their trauma so that they're no longer in a state of hyper-vigilance and responding to their past trauma in the present moment. Our traumas can either take us down or inspire us. Don believes that every individual who is dealing with addiction has had trauma. He has been very successful in treating addiction as well as trauma. In the past, he used to find that people were finding ways to live with trauma by learning how to manage it and cope with its effects. Trauma, however, creates glitches and error messages in the way that our minds work and so Don has subsequently discovered that it is possible to eliminate trauma so that we no longer need to deal with any of its effects.  Our subconscious mind operates in the present, so ninety-five percent of our brain is always present, just like the mind of an animal is always present. But because our minds experience trauma on a looping basis, we can't shut off the loop of information, and so we continue to re-experience the past trauma in the present moment.  Our traumatic events and experiences are recorded in our memories differently from our regular experiences. Experiences that are neither threatening nor disturbing are recorded and stored in memory as fairly low-resolution files. Threatening or disturbing experiences, however, are recorded and stored differently by the mind. Our senses are heightened and intensified with those experiences, so they are stored in our minds in high definition. And this is where the glitch comes in. If our mind goes back into memory, and it sees the stored images of those traumatic events, it perceives those events to be happening right now, in the present moment. So although there is nothing threatening happening in the present moment, the mind still creates a response to the memory of the threat.  Your mind will do anything to try to protect you and avoid pain. So at the Inspired Performance Institute, they start with the premise that there's nothing wrong with anybody, or with anybody's mind. They understand that our minds are being affected by events and experiences throughout our lifetime. And this is constantly activating our nervous systems. So, if you have high-resolution data stored, and your mind is activating it, you will create a response. And the response could be to take a drink or to use a drug.  There can be both high-level and low-level traumas.  To fix things, the mind needs to stop looping. At the Inspired Performance Institute, they have developed a series of techniques to reduce and eliminate PTSD, panic attacks, and anxiety attacks in a four-hour session. They do this by providing a counter-frequency for the memory. Then, the mind takes on the new frequency and changes it to the lower state. After that, the mind stops responding to the previously traumatic memory.  People are often shocked at how fast the trauma has been eliminated! The mind and body are designed to heal. All you need are the tools to do it with. Links and resources: If you need help or some support, reach out to us at www.theaddictedmind.com/help The Inspired Performance Institute - https://www.inspiredperformanceinstitute.com/ To get the first chapter of Don's book, You Must Be Out of Your Mind, or to contact Don, go to https://www.inspiredperformanceinstitute.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Due to the worldwide situation with the Coronavirus pandemic, and everything else that goes along with that, we're bringing you a special episode today. The current situation has left most of us with very intense emotions that can be quite difficult to cope with. So Suzie Wolfer, who was our guest on a previous episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, (Episode 53) decided to join us today, to share some of her insight about emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and somatic experiencing, to help us cope with the feelings that this pandemic has brought up.  Episode link>>>>www.theaddictedmind.com/special-episode Suzie Wolfer, LCSW, SEP, is a therapist specializing in Somatic Experiencing®, a powerful system for healing trauma and addiction at their core, and for completing trauma so that it lets go of you. Suzie has noticed recently that almost all her clients are experiencing the signs of freeze, and often, they are experiencing anxiety along with that too. She points out that we all have within our bodies certain superpowers, that have come to us through millions of years of evolution, that will allow us to move easily through this very frightening time. So today, she will be talking about those superpowers, and she will explain how to use them to move through this difficult time with a little more ease and, hopefully, a lot less freeze.  Freeze makes our bodies go rigid, feel numb, and get ready to bolt. Suzie always used to experience this at the thought of going to see the dentist. What she realized, after getting some training in Somatic Experiencing, was that she had the superpowers of fight, flight, and freeze. So, the next time that she had to visit the dentist, she tried using these things, rather than letting them control her.  She began to practice noticing, welcoming and allowing the feelings of freeze, rather than fighting them off and letting them frighten her. She became aware that the feelings that she was experiencing were like a wild animal's response to a threat, so she imagined what she would do to the animal attacking her if her body was that of a wild animal. The image that came to her mind was that she would punch the attacking animal in the face with her super-powerful fist and then she would run away to a safe place, where she would relax.  While imaging the wild animal scenario, she became aware of her body shaking. She allowed the shaking, which was coming from her autonomic nervous system, to continue, and then things started calming down. After getting up from the dentist's chair, and walking to her car, she noticed that it had been the first time that she had ever been able to function normally after a dental appointment. She realized that this is something that we need to complete, and completing something is very different from managing anxiety and freeze. We call freeze a superpower because it allows us to become invisible by holding ourselves very still. Predators detect their prey from the carbon dioxide in their exhalation, so holding very still, breathing very shallowly, and keeping ourselves hunched over with our eyes down are the same things that wild animals do to keep themselves safe from threat. But people do tend to become scared when their bodies do these things without them realizing what is happening. Currently, we are all experiencing an existential, invisible threat. We can't fight it or outrun it, but we can freeze. Our physical biology can invoke the very smart superpower to hunker down. However, along with that comes fear, so we also need to do something to overcome that and develop within ourselves an ease for readiness.  There are some techniques that we can use, with our friends and our children, to enable us to respond in a manageable way to our current, frightening situation.  Firstly, tune into your body and become aware of where you are holding tension right now.  Notice, and welcome whatever is going on in your body.  Don't try to make your feelings go away. Simply notice them with curiosity. Taking a deep breath naturally, is a sign that your autonomic nervous system has hit the reset button. It means that you're present and that things are returning to normal in your body. Let your eyes go wherever they want to, in the outer world. Notice what they are looking at. This will bring yourself into the present moment, through your senses. Notice how your body is responding to whatever it is looking at. Remember that even a one percent shift towards ease is the beginning of a process. Ask yourself four questions:  1) Are you safe right now? (Yes or no?) If the answer is "no", ask yourself if you truly are not safe, or if you just don't feel safe. The reality is that most of us are safe. 2) Using your five senses, affirm that your body truly is safe right now. As mammals, we often take safety cues from one another, so looking into someone else's eyes can help us to feel safe. 3) Bring your attention back inside yourself and notice how your body responds when your attention is aligned with your mind and body around the idea of being safe.  4) Take a moment to savor the shift that you have experienced, and know that it is possible to return to this state whenever you need to. This process can be repeated over and over, whenever necessary. Links and resources: To contact Suzie: https://www.oregonsomatictherapy.com/ https://traumahealing.org/   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Rebecca Williams joins us. Rebecca is a licensed psychologist, who lived and worked in beautiful San Diego, California for twenty-five years. She recently relocated to Savannah, Georgia to be close to the wildlife and the natural beauty of the area.  Rebecca's path into addiction opened up through her family's struggles with addiction. Especially those of her late mother. Episode link>>>>www.theaddictedmind.com/92 Growing up in this way, Rebecca wanted to learn as much as she could about addiction so she got her Master's degree in Counseling Psychology, followed by her Ph.D. at the University of California, Santa Barbara.  One of Rebecca's specialties is mindfulness. She has been working on it for the last twenty years and she has found it paramount to her self-healing and also to her capabilities as a psychologist. She discovered mindfulness through yoga when she started teaching it in the eighties before mindfulness became cool. Mindfulness helped Rebecca to quieten her anxious mind. It's also a tool that has been very helpful to her, in her profession, to help a lot of other people with anxiety, depression, and other issues relating to mental health. Mindfulness, as a practice, is a way through anxiety. Jon Kabat-Zinn described mindfulness as being in the present moment, on purpose, and without judgment. Being in the present moment is a challenge, and doing it on purpose takes work. Letting go of judgment can be difficult, but like everything, with practice, it gets easier. Although it can take a lot to rid yourself of judgment, Rebecca explains that when you get used to not judging anymore, your brain starts to re-calibrate itself. And new, smoother neural pathways start opening up.  Rebecca believes that it all starts with the simple step of finding a quiet place where you won't be disturbed for a while. Then close your eyes for five minutes, and focus something like a sound or your breathing. If you do this every single day, you will become calmer and more focused over time. There's no right way to meditate. It's just about permitting yourself to take the time to do it. Rebecca tends to struggle with her mind jumping around, so she concentrates on her breathing to help still her mind. She advises people to keep it uncomplicated, and as simple and as possible.  Rebecca also suggests doing a walking meditation. To do that, you can simply count the colors of green that you see while you're out walking. Or, if you're in the city, you can count all the different shades of grey you come across. The main thing is to permit yourself to be okay with any anxious thoughts that may arise because they are normal. And remember that the mind is designed to think so you can simply be grateful for that and keep going.  Links and resources: Rebecca's website: www.mindfulnessworkbook.com Books mentioned:  Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness by Jon Kabat-Zinn Gift of Recovery: 52 Mindful Ways To Live Joyfully Beyond Addiction by Rebecca Williams and Julie S Kraft The Mindfulness Workbook for Addiction: A Guide to Coping with the Grief, Stress and Anger that Trigger Addictive Behaviors by Rebecca Williams and Julie S Kraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anita Abdul-Karim is our guest for today. Anita is a registered dietician and she has written a book called Bad Bitches Don't Diet. Today, she will be sharing her journey and talking to us about her book.  Anita is from the Middle East. She struggled to fit in while growing up because there weren't many other Middle Eastern people at her school. She was also chubby, and not the smartest kid in the class, so, although her parents did the best they could under the circumstances, all of that added to the social pressure that Anita was experiencing. Anita was overweight, and that impacted on her socially, and also within her family. So she tried to take matters into her own hands while growing up. Having a scientific mind, she gravitated towards any available information about diets and nutrition.  Episode link>>>>www.theaddictedmind.com/91 Anita lost a lot of weight in the seventh and eighth grades. However, in her senior year of high school, a lot was going on, and she gained thirty pounds in one month. It was a very dramatic situation. Although Anita's weight fluctuated a lot, she was always aware of being overweight. And although she binged from time to time, she still knew that she wanted to become a dietician, and study nutrition. Anita has always wanted to understand and move towards the truth. So she enrolled in an excellent program and learned about the science of nutrition. Then she came across a book called Intuitive Eating, written by two dieticians, Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole, and that took a huge weight off her shoulders and changed her entire life. The philosophy behind eating intuitively is all about learning to trust your body to tell you what it needs. Unfortunately, however, most people grow up being taught not to trust themselves. This can cause a lot of misery and even lead people towards addictions because the further you push away from yourself, the more miserable you become. Anita continued to suffer a lot of social pressure while she was studying because she was still overweight and people often made nasty comments about her being large and studying nutrition. So although she was still suffering the misery of trying to figure out her body, she started learning how to come back to herself and block the opinions of others. She soon learned how to be completely still and surrender to the point of being okay with herself and with everything happening in the present moment. She realized that any deviation from that kind of thinking could lead her towards an addiction. Coming from a background as a health educator, Anita found that asking her patients questions inevitably led to better outcomes for their lives. That is because asking people questions empowers them and informs them subconsciously that they have the answers to most of their ailments.  Many people don't consider food to be their medicine. Nor do they consider food to be something that can cause them to feel something immediately like medication does.  Links and resources: Anita’s Instagram Books mentioned:  Bad Bitches Don't Diet: A True Philosophy About Food by Anita Abdul-Karim  Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works by Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, our guest is Julie Hall. Julie is the author of The Narcissist In Your Life: Recognizing the Patterns and Learning to Break Free, which was released in December 2019. In today's episode, she will be talking to us about what narcissism is and what it's like growing up with a narcissistic parent or parents. Julie comes from a narcissistic family, so she describes herself as a survivor. She is an educational writer, poet, and journalist. While working on her memoirs, she came to realize that narcissism had been a major theme throughout her life, so she shifted gears and began to write specifically about narcissism. This became part of Julie's healing process. Episode link>>>>www.theaddictedmind.com/90 Julie has a popular blog called The Narcissist Family Files, and you can find the articles that she writes regularly in Psychology Today. She also has articles in The HuffPost and various other places on the internet.  Narcissism is a personality disorder and there has been a lot of talk about it recently. Julie's book is about narcissistic personality disorder and how it affects the people close to the person with the disorder.  Everyone has a level of healthy narcissism, in that we all see things through our lens to some degree. The narcissist, however, has pathological levels of self-involvement and he or she experiences fundamental developmental deficits, early on in life. In a family in which one or both of the parents are narcissistic, the family is structured in such a way that the needs of the children are secondary to the needs of the parents. With narcissists, there's an underlying sense of profound vulnerability, shame, inferiority, and worthlessness. Narcissism is a defensive coping structure and children who develop this kind of coping structure tend to repress their feelings of vulnerability and shame and they build an exterior persona to mask their overwhelming feelings. They develop a false grandiose and superior personality, often becoming domineering and competitive. They are out of touch with their inner, emotional world and so they don't actively engage with people on an emotional level.  The narcissistic personality avoids self-reflection at all costs and it learns to mimic certain behaviors that look like intimacy. Narcissists tend to see themselves and others as either worthless or wonderful. When they see themselves (or others) as perfect, they need to stay that way in order not to feel worthless. They seem to be in a state that is disconnected from other people. A major loss could sometime cause narcissists to look for help. This can be difficult for them and their process of recovery takes a long time, possibly seven to ten years. It's devastating to be around a narcissist regularly. Especially for children, who suffer from a lot of pain, confusion, and complex trauma as a result. Addiction is a part of the narcissistic family system. As well as a pattern of depression, anger, confusion, family rifts, and alienation, with no awareness of what the core issue is, or naming the personality disorder that is driving the dysfunction within the family system.  Denial is a big obstacle for the children of narcissists to overcome. They tend to move through all the stages of grief for a very long time.  The therapists who can best help the children of narcissists have usually gone through the same kind of experience themselves, like children.  Becoming educated about narcissism is very important for people who grew up with narcissistic parents. It's very easy to do today because there is so much information available. Links and Resources: Julie's website and blog: www.narcissistfamilyfiles.com  Books Mentioned:  The Narcissist In Your Life, Recognizing the Patterns and Learning to Break Free by Julie Hall The Narcissistic Family:Diagnosis and Treatment by Robert M. Pressman and Stephanie Donaldson-Pressman Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have Kenneth Anderson, from HAMS (Harm Reduction Abstinence and Moderation Support) and the Harm Reduction Network with us today. He will be talking about harm reduction, what that means, how that differs from traditional forms of treatment (like twelve-step abstinence models), and the way that the harm reduction model can help people who are not yet ready for, or not willing to practice total abstinence, but would still like to change their drinking habits. Kenneth is the founder and CEO of the HAMS Harm Reduction Network, a free-of-charge support group for people who want to make any kind of positive change to their drinking habits, from safer drinking to reduced drinking, to quitting altogether. There are seventeen elements to the HAMS program, which are all optional and can be done in any order. Although HAMS is an alcohol-focused group, they don't stop anyone from talking about any other addictions or problems that they may have. Episode link>>>>www.theaddictedmind.com/89 HAMS has a handbook, called How To Change Your Drinking, which was written by Kenneth. The book was published ten years ago and about 22 000 copies have been sold on Amazon. Kenneth used to drink a lot and he was getting into trouble as a result. He tried turning to several different groups, Alcoholics Annonymous included, for help but they did not work for him. He tried Moderation Management for a while, and while he was there, he developed the Harm Reduction approach. He was fascinated by the concept of harm reduction and began volunteering at the Needle Exchange Program in Minneapolis. There, he learned a lot and it completely changed his perspective. He realized the importance of encouraging every positive change. The problem with abstinence models is that they are perfectionistic. So any improvement that anyone makes, apart from abstaining entirely, is not deemed to have any value whatsoever. The Harm Reduction Model is about every positive change and it is a very pragmatic model in the United States. It was started in Holland, when drug users decided to do something to help themselves, and decided to start handing out clean needles to prevent their friends from dying. This model used to be illegal in the United States and it is still illegal in many places. Harm Reduction encourages people to pick a goal that fits them. A goal that is do-able and right for them. Many people who come to Harm Reduction eventually choose to abstain completely. Generally, about 85% of all the alcoholics who recover do it on their own. It sometimes takes a long time, but recovery from alcoholism through controlled behavior does happen. Early on, there were a great number of approaches to addiction treatment. Kenneth is currently writing a history of addiction treatments in America.  Aversion Therapy was big in the US until the 1980s. There was a chain of about 25 Aversion Therapy hospitals, using conditioned taste aversion, or electric shocks, and there were no alternative treatments available at the time.  What sets the Harm Reduction Network apart from all other recovery programs is that they are willing to welcome and support anyone who wants to make any kind of positive change to their drinking habits. They have online groups and a forum on their website so that you can do all the work yourself, for free. They also have a very popular Facebook group.  Better Is Better is one of HAMS's most popular models. Links and resources: The HAMS website - www.hams.cc The National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) Waves 1 and 2: Review and summary of findings - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4618096/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Rychert joins us today. He will be talking about the recovery community called Recovery Dharma, in Boise, Idaho. Josh shares his personal story and explains how mindfulness, Buddhism, and learning to understand his dharma assisted him and can assist others too, by bringing the elements of peace and calmness into their lives and their recovery process.  Episode Link>>>>>www.theaddictedmind.com/88 Josh is in Boise, Idaho, where he has been involved in the recovery community since 2014. Recovery Dharma, under that name, only came into being last year. Recovery Dharma in Boise started as Refuge Recovery, with small groups and alliances with other similar groups through an online presence.  Recovery Dharma is an addiction recovery peer support group, with meetings all over the nation. It uses Buddhism, with the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, as a way to structure recovery for individuals. Josh's recovery began in 1995. After having had issues with an alcohol use disorder, he became involved with Twelve Step groups. And after many years of recovery, Josh eventually found himself moving away from the Twelve Steps and developing an interest in meditation, to help his depression. Eventually, he rediscovered his need for a recovery community, and he fell into the Buddhist addiction recovery path, under the name of Refuge Recovery. Buddhism was something that recognized Josh's capacity to have a life where compulsions and addictions were not the primary focus. It offered him an opportunity to identify with a recovery path that didn't identify with his addiction. He could, however, still recognize the risk of compulsions and addictions in his life.  The kind of present moment experience that Josh wanted from Buddhism was the experience of seeing the world clearly, being able to participate in life, and simply being alive and happy. While recognizing, at the same time, that he had certain risks to his wellness. For most people in recovery, options are not offered to them in the beginning. People with addictions are usually referred directly to Twelve-Step-based recovery programs, although many people don't resonate with that.  Having Buddhism as an option is valuable because it recognizes a modern incarnation of our knowledge of recovery and it does not require reliance on a Higher Power. Mindfulness has been scientifically validated. With cravings, mindfulness helps people to be with the discomfort, and sit through it. Also, when the cravings have lessened, mindfulness helps people to thrive, in the moment. Recovery Dharma is broken down into some general categories. There is the practice of meditation, there are recovery meetings, and there is the study of Buddhism. Dharma is often the word used to describe the teachings of Buddhism. More broadly, it describes a sense of truth, or a clear understanding of reality, or the wise teachings that bring about in people a sense of well-being and an ability to connect with the world. It allows people to share their wisdom and it offers them a sense of togetherness. The Recovery Dharma meetings facilitate a sharing of wisdom through engaging in a practice to build a sense of calm and equanimity. Recovery Dharma is a branch of Refuge Recovery and it addresses the underlying causes of people's addictions.  There's a recognition within the professional community today, that Recovery Dharma, and the practice of meditation, are very valuable to people on the path of recovery.  Links and resources: https://www.meetup.com/recoverydharmaboise/  Recovery Dharma's Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/recovery.dharma/ The Addicted Mind Website - www.theaddictedmind.com  For more info about Novus Mindful Life Institute, go to www.theaddictedmind.com/help Join our Facebook group. Go to www.facebook.com, type in The Addicted Mind, and click 'join'. Book: The Mindful Way Through Depression by  Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal, and Jon Kabat-Zinn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is Alex Katehakis. Alex is a Clinical Sexologist with a doctorate in human sexuality. She's also the Clinical Director of the Center For Healthy Sex in Los Angeles, California. Alex has written several books - Sex Addiction As Affect Dysregulation, Erotic Intelligence, and Mirror Of Intimacy.  Episode link>>>>www.theaddictedmind.com/87 In today's episode, she shares her wisdom and insight about recovery and we have a great conversation about the root causes of the addictive process. We focus on the early developmental trauma and the way that it affects the ability to regulate our affect, and how addictive substances or processes are used to escape from those feelings.  Alex has always been fascinated by human sexuality. After practicing as a licensed marriage/family therapist for twenty-five years, she decided to dive deeper into human sexuality, rather than psychology. Talking about affect is referring to emotions. These emotions live deep within the body, and they only come forward when they are registered by the brain as feelings.  When a person is dysregulated and stressed out, their affect becomes dysregulated. When a child feels threatened, perhaps from an alcoholic, raging, shut down, or mean parent, their affect becomes dysregulated and they will always find themselves looking for something to make them feel better. In their waking life, a dysregulated person will feel anxious, depressed, dead internally, or dull. There's a general lack of feeling vitality in the body. Dysregulated people say they don't feel joy states, or they are super anxious, so they have to drink to make the anxiety go away. They may use sex to make themselves feel powerful or good about themselves. Anything that we're doing outside of ourselves to make ourselves feel 'right internally' speaks to affect dysregulation. Someone who is securely attached, and has a good heart-rate variability in general, doesn't have to reach for anything to change their internal state or mood.  Love addicts, and some sex addicts, learned very early on that they had to get their needs met by themselves, so they used fantasy, which is a form of mild to moderate dissociation. This makes it difficult for them to connect to another person, as an adult, and to have intimacy or closeness. People often don't know this about themselves until their lives become unmanageable.  Change is possible, however, it takes time.  Willpower is difficult for people experiencing a lot of stress. It's not the best way to change long-standing patterns that people have developed over time. Long-term psychotherapy can help people feel into their bodies, and it allows them to feel the things they could not feel, as a child.  Twelve-step programs help people change because they are inclusive and non-judgmental. As humans, we all need other people to survive.  In her book, Sex Addiction As Affect Dysregulation, Alex looks at the underlying mechanism that drives problematic behavior. It helps people to see sex addiction in a new way, and it offers hope for the people who are struggling with it.  Sex addiction is being recognized more and more by the scientific community as a bone fide problem. It was first recognized in about 1978, although people were talking about it as an affliction as early as in the 1800s. In 2011, the American Society of Addiction Medicine made a public policy statement, in which they included sex as an addiction. In 2018, a proposed diagnosis of compulsive sexual behavior disorder was established for the international coding book, the ICD. Remember, it's never too late to take a step in the direction of health! Links and resources: To find out more, go to www.thecenterforhealthysex.com  Alex also has a Youtube channel with hundreds of videos from sex-experts around the world.  Alex's books: Sex Addiction As Affect Dysregulation            Erotic Intelligence            Mirror Of Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Fawcett is our guest for today and he will be talking about chemsex addiction. He will explain what it is and how people recover when they fuse a drug addiction and a sex addiction.  Episode Link>>>>>www.theaddictedmind.com/86 David is a licensed clinical social worker and a sexologist (sex therapist). For the last twenty years, he has been working with men who have sex with men who use methamphetamine, other drugs, and high-risk sex. He has now developed an interest in what has become known as chemsex.    For years, people were coming to David, as a sexologist, with their sexual problems. By looking at their history, he noticed that the sexual problems were being caused by methamphetamine. And he realized that people were often seeking help for their sex problems rather than for their drug problems. This led to David's discovery of the fusion between sexual behavior and drug use. And the devastation that it caused for the affected individuals.   People simultaneously using drugs and sex causes a fusion, or bonding, of neuropathways in the brain. This brings about a specific set of behaviors, making it necessary for them to deal simultaneously with both their sex and their substance addictions.   People's sex lives become so set by the super-stimulation of sex and drugs that nothing normal is appealing anymore. Sex and porn addiction play out similarly and the brain has to reboot in recovery.   There is even a state, called anhedonia, where people are no longer able to experience any pleasure and life feels grey and depressing. This is often due to the brain shedding its receptors.   People who were a year or eighteen months clean were coming to see David. They had virtually no sexual desire because sex been so fused with their drug use that when they gave up the drugs, the sex went with it. This happens because of Dopamine, one of the neurotransmitters in the brain, that bonds actions and rewards together.    With chemsex, there is a high-level volume of stimulation coming into the brain. So the brain sheds its Dopamine receptors to control the level of stimulation that it is receiving. This can lead to depression.   Methamphetamine is neurotoxic. This means that it consumes and destroys the receptors in the brain. It can take several years in recovery for the neuropathways to recover.   Recovery from chemsex involves working with both the chemical and the sex sides of the addiction. David uses an abstinence-across-the-board model, combined with recovery plans for sex and substance addictions.   One of David's goals is to re-integrate healthy sexuality back into people's lives. Anything that gets people into their bodies and out of their heads speeds up the process.    Peer support is really valuable for recovery from chemsex addiction. Recovery is possible!   Links and resources: David's email - david@seekingintegrity.com David's websites - www.seekingintegrity.com               www.sexandrelationshipshealing.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kathleen Oh is our guest for today. We have a great conversation with her about breathwork, facilitating change, and non-ordinary experiences.  Episode Link>>>>www.theaddictedmind.com/85 Kathleen is an Integration Coach, and her work started three years ago, in the foundation of her addiction, and her recovery. She had plenty of help from some great mentors and teachers along the way, however, it was ultimately the tools that she acquired for herself, in her journey out of her addiction, that got her to where she is today. Kathleen has a food addiction. This was very hard for her, and although her addiction wasn't obvious to others, it was clear to her that there was something profoundly wrong with her brain because she saw how she was continuously cycling through addictions with cigarettes, alcohol, and food. She was a binge-eater who used to eat secretly. She was obese, and her appetite for refined foods was insatiable, so she knew she had an issue with food but she did not realize at the time that it was an addiction. She thought it was an emotional need that she was trying to fulfill. The specific foods that Kathleen cannot tolerate are refined. Due to their molecular structure, her brain takes in refined foods as if they are drugs like heroin or cocaine. It was a huge eye-opener for her when she discovered that by removing refined foods from her diet, she was able to access the non-ordinary experiences of a spiritual awakening. Breathwork has resulted in some of the most profound experiences that Kathleen has ever had. She started her relationship with breathwork about twenty years ago, when she encountered Breath Therapy for the first time, and her facilitator became her mentor.  Breathwork has allowed Kathleen to feel safe to be in her body. This connection to herself has given her something wonderful that she has never experienced before. Breathwork supported Kathleen in a way that she could accept the difficult moments in her life and power through them. Breathwork became a place of surrender for her, and this became the foundation for her recovery. Although the method that Kathleen's breathwork facilitator used was initially very challenging for her, it became the primary breath that Kathleen used at the time. It involves a sharp intake of breath, into the top third of the lungs, and the sound it makes can create a shocking feeling and cause one to re-experience past traumas that have been stored in the body.  Holotropic Breathwork is probably the most effective and best-researched breathing technique. It was developed in the 1960s by a psychiatrist called Stanislav Grof, who came to the US to do LSD research. When his research into LSD was terminated in the late 1960s, he continued looking for ways to bring about the non-ordinary state. He found that breathwork was as effective as LSD, and using yogic breath practices, shamanic journeys, and loud cultural music and drumming, he developed the Holotropic Breathwork system. The breathwork that Kathleen coaches and facilitates is intuitive and unguided. One of its premises is to inhale a lot more breath than you exhale, to build up CO2 in the body. This shuts down the default mechanism in the brain and allows people to connect with parts of themselves that have previously been inaccessible on a day-to-day basis.  This technique works very well for addictions because it allows people to access their inner truth, and see themselves in a different light. They can then work with their experiences with more resources than they had when the initial incident occurred. Breath is our life source. Kathleen believes that breathwork is our highest power and something that everybody needs because it connects us to something greater and more powerful than we are. By practicing breathwork, we are creating a better version of ourselves which will ultimately benefit everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, our guest is German Lopez. German a writer and he is currently doing a project called The Rehab Racket, which involves looking into addiction treatment, exploring some of the issues associated with it, and bringing them to light. This challenges the addiction treatment community to provide the very best care for people who are suffering from addictions. German is a senior correspondent at Vox.com. Before, he was writing mostly about drug policy and criminal justice issues, but for the past few months, his focus has been on The Rehab Racket project, which was created to investigate the cost and quality of the treatment that is available for addictions in the United States. At this point, German has received more than 1100 submissions from patients and their families. For the last few years, German has been researching and writing about the opioid epidemic. He saw that policy-makers had been making an effort to put more money into addiction treatment, which is something that activists had been calling for, for quite some time. This information initially seemed contradictory to him because addiction is hard to treat, and there was a general understanding out there that much of the available treatment was inadequate, not evidence-based, and not really helping a lot of people.  German wanted to make sure that the money being poured into addiction treatment was indeed going towards something worthwhile and effective. So he started talking to families, to ascertain whether or not he was onto something. This is how The Rehab Racket project came about. It seems that the idea that people who use drugs and go through addiction treatment are under-represented overall in the conversation, has changed in recent years, particularly with the opioid epidemic. This is what motivated German to want to hear directly from the affected people. Hearing from people who found a treatment that worked for their addiction, and got them into recovery, who had spent thousands, and sometimes even tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on that treatment was alarming for German. The American health insurance system is supposed to protect people from these catastrophic costs, and in a lot of cases, the insurance is not doing that due to the many barriers that are involved. For a long time, society neglected this particular area of health care. There were initially no places that provided treatment for addictions, so that forced all the assistance to come from community groups, like AA and other twelve-step groups. Treatment for addiction is still a relatively young field, it takes good research to make a good change, and we are still learning about the most effective ways to help people who are struggling with addictions. However, many treatment facilities don't track their outcomes and many of the surveys that are done around addiction and recovery are of very poor quality, so it's difficult, at this stage, to know what kind of treatment is the most effective. But, based on the data that's available from the federal survey of treatment facilities, there seems to be more push lately to find out more about this particular field of health care. People with addictions need support. However, there's still a stigma with addictions, so people who struggle with them often get treated badly, with a lack of compassion. German has seen that even doctors, nurses, and other people who have been trained to deal with the suffering, tend to be prejudiced towards people with addictions. He would like to see this change and see the people in authority and policy-makers realizing that people with addictions need to be treated kindly, with compassion and care. He points out that this could be one of our society's main lines of defense against the current drug crisis.  Links: German's Reporting on Vox - www.vox.com/rehab German on twitter - @germanrlopez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we have a great conversation with Jen Sugermeyer. She shares her story of addiction and recovery, and she talks to us about overcoming her shame and her fear of reaching out, and how she managed to change her relationship with herself.  Jen's addiction started at the age of twelve, with an eating disorder. At the time, she did not realize that she was paving the way for her brain to become accustomed to satisfying her reward system.  When she reached her mid-thirties, she was an alcoholic and she had been trying to get sober for more than a decade. Looking back, Jen could see her pattern of gaining control of one addiction, and then that leading to another one.  Jen was living an extremely chaotic life, running in and out of jails and hospitals, and then straight into work. She was trying to keep the two parts of herself separate and it was eating her up inside. She even became suicidal towards the end, from living such an unmanageable lifestyle. She kept trying to fix her symptoms when she was the problem. She couldn't get a hold on her addictions, and she knew that at some point, she would have to come to terms with the fact that she needed to work on herself.  Although Jen really wanted people close to her, she could never get too close to anyone because she only wanted people to see one part of who she was. And she was working in Corporate America, where there was a stigma around having any kind of mental health issue. So there was a constant battle raging within her between the two aspects of herself, and she felt very alone because there was nobody that she felt she could talk to. It was around this time that she became suicidal because it seemed the easiest way out.  It was only when she was about twenty-five that Jen admitted that she had an addiction problem. And it took at least another five years before she could admit to being an alcoholic, even though she had to acknowledge before that, that there were things about her behavior that didn't line up. From the age of twenty-five, she was in and out of AA for about ten years. Jen had to learn to love herself. This became abundantly clear to her when the man she was dating told her so and it was his words that finally launched her into sobriety. This was the first time that she understood what she needed to do.  Coming out and talking about everything has been an interesting road for Jen. She has been well-received and she's found the experience more liberating than she imagined. However, she realizes that there's still a lot of work to be done. Although Jen gave herself an entire year to work on her recovery, she knows that will have to continue working on herself every day, after that. Because, since she was twelve, she has never really felt her emotions and she has always been suppressing her feelings. About five years ago, Jen finally started admitting to her alcoholism. She got sober and began wrapping her head around the recovery process. Although it took a long time for her to find her sobriety, she's okay with it because she doesn't think that she would be the person she is today if she had found her sobriety at the age of eighteen. There is a whole lot of forgiving that goes with recovery. Not just for others, but yourself as well. Jen knows that she would not have been where she is today without having learned to let go.  Jen has written a book, called RESET (Recognize, Eliminate, Standardize, Elevate, and Transform). She started writing it on the first anniversary of her sobriety. It's about what she went through, and how to claim the life that you deserve. It will be coming out in the spring of 2020. You can sign up on her website for the VIP launch, to get a copy of her book for only 99 cents. Jen also has a 101 coaching program that will be coming out in 2020. Links: Jen's website - www.jensugermeyer.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Dr. Faye Mandell is with us to talk about spirituality, connection, and how being in the present moment and looking at our reality from a quantum perspective can help us find more joy and happiness.  Dr. Mandell is a practicing Awareness Coach. Although she has a Ph.D. in psychology, she does not use the old paradigm psychological framework that she learned in graduate school.  Dr. Mandell wanted to continue educating herself so she went to the Cambridge Adult Education building in Massachusetts and decided to randomly choose a course. At the time, she did not yet know that random was the order of the universe. She had never studied anything to do with physics, before, and by chance, the course that her finger landed on was called Quantum Physics In The Face of God. The course was given by Fred Allen Wolfe and it completely re-oriented Dr.Mandell's life and changed the way that she interacted with people from then on. She started to see things clearly and understand that reality is not what it seems.  You cannot solve a problem with the same information that you used to create it. Thought moves you in time, so when you're thinking you cannot be in the present moment. When you are in the present moment, however, the mind is quiet and the information from your body becomes what you focus on, and what's intelligent for you. This is because the body has superior intelligence. All our cells have memories, and memories are intelligent. They can sense what is good for us and what is bad. And we're getting information from all our cells continuously, moment by moment. This kind of information is known as natural codes and it does not require any input from the mind. The function of the mind is to create and innovate ways to connect with the present moment. Our feelings are the information from the body to ourselves. Built into each feeling is the right action to perform to recalibrate ourselves to come back to the present. So, to get the body to use its superior intelligence, we need to pay attention to our feelings. This is the exact opposite of what our culture tells us to do. Anxiety and frustration are examples of the type of feelings that give us information. Feelings lead to thoughts and negative emotions are feelings plus thoughts. We need to learn how to separate the feeling from the thought so that we can stop pulling lower emotions back into ourselves. We want to listen to how the thought is structured, rather than the content of the thought, so that we can find out where we are in time and space. Our experiences create forms that then become our belief systems. This locks us into a false belief about what reality is and it can make us lose our creative ability. Dr. Mandell calls this being in the matrix. She helps people by reframing things for them so that they can see them from a different perspective. To get people off their addiction to listening to their stories, and to move their attention to the structure of their thoughts rather than the content, is the challenge of awareness. Addiction to thoughts is as powerful as an addiction to a substance. Shifting your focus is the key to your freedom. When you are free from addiction, you become able to make choices and become driven by the wonderful six drivers of behavior. They are service, compassion, integrity, accountability, courage, and gratitude.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Rio, Founder of the Nature of Work is our guest today. Today, we’re talking about work and recovery and what affects the recovery process. In a quest to live our best lives, we want Steve to share his take on how we can optimize our lives and live in a way that fulfills us. Episode Link>>www.theaddictedmind.com/81 Steve is a futurist, technologist and researcher born in Vancouver BC, Canada. Steve is founder and CEO of Briteweb, an international social impact agency delivering strategy, branding and digital, and the Founder of Nature of Work, helping people be more productive, creative and happy in their work and their lives.   Steve thrives at the intersection of social impact, culture and technology and is an expert in exponential organizations, remote and distributed teams and workforce wellness and performance. He has real world experience leading remote and distributed digital teams as well as implementing technology and systems for over a decade. It’s through the lens as a freelancer turned business owner and entrepreneur that he thinks about performance for modern workers.     Social media has invaded our daily lives and because we are engaging with technology in such a persuasive way, we now have one of the most addictive devices in our pockets at all times. It’s hard to separate ourselves from social media because we feel like it is a way to engage with our friends. However, we forget that social media platforms have been engineered to be addictive.   Steve founded Nature of Work out of his own need. He wanted a quiet space, close to nature, where he could do his deepest and best work. Despite his best efforts, he still could not calm his mind and focus in the way he expected.   Because many of us have complicated relationships with work and technology, we can’t just control our external environment to get a productive outcome - we have to look internally as well. Our time, attention and focus are pulled in a million directions each day, and the technology we use to accomplish our work, is also what causes us the biggest distractions and the lowest productivity.   We are in the information age, and our tools can be used across multiple platforms to accomplish various tasks. In previous times, the tools used for work could only accomplish the task we were working on - think about a shovel. You wouldn’t be able to check Facebook on a shovel, so you could have long periods of attention and focus in order to accomplish the task.   Steve advocates optimizing your work so that you can be more productive, but also so that you can have a higher quality of life and an increased level of fulfillment. We work ourselves to burnout level without taking into consideration the quality of our lives. When we get back to basics with our daily routines and practices, we can begin to see profound changes.   Our time and attention are the 2 greatest assets that we have. They are non-renewable and determine the quality of the experience of our life.       Resources:   Nature of Work   Steve on Instagram   Steve’s Podcast - Now with Steve Rio Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recovery from addiction is a particularly challenging process for women, who are also mothers, to go through. Emily Lynn Paulson, author of the book, Highlight Real: Finding Honesty and Recovery Beyond the Filtered Life, is our guest for today's show. She shares the story of her addiction and her journey along the path of the process of recovery and healing.  Emily used to dislike herself a lot. She had difficulty with being honest, both with herself and with others. From a very young age, she used to tell white lies to cover up the things she didn't like about herself and to make up for the things she thought she lacked.  When Emily started drinking, it helped her to cover up, and make up, for the things she didn't like about herself or that she thought she lacked. The first time she ever drank alcohol, she realized that it affected her differently to the way it affected her peers. Rather than just having fun, when she drank, she felt that she was finally the person she was always meant to be. This theme wove its way into different areas of her life and followed her until she found recovery. As an adult, Emily had five children and she didn't drink while she was pregnant. So she continued denying her problem for quite some time until the consequences of her drinking finally started outweighing what she thought she was getting out of it. Emily didn't believe she was an alcoholic at first because she thought she could stop drinking. She made several attempts to stop but she always started again. Deep down, she knew that she had a problem but she was not willing to let it go forever. That is alcoholic-thinking, and it is very common. Eventually, it got to the point where Emily could no longer deny her alcoholism.  All the dishonesty, secrecy, and lies of omission can make addiction a soul-crushing condition. Other people are often not fully aware of what is going on, so they don't step in and offer to help. Although Emily came to realize that dishonesty didn't work, it was still very hard for her to become fully honest. She found that coming out with her sobriety, and also writing her book, helped her to make the connection and become truthful about who she was, and about the things she still needed to deal with. She knew that she could not start afresh without first dealing with everything that had come before. It's very easy to give a false impression of what is going on in our lives with social media. And many people fall into the social media "comparison-trap".  Having to confront her kids with her alcoholism was the most difficult part of recovery for Emily but it was also her biggest blessing because it brought about some very necessary conversations.  Alcohol is not something that women have to do to survive their kids. For Emily, her book is an important message to women, telling them how necessary it is, to tell the truth to other women about what alcohol does to mothers.  Since Emily started putting her sobriety first, she has been able to be there for her family in a way that she has never known before. Her life has become so much better. She's not perfect now, but her best day when she was drinking was always way worse than her worst day, sober.  Links and resources: Emily's website - www.emilylynnpaulson.com  Emily on Instagram - @highlight real recovery You can find Emily's book on Amazon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is Maureen Stanton, the author of the memoir, Body Leaping Backwards, Memoir of a Delinquent Girlhood.    Maureen spent about forty years writing her book but she kept avoiding taking it to the point of getting published because there was shame in it for her. So she only started writing the book seriously in 2014, once her dad had passed away. He had done the very best he could for her so she wouldn't have wanted him to feel ashamed of her.  Episode Link>>www.theaddictedmind.com/79 Maureen wanted to tell the story of what happened with her so long ago because she believes that it is still relevant and that it will still resonate with teenagers today, even though the specifics are different.    Maureen's teenage years were a time of great anxiousness, sadness, and confusion. She felt that she wanted to disappear. She had feelings of self-doubt and she lacked self-confidence to the point of self-loathing. So she turned to drugs to self-medicate. She started using Angel Dust, a dissociative anesthetic that was a very prominent drug in the 1970s. It numbed her, helped her to escape from the emotional pain that she felt as a teenager, and allowed her to stop thinking about her insecurities and sadness.   Maureen is now in her late 50s. She kept all her diaries from before she was using, and from the time when she began feeling a sense of despair and started doing drugs. Reading through the diaries as an adult, she was able to remember just how she had felt then, so she was able to convey that very clearly in her book. A lot of kids start using drugs or drinking during their fraught teenage years while crossing the bridge over the treacherous terrain from childhood to adulthood. Children who are suffering from psychic pain, and don't have guidance, are more likely to start using drugs and alcohol.   Maureen started with alcohol and marijuana. Her friend's older brother then introduced her to Angel Dust. As it was smoked in a joint, it seemed to Maureen to be very similar to marijuana, and there were no warnings at the time about the dangers of using this terrible drug. There was still a part of her, however, that realized that it would cause damage to her brain cells.    Mauren believes that essential loneliness and discomfort are felt by teenagers because they don't yet know who they are.   Maureen feels shame about her terrible, delinquent behavior while she was using drugs. She does, however, feel extremely fortunate that there was no lasting harm, that she knows of, done to anyone.   Who we are, as individuals, is defined by our passions and our interests. Maureen gave all of that up for getting high. She progressively stopped doing the things she loved as she slid deeper into her addiction. So although the drugs helped her escape and provided some relief, she continued to erase herself. She eventually became so empty and despairing that she knew she had to ask for help. Her mother arranged for her to see a counselor and Maureen paid for her counseling herself with the money she earned working for a gas station.   Maureen believes that the culture of a society impresses itself on teenagers in a way that they don't necessarily understand. In the 1970's the American culture was a bit lost, and there was a sense of despair, due to immoral leadership, the Vietnam war, and Watergate, and Maureen's journey seemed to mirror that to some extent. Looking back, Maureen realizes that some of the things she had to face were very hard, but she wanted to give something back and touch the hearts and minds of other teenagers. Her book is a public confession and she has written it in the hope of helping other people. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guests for today are Mark Sheeran and Michelle Dunbar of the Baldwin Research Group. They have a thought-provoking conversation about The Freedom Model of addiction treatment, which is a non-Twelve Step, and non-disease model of treatment. Mark is 49-years old. He is the chairman of Baldwin Research and he is one of the authors of The Freedom Model. Mark co-founded the Saint Jude Retreat, which is where The Freedom Model is taught. Episode Link>>>>www.theaddictedmind.com/78 Mark was involved in a serious drunk-driving accident thirty years ago, at the age of nineteen. This made him realize that he needed to change his life. He was mandated into treatment and found that he disagreed vehemently with what they were teaching him because he did not believe that he would be an alcoholic forever. His treatment experience was so bad that he knew there had to be a better way. After completing eighteen months of treatment he decided to figure out a better way for people. Within one year, he coined the phrase "non-Twelve Step”. Mark spent the next twelve years, doing research. He then met Michelle and they continued doing the research together, along with some others. Together, they developed the skeleton of what was to become The Freedom Model. The model was perfected over the next twenty years. Michelle is the Executive Director of Baldwin Research. She is also one of the co-authors of The Freedom Model. Michelle is the Director of the Saint Jude Retreat and she teaches the program. Mark and Michelle spent the first twelve years of the thirty that they were doing their research in AA, trying desperately to make it work and become more effective. But they were heretics at the same time. Where AA was saying that you never get over the problem, they were saying that you most certainly do. Mark went to over 3000 AA meetings. First, as a member, then as a skeptical member, then as a researcher, then as a researcher that was fairly anti-AA when he got to truly understand the facts. According to Mark's research, people do move on from their addictions. Over 90% of drug addicts, alcoholics, and heavy substance abusers move past the problem as they get older, whether they treat it or not. With The Freedom Model, you have to undo the mythologies so that you become free to move on. As a young person, the idea that you are going to struggle with your "disease" forever can be very daunting. The Freedom Model debunks 23 of the grand myths that people are told about addiction so that people can make the choice as to the benefits of their using. Because people use because they like it. The Freedom Model helps people question why they make decisions and why they are motivated to use, based on their behavior, their belief systems, and the myths by which they may be living their lives. It is more natural to move on from addiction than it is to keep one. And it is much more natural for a human being to change than it is to remain static in a behavior. The key to recovery is to move the locus of control to the self. Shame sits in the way of recovery. At their residential retreats, people spend four weeks attending classes where they work with the 450 page Freedom Model curriculum. They don't take away people's cellphones and laptops or treat them like babies or criminals. It is a very conducive, quiet, learning environment. By the time that everyone leaves, the myths have been undone, they know that they can be free, and they have usually chosen either moderation or abstinence.  Life in recovery doesn't have to be a daily struggle. It all comes down to a choice that we make to deal with difficult experiences. Mark and Michelle help people by challenging their beliefs that a substance will help them to deal with stressful situations.  Links and resources: The Baldwin Research Group - https://www.baldwinresearch.com/ Website for retreats - www.soberforever.net Website for the book and all services - www.thefreedommodel.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Dave Jansa, of We Face It Together, talks about how he helps people get through a part of addiction treatment that sometimes tends to be overlooked. There are some people who suffer from addiction who have not necessarily hit their rock bottom. So, although they realize they have a problem, they have often not yet suffered the all big consequences of their addiction.  Dave offers coaching, to help these people change their thinking about addiction and to help them change their addictive process before they have to face the deep consequences that are normally associated with addiction.  Sixty-four-year-old Dave was born and raised in South Dakota. He comes from a big family where addiction was rife. Currently, five of the eight siblings in Dave's family are abstinent from drugs and alcohol.  Dave started drinking alcohol when he was in high school. He also became a heavy marijuana smoker at the time. This curtailed his education because he quit college after his first semester and he went back to work full-time.  Dave stopped using marijuana in his early thirties, after many attempts at moderation, and he is currently thirty-two years alcohol-free. During his mid-forties, Dave began to become intensely curious. With the advent of the internet, his curiosity led him to immerse himself in the very confusing landscape of the issues of addiction that he and his brothers had gone through. As a result, he retired early from his very good and long-term sales position and threw himself into the world of addiction. Dave started volunteering for a local community organization, which eventually became a very innovative organization that was doing things differently and breaking down barriers. He was a great fit for the organization and has been with them ever since then. Addiction is known to be a chronic disease. The pillars of chronic disease management are to detect it early and to deal with it as quickly as possible. This makes chronic diseases easier to treat but most people don't think of doing this with addictions. Dave firmly believes that people, who are clearly showing signs of what he refers to as 'pre-addiction', would do well to have a non-judgmental conversation with a health practitioner in a clinical environment. At Face It Together, they offer non-judgmental peer coaching. They never tell people what to do. They rather make suggestions. They often initially assist people towards a harm-reduction protocol, which is on the way to recognizing and dealing fully with their problems of addiction. Sometimes people with addictions simply need to recognize that it's normal to first want to cut back on using, before going for complete abstinence.  At Face It Together, they knew that peer conversations were powerful. They employed science and embraced harm reduction and motivational interviewing. They also expanded on this and developed a tool called Recovery Capital Index, with which they can accurately measure someone's addiction wellness. This tool has been validated as an instrument, by Sanford Research, in South Dakota. This has been published in the South Dakota Journal of Medicine.  Addiction wellness is measured way more in terms of how an individual is fitting into the world, and less in terms of how much drug they are using.  At Face It Together, they work hard on people's behaviors and they have conversations with people about their journey. The Recovery Capital Index shows them where people are doing well and where they are not doing well.  Today, Dave feels exponentially better than he did during the sixteen years that he was quitting alcohol. Links: We Face It Together's website - www.wefaceittogether.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is Gregg Champion and he will be talking about hitting rock bottom, what that means, and the significance of finding ourselves sitting at the crossroads of wanting to change from a life of addiction to one of recovery. Gregg also discusses his rock bottom, and he tells us his recovery story. Episode Link: www.theaddictedmind.com/76 Gregg is the co-founder of START UP RECOVERY, located in the Pacific Palisades. START UP RECOVERY is a transformational residence that supports people through career, passion, and what Gregg refers to as a recovery play-book. Their four cornerstones are a community, accountability, education, and love. They also provide for their residents the unique service of mentorship for long-term sobriety and long-term success. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Gregg got sober 25-years ago when he was in his mid-twenties. He has managed to retain his sobriety by remaining willing to be willing. He maintains a mindset of life as a continuous journey going forward. In his first year of recovery, he did everything the old-school AA way, and over time, he began adding breath work, sound bath, and then Al-Anon to his play-book. He found that every time he became distressed in his disease, someone would show up with a new tool for him to try. He gets through all of life's painful problems with sobriety and with the support of the whole recovery network. He is always looking for ways to continue healing and growing. Living a counseled and supported life during the years of recovery is essential because, when left to our own devices, our ego will show up. And with pride and ego involved, we tend to make bad decisions, even when we're sober. One addict helping another really works!  Rock bottom is choosing to do the same thing over again, knowing that the result is going to be bad. It can happen as a result of many different things, like childhood trauma, divorce, or addiction. At rock bottom, people often find themselves doing things that they said they would never do. It's the point when people begin to realize that they are powerless and their lives have become unmanageable. Having the compassionate support of others at this time is crucial. Developing joy in life, and shifting from addiction to passion are parts of the process of recovering from rock bottom. This does not happen overnight. It happens one day at a time and it can result in people becoming addicted to a life of recovery. For Gregg, it is important to help people to reach their rock bottom by showing them, rather than telling them, what he has done in his life to maintain his sobriety. He refers to this as co-piloting people through their recovery process.  Life is difficult. So Gregg believes that the Twelve-Steps would be a very helpful tool to incorporate into the school system. He suggests introducing it to children in the fourth grade, before they have reached puberty, and before they have discovered drugs and alcohol. With this process, they could develop the essential skills necessary for living joyful and passionate lives. Recovery is a life-time process. Gregg encourages everyone to unpack their backpack of shame sooner rather than later because the longer it is carried, the heavier it gets, and the more it will weigh you down. To be tuned-in to recovery, he recommends being spiritually sound, sober, hard-working, diligent, and seriously honest. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is Dr. Sonya Lott, a licensed psychologist with advanced training from Columbia University's Center for Complicated Grief. Sonya runs a private practice in Pennsylvania and she hosts the Reflections on Multicultural Competence Podcast. She is the founder and CEO of Cempsych LLC, a company offering continuing education for licensed mental health professionals.  Today, Sonya talks to us about grief and loss, which is intertwined in many ways with the addictive process. She explains that living is about connection but, ironically, the more loss we experience, the greater the likelihood becomes that we will actually fear connection. Still, it is very important to acknowledge the need for connection. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Sonya explains that what we think and feel has a direct and immediate influence on what's happening with the neurotransmitters in our brain. This has a long-term impact on the way that hormones are released in the body. Over time, these reactions become chronic and cyclical, and they have an impact on every part of the body, including the immune system, making us more susceptible to illnesses. Episode Link: www.theaddictedmind.com/75 Processing loss is important and we need to grieve to do it. Many people, however, don't frame their adverse experiences in terms of loss, even though their bodies and their hearts take it in as such. Often, people end up being diagnosed with depression or anxiety without having addressed the root cause, which is usually a painful loss of connection or secure attachment from their early childhood. It's important to frame any kind of loss and grieve for it because that awareness allows people to heal in a different and deeper way. This is crucial to the recovery process and it lessens the suffering. Losing a child is particularly challenging for parents because it goes against the natural order of things. Losing a child to an addiction is a bit like losing a loved one to suicide. It comes with a great sense of helplessness, so this type of loss could easily set someone up for complicated grief.  Therapists who are well-informed about grief and addiction can be very helpful for finding meaning in life and establishing a new identity in terms of recovery from addiction. Self-help groups or groups like AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) also provide support for individuals who are able to recognize their experiences of loss. Links and resources: Dr. Lott's website - https://drsonyalott.com/ Cempsych website - www.cempsych.com  Reflections on Multicultural Competence Podcast - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/reflections-on-multicultural-competence Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Erin Miller shares her story of losing her son, Chad, to heroin addiction. She talks very frankly about her painful process of grief and loss, and she explains how she's managed to find meaning and purpose in what she's been through, by using Chad's story to help others. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Five years have passed since Chad's death. During this time, Erin has gained a lot of insight and wisdom, and her current perspective is completely different from how it was at the time of his death. Being able to help others has made the whole experience worthwhile for her.  Erin explains that addiction has become an epidemic. It is on the rise and it is destroying families and people's lives. She believes that there's one kind of addiction or another running in virtually every household because both street drugs and prescription medication are so very easily available today. This is why she advocates strongly for mental well-being and helps people to find ways, other than medication, to cope with their inner pain. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/74 Erin advises parents to be open with their kids and let them know that having an addiction is not something to be judged. And as a parent, it is important to know that your child's addiction is not your fault if you have done your best.  Erin has written a book, Miller Strong Rewrite Your Story - Take a Stand and Turn Your Past Into Your Superpower, which is due to be launched soon. She spent five years interviewing thousands of addicts and people in recovery and this taught her that nobody likes to own up to their faults or to admit that they are not in control. Erin started a foundation, called Miller Strong Seventeen Foundation. It is all about purpose because most people tend to lose their purpose somewhere in their lives.  Erin explains that sharing our stories is very important because for every story shared someone is needing to hear that exact story. Erin believes that we should provide help for those who need it, and lean on each other, especially on the darkest days. Erin found God with the help of a spiritual healer in Indonesia. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Mike Collins talks to us about sugar addiction. Mike is the chairman of the Food Addiction Institute, a non-profit which has been around since 2005. Their stated goal is to get chronic sugar use elevated to a substance use disorder.  Mike found recovery from his drug and alcohol addiction a little more than 34 years ago when he was 28. Over the years, he got married and had a normal career and business life. Yet, as he progressed with his sobriety, he started to recognize that his patterns with sugar were almost identical to his using patterns with drugs and alcohol. If he didn't have it he suffered withdrawals and became anxious, and irritable.  Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> In his intensive studies of addiction over the last five years, Mike has noticed that the sugar cravings in recovery seemed to revolve around the brain's reward system. He saw that many people, in their first year of recovery, would gain huge amounts of weight and he realized that they were getting an alternative dopamine rush from sugar.  Sugar is an easy way to make ourselves feel better, so it often becomes a substitute for other addictive substances. And although sugar is a powerful psychoactive, it gets no respect as an addictive drug because it is a habit that we've had since we were children. It's freely available, so instead of dealing with the pain and discomfort of the withdrawals, most of us simply reach for more sugar. With its continued use, life becomes only about fighting off withdrawals, so all of us need to connect the dots and realize how sugar affects the brain.  Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/73 Mike has been off sugar, flour, and caffeine for the last thirty years. It was a drawn-out and lonely struggle for him in the beginning, and it took a while to get off them, but once he managed to do it, he stuck to it. Mike has never seen anyone go for 90 days without sugar and then go back to it. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast is Eli Nash, founder of the Mic Drop public speaking training program whose purpose is to help people articulate their stories. Eli has recently gained recognition from his TEDx video about escaping his porn addiction, and he hopes the Mic Drop program provides a platform for others to find connections through being vulnerable enough to speak their truth. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> At a young age, Eli started scouring through his family’s mail to find any catalogs with a lingerie section and hiding those catalogs in secret stash places all around his house. When his family got a computer, his secret stashes became hidden computer folders containing pornographic images, and even when he knew he needed to stop this behavior, he simply couldn’t stop. This demoralizing process of wanting but failing to stop consuming this content just fed into the downward spiral, necessitating retreating back into porn even more. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness When Eli finally hit his emotional rock bottom, he reached out to his therapist for 5 years and finally came clean about the behavior that he had been hiding in shame for most of his life. His therapist put him in touch with another one of his clients who was having a similar struggle with porn addiction, and Eli became a part of his new friend’s 12-step support group. Through this group, he was finally able to break the shame cycle and realize that he was not alone in his struggles. Brené Brown defines shame as “the fear of not being worthy of connection,” and Eli found this definition to be completely accurate in his own life. When he started to feel worthy of connection, his shame started to break down, and while it was not an overnight change, it was not as overwhelming. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/72 Through this support group, he learned that telling his story brought him some freedom and connection that he had not known for so long. He realized that other people had similar stories and struggles that they had been hiding as well. In 2018, Eli launched Mic Drop as a resource for training people to tell their stories in a way that could aid their recovery journeys from the traumas or addictions in their past and also potentially use them as a jumping-off point for those listening who have similar struggles. Everyone has a story, but we will never know how alike we are until we are open about sharing what we have gone through. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Ellie Katz has spent the past 35 years working in the area of addiction treatment, using her holistic approach and real talk with compassion to work with her clients. She joins us on this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast to discuss her experiences and observations about the field and about human nature. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Ellie has been living in Israel for 40+ years and she began her career in psychological linguistics, but she always had a desire to help people directly. Even as an adolescent, people recognized her deep intuition about those around her, calling her the Earth Mother and coming to her for advice and guidance. Ever since she transitioned to helping people with their addiction treatment, her focus has been on helping her clients and their families sort through the irresistible urges that had been ruling the addicts’ bodies. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Ellie went through a traumatic surgical procedure when she was 5 years old, which caused her to develop an addiction to food that her mother did not know how to handle. Having experienced these psychological ramifications of eating for several years, she can recognize where the addicts that come to her treatment facility are struggling. Patients spend between 7-12 months in the therapeutic rehab community where Ellie works, and she teaches them how to interact with each other and do the internal work necessary to heal the impacts of their addictions. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/71 She created a model that she calls “The Six Essentials”, which are building blocks for personal success: Some of them are good mood, love, and kindness, discipline, flexibility, and forgiveness. Ellie is not afraid to call her clients out when she sees them say or do something that they said they wouldn’t say or do and she provides them with the support to help them change. She believes in caring for everyone without judgment because she recognizes that it could have just as easily been her struggling with the addiction. She wants the best for her clients who are really just wounded people in need of someone to help them pick themselves up and head in the right direction. Ellie wants everyone to know that as long as you are drawing breath, change is possible.   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast is Leslie Cole, an addiction medicine physician at a clinic outside of Nashville, Tennessee, and author of the book “Quit Pain Pills.” Leslie spent the first 20 years of her medical career as an internist. The journey of self-discovery stemming from realizing she had been struggling with an eating disorder led her down a different path. She found hope and healing through recovery literature during that time. When an addiction clinic called her out of the blue to offer her a job, she knew that she had found her sweet spot, helping others find hope and healing. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Leslie is a firm believer in providing an environment to patients where they feel welcomed, accepted, loved, and safe. People struggling with addiction are used to the shame heaped onto them from themselves and others, but they are not used to a provider listening to them without judgment. As a part of her clinic’s program, patients fill out an Adverse Childhood Event questionnaire, which is likely to indicate that they experienced Traumas (big T) and traumas (little t) as they were growing up that they had just accepted as normal. This experience at Leslie’s clinic may be the first time they realize how these traumatic events continue to impact them even in adulthood. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness During Leslie’s recovery from an eating disorder, her therapist pointed out to her that the most important relationship in all of life is your relationship with yourself. This colors how to interact with others and with the world. This realization is the basis for Leslie’s approach with patients at the clinic because they probably don’t know how impactful this primary relationship is in their own life and recovery journey. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/70 In 2017, Leslie was diagnosed with breast cancer, which resulted in chemotherapy and a mastectomy. She found that during her battle with cancer, she received so much support and encouragement from those around her. When she went back to work at the clinic, she was struck by the stark contrast between how she had been treated as a cancer patient and how addiction patients are treated. This contrast prompted her to write her book, “Quit Pain Pills,” to provide hope without judgment and helpful resources to anyone struggling with addiction who has never been greeted with optimism by their family members, friends, or healthcare providers. Leslie wants to make sure that everyone knows that you are not beyond help. You can always make a change, so give yourself every possible chance. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cynthia Schmit is an advocate for medication-assisted treatment of addictions who would love to see healthcare providers informing their patients of all of the options for treating their addictions. On this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, Cynthia talks with us about the physiology of addiction and the need for education regarding medication-assisted treatment. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> In her early 20’s, Cynthia found herself using every recreational drug that someone put into her hand, quickly progressing from marijuana to heroin and beyond. She found herself wanting to quit often, attempting to detox on her own at least 5 times before she completed a 28-day methadone detox and a 6-month 12-step recovery program. During her time in rehab, the knee-jerk reaction of providers was “you don’t treat drug addiction with drugs,.” Medication-assisted treatment was not presented as an option to her. She got married a few years into her recovery. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness She then moved to the east coast where she completed her bachelor’s degree in behavioral science and her master’s in social work at Columbia. While at Columbia, she started volunteering at the buprenorphine program, of which she eventually became the managing director. With her experience working with treatment providers and drug manufacturers, Cynthia came to understand precisely how drugs like buprenorphine and methadone can assist in treating drug addictions. Physiologically, consuming drugs is tied to the rewards circuitry of the brain, which was intended to support behaviors that support survival, such as eating. Drugs, of course, do not promote survival, but since they are tied to the rewards center of the brain, the brain develops a belief that they are necessary for survival, which is why withdrawals are so difficult and painful. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/69 This is why medication-assisted treatment can be so effective in immediately providing moments of clarity to individuals who are addicted as well as helpful in avoiding potential relapses. Every person is different, and Cynthia’s goal is to have every healthcare provider and treatment center educated about all of the options available for individuals’ treatment plans so they can make the best decisions and recommendations for each patient. This involves the proper way to use medications like buprenorphine as well as how to effectively get off of those medications if and when the time comes. Cynthia wants everyone to know that there is hope. Advocate for yourself by being well-informed and committing to putting in the work necessary to get into and remain in recovery. You are worth recovery. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, Duane interviews Dr. Ursula Whiteside, a clinician, researcher, and trainer in the area of suicide prevention. Ursula struggled with her suicidal thoughts throughout her life, and in 1999, she moved to Washington state to learn from Marsha Linehan, the creator of DBT (dialectical behavior therapy). Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in some age groups and is more prevalent than car accidents, homicides, and breast cancer. Beyond these statistics, it is estimated that 10 million Americans every year have suicidal ideation. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> The exciting thing is that this overwhelming emotional crisis that can lead to suicidal ideation is not sustainable in the brain for more than 48 hours. So while people are within this timeframe, it often feels like things will always be this bad and that there is no hope. While it might not be helpful for them to think that they might feel this way for a couple of days, it might be beneficial for them to know that they will only feel this way for a couple of days at most. When Ursula talks with someone amid their suicidal ideation, she tells them to wait until this suicidal period passes before deciding to act on their ideation. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness There are a few simple things that someone in an overwhelming emotional crisis can do: (1) try to describe what is happening, (2) practice mindfulness by being in touch with your emotions, and (3) submerge your face in cold water for 20 seconds at a time for 3-5 minutes. For friends and family members, it can be helpful to know how to respond to their loved one’s thoughts and feelings. The best way to support them is by listening to them, taking care of them, and just being there for them. Suicidal thoughts are not uncommon, especially during adolescence, and in addition to DBT and ongoing conversations with your physician, the Now Matters Now website is an excellent resource for learning how to cope with difficult emotions and how to get through an overwhelming emotional crisis step-by-step. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/68 Ursula wants everyone struggling with suicidal thoughts that you can make plans for things to be different. You don’t have to believe your thoughts, and you can reach out for help in navigating these.   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast is Maureen Cavanagh, author, and founder of Magnolia New Beginnings. Maureen’s family had a long history of addiction, but since she was not personally prone to addiction, she thought that she knew the formula to help keep her kids away from addiction as well. However, her world was suddenly shaken when one of her daughters came to her to admit that she had been experimenting with heroin. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Even living in an upper-middle-class neighborhood, opioids were not difficult for her daughter to find, and once she tried heroin for the first time, the road to sobriety and recovery proved to be steep. Just when Maureen thought her daughter had a handle on her addiction, it would rear its ugly head again, and she would see just how much of a hold it had on her precious child, who was now an adult. Maureen did what she believed any good parent would do: she dropped everything and rushed to her daughter’s aid, providing her with whatever she needed and paying for her to get into a treatment center again. She found out that her daughter had a “friend” who was providing her with the drugs, protecting her from her family when they came looking for her, and reviving her if and when she overdosed. Even with this barrier between them, Maureen knows of 13 times when her daughter was admitted to the hospital after an overdose, and at least 40 separate stints at treatment centers before something finally clicked. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Maureen realized that she was on her journey during this time, which was intended to be separate from her daughter’s journey. The more Maureen tried to hold on and help her daughter get out of whatever situation she was in at the time, the farther away her daughter seemed to drift. However, when Maureen was able to let go and provide her daughter with some space, not jumping to her rescue but rather empowering her daughter to rescue herself, that was the moment when her daughter started getting better. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/67 Somewhere after treatment center #40, the rehab took, and for the past two years her daughter has been sober with the help of her family, her therapist, her recovery coach, and her community. Maureen went against her instinct to keep family business private when she was approached by a publishing agent about sharing her story, and the hundreds of people who have messaged her since the book came out are proof that the world needed to hear the truth about what it is like to be the parent of an addict. In addition to her book, Maureen provides resources and support groups through her non-profit, Magnolia New Beginnings, which is impacting tens of thousands of people. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast is Tim Sitt, a clinician at the Freedom to Move Group who shares Duane’s appreciation of Virginia Satir’s work. Virginia Satir was cutting-edge in the 1960s when she moved away from the “traditional” psychoanalytic model and practices that perpetuated the hierarchical narrative that had become the norm in therapy. Her work is still revolutionary in that clinicians using her techniques bring in all of the pertinent members of the person’s family to address every member as having equal value and potentially remove the risk of redacting progress made with the individual during a session when they go back to their home environment, which may have caused them to turn to coping in the first place. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> People struggling with addiction often feel shame and no sense of self-worth, but this model aims to bring dignity to the person rather than harping on their behavior or pattern leading them to addiction. This could be the first safe space where they have been encouraged to explain themselves and evaluate why they are doing what they are doing. It gets down to the roots of the self, life, energy, and value. Perhaps pain or trauma in their past has led them to develop this inner dialogue of disconnection to self because they believe they are worthless. Satir’s work set up a system where the person realizes that they are not the problem and they can feel hopeful in connecting to their true self in the present moment. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Often, people react to circumstances with “I am…” statements that ultimately draw conclusions from the external stimuli about who the person is. This is frequently very unhealthy and the cause of many underlying issues that lead to addiction or other coping mechanisms. It ultimately comes down to these two questions: What do you believe about yourself? What do you believe about relationships? The way the individual answers these questions shed a lot of light on the presence or lack of self-connection. It is important to create a space between the identity and the behavior in order to truly begin the self-connection journey. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/66 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast is Dr. Michael Steuer of the Pacific Ketamine Institute in Los Angeles. Dr. Steuer’s training and practice have mainly been in the areas of anesthesia and pain management, but for the past 5+ years, he has shifted his focus somewhat to the use of ketamine to treat depression, mood disorders, addiction, and chronic pain. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Before 2013, when the effectiveness of ketamine for these purposes was discovered, the main drugs to treat depression and mood disorders such as PTSD were SSRIs and SNRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors). While these medications were effective in temporarily treating the symptoms of depression and mood disorders, they often took weeks or months for patients to feel their effects and they often came with unpleasant side effects. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness While ketamine has been abused by people for its hallucinogenic properties in high doses, it has been found that lower doses have minimal short-term side effects and patients typically begin feeling relief from their symptoms during the infusion or shortly thereafter. Even patients with “treatment-resistant” depression or chronic pain feel better almost immediately, and these feelings are sustained for weeks or months after each infusion. It is recommended that patients have 6 infusions over 2 weeks in order to jump-start their recovery and most patients continue to receive one infusion per month to maintain their results. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/65 In the case of chronic pain, many people are prescribed narcotics or opioids, which essentially intercept the messages being sent from the body to the NMDA receptor of the brain which regulates mood and pain and the drugs themselves have addictive potential. Ketamine has proven to be more effective in modulating pain as well as addictive impulses, depression, and mood because it heightens the brain’s ability to recognize the signals being sent. This property causes ketamine to treat the root cause of the pain, rather than masking it like many opioids do. There are no known addictive properties of ketamine, making it safe for use in prescribed doses and frequencies, which may differ from person to person. Dr. Steuer’s message to listeners who are struggling with depression is that you don’t have to be alone or feel like you want to give up. Reach out, because there are people who want to help. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, Duane interviews Jacob Jones, author of the book “Recovered” and former opioid addict. Jacob has had a very turbulent but not uncommon path from addiction to recovery, and his insights into what drove his attitudes and behaviors over the years are eye-opening to anyone who has never personally experienced addiction. Jacob grew up in Alabama, the son of a University of Alabama football player who spent several years playing professional football, so the desire to perform well athletically was instilled in Jacob at a young age. When he started playing football in 7th grade, it was clear that he had genuine talent, and the desire for acceptance and affirmation through achievement essentially became his first addiction. He was given the scholarship to play at the University of Alabama – a dream come true – and before he even took the field for his first practice, he was already dreaming of playing in the NFL. During his sophomore year, he had to take a medical release from football, essentially ending his football career and any hopes of playing professionally. He got pneumonia that year and became addicted to the hydrocodone cough syrup he was prescribed. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/64 The confluence of all of these factors led to Jacob’s compulsive behavior of getting his hands on as many opiates as possible just to feel ok. He realized that he had a problem when he tried to stop taking the pills, and he experienced withdrawals. That day, he called his mom and told her everything. He went home and went through a 30-day rehab program, emerging with a renewed resolve to not get into drugs again. He justified increasing his drinking habit by saying that it wasn’t drugs, but before long, he found himself clutching opiates again. He was arrested for possession and went through a year of drug court, never convinced to stop doing drugs but rather convinced not to get caught again. As soon as his drug court was over, his addiction quickly became all-consuming, and he began to burn relationships with his friends and family in pursuit of getting his next fix. When he reached this breaking point, he gave all of his drugs to his parents and tried to break his addiction cold turkey. He suffered a psychotic break and was admitted to the CCU due to his dangerously high heart rate. He was then sent to the psych ward where he “came to” and realized how out of control things had gotten. After significant advocacy from his parents, the doctors finally released him after 3 weeks there. Just 4 months later, he took a job as a manager of a restaurant, and due to the intense stress and detrimental environment, he ended up getting wrapped up in opiates once again. At this point, his family had been trying to help him for 8-10 years, and despite their unconditional love for him, it was becoming unhealthy for them to continue supporting him. Jacob remembers being shaken to the core when his aunt told him that his family was not always going to be there unless something changed. He immediately went to a rehab facility in Florida, overcoming his fear of admitting he had a problem and reaching out for help. Now, Jacob is 3 years sober, and he is dedicating to helping others who are struggling with addiction by sharing his story. While he would never wish his situation on anyone, Jacob recognizes his journey as the biggest blessing imaginable because he can relate to so many people and share hope with them. He is now very involved in his church and participates in mission trips where he can share his story and just gain perspective on the world. To anyone struggling with addiction, Jacob’s message is: You are valuable and worthy. Your life right now might seem unfair and hopeless, but you can make the choice today to reach out for help. Your worst day can become your best day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harry Derbitsky, President of Advanced Coaches Training Inc. and author of “Evolution of Addiction Recovery”, joins us on this episode of The Addicted Mind. While Harry himself has never been addicted to a substance, he recognizes that there are addictive behavior patterns in every person, and he has committed his life to help reorient the minds of those affected by addiction. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> During his time working with the indigenous people of Vancouver, Harry has found some common patterns: people want to leave their addiction, but they do not know how, many of the common strategies focus on personal effort, and working with clients on their internal condition first brings much more significant results. Harry uses a three principles model which includes mind, though, and consciousness and combines mental health and spiritual wisdom. With this model, the primary goal is to guide the client to find the answers within themselves, connecting to the spiritual and having their moment of insight, rather than continually trying to take in anything they are being taught. In this place, they will finally feel the relief that they have been trying to find through their addiction all this time. But now, they have experienced it in authenticity and satisfaction, and they will want to stay there rather than going back to the patterns of thinking and behavior that lead them away. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness From the therapist’s standpoint, it is most useful to give them the space to find what they need internally and help them process what they are experiencing, perhaps sharing some of your own experiences of what you have seen. It is also essential to understand and remember that thought creates feeling and feeling creates form. This process is one of the driving forces of addiction, but it can also be the golden ticket out of the addictive behavior pattern. You should focus on talking about their health rather than something being “wrong with them” and recognize that even though the topic is severe, you don’t have to be serious about it. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/63 Harry encourages people who want more information about the three principles or other aspects of his philosophy towards addiction treatment to visit his website. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast is Samantha Arsenault, Director of National Treatment Quality Initiatives at Shatterproof. Shatterproof is a nonprofit organization on a mission to improve addiction treatment through prevention, treatment, education, and advocacy. It was founded in 2014 by Gary Mendell, a businessman who lost his son to the disease of addiction and became passionate about helping other families navigate the broken addiction treatment system. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness The work of Shatterproof was additionally spurred on by the 2016 Surgeon General’s report that showed empirical evidence that substance use disorders and other addictions can be treated effectively, but there is a significant gap in care available. In response, Shatterproof established their National Principles of Care (https://www.shatterproof.org/shatterproof-national-principles-care) to provide individuals and families affected by addiction with some helpful guidelines about what to look for in an effective treatment program. In fact, they are using these National Principles of Care along with treatment program surveys, insurance claims data, and information about the consumer experience to create a rating system of treatment centers in certain states by 2020. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> This rating system will be a treasure trove of critical information for those seeking treatment and a motivator for treatment centers to improve their best practices in order to best serve their clients. Sam gives the example of someone coming into the hospital for their initial diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. The hospital would not manage their medications, food intake, and activities for 28 days and then send them back home with no resources, treatment plans, or follow up. The same should be true for those being treated for addiction. They should receive individualized treatment based on their specific needs, access to medications, and ongoing support. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/62 Shatterproof sees a world where this is the nature of substance use disorder and addiction treatment and they are excited about the prospect of this type of treatment becoming a reality for everyone who needs it. For more information about the work of Shatterproof and resources to help you in your journey, visit their website. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Addicted Mind Podcast, our guest is Kyle Ferroly, a specialist in the area of psychophysiology. Kyle is passionate about spreading his message about the connections between mind, brain, and body and the untapped potential of integrating brain mapping with physical and mental health practices.  Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Most people, even those in the medical field, do not realize the depth of knowledge that can be gained through the analysis of a brain scan. An electroencephalogram (EEG) simultaneously measures 19 channels of brain activity and speaks volumes about electrical imbalances in the brain that contribute to varying levels of connectivity, coherence, phase, and speed and impact the mind as well as behaviors. This test can reveal certain brain patterns that predispose people to addictions or anxiety and provide doctors with a whole picture of what is going on in the body. Without this psychophysiological aspect, it is difficult to get an accurate representation of why you do, think, and feel the things that you do in response to external stimuli. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Everyone can benefit from understanding how to regulate their nervous system and brain activity, but many people do not know about brain mapping or the connection between their body and their brain. Did you know that misfirings or imbalances in the brain can lead to physical tension, headaches, and breathing improperly? In order to truly thrive and gain or maintain your holistic health, it is imperative to understand what is really happening on all levels. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/61 When it comes to the fight or flight response, many people have lived in this high state of stress for so long that they don’t even realize it, which makes it impossible for them to achieve normal functioning. Self-awareness is the first step in addressing any issues that may be uncovered during this process, and many mental health clinicians are beginning to integrate psychophysiological elements into clients’ treatment plans. Kyle is in the final stages of writing his book entitled “Check Your Blind Spot”, which outlines the 6 main blind spots that people have in looking at their overall health (body, mind, and brain). For more information go to theaddictedmind.com/61 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, Duane is joined by two practitioners in and advocates for recovery high schools. Michael Durchslag leads PEASE Academy in Minneapolis and Andy Finch is an academic researcher in the field of recovery schools at Vanderbilt University and co-founder of the Association of Recovery Schools. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Recovery schools have been around since the late 1970s, but their growth has really started climbing in the past 20 years and there are currently 45 recovery schools in the US. Recovery schools provide a high school education and significant recovery support to students who are in recovery for a substance use disorder. Adolescents leaving rehab often find it difficult to maintain their sobriety when they return to the same home environment and school situation, so recovery schools are a great resource for students to learn and be specifically supported. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> These students have likely not dealt with heightened emotional reactions that are normal for teenage development without turning to a coping mechanism, so recovery schools are set up to provide adequate resources to help them process what is going on without turning to their old habits. Additionally, since research has shown that adolescents are mainly motivated by their peers, it is ideal for students in recovery to also be surrounded by others who are on the same page, rather than those who may be a bad influence on them. This is a built-in form of accountability, but there are additional programs and structures within recovery schools that further support the students’ journeys. Recovery schools are typically day schools, so it is good for these students to have peers like them that they can spend their time outside of school with as well. There are also usually family support or community groups for the parents of the students to be involved in as well, since this journey is so impactful on the parents. In fact, many parents refer other families to recovery schools based on their positive experiences and the progress they have seen in their own children. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/60 Mike and Andy have both seen incredible results from recovery schools and believe in this as the best option for the continuation of recovery care during the high school years. In fact, going through a recovery school sets students up for a great transition to one of the more than 100 collegiate recovery programs as they continue their education. For more information about recovery schools or to start the process of advocacy for a school in your area, check out the recoveryschools.org website or reach out to Mike and Andy through their contact methods below. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, we are joined by Glenn Livingston, a psychologist, marketing consultant, and former binge eater. Glenn’s issues with food began during his childhood and continued progressing through adolescence until he developed very serious health problems and his doctors told him that he needed to make a change. Coming from a family full of psychologists, he started out going the psychological route, but he didn’t break through until he had a couple of realizations that led him to create an unconventional road to recovery. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness The first thing he realized was that people gravitate towards binging different types of foods based on their mental state. He organized a study with 40,000 responses that described the connection between foods and circumstances: chocolate is the drug of choice for people who are lonely or brokenhearted, salty and crunchy foods appeal to people who have stress at work, and chewy and starchy foods are relatable to people who have stress at home. Through this study, he realized that the emotions people were experiencing were not the problem, but they were the justification for their binge eating. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> The second realization in Glenn’s journey was that the food industry was scientifically developing highly palatable foods and stripping out the nutrients, almost guaranteeing that their products would be addictive without the consumer ever feeling satisfied. This solidified in Glenn’s mind the fact that he would have to take charge of his own eating habits because the industry was not doing him any favors. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/59 Glenn’s commitment to taking charge led him to a practice that may be frowned upon by some in the psychological community, but it delivered exactly the results that he was striving for because he was in the driver’s seat. He began keeping a journal that contained an inner dialogue between Glenn and the “pig” inside him that squealed for the pig slop it wanted to eat. He made clear rules for himself about what foods he would and would not eat and when he would and would not eat them. This removed the opportunity for slip-ups because he had made his own decisions about foods that were off-limits ahead of time. Using this method, he lost 80 pounds, and when he shared this method with one of his colleagues, his colleague lost 80+ pounds as well. That was when they decided they needed to publish the “Never Binge Again” book, which has over 600,000 downloads to date. Glenn provides this and other resources such as food plan starter templates, sample rules, and testimonials for free on his website. Finally, he encourages listeners to take charge of their own situations and come up with creative solutions to get where you want to be. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast is Laura Kelly, health reporter for the Washington Times. In early January 2017, Laura wrote an article for the Times about the increasing rate of teen nicotine addiction due to e-cigarettes and vaping. Over the past 6 years, e-cigarettes have become increasingly popular, more technologically advanced, and more discrete. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness One particular brand – Juul – has risen to the top, and they are using their elevated status to target teens and young adults. The vaping liquid or pods that Juul produces contain a salt-based formula that comes in attractive flavors containing nicotine, which causes it to be absorbed differently than the nicotine in cigarettes. Because pods are not tobacco-based, the e-cigarette/vaping industry is not currently regulated by the FDA, meaning that companies can sell to almost anyone who wants to buy and they are actively advertising their products on social media and through radio ads. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> It is surprising to learn that while 4% of the adult population use vaping devices, 13% of teens are becoming increasingly dependent on and addicted to the trendy nicotine vehicle. Since vaping is such a new phenomenon, not much research has been done on the addictive nature or the difficulty of breaking the addiction, which is scary and dangerous for our society. Additionally, vaping is an expensive hobby, and teens are likely spending everything they have to pursue it. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/58 While teens are vaping to “fit in” and to relieve stress, the adverse effects – in addition to the addiction overall – are memory loss, difficulty concentrating, lack of sleep, and mood swings. Because Juul devices have a very minimal vapor cloud after inhalation, many teens are “hitting the Juul” during class, contributing to the frequency of their hits. Many teens have admitted that when they first started vaping, they were going through one pod - equivalent in potency to one pack of cigarettes – in a week, they quickly progressed to a pod per day. A nicotine addiction also opens individuals up to other future addictions when they find that the “high” they initially felt while vaping isn’t so high anymore. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast is Lacy Bentley, a recovery mentor, and coach in the areas of love and sex addictions for women. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness At age 13, Lacy found herself consuming erotic novels and pornographic anime called hentai. She didn’t realize it until much later in life, but her involvement with those types of pornography had created an addiction to the fantasy that affected all of her relationships into adulthood. She developed a pattern of escape and avoidance related to any intense emotion – positive or negative – that was affecting her marriage and her relationship with her children as well. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Once she realized her own issues, she realized that there had to be other women out there who were struggling as well, but no one was willing to talk about women having problems with pornography. Since so much of pornography involves the subjugation and abuse of women, there is a “girl code trauma” associated with women being aroused by the terrible things that are portrayed happening to other women. Lacy has found in her work to help women find the freedom and recovery that they so desperately need that once a woman is willing to admit her addiction, she is usually all-in to do whatever needs to be done to heal. They need to go through a period of raw and unfiltered honesty about what has happened, then move past the shame that they have been living with for too long, and find their way to reconnecting with their partner healthily and intimately. One of the keys to a successful recovery is opening up and walking through your struggles with your partner, talking about what happened, what works, what doesn’t work, and so on. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/57 Women who are struggling with love, sex, or porn addictions need to know that they are not alone. That they are worth recovery and that they have the right to be empowered to be themselves and have the courage to face their problems head-on. Lacy is a strong advocate of the concept of regaining your integrity because integrity is a big part of what is lost during an addiction. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, we are joined by Peter Grinspoon, a primary care physician in the Boston area who is an advocate of medical cannabis. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness During medical school, Peter and a few of his classmates decided to try a sample of Vicodin to see if they could experience the euphoric side effects. While his friends tried it that once and never felt compelled to try it again, Peter immediately felt the need to find another high. This feeling was exacerbated by the stress of the medical profession and the easy accessibility of medications, and throughout 10 years, he battled an opioid addiction. Ultimately, this addiction led him to trouble with the law, a 90-day rehab program, and a few relapses, but 3.5 years later, Peter had progressed in his recovery enough to get his medical license back. He credits his successful recovery to the support he received from his family, friends, and Physician Health Program. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Peter is an advocate of medical cannabis treatment as an alternative to help avoid and treat opioid addictions. Cannabis can effectively be used to treat chronic pain either in conjunction with or in the place of opioids. Baby Boomers are particularly open to trying this treatment and Peter anticipates that more people will be willing once the US government legitimizes its uses and changes the classification. Contrary to what people may think, medical cannabis does not have to be smoked and does not have to give the user a high because different chemicals within the marijuana plant can be isolated to be used in treatment. There is a hurtful stigma within the recovery community that insinuates that medically-assisted treatment is not adherence to the “zero tolerance” rule. Peter says that rehab programs that do not recognize the values of medically-assisted treatments are becoming irrelevant as a result of this stigma and he hopes that they will learn to adapt to the times. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/56 He also emphasizes the significance and importance to an addict of the love and support from family and friends. Even though they may have given up on themselves, it could mean all the difference for them to know that you will not give up on them. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast is Joshua Shea, who joins us to tell his story of addictions to alcohol and pornography and the past 4 years of recovery. Joshua was first introduced to porn around age 11 and alcohol at age 15, and looking back, he recognizes that he was addicted from Day 1. Even at a young age, he began to use alcohol and porn as an escape from life and a way to soothe whatever emotions or pain he was experiencing, seeking the element of power or control over his circumstances that he didn’t have in the real world. He leaned on the notion that alcohol and porn were never going to let him down or tell him he wasn’t good enough, and this mentality became a crutch for him. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Joshua remembers that things began spinning out of control when he was struggling to keep up with work and his public service, so he took himself off of his medications for bipolar disorder to have more time and perceived clarity. Instead, his consumption of alcohol and porn exploded and became uncontrollable, which magnified the unmanageability of his life situation. He had learned during his 20+ years of addiction how to get away with things, but he knew at this point that something was going to get him. He began to have dreams about childhood memories that he had repressed about abuse and trauma that he had endured. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> On March 20, 2014, the Maine State Police knocked on Joshua’s door and arrested him for child pornography. Apparently one of the women that he had engaged in a porn chatroom was, in fact, an underage girl. He was immediately fired from his job, which he saw as a removal from one of the stressful situations in his life and was the beginning of his “clean slate.” He met with his lawyer after his arrest and finally realized that he had a problem with alcohol and porn. Although his life had been spinning out of control and he was mostly estranged from his wife and children, he had not recognized that he was an addict. He sees now that he would not have been receptive to anything less than getting into trouble with the law regarding confrontations, interventions, or conversations about his behavior. He entered a rehab program at the recommendation of his lawyer with low expectations, but he was utterly amazed by the content of the program and his progress along the way, and he ended up staying in alcohol rehab for 10 weeks instead of the original 4. He began seeing a therapist regularly, which unearthed the repressed childhood traumas and allowed him to process them and how those memories had been affecting him for decades since. Finally, 22 months after his arrest, Joshua was sentenced to 6 months in jail. At this point, he had already completed rehab and began a new life, committed to recovering, so he spent those 6 months writing the first draft of his book. He also went through 7 weeks of rehab for pornography and then began working as a freelance writer, which allowed him the time flexibility to focus on his health and recovery. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/55 Now, Joshua is 4+ years sober and lives a much simpler life than before, focused on his family and not on the judgments of others. He has committed to remaining sober and has set up safeguards and tools that aid him in staying away from alcohol and porn. He is an advocate of addicts going through rehab programs if they have the resources, but the most important thing is to just reach out for help.   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast is Mari Lee, a licensed marriage and family and certified sex addiction therapist supervisor, consultant, coach, speaker, author, and founder of Growth Counseling Services in Glendora, CA. Mari is a firm believer in the power of group therapy in conjunction with individual therapy and 12-step sessions to aid in the recovery process, especially with sex and porn addictions. Addiction thrives in secrecy and isolation, and could often be triggered by boredom and loneliness, so an excellent way to progress in the recovery process is to have a confidential group of individuals who know what you are going through and can support you along the way. The members of this group could, in fact, be the first healthy relationships they have each experienced. Sign Up For our 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Group therapy, when facilitated the right way, can provide the individuals with shame reduction practices, a community with the other members, structure, consistency, inclusion, focused discussions, and accountability. The connections between the group members are often viewed as a brotherhood or sisterhood and provide a foundation for each member as they engage with their life circumstances outside of the group as well. It is common for individuals in the group to have trauma from their families of origin, and these traumas and unhealthy familial roles typically play a part in these group therapy sessions. Group therapy members are also encouraged to attend 12-step programs to support their individual recovery as well since these programs are more systematic and structured, providing each individual with a sponsor for accountability. However, 12-step programs do not have the flexibility of group therapy when it comes to cross-talk between group members, feedback, and deep conversations. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/54 Mari encourages anyone out there who is considering joining a group therapy session to go ahead and give it a shot. Be sure to do a pre-group interview with your therapist to determine which group might be best for you and be open to being referred to a group in another therapist’s practice if that one is the best fit. Find out the logistics of when the group meets and how a session typically looks, so you are as prepared as possible for your initial meeting. Be open to the process and commit to the group for your own healing. Therapy in their practices, Mari recommends reaching out to a consultant who can help you come up with curriculum, client standards, policies, forms, standards of care, and a general roadmap for conducting and facilitating your group. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, our guest is Suzie Wolfer, LCSW, SEP a therapist specializing in Somatic Experiencing®, a powerful system of healing trauma and addiction at it’s core and for completing trauma so that it’s let go of you. Sign Up For our 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Somatic means “of the body,” which includes the sensations we feel when we experience different emotions and thoughts. Trauma and stress are stored in the body, causing behaviors, patterns or responses arising from implicit memory system or the unconscious. Our initial reaction to the uncomfortable feelings that are associated with trauma and stress is to stabilize these feelings by managing them from the “top down,” striving to suppress, control, or make the feelings go away. This desire to manage troubling thoughts and emotions, though useful in the short term, keeps us from healing the underlying stuck patterns, that show up as chronic Fight, Flight or Freeze behaviors or a combination of these. With somatic therapy, we help your body remember how to complete stuck Fight, Flight or Freeze patterns We call this re-negotiation. Instead of trying to get rid of scary, infuriating or numbing feelings and thoughts, you learn to watch them, especially in how your body expresses them. Imagine a roller coaster. It can be scary and exhilarating to feel the car taking you up, up, up to tower over the precipice, wondering if the little wheels will keep you safely on the rails. Challenging emotions, even pleasure, can start to feel scary, and it’s easy to use substances or compulsive behaviors to try to manage or outrun the sense of threat they pose, of “going off the rails.” The closer we get to the top of the roller coaster, the more energy builds inside us, including excitement. When you are able to observe what’s happening inside, especially observe your body sensations associated with thoughts and emotions, these emotional messengers can deliver their message and let go of you.  When that happens, like when the roller coaster car comes back to the platform, you may feel a good feeling, a smile on your face, as you get off on level ground and go on to the next thing. Maybe even a little more confident in your ability of face challenges! Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/53 In the past decade of supporting her patients with Somatic Experiencing® Therapy, Suzie has found that this gentle approach helps people not only feel better, but get better, a little at a time, and in every session.  Like a caboose on a train, the thinking process is sometimes the last to know! Here’s a little 3-step process you can try at home: Are you safe? Yes or no. Notice that feeling safe and being safe in this moment are two different things. Using your 5 senses, notice signals or data are you getting from the world outside you, which confirm that you are safe. What are these signals? Next, notice what happens in your body when you confirm that you are safe in this moment. Perhaps savor what you discover.  If you could take one thing from this podcast, here’s what Suzie would like you to know:  “That you may discover that you are not broken.  Your body is simply trying to solve a different problem than your mind. Collaborating with your biology will help you heal and release stored trauma and feel like yourself again.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind, we are joined by Michael Hobbes, a writer for The Huffington Post and co-host of the You’re Wrong About… podcast. Michael wrote an article entitled “Everything You Know About Obesity is Wrong” for HuffPost in September 2018 which has gotten a lot of attention in the psychology community as well as the culture at large. There are 160 million Americans that are classified as overweight or obese based on the BMI scale, but even though these individuals constitute 30% of the population, they are treated as a marginalized minority who are somehow tainted or inferior to the rest of Americans. During the interviews that Michael conducted for his article, he encountered countless people who felt guilt, shame, hurt, anger, and sadness based on the way they have been treated or the projections of what they want to look and feel like instead of the way they do right now. There seems to be a prevailing attitude that overweight or obese people are lazy and that if they would just exercise some self-control, they would suddenly shrink down to “normal.” There is not much tolerance for the overweight and obese community, making those individuals feel less than human and live in a constant state of stress about their weight and others’ perceptions of them, even if they are trying their best to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Michael hopes that his article advocates for this community to have their voices heard and be accepted for who they are, just the way they are. The mental toll that unsolicited advice and diet suggestions have on overweight individuals can put them in a cycle of stress that exacerbates any issues they may have and can even make them suicidal. Michael emphasizes the importance of stigma resistance, which gives overweight individuals a voice to express their needs and stand up for themselves in environments where they have never been heard before. It should not be a big deal for someone to ask for a bigger chair at a work meeting or to be seated at a table instead of a booth at a restaurant if needed. Fat shaming has no place in our society and can only be stopped if we realize that we are all equal and deserving of courteous behavior. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast, our guest is Tom Horvath, founder of Practical Recovery and co-founder of Smart Recovery. Smart Recovery is a non-12-step approach to addictive behavior problems that provides an alternative to programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. While both methods provide new communities and relationships to build on as well as specific examples of individuals who are models of success, AA is based on the idea that you must give yourself up to a higher power because “you are powerless” and must rely on your sponsor and meetings in order to recover. 12-step programs can be helpful to some, but they can be ineffective for others, so the demand for alternative programs is continuing to increase. Smart Recovery integrates any methods that have been supported by scientific evidence, are self-empowering and are applicable in a mutual help group, including CBT, DBT, and ACT. They recognize that there are multiple pathways to recovery and that great results occur in a community. Smart Recovery takes a self-empowering approach to recovery, relying on the individual to set their own limits and establishing a 4-point program for people to work through: Maintaining motivation Coping with craving Identifying and resolving other problems Achieving a greater lifestyle balance Smart Recovery emphasizes “ideal” recovery, rather than “real” recovery as is expected in 12-step programs. Ideal recovery may not be complete abstinence, but rather staying within the limits that each person sets (and potentially changes along the way) for themselves, which is the point of the accountability of attending meetings. Tom encourages those struggling with addictive behaviors or searching for a recovery group to be persistent in finding what works for you. Most people are able to resolve their problems with treatment, so just don’t give up. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast is Dr. Ken Adams, a therapist specializing in the area of parental enmeshment and its connection to compulsive behaviors such as porn and sex addiction. All families are defined by the balance of closeness and separate between the members. Enmeshed families overemphasize their closeness, resulting in the parents controlling the decisions of their children, demanding their loyalty, prohibiting them from becoming involved with friends or activities outside of the family, and using guilt as a punishment for trying to separate any part of their lives from their parents. It is not uncommon for the parents in these types of families to treat the children as a surrogate husband or wife, expecting the child to fulfill their emotional needs. As a result of experiencing this lifestyle throughout childhood, adults usually find themselves struggling to live their own lives, even if they are geographically separated from each other. The enmeshment mentality can make them feel smothered, engulfed, or trapped by their parents, while remaining staunchly loyal to them, perhaps even at the cost of their marriage or other relationships. Living with this burden often leads to addictive behavior in the porn or sexual realm, with the affected adult child seeking freedom that does not come with any commitments. In every other area of their life, they feel stifled under the weight of others’ expectations, and compulsive behaviors give them the short-term release that they feel like they need. When Dr. Adams sees adult children affected by enmeshment for therapy, the first step is to move them from their pre-contemplative state of considering that they may have an issue with enmeshment and possibly a related addiction. Perhaps they have done some self-education by listening to podcasts, reading books or articles, or viewing videos on the topic, and they feel that they can identify with the feelings and behaviors being described. The next step a therapist takes is to delicately shift their internal entanglements and beliefs and help them establish external boundaries for themselves and their parents. He conducts intensive therapeutic workshops to help individuals through this process. If you think you or someone you know is struggling with parental enmeshment, remember that there are resources out there to help you gain the separation that is so crucial to thriving in your own life. Reach out and consider reading one of Dr. Adams’ books to learn more about taking the necessary steps toward true freedom. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ricky Santiago, a specialist in adventure therapy, joined us for this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast. He uses specially planned and designed activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, and ropes courses in his adventure therapy sessions. Experiential therapy like adventure therapy maximizes the benefits of group therapy by building self-esteem, utilizing metaphors, and providing an arena to practice coping skills and process emotions. Ricky and his colleagues have often found more success through one experiential therapy session than through several talk therapy sessions because clients are not able to hide their true selves when they are participating in an activity that is challenging to them mentally, emotionally, or physically. Since the therapist is participating in the activity as well, the clients see how the therapist handles their emotions and difficulties they come across, and clients can more easily open up about fears or challenges in their own lives or experiences. Though the timing of the formal “processing” aspect of the therapy session differs depending on the activity and the group, this is a crucial step for clients to take as they draw parallels from the adventure activity to their own lives, perhaps realizing things that they never had or being willing to share a trauma that they had never voiced. The effects of the treatment are ongoing, as the client will continually draw on their experience as they approach the problems in their lives and take steps to resolve the situation, just as they had been taught. Ricky encourages everyone to remember that recovery is possible and pursuing the treatment you need can change the trajectory of your entire family if you show up motivated and ready to work toward healing. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, our guest is Anne Fletcher, author of 8 books including “Sober for Good” and “Inside Rehab.” Anne felt the need to write “Inside Rehab” after consulting with several experts, one of which posited that people usually spend more time picking out their next vacuum cleaner than they would finding the right addiction treatment facility. Driven by the notions that treatment should help people avoid hitting rock bottom and that their treatment should emphasize the benefits of sobriety over the pitfalls of addiction, she spent 4 years studying 15 different treatment centers across the country to see what was working and what wasn’t working for their patients. She was somewhat shocked to discover that most inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities heavily employ group-based treatment, 12-step methods such as AA, and counselors without medical or psychological expertise in their limited one-on-one sessions. As she expected, she heard stories of programs that worked for some people and not others, helpful and hurtful methods, and discrepancies between quality and cost. In fact, one of the facilities she studied had an on-site barber shop, cafeteria, radio station, and college level educational courses to help equip their patients with transferable skills that they could use to get a job after their treatment was concluded. Overall, Anne sees a lot of hope and opportunity in the future of addiction treatment facilities if they treat each patient as an individual and personalize their treatment to their background and situation, keeping in mind that therapeutic alliance between the patient and therapist is crucial to the patient’s recovery and success. She hopes to continue to see alternative methods to AA popping up across the country, because AA’s process does not work for everyone, but a vast majority of treatment programs rely on it to help their patients. She is a firm believer that treatment centers will change certain things that may not be working if consumers express their concerns and desires. Anne’s advice to those who may need addiction treatment is to start by receiving an assessment from an individual therapist who is not associated with a treatment center. They will be able to give you their professional opinion about what kind of treatment you might need and can point you in the right direction. Also, keep in mind that inpatient treatment is not always the most effective unless the patient is in danger of self-harm or needs a period of detox. Be persistent in finding the right treatment for you; you are not alone, and you do not have to continue to live with this substance use disorder. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast is Nate Postlethwait, who joined us to share his recovery journey. Nate grew up in a very religious environment in a rural southern town, which had a profound impact on his childhood and his eventual recovery from the trauma he experienced and his resulting sex addiction. Sexual dysfunction was a generational issue with his family that was never properly handled, and he was the victim of multiple abusive encounters as a child, but it was not until his early 20’s that Nate realized that his compulsions were not typical. He came to understand that he was putting himself in physical danger due to his addiction which led him to feel tremendous shame. Acknowledging that he did not want his life to continue this way, he sought counsel and therapy within the religious community for several years, but he found that they were not equipped to address the biological roots of his trauma or addiction. In his first week at a treatment center, Nate felt that he had covered more ground toward recovery than he had during the past five years of religious counseling, and he immediately felt validated. His therapy there explained the biological reasons why he had been acting with such sexual compulsion and that he was not broken or weak. This therapy allowed him to shift his perspective, alleviate the shame, and reinstated boundaries that had never indeed been enforced. It provided his younger self with a voice to express the pain and hurt that he had been suppressing or trying to change through his addiction. By addressing the root of his trauma and addiction, he found that his desires were different, and he had the potential for positive self-care for the first time. Nate was able to build on the foundation that had been made during his time at the treatment center by taking a step back to evaluate his life and engage with himself to find who he was without these strongholds. He made a few drastic lifestyle changes and realized that he was still in need of therapy, so he began doing intensive EMDR sessions which allowed him to grow and continue the recovery journey. He is still in treatment, and as a part of his journey, he has started a blog and a podcast to discuss the “taboo” topics of male sexual abuse, heterosexuality, and homosexuality in the religious realm, PTSD, and EMDR. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, our guest is Marla Berger, a clinician in the field of experiential therapy, who joined us to talk about equine-assisted psychotherapy. Research and experience show that treatment centers, which incorporate some experiential treatment into their program, see their clients make more progress more quickly. Equine-assisted psychotherapy and other similar activities give clients an opportunity to apply the insights they have gained through their talk therapy sessions. During an equine session, an equine specialist and a clinician create a custom environment for the client or group of clients based on their needs and other environmental factors, and they facilitate the framework of the session. Clients then have the opportunity to interact (or not interact) with the horses or donkeys and ascribe meaning to what is happening. Animals are incredibly intuitive by nature because of their survival-driven need to be in tune with their environment, so they can sense in a client various emotions or behaviors and react out of their intuition. People are subconsciously going to interact with the animals in the same ways that they behave in other relationships, through the presence or absence of love, mutual respect, communication, and boundaries. By the clients recognizing how their behaviors or attitudes make the animals react, they can have revelations about their lives that they may have been oblivious to without this therapy. Equine therapy is a very promising tool for therapists, clinicians, and clients themselves that can aid in the recovery or healing process.   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind, we are joined by Amy Emerson and Shannon Carlin of the Multidisciplinary Approach for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) research group. Amy and Shannon’s group has had 107 participants complete their MDMA-assisted PTSD therapy program in the last several years, with promising results. As you may know, PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) affects 7% of the US population who have experienced life-threatening events such as military combat, car accidents, natural disasters, or childhood abuse. Individuals with PTSD experience prolonged instability in their lives, perhaps resulting in hypervigilance, fear, difficulty sleeping, and lack of trust. MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy, allows participants to experience the opposite of their PTSD symptoms, ideally increasing trust and dampening fear. Participants go through 3 previous therapy visits to establish a baseline and get them familiar with the therapy process, then they have their first MDMA session, followed by 3 integrative sessions, their second MDMA session, 3 more integrative sessions, and then their final MDMA session and 3 integrative sessions. Overall, the therapy sessions span 12-15 weeks, and though the courses are quite intense, participants have found this method to be less invasive and retraumatizing than their previous experiences with talk therapy. During their MDMA sessions, participants will spend 8 hours with 2 therapists who will guide the participant to follow their inner process by listening to their internal healing intelligence. This could mean that the participant talks a lot or barely at all during the session, but the purpose of the subsequent integrative visits is to help the participant process what they experienced and develop the new perspectives that they may be feeling in terms of life in general, coping with their trauma, work, and relationships. The MAPS research group’s research has shown that 2 months after completing their last therapy session, 56% of participants no longer had PTSD, while 12 months after finishing their therapy, 68% no longer had PTSD. Participants have been pleasantly surprised by their results and healing, and therapists are observing the sessions and effects have been amazed at its effectiveness. To anyone who has been seeking help and been discouraged with your progress, Amy and Shannon want you to know that there is hope and research advances are providing new treatment options to the field faster than ever before. Keep seeking help until you find the right fit for you. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast is Brad Kammer, a therapist specializing in somatic psychotherapy to solve shock and developmental traumas. Brad’s interest in somatic psychotherapy began during his time as an aid worker working with Burmese refugees. He observed their healing rituals, which frequently involved physical actions such as singing, chanting, or performing, and while he was going through his own healing process from the secondary PTSD from his time with the Burmese people, he realized that talking through trauma is not always effective. By working through the complex traumas experienced during childhood or other traumatic events with the body, healing can be much more attainable. Additionally, using more natural and realistic relationship-focused alternatives to the typical therapy session involving closed shades, a locked door, and no interruptions make people much more likely to share openly and get to the root of their traumas. Whether we realize it or not, our psychobiological patterns are established early on, and these patterns impact how we will cope with unfortunate circumstances and make decisions throughout adolescence and adulthood. These patterns are mainly formed by our attachment or bonding circumstances with our caregivers when we are children, and we often find that patterns we developed out of the necessity for survival as children are actually getting in our way as adults and keep us from experiencing true freedom and joy. Brad uses the NARM (NeuroAffective Relational Model) to help individuals process their emotions from the top down (from thoughts and identity to emotional and physical aspects) and the bottom up (from the body to the thoughts and behaviors). He finds that clients often experience excitement and fear as the notice that their patterns are changing; excitement for the freedom they have found along with fear regarding the change and the potential loss of attachment, even if their attachment figure is no longer living. Therapy is a process, so results do not begin overnight, but with consistency and intentionality, therapy can provide the opportunity to reorganize and transform your life. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast is Lori Kandels, a therapist in the Bay area specializing in anxiety. Anxiety is often the result of trauma and can manifest as fear, stress, self-doubt, and persistent negative stories ruminating in the mind, and can sometimes lead to addictions as a way to escape. The repetition of these stress responses creates neural pathways in the brain that become a cycle that can be difficult to break and usually negatively impacts the individual’s metabolism, concentration, sleep patterns, and ability to relax. The key to understanding and treating anxiety is realizing that anxiety is only about the past or the future. With discipline and intention, anxiety can be overcome with practices such as mindfulness, meditation, EMDR, and the Emotional Freedom Technique or tapping. By identifying the triggers and developing a practice that gets the person used to relieve the anxiety, there is absolutely a way out of this stress cycle. Lori wants to encourage those struggling with anxiety that you have control over this, you are safe now, and you do not have to live like this. Seeking help can provide you with a hope you may not have felt in a long time. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast, we are joined by a returning guest, Adina Silvestri of Life Cycles Counseling in Richmond, Virginia. Adina’s practice works with individuals battling eating disorders partnered with addictions with the goal of transferring their shame to hope and healing. The combination of eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating) with substance or other addictions is very harmful to the health and wellbeing of those struggling and can even lead to death in untreated cases. It is common for men and women to struggle with eating disorders and addictions for years, silently suffering due to their shame, before reaching out for help. While there is not much literature available on treating these two disorders together, Adina has found that mindfulness and support and accountability groups are effective and life-changing resources for those struggling. In these situations, there is always an underlying issue that the individual is trying to heal or escape from, causing them to develop an eating disorder and/or an addiction. Armed with coping mechanisms and the support of family and friends, hope and healing can be found. If you are struggling, reach out for help right now. You are not alone and you do not have to handle this alone. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast, Timothy Wienecke joins us to discuss his work in advocacy, clinical mental health, and an educational institute for veterans and first responders. A military veteran himself, Tim recognized the need for clinicians to focus on the mental health of veterans and first responders, who are prone to mental injury on a daily basis. He found that non-combat veterans and combat veterans with a dishonorable discharge have almost no access to resources to help them cope with PTSD and/or traumatic brain injuries, not to mention the typical struggles with finding purpose, integrating into civilian life, and learning how to be present with their families again. During their time in the service, members of the military are required to make very few major life decisions, but when they get out, they are bombarded with decisions but their identity is so wrapped up in their roles in the military that they struggle to process it all. We have all heard that 22 veterans commit suicide every day, but 11 of those are veterans of Vietnam and Korea, 6 of those are non-combat veterans, and 5 of them are combat veterans. Most people enter the military to run away from something (adolescence, family issues, educational pressures, etc.), and often the uniformity required by the service allows them to hide from those issues by focusing on the ultimate mission rather than themselves. When they get out, the issues pop back up and they have not been equipped to cope with things, so they find the ultimate escape in taking their own lives. Tim and his colleagues are committed to helping them find the resources and hope that they need. While there are organizations on the national and local levels to support veterans, there are almost no support structures in place for first responders (firefighter, police officers, EMS professionals, ambulance drivers, dispatchers, etc.) as they experience frequent trauma which they are trained to just push to the side so they can do their jobs efficiently. While some of the calls they receive are routine and not traumatic, they have to be prepared for the worst every time, which takes a mental and emotional toll on them. There is a stigma around mental health in the first responder community which causes those individuals to either not seek treatment or do so in secret, fearing that they will be demoted to desk duty if their department finds out that they have anxiety in any form. Tim has found that providing these professionals with emotional regulation skills such as mindfulness and DBT followed by the tools that will help them answer the existential questions that may arise as a result. Tim wants veterans and first responders to know that you do not lack purpose just because your service is over. There is always something in the world to connect to, and there is always help if you are willing to seek it. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast is Dr. Jack Bloomfield, a specialist in the ARISE model of interventions. This model is an alternative to the “traditional” form of confrontational interventions created in the 1960s by Dr. Johnson. In this confrontational model, the focus is very much on the addict, usually involving an ambush-type situation where several family members trick the addict into coming to a certain location where they are presented with some type of “go to rehab tomorrow or else…” ultimatum. Due to the heartfelt emotions in this situation, addicts are likely to agree to go to rehab, but 70% of them will leave rehab within 2 weeks because they didn’t make the decision to enter on their own terms. They usually feel anger and resentment towards their family which proves to be counterproductive to the family’s original desires and plan. The ARISE model of intervention is different and successful in 3 areas: It is an invitation model. The addict is invited to a “family meeting” where they likely know what will be discussed. The dialogue changes from “you have a problem” to “we, as a family, have a problem.” 80% of addicts will come when they are invited. 50% of those happen because they recognize that they have a problem 50% will go because they don’t think they have a problem and want to defend themselves The focus is on the family. The family indicates that they recognize that they all have things they need to work on in themselves, and they have reached out to someone who can help them all as a family. The addict does not feel singled out. The interventionist works with the family for 6 months. By committing to continuing care, the family creates a safe place for all of them to work on and discuss their issues and their progress during weekly accountability phone calls. This timeframe empowers the addict to make their own choices and not feel forced or pressured into action. They may decide that rehab, intensive outpatient treatment, or just consistent AA meetings are their best option. During and after the addict addresses their issue, the family is all on the same page and speaking the same language because they have all been on a healing journey together. The incredible statistic is that while 70% of addicts who enter rehab as a result of a confrontational intervention will leave within 2 weeks, only 2% of addicts who enter rehab as a result of an ARISE intervention will disappear within 30 days. This gives so much hope to the families waiting for a breakthrough in the life of their loved one who struggles with addiction.   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast, our guest is Dr. Scott D. Miller of the International Center of Clinical Excellence in the field of mental health. Dr. Miller has used his decades of experience in the industry to develop outcome measures with the goal of increasing the effectiveness of therapy. These outcomes are not merely “milestones” or objective progress markers, but are more subjective and are focused on the client’s well-being and function. Previous training for therapists had been targeted towards treating the symptoms that the client had, but often even when the symptoms had gone away, the person wasn’t feeling much better. Using the ORS and SRS scales that Dr. Miller developed allows the therapist and the client to maintain an open dialogue regarding the effectiveness of their treatment and their satisfaction with their relationship overall, which is key to the success of the therapy. This practice of consistently tracking and reporting results allows the therapist to adapt their methods for each client, allocating the care and energy necessary to develop a healthy relationship that has proven to be essential for the treatment to be effective. Dr. Miller shares that a significant portion of the population that needs help does not seek it, and the main reason that is cited for this deficit is the misconception that therapy is not effective. However, the average treated person is better off than 80% of people with similar problems who are not receiving any care. Additionally, 80% of people would instead talk to someone about their issues than receive a medication to treat their issues from their general physician. When someone does decide to seek treatment for their issue, the most crucial step is to find the right therapist for them. This therapist is going to be getting to know you very well, so you must make sure that you can develop a trusting relationship with them and know that their advice and methods are for the best. Be prepared to call or visit several therapists to find the right fit for you and do not be discouraged when one does not work out. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast is Amy Smith, founder of the Worth Recovery podcast, which has grown into a community of mutual support. Amy began her recovery journey in 2011 when she realized that her multiple failed “relationships” were a result of sex addiction and the notion that intimacy was nothing more than a transaction. On the very same day that she promised to do something to change her situation, her father – with whom anger had characterized her relationship – told her that he had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Because women with sex addiction seem to be a taboo subject, where Amy had to overcome stigma and shame that men with the same issue would not have to deal with due to the social acceptability. At the time, she was living in Seattle, where she found a great therapist and women’s 12-step group that embraced her on her road to recovery. A couple of years later, she moved to Salt Lake City and expected to find similar resources, but she saw nothing but skepticism and discouragement. There were no meetings for women in the area, and though she eventually found the right therapist for her, she encountered many professionals and peers who told her that it was not possible for her to have a sex addiction. Amy’s sponsor kept encouraging her to see this as an opportunity, and eventually, Amy started a meeting in her home for women who grew to the point that there is now a network of support for women in Salt Lake City. Knowing that there is healing in both hearing other people talk about their struggles and in telling others about our own, Amy decided that there might be a few other women outside of Seattle or Salt Lake City who needed to know that they are not alone in their recovery from sex addiction. She started her podcast to tell her story, hoping that it could reach 20 people outside of her region, but the podcast is averaging nearly 600 downloads per day, reinforcing the need for a community to support each other through recovery. Amy’s parting words for anyone struggling with sex addiction (or any addiction) is to believe that you are worth recovery, and do not let anyone make you think or feel otherwise. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, we are joined by Robert Weiss, a digital-age intimacy and relationship expert and author of several insightful books on the topic (links below). Rob’s non-alarmist approach to the impacts of our digital age on intimacy and relationships as well as on the minds and futures of our children is refreshing and encouraging, while still reminding us to be aware and informed. In his 25 years in the industry, Rob has noticed significant shifts in the accessibility of pornography, leading to an increased prevalence of problems with porn in today’s society. While previous generations had to wait until a certain age to legally purchase or rent pornographic magazines and videos – usually from a grimy store in a defunct area of town – the internet has allowed today’s adolescents and adults immediate, free, and convenient access to porn. This eliminates the need for mentally processing whether gaining access to the porn is worth the effort, because it takes little to no effort at all. Additionally, there are similarities between porn addictions and gambling addictions in that both arenas provide the consumer with both unlimited material and anonymity, aiding their participation in the experience of anticipatory fantasy, always driven to keep going for the euphoria of seeing what comes next. For these compelling reasons, the consumption of pornography which could lead to an addiction is becoming a more prominent issue in our world, and with the coming universality of virtual reality in American households, experts are only expecting the issue to become larger. With the tolerance of overt sexuality in our culture, adolescents are prone to jump straight from flirting to sexual acts – either online or in person – and they are not learning the necessary social experiences of true intimacy learned through making friends and being in a relationship that lasts more than a night. Understandably, today’s parents are worried about the culture where they are raising their children, but Rob encourages parents to focus on loving, caring for, and supporting their children above any concerns that they may have. Just as previous generations of children have adapted to the inventions of new technologies, this Digital Natives generation will do the same, and it will not ruin their lives. They can find more ways to use new technologies like virtual reality for good as they can for evil, and parents can help their children know the difference by being aware and well-informed. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast, we talk with Nicki Mosley about trauma-sensitive movement practice and the effective impact that this can have on those suffering from long-term trauma. Trauma-sensitive yoga was developed by The Trauma Center in Boston several years ago to give individuals a safe way to access their trauma and work through the sensations felt in the body by rebuilding the neural pathways related to making choices based on feelings. This is an evidence-based technique that does not get caught up in sticking to a certain process, knowing that participants will need different things during the class to find healing. During a trauma-sensitive yoga class, participants will be invited to be as comfortable as possible by choosing the area of the room where they set up their mats as well as by wearing clothing that allows them to move freely and then by having the ability to choose how they will participate in the movement practice based on what feels right to them. Being empowered to make these basic decisions and discover what their body is capable of slowly begins to integrate into their lives outside of class, giving them control that they may feel that they had lost during early childhood trauma or other types of trauma that had made them feel powerless. Nicki advises participants to have a therapist or counselor outside of class with whom they can talk and process their feelings and realizations from class. Nicki encourages those struggling with long-term trauma to investigate if this movement practice would be helpful to them and find a provider in their area. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, we are joined by Dr. Pam Peeke, a physician and scientist specializing in food addiction. Those struggling with food addictions fit into two categories: (1) people who practice disordered eating which eventually takes over all other aspects of their life, or (2) those who are recovering from another addiction and have turned to junk food and beverages as a transfer addiction. Disordered eating and food addictions mainly revolve around the chemical effects of processed foods on the brain’s reward center, which releases dopamine and conveys the feeling of pleasure to the body. When people continue to eat junk food, the reward center of the brain becomes overwhelmed and reduces the number of receptors that can process the dopamine being released, so eventually the feeling of pleasure attained by the release of a certain amount of dopamine doesn’t feel as good as it once did, which makes the person want to consume more junk food in order to reach the desired level of high. The food industry knows that processed but hyper-palatable food acts as a drug to the brain, impairing the frontal cortex which controls decision-making and discipline, so they try to create food that will make consumers feel that “bliss point” and crave even more junk food. Dr. Peeke has worked with registered dieticians to outline a plan in her book “The Hunger Fix” (link below) to empower people to switch out processed food with natural and whole foods and allow the brain to shift back to a healthy balance of active receptors so that people can adjust to feeling a natural high from eating healthy. While the first step of recovery is to eliminate processed foods from home, work, and your shopping list, a crucial second step is to seek help from a registered dietician and/or support and accountability from family and friends to get back into a healthy balance. A key to the recovery process from food addiction is to understand why food has this power over the person, and Dr. Peeke has found that it normally stems from some type of childhood or adolescent trauma, where food was the only life situation that the person could control, so they sought pleasure and safe haven there.  A helpful exercise for someone wondering if they have a tendency toward food addiction is to honestly answer these two questions: If I consume this food/beverage, will I feel out of control? If I consume this food/beverage, will I feel shame, blame, or guilt? If the answer to these questions is “yes”, you should take a step back and evaluate the foods you are eating and seek a change. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast is Dr. Louise Stanger, a clinician, interventionist, author, and trainer specializing in the grief and loss experienced by the family members of an individual who dies of an opioid overdose. Since nearly all overdoses occur somewhere other than the hospital, there is not much scientific research on the opiate epidemic. We do know that in 2016, 155 people per day died of overdoses, and for every one of those people, at least four family members were affected. In addition to these overdoses, 88,000 people died in alcohol-related incidents in 2016. Families often approach Louise for an intervention for their loved one after they have tried everything else they can think of, and Louise uses the intervention to encourage systemic change in the addict’s life. Addiction is a disease which is treatable, despite the stigma attached to it that claims otherwise. Grief looks different for everyone; it could involve shame, casting/placing blame, embarrassment, relief, isolation, anxiety, and even feeling unworthy to mourn their loss. Family members often feel that they did too much to enable their loved one’s addiction or they did not do enough to encourage them to leave the addiction behind. The most helpful thing you can do to help someone experiencing this loss is to be there for them, to call them, bring them meals, help them run errands, babysit so they can have a few minutes to themselves, and listen to them. The best thing to do if you are experiencing this loss is to know that you are not alone and seek help in whatever form you feel comfortable. After experiencing the sudden death of a loved one, often the first person that family members interact with is the funeral director, coroner, or police officer, so it is imperative that these professionals have some training in dealing with this traumatic grief. Additionally, Louise believes that treatment centers and faith-based organizations must provide programs and support to these families as they cope with their loss. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast is Colleen Koncilja, a counselor based in the Chicago area who specializes in gambling addictions. Shortly after a casino riverboat became a permanent fixture just blocks away from her practice’s office in Elgin, Illinois, the town recognized that compulsive gambling would become an increasing problem and they gave Colleen’s team funding to assist the population who would suffer from this behavioral addiction. Problematic gambling, also referred to as compulsive or pathologic gambling, can begin when there is a progression in the amount and/or frequency of the gambling, gambling becomes consuming of other aspects of life, the individual does not do it for recreation anymore but to fulfill a need, and the individual has to start lying about where they have been and what they have been doing. Action gamblers become addicted to the euphoria or high that they feel when they are performing well and other people at the casino are recognizing their success, while escape gamblers are seeking to numb or escape anxiety, depression, grief, or loss by disconnecting with the real world. Much like substance use disorder and sex addictions, problematic gambling provides a behavior for the individual to process their emotional traumas or anxieties. Though most insurance companies do not recognize gambling addictions as something that their plans should cover, a significant portion of gambling addicts reach out for professional help at the urging of their family members, the criminal justice system, or out of sheer desperation. During this process, the counselor can help the individual process what benefits they feel that they gain from gambling and determine alternate ways to achieve these goals, such as coping skills, accountability relationships, or other resources available.  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast is Jonathan Horowitz, founder and director of the San Francisco Stress and Anxiety Center. Jonathan is a clinical psychologist who studied anxiety research in graduate school before transitioning to being a clinician and opening the Stress and Anxiety Center. It is a misconception that anxiety is always a bad thing; in fact, our minds were built to experience healthy anxiety when our bodies sense that they need to be alert to their surroundings. Anxiety starts to become a problem when we cross the line from heeding the warnings of our anxiety and benefiting from it to worrying about our anxiety and taking steps to try to get rid of it. A significant number of Johnathan’s clients are high-functioning, high-achieving individuals who may be having a difficult time coping with the pressures of their careers. These individuals might develop behaviors like procrastination, avoidance, or even developing an addiction of some kind in order to numb the anxiety that they are feeling. Anxiety can also be the result of giving up an addiction because the individual does not know what to do in place of their previous addiction. Jonathan’s advice to those dealing with problematic anxiety is to (1) connect your change in behavior to something that is powerfully meaningful to you, and (2) establish goals and values for your life that involve emotional and cognitive steps or milestones. The goals can be achieved through mindfulness meditation training, breath work, cognitive restructuring, or other practices as directed by a clinician. Above all, it is crucial to know that anxiety, whether it is manifested in panic attacks, phobias, or social anxiety, is treatable, so seek the help you need. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, Curt Widhalm shared with us on his area of expertise, teens, and self-harm. Curt has observed two types of teens who are engaging in self-harm behaviors: (1) those struggling to find the opportunity to express their emotions due to their busy schedules, and (2) those whose friend groups are engaging in self-harm behavior for attention-seeking. In general, self-harm behaviors, which could include cutting, burning, or over-exercise, are quick ways for teens to release their emotions in a very visual way because they are often too busy to adequately learn how to deal with their stress or trauma. They could also act this way because their living environment does not allow them the space to express their emotions or release their negative energy in healthy ways, perhaps due to the demeanors of their parents or complications in their living situation. In Curt’s experience, a main source of stress for teens who engage in self-harm is the feeling that they will never be good enough for their parents, whether their parents are pushy and over-involved or very withdrawn. Signs that parents can watch for in their teens are emotional and physical withdrawal, explaining away repeated injuries, covering up their arms and legs even in very warm weather, intense emotions such as rage or anxiety, and their teen talking about other people who engage in self-harm. If and when parents notice these behaviors, they often have their teen begin seeing a therapist to address these behaviors. A therapist will primarily aim to establish a good connection with the teen by normalizing their behavior and just listening to them as they begin to open up about their emotions, and they will begin to equip the teen with healthy ways to cope with their feelings in an attempt to have the teen abandon their self-harming tendencies. To anyone struggling with self-harming behaviors, Curt encourages you to reach out for help by finding someone you can trust who will listen without judgment as you share your feelings. There are healthy ways to cope with your daily stresses and emotions, and it may be helpful for you to take a step back from a few of your activities to provide yourself with more capacity to cope. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, my guest is Kay Simmeth, a Marriage and Family Therapist certified in EMDR. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a type of bilateral stimulation that activates both sides of the body and both sides of the brain. This dual action process of tapping on the client’s knees back and forth, listening to music or sounds that alternate between headphones, or feeling vibrations in alternating hands, the frontal cortex and the amygdala are both activated, which allows the client to access the portion of the brain where the trauma is stored and then shift those negative beliefs or cognitions to positive beliefs.  Without being able to access both sides of the brain simultaneously, the client will just continue to feel the negative beliefs related to the trauma and not be able to go any further by consciously and logically thinking about the situation. Doing so through the 8-phase process of EMDR allows the client to “melt” the trauma so that they can still access the memory of the trauma, but the intensity of their emotions and reactions about the trauma become less immediate and significant. The trauma simply becomes an “event” in their lives rather than something that impacts everything they experience. Going through EMDR takes the emotional weight out of the memory in the present and frees the client up for a brighter future. Kay uses EMDR with 98% of her patients and she has found that the changes her clients exhibit stick more than with other techniques. Through this type of adaptive information processing model, the length of time or number of sessions that the client needs to go through EMDR depends on the proximity, length, and depth of the trauma in their life, but all clients will see change along the way.  Kay’s advice to those experiencing trauma is to remember that they do not have to go through it alone and that there are plenty of resources for them to seek help.  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susanne Jessee is with us today to talk about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). TMS is a relatively new treatment, at least in the United States, for individuals who are struggling with depression. Depression is often present in addiction and TMS is something that may help people that are struggling with addiction and treatment-resistant depression. Susanne Jesse is the CEO and founder of Anew Era TMS in Huntington Beach, California. To start, Susanne breaks down what TMS stands for. Transcranial means “beneath the cranium,” and magnetic stimulation means “stimulation using magnets.” The technology behind MRI magnets is used in TMS. But the big difference between TMS and MRI magnets is that the TMS magnetic technology creates a field of energy that is fairly intense that penetrates beneath the cranium into the brain. TMS focuses in on the mood center of the brain that is responsible for the depressive symptoms. That area is stimulated to wake up those neurons again so that they are able to fire efficiently and transmit the neurotransmitters across the synaptic gap more efficiently. If you look at an MRI of a depressed brain, you will see that it just doesn’t light up. The neurons are not firing. After TMS treatment, you can see that it is lit up with all the magnificent colors as it is in people that are not depressed. So that term, depression, comes from the fact that the neurons are depressed. They are not functioning correctly. What is a person that is treatment resistant? Susanne tells us that a large percentage of the population are non-responders to psychiatric medications. These medications are not an exact science so a patient may have to try many different drugs to find one that works for them. Susanne explains that her objective is not to take patients off of their medications. TMS helps those medications to work better because the medicine can’t work if your neurons aren’t firing. TMS stimulates those neurons to fire which makes the medication work more efficiently. In some instances, patients are then able to reduce the number of medications they take or the volume in which they receive them. For patients that have tried psychotherapy, and medications, and they haven’t seen the results that they are looking for, TMS may be very beneficial. Even though TMS has been used in Europe and Asia for more than 20 years, it is now being used in the United States. This use is mainly due to TMS being approved by the FDA for depression, but it can also be used to treat conditions like PTSD, OCD, anxiety, smoking cessation. It has also been used to address issues like dementia and Alzheimers. This cutting-edge technology has so many different opportunities for treatment that weren't available before TMS coming to the United States. TMS is completely noninvasive. Patients can drive themselves in, have a 45-minute treatment, and then drive themselves home. The only possible side effects are sometimes a mild headache. Susanne encourages people to come in for a free consultation and see the equipment. Her team of psychiatrists will do an overall assessment to see if this type of treatment is appropriate for you. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today our guest is board certified music therapist Amylynn Dimaano. She speaks to us today about music therapy and how music can help us deal with underlining issues in recovery. What is music therapy? Music therapy is the scientific use of music to effect a change of non-musical goals. It is not a music lesson, and Amylynn is not a music teacher. Music therapy isn’t about to learning music. Her goals are to help people through mental health therapy that are struggling with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, etc. Music therapy includes elements of traditional therapy as well, such as regulation, relaxation, communication, and accountability. In this therapy, she uses music to open up the wisdom of the individual. We need to use our entire brain to process music - jazz, rock-n-roll, classical, show tunes - to "hear" music you need to use both sides of your brain. Whereas in traditional therapy we mainly use the analytical side. When we add music to the mix we are automatically engaging the other side of the brain. Amylynn gives us an analogy: if you've ever broken a bone or been sore on one side of your body, the other side steps in to compensate and help, and adding music therapy is the same type of thing. On one side of our brains, we’re processing emotions and creativity and impulse control. Amylynn adds that these are the things that make someone struggling with addiction fantastic and challenging to work with. At the same time, we want to access the other side of the brain; this side tells us to slow down and think about our decisions. Our emotional wants are on one side of the brain while the other side deals with the more practical thought processes. When we affect both sides of the brain, we can effect change in a more helpful and meaningful fashion. So what does a session with Amylynn look like? As with most therapy, it depends on where that client is at and what their issues are. Amylynn offers individual therapy sessions using the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), named after Helen Bonny. Helen Bonny was an amazing music therapist and psychotherapist who programmed the music for the LSD trials of the late 60’s at the Maryland Psychiatric Institute. Bonny learned over time that people could have this same out of body, inner-wisdom, unconscious connection experiences without any drugs at all if the music were correctly programmed. With that, she spent the rest of her life creating this method. It involves a lot of classical music and relaxation techniques. Clients are welcomed to lay on a bed in Amylynn’s office, or sit in a chaise lounge, wherever they feel comfortable, and she picks the music program based on what the client is working on, where they are at in their recovery, and what they need. The GIM program is designed, Amylynn jokes, similarly to an LSD trip, where it takes you in slowly and then eventually opens up your mind, takes you to a peak, and then brings you back to a safe place. It can feel almost like dreaming, but she states that you are always in control. Many people feel changed after that. It can give us courage that we had not accessed before. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to this week's Addicted Mind podcast. Our guest today is the wonderfully humorous and informative Liz Dube, and she’s here to talk about healing our sexuality, and finding our sexual satisfaction once we’re in recovery from addiction. Liz is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist with a private practice in Long Beach and Huntington Beach, California. Most of her clients are looking to increase their levels of intimacy and improving sexual and relationship satisfaction. How does addiction impact our sexuality? Sometimes, clients meet with Liz before they have found a balance between obsessive and compulsive sexual behaviors, and they’re trying to figure out how to have satisfying sex. And other times, people are in recovery wondering how to have satisfying sex now that they’re sober. To feel uninhibited during sex, they often used a substance to numb uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. Some clients have a lack of comfort in sex, so when they use a substance or compulsive sexual behavior it makes it easier to have a sexual experience, but at the same time, they aren’t always present. Clients that are used to using a substance to feel more uninhibited during sex may have felt more comfortable communicating their wants and desires, but sober, they can find it scary to tell their partner what turns them on, or even to look them in the eye. In clients struggling with compulsive sexual behavior, they may have a part of their sexuality that they don't feel comfortable with sharing in a relationship that they care about. It can be hidden in their porn viewing, or maybe they are going outside of their relationship to fulfill the desires that they find uncomfortable to share. Liz helps clients by asking them what is keeping them from asking for what they want, and assessing the level of intimacy and the level of vulnerability they are having with their partner. And to assess whether or not they have realistic expectations. Sometimes clients are expecting their bodies to react in a way that is unrealistic. When clients are having sex with people they don't know very well, or they haven’t built a history of trust with, issues with erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, or an inability to orgasm, can be common. When you don’t know how a partner is going to react, it can be challenging to ask for what you want. Many people who struggle with addiction may have early attachment trauma, and it is sometimes difficult for them to regulate their emotions to be in an intimate relationship. These intimacy issues start to show up because they have a hard time connecting due to the intense emotionality. Liz explains that the first step in beginning this journey is to have a casual conversation with the client to get to know what has been going on in their life. Then giving the client permission to be in a place of open curiosity to figure out what they like and if they don't know what they want, then the conversation turns to answer that. Clients can ask themselves what excites them. What are your fears and worries? Understanding what our expectations are around sex and moving away from what we think sex should look like helps set realistic expectations around sex. Real sex is not like Hollywood movie sex. Human sexuality is complicated, should be explored organically, and in a safe environment. One of the key ideas is moving away from orgasm focused sex. It should be about exploring each other and enjoying each other. Have a pleasure session with yourself, or with your partner, without an expectation that your body is supposed to respond in any particular way. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TJ Woodward is with us today to talk about a system of care that he has developed called conscious recovery. Conscious recovery is a groundbreaking and practical approach to viewing and treating addiction. It’s how we see addiction and addiction treatment through the spiritual lens. Your spiritual life is a big part of recovery and finding a place of calm within yourself is a critical stage. TJ has worked, with remarkable results, for over a decade in spiritual care at top-tier treatment centers, and he has been in recovery for 31 years. TJ explains that conscious recovery started with a question: What might happen if I were to view all of his clients through the lens of wholeness imperfection rather than looking through the lens to see whats broken. Typically in western medicine, we look at symptoms and behaviors and try to eradicate them. Addiction is quite different. Once we view addiction as the problem or the client as broken in some way, we have limited the capacity of the client's ability to heal. In this mindset, we can look at the addiction, not as a problem but the solution to something. Once we view it at the answer, we can start asking the question “What is below that?” Conscious recovery is a program that helps us to get down to the more in-depth causes that are driving the addictive behavior. When a client sees that they have been using their addiction as a solution, and now it’s no longer working, they can break free from that. TJ shares his personal story of closing off and shutting down as a seven-year-old boy. Before that, he was a happy child, in awe of the world. Something happened when he was 7, and he closed down and shut off. There was not a specific event that happened but he found himself shutting down, and he did not find relief until he discovered drugs and alcohol at the age of 13. He recognizes that his addictions were a solution that worked in his life. They didn’t work long term, but they were the band-aid for some deeper wounds. That is what set the framework for how he looks at addiction. When clients understand that, there is a profound shift in themselves, and they no longer see their addiction as the problem, but what was it hiding underneath. TJ is quick to remind us that conscious recovery is looking through the spiritual lens. He does not deny that there is a physical or mental aspect that needs to be addressed as well. Conscious recovery is meant to assist someone and work with whatever therapy or program they prefer. In breaking the cycle of addiction, the first step is creating internal and external safety. Some clients need to go to treatment in a sober living environment to feel that sense of external safety. Learning to be in our bodies and to identify whats happening internally, and the connection with the thoughts and emotions, so that we can tolerate being with ourselves, will help to create our internal safety. TJ encourages anyone looking for the right clinician or therapist to ask questions. Ask how they view addiction, and how they see healing from addiction. It’s not going to look the same for everyone and if you don’t find the right person, keep looking. The main idea is to find someone that creates a safe environment for you. We end with a message of encouragement to reach out and get help. There are many excellent recovery programs and support groups to choose from. You alone must do it, but you don’t need to do it alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a fantastic guest today. Dr. Tracy Zemansky is here to speak about the fascinating topic of psychological assessment, and how it can help you or your client on a journey of healing. What is a psychological assessment? It’s not what we typically see in the movies. It is a way of evaluating a particular part of an individual and trying to understand it more. To get as much information as possible psychological tests, interviews, questionnaires, behavioral observations, and sometimes collateral interviews, which are interviews with people that know the individual well, are used. Tracy explains that this process is like being a detective looking into someone's personality. Searching with the client, and possibly their therapist, at any concerns that may be getting in the way of their goals. We give the example of a client that is stuck and may not be able to gain long-term sobriety, or they may not be able to form the long-term relationships they want. Going through the process of psychological assessment may help to find more details that can be helpful. The tests Tracy uses differ significantly from client to client. A psychological assessment for a client that is working on their relationship difficulties would look very different from a client that is, for instance, struggling with alcohol addiction. Each assessment is created for the individual client. These tests can be anything from true or false or multiple choice questions which are scored by mathematical algorithms, to Rorschach style inkblot tests to observe how the client reacts to the unknown, and it is also scored in a particular way. How the client interacts in the room during the test is helpful as well. The results of these tests, the behavior of the client during testing, and what they and their therapist says are all used to getting a broad and revealing picture for the assessment. Psychological testing cannot predict the future and cannot tell us what caused our pasts. But testing can help us make links which can be useful in therapy. Setting concrete goals and asking questions that can be answered is essential. Going through a psychological assessment and getting this level of detail can help you set out a roadmap to pursue the life you want in recovery. It can speed up the therapeutic process by pointing out the roadblocks that have been in your way. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are excited to have mental health therapist, and Air Force veteran, Megan Fenyoe as our guest today as we discuss trauma, addiction, and changing your mindset toward a more positive life. Megan has been a mental health therapist for over 15 years, primarily focusing in the areas of trauma and substance abuse. As an officer in the Air Force, Megan provided mental health services to veterans and active duty members mostly in the field of substance abuse. Most recently she has worked with patients in a hospital struggling with addiction. While working with patients throughout her career, she has focused on mindset and how your mindset can change the course of our lives. To help in her personal and professional life, Megan has developed some great mindset tools to help her get “unstuck” in those moments when life gets you down. We discuss what it means to have a positive mindset. We all have negative thoughts that alter our mood, and we all tend to say more negative than positive things about ourselves. Megan shares an incident she encountered with a guidance counselor who told her not to go to college, and also her experience of going through a painful divorce. Having many different mindset tools in our “tool-belt” is very important because one method is not going to work for every situation, especially when it comes to addiction and trauma. When we don’t have these mindset tools to help us through difficult times, we can turn to substances so that we don’t have to feel the pain of the trauma we have experienced. That instant gratification makes our hurt go away, but only for a moment. Finding the tools and the support that works for you is essential. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest today is Pete Finger from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In this episode, he shares his recovery journey and how the support group Smart Recovery helped him to overcome addiction and helped him to enjoy the life he lives today by helping others through the same program that helped him. Mr. Finger had struggled with alcohol addiction for 20-30 years. Growing up in what he describes as an “addictive family” where cocktail parties were a big part of their lives, he used alcohol to cope with the trauma of abuse by a teacher. His addiction continued to escalate through college and beyond. An intervention at work helped Pete get into recovery. Pete’s history of trauma is not uncommon with people who struggle with addiction. To cope they find behaviors or substances to help them feel better and it slowly becomes unmanageable until we learn to stop beating yourself up and allow yourself to recover. Pete was fortunate enough to find a Smart Recovery facility in San Diego called Practical Recovery. It’s founder, Dr. Tom Horvath, developed their program through evidence-based practices and the following four tenants: building and maintaining motivation coping with urges managing thoughts feelings and behaviors living a balanced life These methods have worked well for Pete, and he has been sober for three years. thefix.com is the website that he used to find a positive place with individual attention and Smart Recovery was what he needed. Pete gives all the credit to Smart Recovery. Pete is trained as a Smart Recovery facilitator and has been working with their program for three years. Pete gives us an idea of what a typical Smart Recovery meeting looks like: There is an introduction and talk about what Smart Recovery is, and what it isn’t. Then they go around the room for “check-ins” which take almost 100% of the rest of the meeting time. Individuals take turns talking about their current struggles, how their week has been, relationships, and the raw emotions that come along with sobriety. In these meetings, cross-talk is encouraged. Individuals are encouraged to share their experiences as they relate to others and Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marnie Breecker from the Center for Relational Healing in Los Angeles joined me for the second part of our discussion on relational and betrayal trauma. She walked us through the Six Dimensions of Relational and Betrayal Trauma as well as the steps in the process of partner healing. The Six Dimensions are: Shattered Inner World – In this initial dimension, the four core beliefs (the world is benign and a source of pleasure; the world is meaningful, controllable, and just; people are trustworthy and worth relating to; and the self is worthy, lovable, good, and competent) are threatened by the traumatic event(s) of betrayal. This has been compared to the trauma of finding your house burned down and losing all of your belongings. Life Crisis – The disparity between belief and reality that develops after the discovery of the addiction causes the trauma symptoms discussed in Part One of our discussion with Marnie in Episode 21. This dimension can include wondering who to tell and where to get help, making childcare arrangements, handling other aspects of daily life that have been shaken, and the uncertainty of whether the threat of betrayal continues. Existential Trauma – In this dimension, the partner loses faith in their own ability to make decisions, questions the core beliefs around which they have created meaning, begins to approach this “new world” with distrust and fear, and experiences damage to the relationship with self. This can be the dimension that takes the longest to heal during the process. Emotional Trauma – This involves the patterns of emotional abuse (lying, deceiving, manipulating) used by the addict to keep their secret. Emotional trauma can be overt (rage, yelling, etc.) or covert (sophisticated attack patterns in which the anger is less obvious because the addict casts blame or makes the partner feel crazy, which can be known as “gaslighting”). Sexual Trauma – Neglecting to address the partner’s sexual trauma makes later restoration and healing more challenging, so it is crucial for their feelings to be validated and their responses to be normalized. Relational Trauma – In this dimension of trauma, the addict must build the skill of empathy and understand that relational healing will take a lot of time and patience. There are no shortcuts to relational healing after the drastic rupture of betrayal that has occurred. The steps for partner healing are contingent on their basic background: Do they have children? Are they married to the addict who betrayed them? Do they have a history of abuse? Do they have a mental illness that will need to be factored into their healing process? The first step for partner healing is to reach out for help.  The second step is for the partner to seek out resources such as strategies for coping, meeting with a doctor if they are in need of medication, and joining a support group.  The third step is for the partner to come up with a list of what they need in order to feel safe in the relationship if the individuals have decided to restore their relationship. The fourth step is for the partner to identify the losses they have suffered because of the betrayal so that they can adequately grieve or mourn and be able to move on. Finally, the partner’s counseling and healing process should involve different modalities which will heal the nervous system. For more information about the “Helping Couples Heal” 2-day workshop focusing on the Six Dimensions discussed in this podcast as well as providing tools to heal the relationship hosted by the Center for Relational Healing, visit http://lacrh.com/workshops-and-groups/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest today is Marnie Breecker from the Center for Relational Healing in Los Angeles. In this first episode of a two-part series on the topic of relational and betrayal trauma, we will be defining what this type of trauma looks like and its impacts on both partners in the relationship. As a sex addiction therapist and a marriage and family therapist, Marnie is an expert identifying and assessing the traumatic impact of the discovery of infidelity or betrayal on relationships as a whole and on the individuals involved. She shares with us that there are two types of trauma that affected partners go through: the trauma of discovery and the trauma of their own response to the betrayal. It is very rare for addicts to come forward for help on their own, so it is likely that the partner has discovered the betrayal either intentionally or unintentionally through their partner’s computer history, text messages, or receipts and bank statements. Upon this initial discovery of betrayal, the partner can exhibit symptoms of depression, shock, anger, hypervigilance, isolating behavior, lifestyle changes such as beginning to smoke or drink, and a general questioning of everything they thought was true before this discovery. When the partner’s expectations are violated, they lose trust in their partner as well as themselves, and they begin seeking safety in a variety of ways because they feel that they cannot trust their own senses.   After the initial trauma of discovery has run its course, partners often go through a time of trauma about their own response to the betrayal, extending their questioning of everything they thought was true as well as noticing ways that their lifestyle may have changed during the process. Common reactions to betrayal include obsession, depression, anger, hypervigilance, and rumination on the betrayal, and these reactions can cause the partners to lose faith in themselves and their abilities to make rational decisions. Marnie identified the five dimensions of trauma as emotional, sexual, existential, life crisis, and relational, so the healing process must encompass each of these dimensions. When reconciliation begins between the two partners in the relationship, it is important for the recovering addict to put in the effort to support their partner and not exasperate the trauma that they have gone through. There is always opportunity for rupture or repair, and even in the recovery process there are triggers that could unearth aspects of the trauma that have or have not yet been dealt with. Though this is a tough journey, it is important to remember that it will not always be this way, there are plenty of resources to help heal from relational betrayal, and there is hope. To find out more about Marnie and the Center for Relational Healing, visit lacrh.org or call (323) 860-9999. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest today is Chris Shorrock, a psychologist in private practice in Medicine Hat. Our point of discussion is the opioid addiction and opioid epidemic, and Chris understands this topic very well. He’s got experience in treating addicted disorders in different treatment centers that he’s been working with after being a registered psychologist. He’s also worked at the methadone maintenance treatment program. So we can certify he’s got first-hand experience dealing with opioid addiction. An opioid is a powerful form of painkiller that’s known to suppress very intense pain. Nothing can compare to how effective opioid can be at masking or lowering pain. It must be noted that there’s a considerable difference between opioid and other forms of drugs like cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, etc. However, opioid does not in any way help to heal a particular disease but really what it does is it numbs your feelings so you won't feel pain intensely. It's been puzzling to psychology practitioners to understand why opioid patients become so addicted even after healing. Recent research has shown it is the turn-on of addictive genes and it goes from using the drug to numb pain to abuse and ultimately addiction, which is hard to overcome. When you think of opioid addiction, your mind goes straight to the homeless on the streets, but there are people of all socio-economic status, race, a religion that are dealing with addictive disorders with an opioid. Some people can be from wealthy families, and that can make the issue much more difficult to treat because there's always a form of denial with them. Opioid addiction is now an epidemic. People are dropping dead today than any other time in history. A probable cause of this is that now opioids are produced chemically. Fentanyl is a fully synthetic compound, which means it's not using parts of the opioid poppy or plants anymore. Refining opioids made them even more powerful and refined down, which is useful but can dangerous. With these new drugs, some addictive properties were underreported and overprescribed. Oxycodone was changed to Oxyneo to try and become tamper-resistant such that you couldn’t snort, or crush them, or inject them. It is so powerful that changing the mode of ingestion made it a whole different drug. It's effective in suppressing pain but incredibly dangerous, and this is what led to allegations that the pharmaceutical responsible for it knew about how addictive this drug could become but just gave it out as a safe alternative. It’s been discovered that taking the same amount of opioid over a given amount of time will start to have a lesser effect which can become an issue even in a regimented regular opioid use in problems like chronic pain. Although there are other forms of treatment, the oldest and probably the best is taking all the opioid drugs, trade them all in and get a monitored, measured, regular dose of methadone. This can control the withdrawal symptoms, and it can also withdraw a considerable amount of perceived pain. It's not an easy fix, though, but it's helpful. However, one thing that Christopher has found in his practice is that the treatment differs between teenagers and adults. For teenagers, you need to have a form of active outdoor activity that leads to relationships if you want a chance of having a therapeutic relationship with them. By all means, if you know anyone dealing with any addiction it might be friends, family, or even yourself, just come out of the shadows and ask for help. There are different kinds of support out there, and you only have to make an effort to know what will work for you. Not all routes you use will work, but don't give up, try something different. You can get your life back and live the kind of life you want to ultimately. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we talk about sacrificial helpers’ syndrome, great for people who are in the helper profession or volunteer helpers. Sacrificial help syndrome can be defined as people giving more than they have for the people they serve. Our guest today is Katie Vernoy. A licensed family therapist, a coach, and consultant with helpers based in Torrance, California. As she says, she helps helpers to help better. Most people who’ve had traumatic experiences that completely changed their lives can end up with this syndrome because they just want others to get through it better than they did and in between that they don't think of taking care of themselves. For therapists, they put their own needs at bay and focus on what other people need and how they can help them. Working past normal working hours, neglecting own self-care practices, scheduling in clients during personal time, foregoing meals just to help someone out are mostly signs that you're sacrificing yourself too much. Katie’s experience came about when she was working in public mental health. She worked extra hours, focused more on her staff and clients, and she burned out because she was so passionate about what she was doing to the point of neglecting self-care. After going out solo, she realized it was important for helpers to take care of themselves because if not, eventually, the help they offer won't be available. Within the profession, it’s often expected of you to be overly benevolent out of the goodness of your heart, so when you ask for money, or set limits and say no sometimes there can be a backlash from the society. It's expected of you to do this. However, part of your helping has to have some limits because you need to empower people to start their recovery on their own. Access if the client’s emergency call is a crisis or if it's possible for them to problem-solve on their own and practice self-soothing techniques. Yes, it’s hard to say no to a client at a critical moment, but learning to set limits helps tremendously in improving your service. Most often than not, when you started feeling as though your clients should cancel on appointments or grumpy, or you feel fatigued and burned out, it's a sign that you’ve started or are giving too much already. At this point, you can't care much anymore, and it's a clear sign that you should take some time off and do some consultation. Never risk your recovery for someone else’s. The first recovery of the syndrome is recognizing you’ve got a problem. You should then address it efficiently and start making time for yourself. Set aside some time to do some mandatory extracurricular activities, e.g., meeting up a friend, shopping, surfing, etc. Make sure you hold yourself accountable or find an accountability partner. Accountability will help you make better choices and get some well-deserved rest. You're valuable, take care of yourself. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the Addicted Mind Podcast. Today, we are delighted to bring you the wisdom and expertise of Dr. Adina Silvestri, EdD, LPC as she talks about her research on women seeking addiction treatment. Dr. Adina Silvestri is a licensed Professional Counselor in Richmond, Virginia and the founder of Life Cycles Counseling. One of her specialties is helping women that are struggling with substance abuse recover from shame to find hope and healing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are discussing a new immersive VR experience that’s teaching teenagers about addiction. Elvar Sig has transformed personal tragedy into an innovative and generous project, a tool to build awareness and generate conversations. He shares how addiction has been a force in his own life. He walks us through the VR journey he’s created, and what he hopes young people will take away from the experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we talk with Anthony Ramynke about attachment, empathy, and early childhood experiences. He tells us why early childhood experiences are the root cause bringing people into therapy, and what this means for the process. The therapist’s job is to attune empathically to the client, giving them the building blocks to heal. By creating a safe, intimate relationship – perhaps for the first time in the client’s life – the therapist allows the client to develop new ways of relating to themselves and others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Groce stops by to talk about sobriety, dual diagnosis, and the recovery support group LifeRing. For 10 years, Jason was an on again off again alcoholic. He would stay sober for periods of time or attempt to moderate. Eventually, stressors would pile up and he would start drinking. He tried support groups but didn’t find them helpful. 3 and a half years ago, a social worker asked him what he was going to do differently. It wasn’t his first time to the hospital, but he was committed to making it his last. He agreed that he needed to find a community to stay sober. LifeRing got Jason’s attention. He attended a meeting, and the format worked for him. The philosophy of secularism and personal empowerment spoke to Jason. He’d always struggled with the spiritual components of other programs, and the emphasis on powerlessness and surrender. Most of all, he liked the more conversational structure of the meeting. Each meeting, participants are invited to share about their last week. It can be directly related to sobriety, but it doesn’t have to be. Crosstalk is encouraged. People interrupt to ask questions, offer support, or share similar experiences. Two concepts undergird LifeRing’s philosophy: the 3 S’s and the addict self – sober self-conflict. The 3 S’s are sobriety, secularity, and self-help. Sobriety because LifeRing is an abstinence-based program. Secularity because LifeRing promotes models of recovery generated by human effort. And self-help because LifeRing believes that each individual’s journey to sobriety is their own, and the role of the group is to reinforce each individual’s motivation and efforts. The conflict between the Addict Self and the Sober Self represents LifeRing’s belief about the nature of addiction recovery. The process of recovery involves strengthening and reinforcing the sober self. The addict self will always be there, but we can do everything in our power to amplify our desire to live a fulfilled, sober life. In this episode we also talk about: The intervention that led to Jason’s recovery Atheism and recovery Why LifeRing’s meeting format and absence of an organized doctrine are important to Jason The differences between LifeRing, 12-step programs, and other peer support groups Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are talking with Megan Peterson of 2nd Chance Counseling. 2nd Chance is an internet-based addiction treatment provider. They have therapists in every state working to make treatment accessible, flexible, and cost-effective. Duane and Megan talk about the advantages and disadvantages of this new treatment model, who it’s for, and how it came to be. 2nd Chance conducts therapy by video chat. The flexibility this offers creates new possibilities for treatment that is impossible for traditional outpatient clinics. Patients can communicate with their therapist earlier and later. Appointments can be any length the patient and therapist agree on. The flexibility and relative ease of meeting by video instead of in-person mean that appointments can often be set on shorter notice. Patients can utilize their therapist when difficulty arises, instead of waiting until the next scheduled appointment. Most of all, being able to access therapy without traveling eliminates the barriers that prevent people from getting the help they need. Digital communication is a bigger part of our culture than ever, and much of human connection today is digitally enabled. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part of the work we do to treat addiction is to work through the other preexisting conditions and environmental factors that could contribute to addictive behavior. Those who suffer from a co-morbid condition will notice that addiction recovery is much harder to treat without also addressing the other condition. Recently, we have more insight than ever before how Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) plays a role in Sex Addiction in particular. Today, our guest is Dr. John Sealy, who has been an advocate and forerunner in how ADD and Addiction influence one another. As we learn more and more about the treatment of ADD, we can also change how we treat Sex Addiction.    Dr. Sealy is passionate about ensuring that people get the help they need. He does not treat addiction as a single issue but looks at the whole patient to assess the care they need. Due to the inherent stigma and shame that many sufferers carry around Sex Addiction, it has historically been difficult for these people to receive treatment. Dr. Sealy is working to change that. We are excited to bring to you today all the latest research, methodology, and new insight that will be liberating for many in the recovery process. This will be an episode that is helpful and encouraging to those who are in recovery. Help and hope are available for you. More to learn in this episode:  How our understanding and controversy of Sex Addiction has changed since the study was pioneered.  Understanding the diagnosis of Sexual Addiction.  The co-morbid conditions that we see playing a major role in Sex Addiction recovery.  How the unique cognitive hallmarks of ADD make it a likely co-morbid condition for addiction.  Resources Work with Dr. Sealy: https://novusmindfullife.com  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addictions can infiltrate and influence so many aspects of relationships, and affairs and betrayal are no exceptions. Here to speak to her experiences as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist is Katie Leminux. Katie fell into working with couples in affair and betrayal recovery because she loved to see the huge potential for improvement. Time and again, she realized that addictions of all kinds play into affairs and why they happen or as a result of the trauma.  We as therapists can provide the structure and framework for couples to work through intense, emotional struggles. Katie believes in the power of the Gottman Couple Counseling Model to help couples reclaim their relationship and recover fully from any addictions. Today is your opportunity to see the hope that Katie sees, and to really understand how a complex recovery is really possible.    In this episode we also discuss:  How Katie “fell into” working with couples.  The Gottman Couples Counseling Model.  Changing the language of an affair to make it easier to talk about.  The essential structures that help couples work through the difficult problems in an affair.  Therapists have the power to help couples work through trauma as well as the unique types of hurt emotions that stem from betrayal.  Learn the three phases of reclaiming a hurt relationship.  The role of addiction in betrayal.  Strategies that couples use to rebuild their relationship.    Resources http://familyandcouplescounseling.com/   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, I am delighted to bring you the wisdom and expertise of Eli Holmes. Dr. Holmes is a Portland-based Psychologist who is just as passionate as we are about research-based treatment. Today, Dr. Holmes is going to bring to light some of the amazing insights therapists can gain from using Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Therapy. The REBT model is perfect not just for individuals struggling with addiction, but also those with emotional swings, obsessive thoughts, and mood issues.  In this episode, we will talk about the fascinating history of REBT and why it is such a powerful tool. We will get to parse out why we have an emotional reaction to certain events, and how we can help our patients cope with emotional reactiveness. As we continue to arm ourselves with the latest techniques and research, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of those battling addiction. You do not want to miss out on today’s episode.    Today we will also learn:  What is REBT, and why is it effective in addiction treatment? Examples of REBT in action.  The ways that we as therapists can utilize techniques to help our clients to build emotional tolerance. The unique emotional challenges we face with addiction therapy.    Resources REBT worksheet: Dr. Eli Holmes’ email. Contact him with any questions at all! psychologyportland@gmail.com    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every week on the Addicted Mind Podcast, we seek to share methods and insights from mental health professionals that are paving the way to success and recovery. This week, Dr. Nazanin Moali is bringing her insights to the podcast on Moderation Management models as opposed to Abstinence Models. Are you ready to challenge what you know about recovery models? Is there more out there than a 12 Step Program?      Dr. Moali is a Sex Therapist and Addiction Specialist. Through her work with her practice, Oasis 2 Care Center, Dr. Moali has learned that the Abstinence Model for overcoming addiction is just one of the many modes professionals can use during treatment. By keeping the client’s needs and goals at the center of her practice, Dr. Moali has seen success in Harm Reduction as well as Moderation Management. Now, she is taking her knowledge to the next step as she releases episodes of her own podcast, Sexology. Dr. Moali’s knowledge is vast, and we are excited to share her perspective and expertise with you this week.   Also in this episode:  Defining the difference between Harm Reduction Model and Abstinence Model treatment.  Diving into an example of how Moderation Management can be used to battle addiction.  The distinct cultural differences between how treatment models are used in the US and Europe.  There are advantages to seeking out a private practice for treatment.  Dr. Moali shares her assessment methods for deciding if moderation model is right for her patient.  Places clients can go for Moderation Management rather than Abstinence.  Examples of Harm Reduction models.    Resources Dr. Moali’s Blog Post Addictedmind.com/10   Oasis 2 Care Website http://oasis2care.com/ Listen to Dr. Moali’s Sexology Podcast    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As therapists, we hear about Motivational Interviewing (MI) all the time. It's a technique that therapists can use to bring forward the ambivalence that a person with an addiction has, towards resolving that addiction. It's well regarded and it's a fairly well-researched intervention for people with addictions, but still, a lot of the people looking for treatment, or even those who have been in treatment, don't really seem to know what it is, or why we would use it in a treatment setting.  Today's guest, Dr Tony Mele, is the Chief Clinical Officer at Sovereign Health. He's on the show today because he came to our agency recently and did an incredible training on Motivational Interviewing, where he was able to really go in depth and look at how Motivational Interviewing actually works with the brain, to bring about change. Listen in to find out more about what Motivational Interviewing is all about and how it can be used effectively, within the treatment setting.    Show highlights:   Dr Mele gives some important information about Motivational Interviewing. Dr Mele explains the ambivalence within people with addictions. Many people with addictions will describe a loss, when asked about what life without addiction would be like for them. MI could be described as a language, to help the patient to begin looking at their own behaviour differently. Dr Mele describes in practical terms, how one would converse with a patient, using MI to bring their contradictions to the forefront. Dr Mele explains cognitive dissonance, which you will wind up facing, as a therapist using MI. If cognitive dissonance doesn't come up in therapy, you will maintain the addiction, so as a therapist, you want the patient to feel the discomfort that it brings. Working with the patient in the decision-making process. The link between the emotional centre (the amygdala) and the memory centre (the hippocampus) in the brain.  Addiction produces a positive feeling, so as a therapist, you need to help the people to begin to think differently. How MI differs from the 'old school' treatment.  Dopamine and addicted behaviour.  The assumptions that are associated with the MI technique. There is a fair amount of cognitive skill, which is required on the part of the patient, to effectively use MI. Some examples of Motivational Interviewing questions.   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to The Addicted Mind podcast. This week, we are talking with Dr. Jessica Naughton, a Clinical Psychologists who has years of experience working with combat veterans dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Many veterans struggle with addiction that also suffer from PTSD. Now we know that PTSD can be one of the underlying causes of substance abuse since addictions spring up as a way to deal with PTSD symptoms.  So how can we care for veterans as they navigate PTSD symptoms? The good news is that the stigma around mental health disorders is rapidly changing. Now more than ever before, there are people like Dr. Naughton who have the resources to help veterans and their unique experiences of trauma and addiction. Help is here! Listen to see just how much we can do for our Veternas.    We talk a lot about PTSD, but what exactly is it?  Trauma for combat veterans cannot be processed in the moment.  Symptoms were actually an adaptive change to help veterans survive.  Diving in on why certain people deal with PTSD and others do not.  Treatment is becoming less stigmatized.  Dr. Naughton explains why trauma focused and addiction focused therapy is a delicate balance.  Learn the difference between exposure and cognitive therapy treatments.  If you or a Veteran you know is struggling, go to the VA. They have the resources and the systems in place to help you.    If you are a Veteran struggling with PTSD, please reach out to The Veteran’s Crisis Line at https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/   The Crisis Line Phone number is 1-800-273-8255      Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anyone who has worked in the field of addiction recovery will know that recovery is a long road, and often we as therapists and counselors will need to find ways to engage our client’s sense of thought and endurance. The work of Virginia Satir has been extremely influential in addiction recovery, and this week’s guest, Stephen Buckbee, has been using Satir’s methods successfully for years now.  Stephen joins Duane Osterlind on the Addicted Mind this week to explain the transformative power of embracing change. Therapy, he says, is a process that the counselor and therapist can enter into with their client. Rather than striving to “fix” a recovering addict, we have the power to generate a place of safety and self-discovery. Therapy is at its most powerful when the slow change process is fully engaged. The Satir Method is very good at embracing change and paving the way to recovery. Join us this week as we celebrate recovery and empowerment through self-discovery!    Also in this episode.    How Stephen employs the principles of Virginia Satir’s methods with clients who struggle with addictions.  A discussion of the foreign elements that begin the process of change.  This model meets the client where they are at so that they can begin the decision-making process.  The most difficult obstacle for recovery is forgiveness for past transgressions.  Moving on from the past into the future of recovery.  Using the Satir method to help addicts re-focus their thoughts away from the pleasure of addiction.  The huge importance of a support system.  The burdens of busy-ness.    Links  Connect with Stephen via email.  sbuckbee@charter.net    If you like the show, you can support it directly on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theaddictedmind   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a bit of mystery and uncertainty surrounding Psychiatric Hospitals across the country. They are staffed with caring professionals and the goal of today’s show is to sort of demystify the process of dealing with a Psych Hospital and also understanding some best practices for getting help to the folks who need it most.   Our guest today is someone I have a personal relationship with because he’s my brother, Eric Osterlind! Eric is a psych nurse and he works in Psychiatric hospitals with acute patients. Eric also works in the ER, dealing with their psych cases. Most of the cases Eric works with are acute, so the first priority is to keep the patient safe, and then any treatment would come after the psych team is sure they are safe.   Most of Eric’s patients come in on a 5150 psych hold, which lasts for 72 hours. If they are a danger to others or a danger to themselves, then they can be held on this hold. Reasons for this hold could be that a person becomes suicidal or homicidal, maybe they’ve had a psychotic break, or have somehow gotten to the point where they cannot care of themselves. Listen in as Eric explains the current conditions a psychiatric patient would encounter in a hospital situation.   Show Highlights:   Safety comes first in the psych hospital. Choose your ER carefully, as it could determine what the outcome is for the patient. Unless a situation is acute, it may be best not to call 911 for help. Visiting a psych hospital for the first time can be jarring. When a patient is in a psych hospital visiting hours are severely restricted. Psych hospitals try to mimic reality as closely as hospital, so it’s very different from a medical hospital. Upon entering a psych hospitals a patient still has rights, so they are advised of their rights immediately. Psych hospitals actually act as an advocate for the patient. A 5250 is a 14-day hold that can be mandated by a Doctor. The hospital has Patient’s Rights Advocate as a way of checks and balances in the system. As a family member, you can approach the care team if your relative is in the gray area. Do not lie to the Psychiatric Evaluation Team, but give them useful information. An entire team is available to help the patient in a 72-hour hold - Psychologists, Marriage Counselors, Recreational Therapists, Movement Therapists, Pet Therapists, and others may all be part of the team. When dealing with a child patient, take them to an ER with a juvenile (adolescent) psych ward, otherwise, it will take awhile to get transferred  Always get help - help is available to everyone!   Suicidal? Help is available. Please reach out!   National Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255 crisistextline.org   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mindfulness. It’s all the rage on the internet, but a lot of people haven’t a clue what it means when they see it. We all have a different image and set of expectations about mindfulness, but what actually is it, and how can it help those on the road to recovery? Is it just a fad, or will adopting a mindfulness practice really make a difference in the way we think? Robert Cox is a Mindfulness Master, and he has experience and success stories to share with the “Addicted Mind” community this week. Robert is also the host of two podcasts, so he knows a thing or two about making something “heady” like Mindfulness easy to digest. Robert shares the evidence scientists have gathered for the brain transforming power of mindfulness, and then teaches you a few tricks to try it out on your own.  Robert defines Mindfulness based off of research.  The subtle difference between mindfulness and meditation.  Using mindfulness to build resistance to cravings.  The current mindfulness research for treatment in addiction and autism.  Changing brain chemistry through mindfulness.  We can break neuron connections and rewire them by catching it early.  Anyone can benefit from a mindfulness practice.  “Chill” App on iPhone to help ground you.  Learn a simple grounding exercise.  Links http://liferecoveryconsulting.com/   Discover more with Robert’s “Mindful Recovery” and “Listening to Autism” Podcasts.   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Dialectical Behavioral Therapy” is one of the many tools we have tucked away in their tool belt to help people overcome their addiction, trauma, and behavioral disorders. While it might sound complicated at first glance, the true power of DBT comes from its practical applications. This week, we take a close look at DBT and discover a simple, non-judgmental way to understand human emotions. Mindfulness, practical action steps, and a new understanding of the brain combine to make DBT a powerful tool to beat addiction.    This week’s guest is Dr. Debbie Kooyman. Her 20 years of work in Psychology have shown her just how important it is for adults dealing with addiction, abuse, and trauma to be able to take a step back from their emotions and learn how to think again. Dr. Kooyman shares her wisdom in this episode and dispels some misconceptions you might have about DBT.    Specializes in adults who were abused as children. DBT is a resource for people dealing with addiction as well as those dealing with abuse.  Dispelling the myth of using DBT. It’s not only for Borderline Personality Disorder.  A breakdown of the three components: Dialectical, Behavioral, and Therapy.  How we can move between the competing needs of companionship and alone time.  Using DBT to give clients concrete tools to beat addiction.  Normalizing your experiences to conquer addiction.  The difference between primary and secondary emotions.  The mindfulness component of DBT—knowing how to pay attention to the moment without judgment.  Learning to change the way our brains operate.    Links https://www.liveyourlifefully.com/ Dr. Debbie Kooyman on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvR5IunjD64Y1VW3dunmCqA   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to The Addicted Mind Podcast. This week, you will have a chance to explore the amazing work of Virginia Satir with Teresa McClellan. Teresa has been in the field for 18 years, and she’s worked with just about everyone: Couples, families, men, women, co-ed groups, and more! Thanks to her range of experience, she knows a thing or two about how we as human beings respond in therapy, and Virginia Satir’s methods really made an impact on her. Now, Teresa is employing the model for addiction recovery in a men’s prison and seeing amazing results.    Satir was ahead of her time in some of her practices, so this is a chance to really shed some light on the impact she has made. Combined with what we know now about the brain and human psychology as a whole, it is easy to see that Satir’s emphasis on human connection is exactly what an addict in recovery needs to experience. Teresa shares her wealth of wisdom and more this week, so you won’t want to miss it!   Discover Virginia Satir, and her incredible methods for therapy.  Growth models rather than the pathology of people and problems.  Experiential part of the Satir Method.  Emotions are felt in the body to fill in the gaps.  How the Satir model and addiction recovery comes together.  How Satir shows up in more “current” therapy practices.  Using imagery and experience to allow addicts to be themselves.      To learn more about the work that Teresa and her colleagues are doing, head on over to www.satirpactific.org   If you like the show, you can support it directly on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theaddictedmind   Thanks for rating and reviewing on iTunes! Every little bit makes a difference.    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The more we learn about the addicted mind, the more we can begin to understand how trauma, disorders, and addictions really are interrelated. Today, we are thrilled to take that exploration to a personal level through the eyes of Janet Whitney. Janet is a Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist, but she is also a devoted mother. No mom would ever want to walk with their child through a life-threatening illness, even less so when it is something as slippery as an eating disorder.    Since she was very young, Janet’s daughter, Hannah, has battled anorexia and eating disorders in a slow fight to recovery. By supporting her daughter through a long healing journey, Janet now wants to share her unique insight into the inner-workings of recovery and therapy.    Recovery from eating disorders and addiction is similar: so similar that Janet has used her own life experiences to inform and shape her own practice. Today, it is time to get out of the theoretical exploration and into the personal. The insights to be learned here are not to be underestimated.    Exploring the similarities of food disorders and other addictions. Janet shares her daughter’s story and struggle with an eating disorder.  Changing the narrative around eating disorders.  The time it takes to get through a disease like eating disorders.  The role of trauma in addiction.  A close look at the Conscientious Dissenter study to see the effects of starvation in the body.  Self-care and dealing with your own anxiety while being a safety zone for loved ones.  The factors that played a role in Hannah’s recovery.  A call for parents to help their child while they can! Tough love can save their life.    Link up with Janet online https://www.janetwhitneymft.com/   Check out Janet’s book: Facing Your Fears and Following Your Dreams    If you like the show, you can support it directly on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theaddictedmind   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the “Addicted Mind” Podcast hosted by Duane Osterlind. Duane is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist who is passionate about helping people overcome addiction. Through years of experience and witnessing the real life change brought about by modern counseling practices, Duane developed a passion for the process. That passion led him to begin the “Addicted Mind” Podcast, built on what he thinks are the most meaningful aspects of beating addiction.    Research: what is the current evidence about addiction treatment? What brain processes can we use to overcome addiction?  Treatment: In what ways are we treating addiction? What’s working? What might not be working?  Recovery: What does it look like for someone to overcome addiction?    Along the way, experience how so many people have been able to create a life that is meaningful to them. Addiction can be beaten. Let’s learn how.    Don’t forget to Subscribe on iTunes!    Learn more at http://theaddictedmind.com/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether it's divorce, job loss, addiction, or being the spouse of an addict, we're all going through recovery from something. We can make our own path – and that’s what recovery is all about. You’ve just got to learn how to pick up and move on.  On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with certified recovery and family addiction coach, Dana Golden, who talks about living on the other side of addiction. She shares what it was like living with a partner struggling with addiction and how she found her own freedom through that. Growing up, Dana's dad had a process addiction – gambling, sex, alcohol, you name it. From that, she learned some very maladaptive behaviors to cope with, which she carried over later on with her other relationships, including her then-husband. She eventually got sick and tired of being sick and tired. Having been brought up with the idea that she needs a man, she finally understood that her whole recovery journey was all about advocating for herself and celebrating her independence as a woman. Fast-forward to today, Dana and her ex-husband have come full circle, having co-authored the book “Addiction Rescue: The NO-BS Guide to Recovery,” and maintaining a great relationship, now as business partners and certified recovery coaches, helping other families heal. In this episode, you will hear: Going into a cycle of dysfunctional relationships How her ex-spouse gambled everything away Learning how to separate the person from the addiction How she came full-circle with her ex-husband Setting boundaries for yourself What happens during an intervention Key Quotes: [04:30] - "I thought by dumping his cocaine down the toilet, or emptying his bottles of booze in the sink that I can control his use... I quickly learned I wasn't going to cure him and I needed to cure me." [06:56] - "Just like an addict that's sick and tired of being sick and tired, I was sick and tired of being sick and tired." [10:31] - “We can make our own path and that's what recovery is all about. We have to recover from everything in life, whether it's divorce, job loss, addiction, or being the spouse of an addict. We're all in recovery from something.” [13:44] - "It doesn't matter how many times you fall down, it's just about picking yourself up again, and how many times you can get up – because anything's possible." [18:45] - "Relapse is a part of addiction... every time there's a relapse, it's an opportunity for growth." [20:55] - "Boundaries are so important. And before you can set them, you have to know that it's a boundary you can keep." Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com www.DanaGolden.com www.liferecoverycoach.com  Email: dana@danagolden.com  Addiction Rescue: The NO-BS Guide to Recovery by David Marlon and Dana Golden Find out what maladaptive role you've taken on in your relationship: www.danagolden.com/quiz.  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices