Everything you know about addiction

Recovery
#1

I just finished listening to a TED talk on YouTube. It is titled
"Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong" - By Johann Hari
It is less than fifteen minutes long and very insightful. I encourage anyone to listen to it and keep in mind the advice often given here in this app.

He summarizes with the statement, "The opposite of addiction is connection."

With this statement I couldn't agree more. Whether it be connecting with our own physical, mental, spiritual. Connecting with others. Connecting with our own hobbies and interests or connecting with our mental health professionals. When we say "It works if you work it," this is a prime example. All of these things take time and action. Sobriety is a series of actions.

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#2

Thank you brother, I'll check it out!

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#3

Right on! Thank You Joshua. Let me know what you think, please.

#4

I like it! Rather than isolating users working to help them recover and being with them definitely seems like a good path.

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#5

I’ll have to check it out as well

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#6

That’s one of my favorites! EVERYone needs to watch that, especially family members of people with a SUD. People in need of help should not be subjected to the methods made popular by TV shows like ‘Intervention’. “Cutting off” and shutting people out is the Worst thing to do. Thanks Josh

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#7

Yes, I definitely encourage you to. It is a fast and easy listen.

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#8

I’ve got to disagree with a lot of what he said.
-His grandma is fortunate, I know lots of folks who were addicts after surgeries.
-Addicts isolate themselves not the other way around.
-I wouldn’t be addicted to cigarettes if I just had more friends???
-legalizing all drugs has been an abject failure in Oregon. Higher crime and more deaths.

Addiction should not be stigmatized, but coddling an addict only co-signs their bull$it and prolongs the inevitable.

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#9

I see your point for certain. It seems that Portugal was effective yet we feel this way perhaps because that is what they want us to see. Statistics are almost always skewed in the direction of the projected outcome, regardless of whether or not truth exists in the data. The cigarette example certainly brings a lot in question. At the end of the day, I do believe however that reconnecting helps us to maintain sobriety in kore cases than not. Then again it depends on whom with we are connecting amongst so many other things. Definitely you've given me a lot to think k about and I now have to register with these things in mind. Thanks Matt for forcing me to think outside of the obvious box!

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#10

So instead of telling someone how much we love and support them and that we cannot watch/help them kill themselves. We should go hang out with them while they get loaded?
It makes no sense to me.
Just my opinion.

#11

I agree 100% that connection is a crucial part of recovery.
Thank you for posting and making me think through all his points. He definitely has some valid ones.
I just remember being out there using and drinking and I didn’t think there was a problem at all. Also, i didn’t want to hang out with anyone who was not doing what I was. I was not lonely, I had “friends” galore.
I needed someone to snap me out of it and point out how fuc&d up my behavior was.

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#12

So again, I have to relisten, I will now, though that is not at all what I got from hearing it the 1st go round. Rather just that we tend to criminalize and shame the addict, furthering the isolation that said addict may have already began. By reintroducing the sober addict to his/her community, passions etc, according to the TED speaker at least, this should give said addict something to now be sober for. There are obvious flaws even in this version, without doubt yet Ibthinknit still could ring mostly true in many instances

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#13

It’s been a minute since I watched it but the message I got from it was that love and support was more effective than “cutting” someone off from your love and support. I guess it’s a matter of perspective.
I am certain he didn’t endorse encouraging anyone to use and/or party with them.

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#14

I rewatched it and have to agree. I do understand, however, that tough love certainly has its place in the grand scheme of things

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#15

I viewed this a while ago and I am glad that you recommended this, Josh.

Matt P. …yes…what you relayed…
I feel this way, as well.

I do not know if any of you listen to Rich Roll, his podcast…if you do a search for his name and alcohol…he himself is in recovery.

He has been sober for a while now.

He has conducted various interviews in regards to addiction.

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