Busting Addiction and Its Myths
239 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsThe purpose of our podcast is to help families learn the truth about addiction and alcoholism so that they can take the right action to help the addict they love and to help themselves at this critical time in their lives. Exposing the truth about addiction and alcoholism also requires that we bust the myths surrounding both addiction/alcoholism and the recovery process.
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Episodes
Mini Series 4 - Can you explain more about one-to-one counselling?
August 04, 2023 08:00 - 4 minutes - 2.92 MBIn this podcast, we answer the question... Can you explain more about one-to-one counselling? One-to-one counselling is an opportunity for the counsellor to get to know the client, and vice versa, in a more intimate setting. That way, the client feels safe and comfortable in disclosing essential details of their life. It takes more than one or two sessions for the client to build the trust necessary for the truth to come out. One of the most important tasks in counselling is to have the c...
Mini Series 4 - What's included in a treatment program?
July 28, 2023 08:00 - 4 minutes - 3.17 MBIn this podcast, we answer the question... What's included in a treatment program? We will use SafeHouse Rehab Thailand as a model, as the better treatment programs include: Best-practice therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Group therapy, one-on-one therapy, etc. Full licensing from the government entities charged with enforcing regulations. SafeHouse Rehab, for example, is fully licensed by the Ministry of Public Health of the Kingdom of Thailand. Licensed treatment...
Mini Series 3 - Is travelling abroad for treatment a major issue?
July 21, 2023 08:00 - 3 minutes - 2.31 MBIn this podcast, we ask the question... Is traveling abroad a major issue? One can imagine the questions that arise when families consider treatment abroad. Not only are they potentially sending their loved ones to an unfamiliar place, but they are also taking an understandable risk in seeking treatment in a foreign country. The challenges of traveling abroad for treatment depend on what country is chosen as the location for treatment and what experience the client has had with internation...
Mini Series 3 - Is detoxing abroad safe?
July 14, 2023 08:00 - 3 minutes - 2.3 MBIn this podcast, we ask the question... Is detoxing abroad safe? Not all incoming clients require detox; a thorough pre and post arrival assessment will determine whether a client requires detox from identified substances. If a family chooses a treatment centre located abroad and if that treatment centre complies with all regulations and best practices, and if it offers detox, then the detox process is likely safe. We at SafeHouse Rehab cannot speak for other treatment facilities, but we ...
Mini Series 3 - What are the differences between licensed and unlicensed facilities in Thailand?
July 07, 2023 08:00 - 4 minutes - 3.26 MBIn this podcast, we ask the question... What are the differences between licensed and unlicensed facilities in Thailand? SafeHouse Rehab Thailand is fully licensed and complies with all the regulations set by all the governing bodies for our type of business. Even though a rehab may comply with the rules governing immigration or business licenses, if it does not have a license from the Ministry of Public Health Thailand, then it has no business doing business in our space in Thailand. The ...
Mini Series 3 - Why choose treatment in Thailand?
June 30, 2023 08:00 - 3 minutes - 2.69 MBIn this podcast, we ask the question... Why choose treatment in Thailand? Families seeking treatment abroad should familiarise themselves with Thailand and all that it has to offer as a destination and as a preferred location for treatment. Thailand is recognised as the #1 destination for medical tourism worldwide and is also renowned for its superb tourism infrastructure and welcoming culture. Thailand is proud of its reputation for employing world-class health care professionals, many e...
Mini Series 3 - Are there benefits to getting treatment abroad?
June 23, 2023 08:00 - 3 minutes - 2.44 MBIn this podcast, we ask the question... Are there benefits to getting treatment abroad? Clients and families considering treatment abroad have already discovered the costs of private, residential treatment in their home countries, and now look to assess whether treatment abroad makes sense for them. The reputable treatment centres abroad offer best-practice treatment, but their price structures vary greatly, from basic to super-luxury. The most important questions to ask, in our opinion, ...
Mini Series 3 - What are the benefits of getting treatment?
June 16, 2023 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.57 MBIn this podcast, we ask the question... What are the benefits of getting treatment? Treatment in a residential, in-patient setting takes addicts/alcoholics out of their unhealthy environment, away from the typical triggers. It forces clients to identify unhealthy thinking and behaviour that got them where they are, paving the way for a new mode of thinking and being. Clients no longer feel isolated, as they are now in the company of others who share the same goals - recovery from addictiv...
Mini Series 2 - What is a sponsor and how do I get one?
June 09, 2023 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.4 MBIn this podcast, we ask the question... What is a sponsor and how do I get one? It is a bewildering experience for newcomers to a 12-step program such as AA. On the one hand, they are sponges for learning about how to stay sober, and on the other, all they may know is they should go to AA meetings and find a sponsor. So, what is the role of the sponsor in AA? The principal role of a sponsor is like that of a tour guide who takes the newcomer through the basics of the AA program, such as re...
Mini Series 2 - Is AA a Cult?
June 02, 2023 08:00 - 8 minutes - 5.58 MBIn this podcast, we ask the question... Is AA a cult? This is one of the favourite myths that we take pleasure in blowing up. 1. Let's start with the characteristics of a cult, starting with secrecy. There are two types of AA meetings - closed meetings where privacy (not secrecy) is valued since there is still a stigma associated with alcoholism, hence the original Alcoholics Anonymous. I am free to disclose my membership, but I am obliged to not disclose yours. 2. Then there are meetings...
Mini Series 2 - Am I helping or am I making things worse?
May 26, 2023 08:00 - 4 minutes - 3.32 MBIn this podcast, we ask the question... Am I helping or am I making things worse? This is one of those questions that is based on the myth that one can change the course of an addict's disorder at all. It is said that "people who try to change other people are sick people". That is not meant to be unkind, rather it is said to get the attention of family members who believe they can change their loved one to become "normal". The presence of addiction in the home uses up most of the availab...
Mini Series 2 - Do I call an intervention, and how?
May 19, 2023 08:00 - 8 minutes - 6.23 MBIn this podcast, we ask the question... Do I call an intervention, and how do I do that? There are two main types of interventions, the professional type, and the do-it-yourself type. Both can succeed or both can fail. Starting with the professional intervention. We may have seen the Reality TV version of the professional intervention which is a compressed version of the real thing. There always seems to be a happy ending, which is not the case in our experience. The process between the t...
Mini Series 2 - What free help is available?
May 12, 2023 08:00 - 4 minutes - 3.29 MBIn this podcast, we ask the question... What free help is available? We have observed that family members who have a "big" problem on their hands become paralysed by the fear and anxiety that comes with chaos imposed by the disorder. There is much help to be had once they overcome the unjustified shame that they feel as they awaken to unpleasant truths. Education is the key that unlocks the door to getting the help they need and deserve. First, we suggest family members consult the major ...
Mini Series 2 - When is the right time?
May 05, 2023 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.16 MBIn this podcast, we ask the question... When is the right time to encourage the addict to seek help? It seems that there is never a good time for those who love an addict or alcoholic (who is clearly out of control) to intervene, as the addict will always find a way to evade the truth. One of his favourite dodges is to verbally attack the responsible family member - usually a mum - and have her defend her position while the addict makes his getaway. The alcoholic/addict thinks differently...
Mini Series 1 - The next right thing?
April 28, 2023 08:00 - 7 minutes - 4.99 MBIn this podcast, we ask the question... What does it mean to do "The next right thing?" While they were drinking and using to excess, addicts ended up violating all the values they once held dear: honesty, kindness, integrity, hard work, playing by the rules, regard for others and for society as a whole. Now comes the easy part for those who really want to stop the abuse - putting down the substance. The hard part is to change the thinking, for as we hear in AA meetings: "We don't have a ...
Mini Series 1 - Anxiety and Fear
April 21, 2023 08:00 - 5 minutes - 3.94 MBIn this podcast, we ask the question... What role do anxiety and fear play in recovery? Those who enter into treatment and start to uncover their motives come to understand the dominant, even domineering, role that fear has played in their lives. Fear was the subconscious thread that motivated much of what they did or avoided doing. There are two types of what might be called irrational fears - fears not supported by evidence such as "a truck is about to hit my car". The first type of fea...
Mini Series 1 - Addiction…Disease or Weakness?
April 14, 2023 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.44 MBIn this podcast, we answer the question... Is addiction a disease or is it a weakness? Even today, when we as a society are supposed to be enlightened, many fine citizens will insist that it is just a matter of willpower by an individual to just quit drinking alcohol or using drugs. You might recall back in the day Nancy Reagan's campaign which she proudly called "Just Say No". That suggested that it was simply a matter of personal choice to not drink or use. That might actually have been ...
Mini Series 1 - How is the family affected?
April 07, 2023 08:00 - 5 minutes - 3.63 MBIn this podcast, we answer the question... How is the family affected by addiction? In the same way that "no man is an island", so too, is the addict or alcoholic part of a family seriously affected by his disease. It is true and proven that addiction is a family disease, a concept often denied by family members themselves. Here is the background to that idea and how it plays itself out: The rooms of Al-Anon, a 12-step program created over 50 years ago to help families themselves recover...
Mini Series 1 - Does treatment work?
March 31, 2023 08:00 - 5 minutes - 3.55 MBIn this podcast, we answer the question... Does treatment work? One of the myths out there is that paying for treatment is throwing good money after bad. There are just so many stories of addicts and alcoholics relapsing after treatment at even the most expensive facilities, it is indeed hard not to conclude that treatment does no good. It is also true that the vast majority - our estimate is 90% - of those who achieve long-term success at sobriety have relapsed at least once on their way ...
Mini Series 1 - What are the odds of long-term success?
March 24, 2023 08:00 - 4 minutes - 3.25 MBIn this podcast, we answer the question... What are the odds of achieving long-term sobriety? We are often asked what the odds are of long-term sobriety after a period of treatment. That question of "odds" is second only to the question “can you help Johnny get clean and sober?" that we get asked over and over. We don't ever want to look like we are evading the issue by saying simply "it depends". But the fact is that "it" - the odds of long-term success - does indeed depend on several fa...
Fentanyl: The Most Deadly Poison!
March 10, 2023 08:00 - 10 minutes - 7.44 MBIn this podcast, we re-examine the dangers of fentanyl and what we can do about reducing both supply and demand. We learn that: Fentanyl is by far the most dangerous “new” drug to infiltrate society in recent decades. Far more dangerous than heroin or cocaine or meth. It only takes 2 milligrams of it to overdose and probably die. That’s two thousands of one gram. It is easy to distribute because it is very light and easy to disguise in shipments through the mail or inside freight containe...
Don’t Tell Me I’m A Sex Addict, Too!
March 03, 2023 08:00 - 10 minutes - 7.56 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the nature of sex and love addiction and its power over individuals afflicted with it. We learn that: Sex and love addiction are as real as any other behaviour that is out of control and causes harm. What is different is that each person gets to define what constitutes his or her bottom-line actions that define addictive behaviour. It’s impossible to wake up and become a sex and love addict. It takes (often) years of behaving in a certain pattern that involves...
US Doctors Were Untrained to Diagnose Addiction – Until Now!
February 24, 2023 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.31 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the importance of the MATE Act, passed in the US recently on the impact it will have on educating medical professionals on the treatment of addictive disorders. We learn that: Even to this day, three-quarters of medical professionals get no training in addictive disorders. The MATE Act as passed recently in the US will require all medical schools to include substantial training in identifying and treating addictive disorders, including alcoholism. This does no...
What’s With the Serenity Prayer, Anyway?
February 17, 2023 08:00 - 8 minutes - 5.89 MBIn this podcast, Bruno J. discusses the true meaning of the popular Serenity Prayer. We learn that: Yes, there are things you absolutely must accept, such as the fact that there is no hope of a better past. Or the fact that you have no real idea of what the future holds. You can plan for the future, but you do not have to live there, for it can be a fearful place. One should make a conscious effort to strive for the insight that helps you understand what you can do something about. Much ...
Compassion vs. Enabling: Where’s The Line?
February 10, 2023 08:00 - 11 minutes - 8.18 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the subtle difference between compassion and enabling. We learn that: The disease is so slick and subtle that we can’t tell that addiction is starting its infiltration into our family - the whole family. As parents or spouses of addicts, we will be compelled to be compassionate, but our innocent compassion morphs into enabling, and we can’t tell the difference. We cannot stand the thought that our kid is an addict, so we will avoid the issue or cover it up vig...
Denial: The Silent Killer
February 03, 2023 08:00 - 10 minutes - 7.14 MBIn this podcast, we discuss how denial allows addiction and alcoholism to have their way in families who don’t recognise the predator in their midst. We learn that: Denial is born of innocence. How is one to know what is addictive behaviour and what is not unless we are educated? People often turn to professionals not qualified to diagnose addiction as the cause of mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Addicts lie to get what they want: drugs and/or a professional diagnosis tha...
“Just Say No” is Irrelevant
January 27, 2023 08:00 - 9 minutes - 6.5 MBIn this podcast, we discuss why “Just Say No” was a well-intentioned but naïve idea. We learn that: Science shows that addiction and/or alcoholism are brain disorders that cause affected people to lose the power of choice. Therefore “Just Say No” only works in the very early going, say as a teenager who actually listens to his parents before he becomes addicted. There is astounding and definitive evidence that the brain can heal from what was once thought to be an irreversible condition....
She Just Let Go
January 20, 2023 08:00 - 10 minutes - 7.34 MBIn this podcast, we learn about the challenge and power of letting go. We learn that: The household affected by addiction or alcoholism is ruled by fear, shame, and judgment. Resentment plays its own insidious role, as well. It does not have to be that way, but too few families, especially mums and wives, know the way out of their self-imposed prison. They have not yet learned that it is indeed possible to let go of the fear and judgmentalism. They have not connected to people who are in...
Recovery is For Everyone
January 13, 2023 08:00 - 11 minutes - 7.79 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the proven fact that anyone can recover. We learn that: Waiting for an addict to hit bottom before they decide to get help could be as good as a death sentence. Intervention must be considered in some form, whether by a professional or by a well-organised group of family and friends. For those unfamiliar with the thought process of an alcoholic or addict who is unsure of whether they should seek help, a family member or friend should contact an addictions couns...
I Lived a Horrible Life - Part 2 of 2
January 06, 2023 08:00 - 9 minutes - 6.42 MBIn this podcast, Bruno J. discusses what it was like and what happened to wake him out of a self-induced state of mindlessness. We learn that: No matter how high we end up flying, alcohol and drugs will bring us down so hard; we won’t know what hit us. Denial is hardwired into our psyches; recall I did not tell my shrink that I was drinking, even though I saw her every week for nine months. It really wasn’t until I got fired that I had to admit I was not sane. The job and its stature wer...
I Lived a Horrible Life - Part 1 of 2
December 30, 2022 08:00 - 9 minutes - 6.38 MBIn this podcast, Bruno J. discusses what life was like and what happened to make him realise there was hope of living a better, as opposed to a horrible life. We learn that: For many of us, we try to keep up appearances despite the emptiness and despair inside of us. That leads us to lead a double life until that act blows up when addiction or alcoholism takes over and we lose our material position. We, addicts, are completely unaware that addiction has taken over our lives and changed u...
Drugs You Thought You Knew
December 23, 2022 08:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBIn this podcast, we describe the status, sources and effects of (mostly) illegal or diverted substances our audience might be familiar with. We learn that: Of the nineteen drugs/substances discussed, only alcohol and (to some extent) marijuana are up and up legal. The vast majority of drugs that are used or abused are strictly made and taken to get high, period. There is no legal use for drugs like cocaine or meth or heroin. Many drugs get diverted and abused and are not strictly illegal...
Busting More Myths About Addiction
December 16, 2022 08:00 - 8 minutes - 6.1 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the myths and the facts surrounding the disease of addiction. We learn that: The addiction crisis in the USA is deadlier than ever and has claimed over 107,000 lives by overdose in 2021 alone, and the trend is discouraging so far in 2022. Addiction is loaded with stigma, ignorance and prejudice which keeps people from seeking help and limits access to resources needed to fund treatment. The notion seems to be that addicts are “bad people” who actually chose to...
Johnny: A Story of Grit
December 09, 2022 08:00 - 10 minutes - 7.07 MBIn this podcast, we share the story of Johnny, an example of true grit and strength of character. We learn that: If you happen to be lucky enough to be a recovering, (as opposed to active) alcoholic, you can overcome almost any obstacle if you put your sobriety first. Those who put personal development and spiritual values ahead of material gain will find that material success will follow quite naturally. Johnny personified the concept of grit which he attributes to truly surrendering to...
Designer Drugs are Here to Stay
December 02, 2022 08:00 - 9 minutes - 6.9 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the development of public programs to reduce the risks of overdose from the most dangerous designer drug on the streets: Fentanyl. We learn that: The US authorities at the federal and state level are finally waking up to the threat of the designer drug of the day: Fentanyl and its analogues. Medical education and training on substance use disorders needs to be substantially improved in over half of the medical schools in the US. Whether or not you have a loved...
Death by Stealthy Foreign Invaders
November 25, 2022 08:00 - 8 minutes - 5.61 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the development of synthetic illicit drugs of abuse and how they are revolutionising the industry, making these drugs harder to detect, more powerful and easier to distribute. We learn that: Drug cartels and China-based suppliers are transforming the entire illicit drug industry from plant-based to synthetic. Synthetic psycho-active drugs are exponentially more potent, more profitable and much easier to distribute. It seems the harder we try to disrupt convent...
Intervention: Don’t Try This at Home
November 18, 2022 08:00 - 13 minutes - 9.15 MBIn this podcast, we discuss and assess the strengths and weaknesses of different levels of intervention. We learn that: The vast majority of families who live with an addict or alcoholic in their midst do not seek help for themselves or for their loved ones, despite having to live with the chaos and desperation that addiction imposes on a family. A family intervention, absent a professional, requires meticulous planning, teamwork, leadership, a clear understanding of roles, and air-tight ...
Why do You Have to be So Rude?
November 11, 2022 08:00 - 9 minutes - 6.67 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the role of anger in our lives and of the many disguises it uses to erode confidence and peace. We learn that: Anger never travels alone and is therefore accompanied by other emotions such as fear and hurt, common in addictive and co-dependent relationships. Anger comes in so many disguises, it’s hard to identify it as the underlying cause of unhelpful behaviours such as rudeness, sarcasm or simply an unkind remark. Fear of losing a loved one, of not finding a...
Is Your Faulty Thinking Leading to Depression?
November 04, 2022 08:00 - 12 minutes - 8.9 MBIn this podcast on faulty thinking, common among caregivers of addicts and alcoholics, we discuss the main symptoms of cognitive disorder which leads to depression. We learn that: Dr David Burns’ research proves that how you feel is shaped much more by how you think rather than it is by your circumstances. What this says is that caregivers need to examine the faulty thinking that could result in depression or prolong or deepen it, as life is already a challenge. It is important that as t...
Stop the Epidemic Inside the Pandemic
October 28, 2022 08:00 - 10 minutes - 7.53 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the ways in which family members can educate themselves and support initiatives that will de-stigmatize addictive disorders. We learn that: Family members must not buy into the myth that an alcoholic or addict has to hit bottom before they will accept help. Believing that dangerous myth could take years to play out and could result in death or jail, or somewhere in between. The alternative to standing by and watching the train wreck is to do an intervention in ...
What’s Behind the Pain?
October 21, 2022 08:00 - 13 minutes - 9.5 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the sources of chronic pain in families with addiction. We learn that: Chronic pain is more likely to occur in families with an addiction problem in the home. That is because of the extra burden of stressors imposed by dysfunctions and (according to Dr John Sarno) by suppressed rage. Science has shown that chronic pain is as much a brain disorder as it is a physical problem. Learning new neural pathways is a science-based way of looking at what recovery tries...
What Are You Going to Do When They Come for You?
October 14, 2022 08:00 - 8 minutes - 6.08 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the intersection of addiction and financial insecurity. We learn that: Free spending and addiction go hand in hand. A life of chaos and compulsion will include financial insecurity. As a society, we are closer to the edge than we think. Almost half of us cannot afford to miss even one paycheck. If we do not see addiction and financial insecurity as related and in crisis, we have not been paying attention. As a responsible society, we need a robust program of ...
You Are Not as Unique as You Think You Are!
October 07, 2022 08:00 - 8 minutes - 5.78 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the concept of uniqueness. We learn that: It is an illusion since we are 99.9% exactly the same and only 0.1% different. We are far more alike as humans than we are different. It describes a state of mind where no one else matters; we are the centre of the universe, exactly what addicts and alcoholics believe. Accountability goes out the window. Our actions may hurt other people but that doesn’t matter, so long as our own needs are met. It’s only when those “...
What’s Cool About Group Therapy?
September 30, 2022 08:00 - 8 minutes - 6.13 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the value of Group Therapy and learn that it is a powerful tool. We learn that Group Therapy: Is an indispensable part of the treatment process, as it gets people to open up in ways that are not possible otherwise, even in one-on-one settings. Creates a powerful sense of belonging to clients who have heretofore felt only isolation from normal society. Gives them an opportunity to begin feeling empathy for others “in the same boat”, which is a huge turnaround f...
Spend to Soothe The Pain
September 23, 2022 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.15 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the signs and effects of compulsive spending and debting. We learn that compulsive spending and debting: Are addictions much like any other – repetitive behaviour that causes harm, and that does not stop unless arrested by another force. Reveal themselves in many different ways, usually by some form of vagueness and denial. Are fundamentally spiritual problems that require a spiritual solution, for the idea that we will not be held accountable runs deep. Can ...
Legalising Marijuana: Where Do You Stand?
September 16, 2022 08:00 - 11 minutes - 8.08 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the pros and cons of legalising the recreational use of marijuana. We learn that: Despite the economic and taxation lift that is evident in the sale of marijuana, the health costs far outweigh the benefits. The data supporting decreased marijuana use among teens due to legalisation is thin. Marijuana use is highest in states that have legalised its recreational use. Although there is evidence that the violent crime rate may be lower in states where marijuana i...
Is Recovery From Active Alcoholism Possible?
September 09, 2022 08:00 - 9 minutes - 6.56 MBIn this podcast, we answer the question “Is recovery from active alcoholism possible?” We learn that: There is little, if any, doubt that recovery from even the most profound state of addiction or alcoholism is not only possible, but probable given certain conditions. The best way to look at relapse prevention, given that relapse is what families fear most, is to learn that a change in thinking is at the heart of recovery. The thinking changes from the inability to deal with life events ...
What Will It Take?
September 02, 2022 08:00 - 9 minutes - 6.4 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the reality vs. the myths of what it takes to get an alcoholic or addict to ask for help. We learn that: Among the most dangerous myths is the notion that an addict or alcoholic will not seek help until they are ready. Another dangerous myth is the idea that addicts/alcoholics have to hit bottom before they are ready. We are asking the wrong questions. What we should ask is: “What can we do to get them to accept help?” Standing by waiting for them to get ready...
Alcohol and Drug Myths Can be Dangerous
August 26, 2022 08:00 - 10 minutes - 6.96 MBIn this podcast, we discuss that there are many myths surrounding addiction and alcoholism, some of them dangerous. We learn that: Alcoholism by any count is the single biggest drug problem in the US and we dare say around the globe. One of the most damaging myths is to allow the addict or alcoholic to hit bottom before they are ready to accept help. This attitude can kill, for some addicts drop to the point of death. Addiction is a family disease where the addiction pulls the whole fami...
Think You Know About Addiction?
August 19, 2022 08:00 - 10 minutes - 7.41 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the deadly impact of drugs, especially opioids, and what a family can do to help themselves and help society reverse the trend that has taken over 100,000 lives in just one year. We learn that: There is indeed an epidemic of drug abuse that will continue to take 100,000 lives by overdose unless we unite and take action to reverse course. Synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl drugs, are embedded now into most other drugs as a means of creating an addiction to th...