The Addiction Healing Pathway: Recent Episodes
Belinda Tobin
There is a path to healing from addiction, and a light to guide your way. This podcast shows the journey out of addiction using the ground-breaking Addiction Healing Pathway. While these insights will be captured in the upcoming book, they are too valuable to hold on to. Join the Addiction Healing Pathway to find out why you are addicted, the role of your brain in addiction and the steps you take right now to find true freedom.
Caring for a loved one with addiction is hard work - physically and emotionally. It is no wonder than that so many people like yourself suffer from carers fatigue. In this podcast I review the signs of carer fatigue and how to care for your own wellbeing through this very difficult time.
When a loved one relapses it can cause a great deal of anger, hopelessness and pain. In this podcast, I provide some ideas of how to deal with a relapse - to keep perspective and to take care of yourself through the process.
One of the hardest parts of having a loved one with addiction is not being able to control the situation. In this podcast, we discuss the issue of control and how you can keep perspective in this traumatic time.
If you are caring for a loved one with addiction, then this podcast is for you. Welcome to the Caring for the Carers series. This introduction provides more information about the series, and sends my greatest welcome.
While you can take a break from work, your addiction does not respect the holidays. Everywhere you go it is there with you. In fact, the holiday period, especially Christmas and New Year can present so many additional challenges for those struggling with addiction and their carers.
In this podcast I highlight the unique challenges that this time of year presents, but also the options you have for dealing with them. I also cover the absolute and always mandatory activity of self-compassion.
Exit this holiday season stronger, healthier and more empowered on your healing journey.
This is the ultimate question. If we can answer this, then we have in our hands the heart of the problem and the seed of the solution.
As you may have heard in the previous session, addiction is a symptom of an undesirable situation.
But what was this situation that resulted in your physical, mental and spiritual trauma?
What drove you to the self-harm that is addiction?
Find out the answer to this question here.
In this podcast, I discuss the four most prevalent answers to what addiction is. I know this may be a bit boring, but if you are a loved one is going through treatment for addiction, it is really important to know the view that the people helping you have. Their view of what addiction is will determine the program they are recommending. Or, if you are still yet to seek professional help, it will you be a more informed consumer of the many addiction services and treatments available out there.
But most importantly, what view of addiction sits best with you?
I want to acknowledge the great work that all of the Alcoholic Anonymous (AA), Narcotic Anonymous (NA), and Gamblers Anonymous (GA) groups do. I know they and their 12 Step Program have brought much hope and health to so many. Unfortunately, there were so many elements of the 12 steps of AA that did not sit well with me. The Addiction Healing Pathway is in some way a response to those underlying philosophical differences I had with what I saw and heard.
This podcast reviews the main differences between The Addiction Healing Pathway and The 12 Step Program. Perhaps The Addiction Healing Pathway could help you?
To find out more about what The Addiction Healing Pathway is, go to:
The Four Steps That Will Free You From Addiction
Having a relapse can be one of the most distressing events on the pathway to healing. Your time clean and sober would have restored some confidence and faith in yourself. And then, sometimes seemingly out of nowhere – there you go again. In addition to your despair you may have people around you who are criticising and doubting your ability to heal. There may be a big dramatic song and dance going on inside your head or inside your home.
If you are not careful, this relapse could shake your foundations and begin a slide down the mountain. Plant your stakes in the ground quickly and hang on tight. It is not really important that the relapse has happened. It has passed and you can't change it. The most important thing is what you do next.
Becoming true to something bigger than yourself is life's greatest quest and where you will flourish. How you do this is no different from the techniques you used to reconnect with your spirit. Just like reconnecting with your spirit, it is an ongoing process of listening and taking action.
There is a beautiful meditation exercise that you can do that will help you listen and get some inspiration for how you may make your contribution. It is a visualisation that calls on you to imagine you at your absolute best – when you are flourishing. This meditation helps you identify what it looks like when you are thriving – what you are doing, who you are with and what you are contributing to the world. It is a simple and yet powerful exercise. So, when you have some time to dedicate to yourself, settle yourself in stillness and silence and let's begin.
If you are looking for true fulfilment, then there is only one way - be true to something bigger than yourself. Reconnecting with your spirit is absolutely essential to healing from addiction. However, if you so choose, it is not the end of the journey. Your passion, your energy, your spirit can contribute to so many different areas of the community. In this podcast, I discuss how you can be true to something bigger than yourself and find the joy you have always been looking for.
If there is a time you need self-compassion the most, it is after a lapse. Breaking any period of abstinence, be it days or years, really stings. Because for the time you were abstinent, you had a sense of hope and confidence in yourself. Now, this has been dashed again. The default action is to drown yourself in self-loathing and to flog yourself with self-criticism. But the only way through this is with love and compassion. So I thought I would share a letter I wrote to myself in rehab after a particularly bad bust. I hope it helps ease some of your pain and take the next step forward. I am thinking of you!
If, like me, you have lost many friends and loved ones through addiction, shoulders to cry on may be sparse. Learning to soothe, care and love yourself then is an essential skill. In my mind, true healing is impossible without practising self-compassion.
But what is self-compassion? And how do you do it? In this podcast, I discuss what self-compassion is, what it is not, and how you can weave it into your every day.
For more information, go to:
www.self-compassion.org
The basic premise of The Addiction Healing pathway is that addiction is caused by a disconnection with your spirit. It was this separation of spirit that enabled your addiction to arise and take hold in your body and mind. Like any parasite we find in the natural world, addiction remains because the host is too weak to fight it. Yes, your thoughts and emotions were fragile. Still, it was the hole in your foundation, your spirit, that presented the ultimate vulnerability. So after so much pain and self-destruction, how do you heal this wound, and reconnect with the beautiful spirit that is you?
Unfortunately, you are already well aware of what happens when you are disconnected from your spirit. You have been living with the consequences throughout your addiction, and likely a long time before that. The disconnect from your spirit came first. All of the other emotional, cognitive and physical consequences came later. But there is one danger of disconnection with the spirit that is the saddest of all. And that is what will happen on your death bed.
In this episode, we discuss the regrets of the dying. Their powerful honesty provides a precious gift for you right now.
There is an incredible amount of bravery needed on The Addiction Healing Pathway. It takes guts to challenge limiting beliefs and real strength to sit with distressing emotions. However, never is more courage needed than when you begin the work at the spiritual level of healing. Only the deep spiritual work will help you fill the gaps you have been seeking to cover over with drugs, alcohol and other addictive substances and activities. But you will need the courage to overcome the fear and keep moving towards the reunion with your true self. But how on earth do you get courage?
much of the heartache we experience on the healing journey is grounded in the past. For instance, feelings of shame and guilt are caused by actions we have done that are against societal expectations. Anger indicates that our valued boundaries have been broken or that we did not get something we wanted. Pride is centred around things that we have previously gained or achieved. Even our cravings are created from and reinforced by past pleasure experiences. These past events and experiences may be long gone, yet they can still haunt us and limit our faith in ourselves and our ability to heal.
"Sometimes, you just have to make peace with your past to keep your future from becoming a constant battle." ~ Susan GaleHere's how to make peace with the past so that you can use your precious time and energy to move forward on the healing journey.
When you are able to identify and name a crisis, it gives you great power. You then have the ability to treat it with the respect it deserves, take the appropriate action, and effectively manage the distress before it derails your journey. Before I had the crisis management toolkit, all of my emotional experiences blended into one big mess. I was trying to use whatever tool I could find to help me cope. But when I understood the unique signs of a crisis, I could choose the most effective tools and respond swiftly and effectively to prevent further damage. Understanding when a crisis was occurring also allowed me to practice self-compassion and care for myself at that time, rather than admonishing and punishing myself for being weak or unstable. Here's how to do this for yourself.
Many people have been taught to fear, deny, repress or avoid their emotions. They can be seen as a sign of a weak, undisciplined or dramatic character and the enemy of logic and reason. If you show your emotions, you can be accused of disrupting those around you and provoking unwanted attention. This may be the view of the older generations, but fortunately these days we have been able to understand the great power that emotions hold. Emotions hold great wisdom if we are willing to listen closely. They can show us what we need to do next to learn and grow and gain more confidence along the healing pathway. Being able to recognize and care for our emotions is an essential skill to learn on the Addiction Healing Pathway. It is a foundation stone of self-compassion, and a tool that will help you walk the path more consciously and calmly. Here's how to understand what your emotions are telling you.
One of the greatest miracles in life occurs when you realise that you are not your thoughts. They do not define you, and only have power over you if you choose to buy into them. In this podcast I discuss what is a thought, and how to deal with the troublesome ones that keep arising. I present the amazing method of noticing, naming and neutralising developed by Dr Russ Harris and show how a simple choice of words can change your whole perspective.
You can get a copy of Dr Harris' book here:
The Happiness Trap Pocketbook | Actmindfully
Your past beliefs have led you to where you are now. And what you believe now, about addiction and about yourself will determine your future. In this podcast we look at the power of beliefs and show how they directly influence our thoughts, emotions, actions and outcomes. We also look at the most prevalent, and yet the most dangerous thought - that you are not worthy of love, happiness and health.
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The reality is that there are so many people out there that need help but can't get into rehab because of financial status, fine-print on insurance plans or lack of capacity. This is a heartbreaking situation. So what do you if you can't get into rehab to help with your addiction? Well, you don't give up, and you don't use it as an excuse to do more harm. While it may seem like a slap in the face, it is an opportunity for incredible self-empowerment. Here's how.
Also read:
Rehab Didn't Work
https://theaddictionhealingpathway.wordpress.com/2020/12/15/rehab-didnt-work/
Medication as an Experiment
https://theaddictionhealingpathway.wordpress.com/2021/06/04/medication-as-an-experiment/
Can You Spot an Enabler?
https://theaddictionhealingpathway.wordpress.com/2021/05/06/can-you-spot-an-enabler/
If our bodies are the home of our unique and awesome spirits, then our senses are the doorways. What comes in through the senses can fill our spirits with peace and optimism. Alternatively, it can depress and even destroy the hope we have for ourselves. The reality is, though, we are not always able to control what we see, hear, taste, touch or smell. However, we can introduce things to our senses to counter negative and revitalise your body and mind. Here's how.
Find out more about the incredible power of nature sounds from Andrew Skeoch at:
www.listeningearth.com
In this podcast, I discuss the role of medication in healing from addiction and how it is fundamentally an experiment. Reclaim your power and understand your role and responsibility in the medication experiment.
Read the article at: https://theaddictionhealingpathway.wordpress.com/2021/06/04/medication-as-an-experiment/
The journey you are on is truly an awesome one that deserves every ounce of respect for the challenge that it is, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. For this reason, I must, in good conscious, advise you to dedicate time and energy to the establishment of a solid Base Camp. Before mountaineers tackle an arduous climb, they establish what is known as a Base Camp. Base Camp serves a number of purposes, including:
· Creating a safe place to prepare for the climb
· Holding supplies that can be accessed quickly for the expedition
· Providing a refuge to retreat to during times of danger.
If you think about healing from addiction as an expedition, then establishing healthy habits that nourish your body and mind collectively comprise the Base Camp for your healing journey.
One of the most dangerous relationships you can have, especially early in the healing journey, is with an enabler. But could you spot one? It may not be as obvious as you think.
The 12-Step Program has helped so many people and their families in the battle against addiction. I send my most heartfelt thanks to everyone working with the 12-Steps. However, there were parts of this program that did not sit well with me, and the fundamental differences compelled me to develop The Addiction Healing Pathway. In this video, you will hear both the similarities and differences between the two models. The most important thing though, is that there is no right or wrong model....just what is right for you! #addiction #12steps
In this podcast, I discuss an approach to dealing with the cravings that are less like an emergency and more like an ever-present ache. If you want to heal from an addiction, you are going to have to learn how to deal with difficult emotions. Cravings are just one of the feelings that are here right now for you to learn from. It is not pretty, it is not pleasant, but if you are willing to brave, the process of sitting with, and caring for your cravings is completely empowering.
This podcast should not be taken as medical advice. It is based on my own experience and opinion only. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard the advice of a medical professional, or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this podcast.
Cravings are cruel but a normal part of the healing journey? But how do you make it through a craving to continue your courageous journey? In this podcast I review the two types of cravings and the tools you can use to make it through the most severe.
This podcast should not be taken as medical advice. It is based on my own experience and opinion only. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard the advice of a medical professional, or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this podcast.
Anhedonia is a lack of interest or pleasure in things that you used to enjoy. It is a normal part of the healing journey for many addicted individuals, and yet not many people are aware of its consequences. Anhedonia can last for months or years and make your life feel like one long dull day. More importantly, it can create despair that drives you to relapse. Do you have Anhedonia?
I thought it was about time I told you a bit about myself and my addiction healing journey.
Even before you became addicted your brain had set you up to be vulnerable to substance and activity dependency. Find out how and empower yourself on the healing journey.
Here is a short exercise to help you connect with your awesome, eternal and vital spirit. You have everything you need with you right now to get back to what is truly important. I am so excited to share this with you and help you touch the true and beautiful power you hold within, and that is always there for you. This exercise can be done during a meditation or in just a few minutes in the grocery line. Please let me know it worked for you!
It is said everything we do motivated by either fear or love. Fear got me to the rehab door but love is the only thing that has helped me truly heal... read more on my blog.
https://theaddictionhealingpathway.wordpress.com/2021/03/02/is-your-recovery-driven-by-fear-or-love/
There are a simple 4 steps to healing from addiction. But don't mistake simple for easy. These steps act as a map, drawn from the wisdom of the ancients and modern day neuroscience. I hope that it will help guide your way as you embark upon one of the bravest journeys of your life!
There are many casualties of addiction. The one that suffers the deadliest blow is trust - most importantly the trust we have in ourselves. Trust is destroyed quickly in addiction but is essential for healing. Here is how to get it back
If we can understand why there is such a stigma around addiction then we have a chance to transform our approach from one of fear to one of love and care. So why does addiction come with so much disgrace?
Yes, this podcast is amateur at best. But in this episode, I explain why I have started it without all of the bells and whistles expected. You will hear how it is so important just to start where you are. Your healing and your potential is too precious to waste waiting for the right time, or waiting for the right feeling. Start where you are with what you have, and use this action to learn and grow. Yes, it may suck for now...but just like your healing, it will evolve. I hope you will stick with me and enjoy the journey! I look forward to following yours!
What does it look like to heal from addiction? The end game can be so uncertain and hazy. Wouldn't it be great to know what you are working towards? Having a clearer picture of your future provides inspiration and motivation Well, you have two amazing tools with you to paint the picture of what it looks like to live a full and true life - these are your heart and your mind. In this video, I show you how to apply them in a short meditation. Let's see what you are working towards!
In many ways healing from addiction is a process of transformation. You are moving away from the trauma and shackles of addiction, and moving towards a life where you are living authentically and freely. But this in-between state is messy. It is uncomfortable, uncertain and can be very lonely. In this episode, I talk about the reality of living between two worlds and the process of transformation. I provide some ideas of how you can reframe the thoughts of fear and uncertainty into excitement and inspiration for your healing journey.
You can also watch the video version on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/65tYIBO5Kkk
In this podcast, I celebrate the completion of the full manuscript by giving you a sneak peek into the book. Here is the Introduction to The Addiction Healing Pathway. I hope that it will provide you with a greater understanding of my motivations and intentions for the book, and the exciting journey that lays ahead. There is a path to heal from addiction and a light to guide your way....it is The Addiction Healing Pathway.
Video versions of this podcast are available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/3c3fCRjHLEI
In this video I provide an outline of the Addiction Healing Pathway and how this unique model explains the cause of, but also the way forward to truly heal from addiction.
This video outlines the topics that will be covered in The Addiction Healing Pathway Podcast. Welcome!