Episodes

  • The Role of the Mind in Recovery from Chemical Addiction

    The Role of the Mind in Recovery from Chemical Addiction
    Feb 26 2022
    The third in a series of four, this episode is about ways to approach the mind more effectively in order to increase a person's chances for maintaining sobriety long-term. Dr. Swartz & Dr. Andres discuss questions like: can the mind be made into a positive force for a person's recovery? in what way does the mind maintain addiction by justifying a dominant narrative? in what way does the mind slow or complicate recovery when it holds onto baseless ideas strongly, which some clients show an aversion to questioning? how can mindfulness help a person recover, and is mindfulness another part of the mind or is it more closely related to the spiritual part of a person? in what ways does group therapy help combat the negative impact of Mind? how might psychodrama help a client recognize and change the mental aspects that sustain recovery more quickly or reliably?
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    48 mins
  • Spirituality's role in recovery

    Spirituality's role in recovery
    Dec 23 2021
    In what ways might severe substance use disorder mimic renunciation--which is, in some traditions, an expression of spirituality? How can a focus on transcendental topics help people with addiction put their substance use disorder into remission? Dr. Swartz and Dr. Gonzalez discuss the role of chanting and the use of various mantras in treating substance use disorder. Can a person's "first high" (first time experiencing the game-changing effects of a substance) be seen as a type of spiritual epiphany, which recovery might need to try and counter with an epiphany from a healthier source? How group therapy--by creating community and helping people re-establish connections with other people--can reduce a person's dependence on drugs and alcohol.
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    43 mins
  • The Body's Role in Recovery

    The Body's Role in Recovery
    Dec 4 2021
    Are we, as treatment professionals, possibly (inadvertently) underestimating the role of the body in the development of substance use disorders? Is it possible that we are failing to utilize an important pathway for the treatment and healing of addiction? Here a psychologist and an acupuncturist --both with years of experience working in residential treatment centers for adults with substance use disorders--talk about the body's various roles both in the creation of and maintenance of addiction, and how a greater emphasis on treating the body directly might help more people with addiction to achieve long-term sobriety. There's a discussion about acupuncture's ability to elicit traumatic memories, how chronic tension can contribute to drug and alcohol use, along with chronic sleep difficulties. Here are other topics mentioned: damage to the body caused by years of addiction; the importance of awareness of tension; the role of chronic pain in substance abuse; and the acceptance of pain as a transformative practice. We talk about withdrawal, acupuncture as a way to reduce cravings, etc.
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    38 mins
  • What is Bessimur?

    What is Bessimur?
    Nov 24 2021
    Dr. Swartz and Dr. Gonzalez discuss the word Bessimur and what it means for the treatment of addiction. Why is it important to treat the body first when treating addiction? What is the role of spirituality in treatment? How can a deep transformation be obtained? How can movement help us address depression and trauma? Dr. Swartz talks about her belief that people inadvertently "worship their minds" and how breath-based movement and spirituality can help end this self-destructive habit. Dr. Gonzalez shares his own experience with TaiJi, and how it helped him overcome depression.
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    27 mins