The Addicted Mind Podcast

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 ReviewHave 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=enCall: 480-327-8751Email: [email protected] NovusMindfulLife.comEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

​​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 ReviewHave 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.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/ryan_michael_dusick Harder to Breathe: A Memoir of Making Maroon 5, Losing It All, and Finding Recoveryhttps://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/harder-to-breathe-ryan-dusick/1141008275 NovusMindfulLife.comEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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.comEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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:Soberversehttps://www.soberverse.com/Sober Network, Inc.https://sobernetwork.com/ Sober Systemshttps://sobersystems.com/ Email Dr. Harold Jonas at [email protected] NovusMindfulLife.comEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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 Directionshttp://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.comEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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.comThe Theory & Practice of Well-Being: Your Comprehensive & Actionable Guide to the Good Lifehttps://www.amazon.com/Theory-Practice-Well-Being-Comprehensive-Actionable/dp/1544529406 ***Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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.comConnect with Christine on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-catipon-psy-d-68a25969/ Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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.comEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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.comTINSA: A Neurological Approach to the Treatment of Sex Addictionhttps://www.amazon.com/TINSA-Neurological-Approach-Treatment-Addiction/dp/198173869XThe Polyvagal Theory by Dr. Stephen W. Porgeshttps://www.amazon.com/Polyvagal-Theory-Neurophysiological-Communication-Self-Regulation/dp/0393707008 Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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.comWebsite: https://www.breathandfire.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breathandfire Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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.comWebsite: https://gemlifecollective.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gemlifeandbar/​​ Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dealing with Codependency in the LGBTQ+ Community with Miriam GeigerThe 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 ReviewHave 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.comwww.MiriamGeiger.com Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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.comInstagram: @amylizharrisonEmail: [email protected] Podcast: https://sites.libsyn.com/411644 Website: amylizharrison.comEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Recovery from addiction doesn’t just stop there. People in recovery could still be struggling with depression. While addiction and depression are somewhat correlated, both of them should still be addressed individually.In this episode, Duane speaks with Amy Law and Jeff Deck, authors of the book, “We Got This, Kids: A real-time and raw glimpse of alcoholism, depression, and loss during a search for more sunrises.” Amy shares the story of her brother, Andy, who committed suicide after a struggle with alcoholism and depression. At that time, Andy was writing his memoirs but never got to finish them. Amy's courage to share Andy's story and to let people into that is truly inspiring. In the book, Amy also shares her perspective of taking Andy’s memoirs and how she collaborated with Jeff Deck to bring their beautiful message to completion and share it with the world.If you're struggling or contemplating suicide, please reach out for help call 988 or 1-800-273-8255 if you're in the United States. If you're outside of the United States, search for a suicide hotline, reach out for help, and get the support that you need. In this episode, you will hear: Andy’s addiction story Why Amy decided to share Andy’s story Why Jeff decided to collaborate in writing the book The reason behind the title of the book Normalizing the topic of addiction and mental illness Key Quotes:[11:33] - " Depression lies... It lied to my brother. And as a result, it robbed him of the rest of his life." - Amy Law[19:08] - "Andy's story was so immediate and raw that I felt like the value that I could provide to other people suffering in similar situations was potentially immense." - Jeff Deck[25:51] - "Our intention is to help other families and everybody who's suffering from addiction and mental illness… It's time to normalize some of these conversations. It's overdue." - Amy Law[29:37] - "The small things can be so helpful. Even if it's just helping with loneliness and feeling you're alone in mental illness or depression or alcoholism. You're not." - Amy Law[30:49] - "A temporary decision leads to irreversible consequences. We hope people see that in this book and recognize if they are having a really dark moment, it's a temporary thing.” - Jeff Deck[31:44] - "Hang on. Seek out the help. No matter how small you think that help is, it probably has the potential to move mountains. Make that call." - Amy Law[32:07] - "To families, if you have even the slightest, barely audible alarm going off in your mind, pay attention to it. Pay very close attention to that. If it's present, act on it." - Amy LawSubscribe and ReviewHave 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“We Got This, Kids: A real-time and raw glimpse of alcoholism, depression, and loss during a search for more sunrises”https://www.amazon.com/Got-This-Kids-alcoholism-depression/dp/B09TDSCCB5 Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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.comAbandonment Recoveryhttps://www.abandonment.net/ Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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.comRunning Without the Devilhttps://runningwithoutthedevil.com Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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.comYouTube: Ask Pharmacist Trish: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbJGHpudhkX3JPrfED2U9fg Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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.comhttps://www.beond.us/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIG_mKl-lzULk8s8s4J3-PA Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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.comwww.gobi.supportEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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.comwww.DanaGolden.comwww.liferecoverycoach.com Email: [email protected] Addiction Rescue: The NO-BS Guide to Recovery by David Marlon and Dana GoldenFind out what maladaptive role you've taken on in your relationship: www.danagolden.com/quiz. Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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 Freedomwww.amazon.com/Co-Crazy-Psychologists-Recovery-Codependency-Addiction/dp/1736720430Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Timehttps://www.amazon.com/Ron-Kardashians-30-Second-Solution-Relationships/dp/0757315852 Getting In Shape God's Wayhttps://www.amazon.com/Getting-Shape-Gods-Way-Fitness/dp/1599793628 Podcast: Higher with Coach Ron Kardashianhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/higher-with-coach-ron-kardashian/id1570716544 Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Institutehttps://peakbraininstitute.com Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Mentorswww.youthpreventionmentors.com Instagram: @youthpreventionmentorsEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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 Solutionhttps://motherjonesinheaven.com/product/the-20-20-creativity-solution-book-by-john-dillon/Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Projecthttps://www.lookoutproject.org/ Email: [email protected] Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 HallThe Narcissistic Family: Diagnosis and Treatment by Robert M. Pressman and Stephanie Donaldson-PressmanEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Clinicshttps://www.tmsbrainhealth.com/ Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.comhttps://abundantlifecounselingga.comConnect with Eddie: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecapparucci LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/capparucci/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edcappa/ Email: [email protected] Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ourselvesWe 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 Deservehttps://www.amazon.com/Radical-Intimacy-Cultivate-Connected-Relationships/dp/0306826607 The Radical Intimacy Podcasthttps://open.spotify.com/show/0dwm96DWeTZ8I0wGIztmbO Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Undeterredhttps://www.livingundeterred.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmGZTTnszWNlkG0sIGcp-YQ This One's For You: An Inspirational Journey Through Addiction, Death, and Meaninghttps://www.thisonesforyoubook.com/ Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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 Darknesshttps://www.amazon.com/UnAddicted-You-Yourself-Through-Darkness/dp/0578871874 Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 HealthTwitter: @RonanDLevyInstagram: @RonanDLevyEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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 ShineSeeking SafetyEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ReviewHave 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 SupportEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.com50 Ways to Worry Less Now by Gigi LangerA Return to Love by Marianne WilliamsonEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 PodcastImmigrantly Podcastwww.shahjehankhan.com Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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’ familyhttps://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 Recoveryhttps://davidposes.com/the-weight-of-air Episode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 PodcastAdult Children of Alcoholics/Dysfunctional FamiliesThe Addictions Institute with Stephanie BrownThe ACA laundry list - the 14 common characteristics of an adult childEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.comRock to Recovery: Music as a Catalyst for Human TransformationMeeting God at MidnightInstagram: @constancescharffEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.comhttps://www.turningleavesrecovery.comEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 RecoveryEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 DrugsThe Dr. Junkie ShowEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 MovementThe Varieties Of Religious Experience: A Study In Human NatureThe Big BookEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 TraumaEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 InterventionsEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 PurposeIncorrigible: A Coming-of-Age Memoir of Loss, Addiction & IncarcerationHav A SoleEpisode CreditsIf 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/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.