WEBVTT 00:00:37.420 --> 00:00:40.000 Hey everybody, welcome back. Welcome back to 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:42.579 Food for Thought. Thoughts If It Were You by 00:00:42.579 --> 00:00:45.600 Dark Cancer Productions. I'm your host, Neo Gentrics. 00:00:45.619 --> 00:00:48.020 It has been a while, guys. I am sorry for the 00:00:48.020 --> 00:00:51.380 delay. There's been a lot of things going on 00:00:51.380 --> 00:00:54.500 with me in life, especially with family. I'll 00:00:54.500 --> 00:00:57.840 be happy to get into the bees and knees with 00:00:57.840 --> 00:01:00.439 that. But first, I would like to bring you a 00:01:00.439 --> 00:01:02.759 brand new episode, which I haven't brought to 00:01:02.759 --> 00:01:05.719 you in a little over a year. And I do apologize 00:01:05.719 --> 00:01:08.760 for that. Food for Thought, Thoughts If It Were 00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:11.560 You, will be broadcasting again like we have 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:16.120 always been prior to the pandemic. And I will 00:01:16.120 --> 00:01:18.659 be bringing you at least one new episode every 00:01:18.659 --> 00:01:22.560 couple of days to almost every single day if 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:25.420 I can allow it. Now, I will be back on a schedule 00:01:25.420 --> 00:01:27.620 that you can definitely count on. My episodes 00:01:27.620 --> 00:01:29.659 will either come out at 3 o 'clock in the morning 00:01:29.659 --> 00:01:34.599 as prior or 3 in the evening. It just depends. 00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:40.340 on when i'm able to uh get to them but i'm happy 00:01:40.340 --> 00:01:42.219 to be back here with you guys talking about what 00:01:42.219 --> 00:01:45.099 i always love talking about educational facts 00:01:45.099 --> 00:01:47.540 things that people don't consider stuff people 00:01:47.540 --> 00:01:51.400 want to know with the whole premise thoughts 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:53.859 if it were you how would you feel if you were 00:01:53.859 --> 00:01:57.560 the person in the other shoes that all this stuff 00:01:57.560 --> 00:02:01.390 is happening to And a lot of the stuff I'll be 00:02:01.390 --> 00:02:03.069 speaking from experience or I'll be using someone 00:02:03.069 --> 00:02:05.230 else's experience or I will be bringing someone 00:02:05.230 --> 00:02:07.909 else in to speak about their experiences. So 00:02:07.909 --> 00:02:12.949 definitely a lot to look forward to. Today we 00:02:12.949 --> 00:02:16.430 have a topic about the neuroscience of addiction 00:02:16.430 --> 00:02:20.669 and it's something that I feel like I should 00:02:20.669 --> 00:02:22.569 talk about with everything that's going on right 00:02:22.569 --> 00:02:27.979 now, stuff that people need to consider. It's 00:02:27.979 --> 00:02:32.520 in a way a fantastic or rather fascinating world 00:02:32.520 --> 00:02:38.419 of a topic that people don't think too highly 00:02:38.419 --> 00:02:43.460 of. Addiction and its profound impact on the 00:02:43.460 --> 00:02:45.379 brain are definitely something that people should 00:02:45.379 --> 00:02:47.740 probably consider a little bit more. So with 00:02:47.740 --> 00:02:49.719 that being said, we'll begin with segment one 00:02:49.719 --> 00:02:54.439 today, talking about, as such, the topic of addiction. 00:02:55.069 --> 00:02:58.110 which is often referred to as a battle of control, 00:02:58.409 --> 00:03:01.430 a struggle that takes place within the confines 00:03:01.430 --> 00:03:05.889 of your own mind. To understand it better, we 00:03:05.889 --> 00:03:09.030 will need to uncover the intricate neurological 00:03:09.030 --> 00:03:13.849 processes at play. So let's begin, shall we? 00:03:29.229 --> 00:03:31.009 All right, everybody, let's begin with segment 00:03:31.009 --> 00:03:36.189 one, the science behind addiction. And like I 00:03:36.189 --> 00:03:38.189 said before, it's not something that people stop 00:03:38.189 --> 00:03:40.430 to consider too often, and I would love to give 00:03:40.430 --> 00:03:42.629 it more thought. So let's go ahead and begin 00:03:42.629 --> 00:03:47.050 with such addiction as whether it's to say a 00:03:47.050 --> 00:03:51.870 narcotic or any other substance, it's fundamentally 00:03:51.870 --> 00:03:55.569 rooted in the brain's reward system. To put it 00:03:55.569 --> 00:03:58.539 simply, it's a hijacking of one. of our most 00:03:58.539 --> 00:04:03.199 basic survival mechanisms the brain uh being 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:08.840 that main uh organ of survival is a it's a complex 00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:11.860 and astonishing organ okay it relies on a delicate 00:04:11.860 --> 00:04:14.819 balance of neurotransmitters things that just 00:04:14.819 --> 00:04:17.220 fire off impulses like electricity in your brain 00:04:17.220 --> 00:04:20.639 and tell it what to do and how to react chemical 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:22.660 messengers that transport the signals between 00:04:22.660 --> 00:04:26.100 the nerves are what we essentially call neurotransmitters 00:04:27.239 --> 00:04:31.000 One neurotransmitter in particular takes center 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:33.360 stage in the story of addiction, and everyone 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:35.180 should probably know what it is by this point. 00:04:35.319 --> 00:04:37.839 It's called dopamine. It's very common, very 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:40.319 familiar. It's also referred to as the feel -good 00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:42.519 neurotransmitter because it's associated with 00:04:42.519 --> 00:04:45.459 pleasure, reward, motivation, your reason to 00:04:45.459 --> 00:04:50.560 do something. Regardless of what it is, whether 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:54.939 getting up in the morning, cooking, eating, sex, 00:04:55.060 --> 00:04:58.980 whatever. It's the drive for it. I mean, you 00:04:58.980 --> 00:05:01.300 just have to be interested for it to fire off 00:05:01.300 --> 00:05:04.500 in your brain. Something that makes you warm 00:05:04.500 --> 00:05:07.980 and fuzzy. I guess the best way to put it would 00:05:07.980 --> 00:05:09.759 be, it's released when we experience something 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:12.980 enjoyable. Okay? I mean, the simplest example, 00:05:13.100 --> 00:05:15.920 despite the ones I just listed, would be a delicious 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:18.920 meal, a warm hug, getting to see that person 00:05:18.920 --> 00:05:20.360 you haven't seen in a while that makes you feel 00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:24.050 good. You know, stuff like that. Now... here's 00:05:24.050 --> 00:05:26.569 where narcotics especially opioids like we discussed 00:05:26.569 --> 00:05:29.189 in our last episodes come into play these substances 00:05:29.189 --> 00:05:32.290 uh have a remarkable ability to flood the brain 00:05:32.290 --> 00:05:36.329 with dopamine and they trigger what's called 00:05:36.329 --> 00:05:42.170 a euphoric sensation or a high if you will and 00:05:42.170 --> 00:05:45.430 the more intense it's usually more intense than 00:05:45.430 --> 00:05:48.129 any natural reward that you would normally get 00:05:48.129 --> 00:05:51.129 from stuff that you would deal with on a daily 00:05:51.129 --> 00:05:56.269 basis so Now, imagine your brain as like a well 00:05:56.269 --> 00:05:59.949 -oiled machine, okay? And narcotics as a wrench 00:05:59.949 --> 00:06:04.250 thrown into it and causing all the gears to just 00:06:04.250 --> 00:06:08.910 malfunction temporarily. This influx of dopamine 00:06:08.910 --> 00:06:12.230 that your body gets from these narcotics and 00:06:12.230 --> 00:06:18.529 drugs disrupts that brain -like normal function 00:06:18.529 --> 00:06:23.459 that your body has. Rather, it stops the gears 00:06:23.459 --> 00:06:27.100 from turning, if you will. And it makes it crave 00:06:27.100 --> 00:06:32.399 more of the substance that's caused by the dopamine. 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:36.439 That's a form of pleasure. Like when you get 00:06:36.439 --> 00:06:39.220 something that you really like. For example, 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:42.819 sugar. When you eat it, you feel good. You like 00:06:42.819 --> 00:06:44.660 it. If it tastes good, at least I hope it tastes 00:06:44.660 --> 00:06:47.870 good. and you want more of it well your brain 00:06:47.870 --> 00:06:51.069 acts the same way when dopamine is injected into 00:06:51.069 --> 00:06:53.689 it as a rush from whatever drug or such that 00:06:53.689 --> 00:06:58.389 gives it that feeling so but you know why is 00:06:58.389 --> 00:07:00.490 this important in the context of learning and 00:07:00.490 --> 00:07:05.069 empathy in the first place well addictions as 00:07:05.069 --> 00:07:07.990 we'll further explore can impair an individual's 00:07:07.990 --> 00:07:09.990 ability to learn and make rational decisions 00:07:09.990 --> 00:07:13.449 it's not a just about seeking pleasure it's also 00:07:13.449 --> 00:07:16.889 about pain and withdrawal and as you know from 00:07:16.889 --> 00:07:18.769 what we've been discussing over the last couple 00:07:18.769 --> 00:07:21.269 of episodes the learning types the way people 00:07:21.269 --> 00:07:24.529 learn uh the different types of narcotics and 00:07:24.529 --> 00:07:26.610 the drugs that they have like i'm building up 00:07:26.610 --> 00:07:31.850 to something okay i'm sorry um it basically prevents 00:07:31.850 --> 00:07:33.829 them from making the decisions that they need 00:07:33.829 --> 00:07:36.750 okay and like i said it's not always about seeking 00:07:36.750 --> 00:07:40.379 pleasure In some people's cases, those extra 00:07:40.379 --> 00:07:42.899 drugs are about avoiding pain or withdrawal. 00:07:43.180 --> 00:07:45.639 They don't want to deal with the repercussions 00:07:45.639 --> 00:07:49.620 of not getting what they want. To illustrate 00:07:49.620 --> 00:07:53.519 this better, let's look at real -life stories 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:56.540 and case studies of individuals whose lives have 00:07:56.540 --> 00:07:59.920 been deeply impacted by addictions. These stories 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:03.800 serve as a stark reminder that addiction is not 00:08:03.800 --> 00:08:06.860 just a a moral failing in a person's thought 00:08:06.860 --> 00:08:09.379 pattern or such is a complex interplay of biology, 00:08:09.779 --> 00:08:13.620 psychology, and circumstance, depending on what 00:08:13.620 --> 00:08:18.839 happened to that person. In the next couple of 00:08:18.839 --> 00:08:21.939 minutes, after we take our break here, we'll 00:08:21.939 --> 00:08:26.060 hear from those who've basically walked this 00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:28.100 path, emerged on the other side, and we'll explore 00:08:28.100 --> 00:08:29.879 how understanding the science behind addiction 00:08:29.879 --> 00:08:32.659 can basically lead to greater empathy and more 00:08:32.659 --> 00:08:37.179 effective support, okay? i will well i'll read 00:08:37.179 --> 00:08:39.419 them off to you these uh instances because i 00:08:39.419 --> 00:08:42.059 have a few of them here listed and we'll go through 00:08:42.059 --> 00:08:46.519 them if you will so stick around and we'll dive 00:08:46.519 --> 00:08:49.139 further into this maze of addiction and the fascinating 00:08:49.139 --> 00:09:08.700 science that basically underlies it all right 00:09:08.700 --> 00:09:11.440 everybody welcome back we're here for section 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:14.500 two in this segment we'll be uh delving into 00:09:14.500 --> 00:09:16.720 a compelling story that allows us to step into 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:19.000 the shoes of someone who has faced a daunting 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:22.360 challenge of addiction it's a story that will 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:25.879 uh in a way help us grasp the emotional cognitive 00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:31.000 complexities that uh addiction entails okay and 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:35.019 today's story is going to be about a girl named 00:09:35.019 --> 00:09:40.059 sarah okay Sarah was, how do I put this, an ambitious 00:09:40.059 --> 00:09:44.100 young woman with dreams as vast as the sky. She 00:09:44.100 --> 00:09:46.779 had a loving family, a promising career, a bright 00:09:46.779 --> 00:09:49.559 future ahead of her. But beneath the surface, 00:09:50.580 --> 00:09:51.659 you know, because there's always something beneath 00:09:51.659 --> 00:09:54.080 the surface, a silent struggle was taking place. 00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:57.659 And one that would essentially change the course 00:09:57.659 --> 00:10:03.299 of her life for the rest of her life. And let's 00:10:03.299 --> 00:10:05.840 put it this way. it started off innocently enough 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:08.299 okay she was prescribed pain medication after 00:10:08.299 --> 00:10:11.320 a dental procedure and you know the relief it 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:14.120 brought was instantaneous as with most medications 00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:16.700 and as you know i like i said before i had issues 00:10:16.700 --> 00:10:19.580 with migraines when i was younger so i understand 00:10:19.580 --> 00:10:22.460 this to getting prescribed pain medications help 00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:25.720 deal with the pain and it felt good for a while 00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:34.769 the thing with that though Her, unlike me, everything 00:10:34.769 --> 00:10:37.110 for me ended. I took the medication, pain's gone, 00:10:37.289 --> 00:10:39.509 boom, I'm good. And I did everything I could 00:10:39.509 --> 00:10:43.230 to avoid it. However, little did she know that 00:10:43.230 --> 00:10:48.669 her run -in with these relief pills, or opioids, 00:10:48.889 --> 00:10:51.090 as they're literally what they are, because, 00:10:51.230 --> 00:10:52.909 you know, like we said, we discussed this before, 00:10:53.090 --> 00:11:00.149 would basically be the beginning of a very long 00:11:00.889 --> 00:11:06.149 An arduous journey of regret in a lot of ways, 00:11:06.230 --> 00:11:09.870 and more pain than it's worth for her. As time 00:11:09.870 --> 00:11:12.330 passed, the medications she once needed for physical 00:11:12.330 --> 00:11:16.230 pain began to numb her emotional pain. The pills 00:11:16.230 --> 00:11:18.690 became a fleeting escape from the stressors of 00:11:18.690 --> 00:11:21.330 life, and with each use, the grip of addiction 00:11:21.330 --> 00:11:25.350 basically tightened on her. All the different 00:11:25.350 --> 00:11:29.019 issues in her life... family her friends school 00:11:29.019 --> 00:11:32.100 work things like that started getting to her 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:34.039 and the same pills that she was taking before 00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:37.779 for the pain that she had originally felt from 00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:40.399 the dental procedures just wasn't enough and 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:43.759 the pills ironically enough was making her feel 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:49.259 better and you know the pills the more she took 00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:51.879 them provided a fleeting escape from the stresses 00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:54.879 of life and with each use the grip of addiction 00:11:55.470 --> 00:11:59.250 basically tightened her story is not exactly 00:11:59.250 --> 00:12:01.590 unique in this regard i'm pretty sure everyone 00:12:01.590 --> 00:12:04.190 who's listening to this has known someone else 00:12:04.190 --> 00:12:06.269 who's in a similar boat or has something similar 00:12:06.269 --> 00:12:09.730 what their story told him but you know the narrative 00:12:09.730 --> 00:12:12.230 is shared by countless individuals who for various 00:12:12.230 --> 00:12:14.529 reasons find themselves ensnared by addictions 00:12:14.529 --> 00:12:19.009 a cunning grasp if you will it's a story of struggle 00:12:19.009 --> 00:12:21.970 battles fought silently within the recesses of 00:12:21.970 --> 00:12:24.580 your own mind For each person, it's a battle. 00:12:24.659 --> 00:12:26.559 It's a different battle for each person for whatever 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:31.500 reason or another that causes them to do what 00:12:31.500 --> 00:12:34.480 they do. Now, let's take a pause here from Sarah's 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:37.759 story for a second. Addiction isn't solely about 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:40.659 cravings and seeking pleasure. Most often than 00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:43.139 not for most people, it's about escaping suffering, 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:46.200 emotional turmoil. It's about coping with the 00:12:46.200 --> 00:12:49.700 pain. real or perceived whether fake or reality 00:12:49.700 --> 00:12:52.039 doesn't matter for each person it's a little 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:54.059 bit different and it affects them in a different 00:12:54.059 --> 00:12:56.240 way or a different mindset it's a little more 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:59.940 psychological than it is anything else okay no 00:12:59.940 --> 00:13:01.899 these people do not belong in a mental facility 00:13:01.899 --> 00:13:04.940 or mental institution but they do need help and 00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:08.200 in some cases psychologists psychiatrists and 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:11.500 therapists are great for this but for some people 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:14.519 they need a little bit more okay and as we consider 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:18.500 though simple as it was, Sarah's story, it becomes 00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:20.399 evident that understanding addiction requires 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:22.720 more than just knowledge of the science behind 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:26.720 it, okay? It demands empathy, an ability to recognize 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:28.759 the person behind the addiction and the struggles 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:31.340 that they face. If you don't understand what 00:13:31.340 --> 00:13:33.899 empathy is or you have a hard time with that, 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:36.980 feel free to go back and listen to my episode 00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:44.120 on empathy back in season one. As, you know, 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:48.200 As Sarah's story continued out and played out, 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:53.759 it's just one facet of a multifaceted issue that 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:57.679 her and a lot of others face. And it essentially 00:13:57.679 --> 00:14:00.740 reminds us that addiction can affect anyone at 00:14:00.740 --> 00:14:03.019 any given time. And it's a reminder that judgment 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:06.360 and stigma often stand as barriers to healing 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:11.539 and recovery for each person. You know. A person 00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:14.080 could be working today, making the best out of 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:16.659 their lives, has the best job in the world, making 00:14:16.659 --> 00:14:20.419 a crap ton of money, and tomorrow get fired, 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:23.700 go home, only to find out that they forgot to 00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:25.840 pay their rent, they're behind, landlord kicks 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:29.360 them out, now they don't have a job, a home. 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:32.580 Or they defaulted on their, a few months later, 00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:34.220 trying to survive and find another job. They 00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:35.840 defaulted on their payment for their car. They 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:37.980 lose that too. So they barely have anything. 00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:39.759 All they have is the clothes on their back. They're 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:41.899 trying to do what they can to survive. Like I 00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:44.960 said, these stories aren't like anything in particular, 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:49.960 so to speak. But as generic as they sound, as 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:52.179 many times as we've heard them, they all play 00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:56.360 a significant role in what addiction is, how 00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:59.350 it happens, and how it comes to effect. each 00:14:59.350 --> 00:15:01.809 and every one of us people can be addicted to 00:15:01.809 --> 00:15:05.809 anything it doesn't have to be drugs okay they 00:15:05.809 --> 00:15:08.029 can be addicted to other things there are some 00:15:08.029 --> 00:15:10.529 people out there addicted to stuff that is ridiculous 00:15:10.529 --> 00:15:13.409 in just the thought and pattern of whatever it 00:15:13.409 --> 00:15:19.409 is okay so i mean with that you know in our next 00:15:19.409 --> 00:15:21.950 segment we'll take another short break here and 00:15:21.950 --> 00:15:24.370 i know that was a lot of information uh we're 00:15:24.370 --> 00:15:26.649 gonna delve a little bit deeper into the various 00:15:26.649 --> 00:15:30.139 psychology psychological and emotional aspects 00:15:30.139 --> 00:15:33.120 of addition. And then we'll explore the role 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:35.779 of empathy and supporting those on the path to 00:15:35.779 --> 00:15:39.700 recovery. Just a little bit more because, you 00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:42.399 know, everybody needs a little bit of help. So, 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:46.519 you know, stay with us as we explore addiction 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:48.980 a little bit further and the journey that takes 00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:51.519 us beyond just the simple science of it and into 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:54.990 the realm of compassion and understanding. For 00:15:54.990 --> 00:15:57.250 the people who have to deal with this or suffer 00:15:57.250 --> 00:16:14.809 through it. All right, everybody. Welcome back. 00:16:14.809 --> 00:16:17.230 Welcome back. Welcome back. I know that break 00:16:17.230 --> 00:16:20.710 was fairly short. And like I said, a lot of the 00:16:20.710 --> 00:16:23.379 information I covered before was... Mainly just 00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:25.899 to get the point across that while the stories 00:16:25.899 --> 00:16:28.159 are simple that everyone hears and they all sound 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:31.320 the same and run together the same, the process 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:34.360 and the thought of how it happens is still the 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:38.059 same. And while each situation is different, 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:39.980 and I can understand everybody being mad or upset 00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:42.600 about whatever happens, especially if it's someone 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:44.759 who's close to you, you have to remember that 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:46.659 at the end of the day, these people need help. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:50.860 Okay? They're not just some other poor soul on 00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:52.659 the side of the road. They're not just a simple, 00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:54.720 regular homeless person. That's not the case 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:58.620 here. Okay. So in this segment, we're going to 00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:00.259 talk about the road to recovery. We're going 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:02.899 to embark on a crucial part of our journey of 00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:05.319 hope and healing. And we'll explore the various 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:07.559 paths individuals can take on the road to recovery 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:12.500 from addiction. Okay. And, you know, again, addiction. 00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:15.480 like we've learned, can cast a long shadow over 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:17.680 a person's life, affecting not only their physical 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:20.079 health, but their relationships, their careers, 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:23.319 well -being, like I mentioned before. But here's 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:26.299 the inspiring truth. Recovery is possible for 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:28.259 these people, and it's something that a lot of 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:30.900 people need to consider, okay? I'm not saying 00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:32.440 that every time you see a person who's addicted 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:35.859 to something... go and help them or send them 00:17:35.859 --> 00:17:38.680 to a support group. No. Some people can be helped. 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:40.480 Some people can't be helped. Some people need 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:43.119 more than just a simple support group. They need 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:45.700 even more help than that. There are numerous 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:50.559 routes or roads to recovery. It's essential to 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:53.259 find the one that best suits an individual's 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:57.740 unique needs and circumstances. Actually, you 00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:59.079 know what? Let's go ahead and explore some of 00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:03.700 these paths real quick. First off is what's called 00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:06.619 the medical assisted treatment method or MAT. 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:10.980 Medication assisted treatment involves the use 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:15.740 of medications such as methadone. What's the 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:21.599 other one? Buprenorphine. I do believe it's how 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:25.400 it's pronounced to help manage cravings with 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:28.650 withdrawal symptoms. More often than not, doctors 00:18:28.650 --> 00:18:30.430 are not going to give you these. They're going 00:18:30.430 --> 00:18:32.230 to try to find other methods before they ever 00:18:32.230 --> 00:18:35.289 go with this method, though it is one of the 00:18:35.289 --> 00:18:38.569 more effective ones. Its evidence is based on 00:18:38.569 --> 00:18:41.190 the approach that has shown remarkable success 00:18:41.190 --> 00:18:45.809 in opiate addictions for those treatments. But 00:18:45.809 --> 00:18:48.230 then for some people, it's beyond that. It's 00:18:48.230 --> 00:18:51.390 not just the drugs or whatever it is. Some people, 00:18:51.490 --> 00:18:54.130 like I said before, need therapy and counseling. 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:58.880 Counseling includes an individual or group therapy, 00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:01.799 which plays a pivotal role in addiction recovery, 00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:04.740 and it provides a safe space for individuals 00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:07.420 to explore the underlying causes of their addiction 00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:10.460 and develop coping strategies and even receive 00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:13.579 emotional support. I've learned more about this 00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:17.660 recently as my girlfriend's currently going to 00:19:17.660 --> 00:19:20.970 school to become a counselor. having to help 00:19:20.970 --> 00:19:23.230 her with some of her homework and even learning 00:19:23.230 --> 00:19:24.710 some of the stuff she's going through, despite 00:19:24.710 --> 00:19:27.849 that not being my field of study, I've learned 00:19:27.849 --> 00:19:30.289 that, you know, counseling and therapy does a 00:19:30.289 --> 00:19:31.950 lot for a lot of people and it helps them come 00:19:31.950 --> 00:19:34.289 to the realization of a lot of things. Hell, 00:19:34.329 --> 00:19:37.980 even counselors at times. and therapists have 00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:40.240 to go see a counselor or a therapist for themselves 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:41.880 because of all the stuff that they hear keep 00:19:41.880 --> 00:19:44.900 in mind that like i said before addictions and 00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:47.140 other issues come out of nowhere and they're 00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:50.019 to deal with life or emotional issues that come 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:52.420 to face people and this also affects counselors 00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:55.160 and therapists too consider the fact of all the 00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:57.039 stuff that they be hearing or listening to on 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:59.859 a daily basis when they go to work some of this 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:02.509 stuff gets them at At some point, it starts affecting 00:20:02.509 --> 00:20:05.049 their sleep cycles, their work life, their personal 00:20:05.049 --> 00:20:08.789 life. Soon, everybody becomes a patient. And 00:20:08.789 --> 00:20:12.190 even they need help to reconcile and get themselves 00:20:12.190 --> 00:20:16.349 back on track at times. Then there's the support 00:20:16.349 --> 00:20:18.349 groups, like I mentioned earlier. Organizations 00:20:18.349 --> 00:20:23.410 like Narconics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous. 00:20:24.309 --> 00:20:28.069 Or AA, if you will. offer invaluable support 00:20:28.069 --> 00:20:30.450 to individuals in recovery these groups essentially 00:20:30.450 --> 00:20:33.849 provide a sense of community accountability and 00:20:33.849 --> 00:20:36.170 mentorship they get a mentor that helps show 00:20:36.170 --> 00:20:38.089 them where their problems lie and helps them 00:20:38.089 --> 00:20:40.670 to get it in together and by being part of a 00:20:40.670 --> 00:20:42.690 group it helps them coordinate with other people 00:20:42.690 --> 00:20:45.309 and it builds a level of accountability basically 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:48.380 They want to get better. They're trying to get 00:20:48.380 --> 00:20:50.380 better. They're showed that they can get better. 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:52.779 And by becoming accountable and having a group 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:54.980 of people with them to work with them on it, 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:58.140 it forces them to do it by creating a better 00:20:58.140 --> 00:21:00.359 level of achievement. Remember how I said before 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:04.119 that an addiction or someone's drive to get that 00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:06.799 dopamine acts, which is like a reward for your 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:08.740 brain. It makes them feel good. Is there utter 00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:10.799 drive to these addictions? Well, this is their 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:13.480 way out by redirecting that level of addiction 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:18.339 or that. desire to get that high into something 00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:21.859 else entirely. And by focusing it there, it allows 00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:25.240 them to forget and to move past the other issues. 00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:27.539 Now, don't get me wrong. Drugs are still pretty 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:29.559 strong. And if a person's highly addicted to 00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:31.819 it, yes, it'll take longer for them to break 00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:33.720 free. But the point of the matter is they're 00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:36.220 trying. Little by little, they'll get free. Because 00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:37.599 there are people that are addicted to sugar. 00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:41.599 It's not even a drug, more or less, anyway. That's 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:43.279 a whole different topic for another episode. 00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:48.599 You know, people are addicted to that. The next 00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:52.079 one is holistic approaches. Holistic treatments, 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:54.779 including yoga, meditation, and art therapy, 00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:57.480 can complement traditional methods of addiction 00:21:57.480 --> 00:22:00.519 treatment. They focus on healing the mind, body, 00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:04.240 spirit as a whole. Now, while personally, and 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.700 I'm just saying this is just from a personal 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:07.480 note, I don't really care too much for yoga, 00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:10.079 plus it kind of creeps me out. You know, for 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:12.710 some people, it helps them. Art therapy I could 00:22:12.710 --> 00:22:15.470 probably get along with. I've seen people do 00:22:15.470 --> 00:22:18.509 it. I've tried it. It's a calming effect. I don't 00:22:18.509 --> 00:22:20.609 really know how meditation works, but I can dive 00:22:20.609 --> 00:22:22.890 into that if you'd like. There's a topic for 00:22:22.890 --> 00:22:26.990 a future episode. And then there's holistic treatments. 00:22:27.210 --> 00:22:29.529 Now, each one of these things I'll probably dive 00:22:29.529 --> 00:22:32.049 into a little bit more in future episodes if 00:22:32.049 --> 00:22:35.630 people ask for them. But for the most part, they 00:22:35.630 --> 00:22:40.509 bring up or help people focus on their healing. 00:22:41.150 --> 00:22:44.069 as a whole, not just on the topic of whatever 00:22:44.069 --> 00:22:46.690 it is. It's important to remember that the journey 00:22:46.690 --> 00:22:49.410 to recovery is often marked by setbacks and challenges, 00:22:49.609 --> 00:22:52.509 okay? Relapse is part of people's recovery stories 00:22:52.509 --> 00:22:54.829 for a reason, because there are things that happen, 00:22:54.930 --> 00:22:58.410 circumstances, people, events, triggers, stuff 00:22:58.410 --> 00:23:02.160 like that. That causes people to relax. I'm sorry, 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:04.519 relapse, not relax. If they could relax, this 00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:06.640 would solve a lot of problems. It's not a sign 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:08.920 of failure, but an opportunity for growth and 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:10.960 learning. And like I mentioned before in previous 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:14.160 episodes, failure is never the end. You don't 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:16.240 learn anything if you always succeed. Sometimes 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:20.119 you have to fail. Whether you want to or you 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:24.180 don't. Okay? Now, let's talk about the power 00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:26.380 of support networks and community resources. 00:23:27.289 --> 00:23:29.769 Family and friends often play a vital role in 00:23:29.769 --> 00:23:32.890 an individual's recovery journey. Their understanding, 00:23:33.109 --> 00:23:35.529 encouragement, and patience can make the world 00:23:35.529 --> 00:23:37.269 of difference for a person, especially if they 00:23:37.269 --> 00:23:41.089 feel alone, left out in the world. No one's willing 00:23:41.089 --> 00:23:43.190 to help them, that everybody's against them, 00:23:43.230 --> 00:23:46.150 that the world hates them. This helps them, you 00:23:46.150 --> 00:23:48.809 know? Community resources such as recovery centers, 00:23:48.930 --> 00:23:52.230 peer support programs. They offer essential assistance 00:23:52.230 --> 00:23:55.190 to those on the path to recovery. They provide 00:23:55.190 --> 00:23:57.829 education, advocacy, and a sense of belonging 00:23:57.829 --> 00:24:02.190 that a lot of people don't have or they need, 00:24:02.309 --> 00:24:05.769 you know? Recovery is, it's not a destination. 00:24:06.049 --> 00:24:09.230 Let me put it that way, okay? It's a lifelong 00:24:09.230 --> 00:24:11.769 journey. It requires dedication, resilience, 00:24:12.009 --> 00:24:15.170 and an unwavering support. And as countless individuals 00:24:15.170 --> 00:24:19.269 have shown, it's a journey worth taking for most 00:24:19.269 --> 00:24:22.450 people, okay? Just something to keep in mind. 00:24:23.750 --> 00:24:26.089 So with that being said, we're going to take 00:24:26.089 --> 00:24:29.329 another short break here so that one eye can 00:24:29.329 --> 00:24:32.329 breathe. And so, you know, everyone listening 00:24:32.329 --> 00:24:34.589 can get a grasp on everything that I just said. 00:24:34.710 --> 00:24:37.549 And in our next segment, we'll take a closer 00:24:37.549 --> 00:24:39.549 look at how addiction can impact an individual's 00:24:39.549 --> 00:24:42.869 cognitive abilities, including memory and learning. 00:24:43.690 --> 00:24:45.990 And we'll also discuss strategies for rebuilding 00:24:45.990 --> 00:24:50.009 cognitive skills during recovery. So stay tuned 00:24:50.009 --> 00:24:51.730 as we continue our exploration of addiction, 00:24:51.970 --> 00:24:55.410 recovery, and the remarkable human capacity for 00:24:55.410 --> 00:25:13.809 healing. Hey everybody, welcome back. This is 00:25:13.809 --> 00:25:15.950 going to be our final segment for this episode 00:25:15.950 --> 00:25:22.289 here. And it's a bit of an eye -opening episode, 00:25:22.369 --> 00:25:24.230 I guess, for a lot of people. Something that 00:25:24.230 --> 00:25:26.009 not a lot of people would like to hear about, 00:25:26.130 --> 00:25:28.549 but it's something that I felt I needed to cover. 00:25:28.690 --> 00:25:31.470 And in this segment, like I said earlier, we'll 00:25:31.470 --> 00:25:33.210 delve a little bit deeper into the fascinating 00:25:33.210 --> 00:25:35.990 intersections of narcotics, memory, and learning. 00:25:36.589 --> 00:25:42.230 So, like mentioned earlier, addiction doesn't 00:25:42.230 --> 00:25:45.049 just affect an individual's physical and emotional 00:25:45.049 --> 00:25:47.950 well -being. It can have a profound cognitive 00:25:47.950 --> 00:25:52.490 consequence as well. And, well, how do I put 00:25:52.490 --> 00:25:54.809 this? Let's begin by understanding how narcotics 00:25:54.809 --> 00:25:58.049 impact memory and learning. First off, I know 00:25:58.049 --> 00:25:59.789 I probably covered this in previous episodes, 00:25:59.809 --> 00:26:01.670 talking about different levels of narcotics, 00:26:01.730 --> 00:26:03.849 especially opioids. We covered a lot on opioids. 00:26:05.910 --> 00:26:10.339 First off, impaired memory. Narcotics, especially 00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:14.299 opioids, can impair both short -term and long 00:26:14.299 --> 00:26:16.140 -term memory. They interfere with the brain's 00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:18.660 ability to encode and retrieve information. And 00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:20.700 it makes it a challenge for individuals to remember 00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:24.799 even simple tasks. You know, whether they were 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:27.920 getting up to go use the bathroom, wash dishes, 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:30.640 do their homework, you'd be surprised. There 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:33.279 are people who are on different types of drugs 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:38.079 or medication, as the nice way to put it. that 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:40.839 the doctor gave them that while their side effects 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:44.259 may be things that are, well, utterly concerning, 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:47.880 and that's a thing for another episode, they 00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:51.940 also affect people in a different sense. They 00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:54.720 affect their cognitive and memory abilities for 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:58.140 basic everyday tasks. There have been times that 00:26:58.140 --> 00:27:00.579 after taking a painkiller or allergy pill that 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:02.759 I went to go do something and completely forgot 00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:06.049 what I was working on. It does happen. Then I 00:27:06.049 --> 00:27:07.529 had to go back to the beginning and start over. 00:27:09.049 --> 00:27:11.529 Mind you, it's not an addiction. I had to take 00:27:11.529 --> 00:27:13.589 an allergy pill. I was sneezing out the wazoo. 00:27:13.609 --> 00:27:15.529 But you'd be surprised how strong some of these 00:27:15.529 --> 00:27:18.230 medications are. The next thing is attention 00:27:18.230 --> 00:27:23.009 and concentration. Attention, or rather addictions, 00:27:23.049 --> 00:27:25.750 can also disrupt attention and concentration. 00:27:26.269 --> 00:27:29.029 Individuals may find it hard to or difficult 00:27:29.029 --> 00:27:31.650 to focus on tasks at times, which can hinder 00:27:31.650 --> 00:27:33.609 their ability to learn and absorb new information. 00:27:34.990 --> 00:27:38.650 unless you're ADHD or hyperactive, which, to 00:27:38.650 --> 00:27:41.230 be fair, will be a future episode because I feel 00:27:41.230 --> 00:27:44.170 I should talk about that since I'm one of those 00:27:44.170 --> 00:27:47.710 people. But for a lot of people, their attention 00:27:47.710 --> 00:27:51.069 and concentration is completely disturbed. Let's 00:27:51.069 --> 00:27:52.849 say you're a person who learns very quickly and 00:27:52.849 --> 00:27:54.869 can concentrate on homework and get it done real 00:27:54.869 --> 00:27:57.750 quick. But because of the medication that you're 00:27:57.750 --> 00:28:00.089 taking or the narcotics that they're giving you, 00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:02.799 It starts affecting your ability to concentrate. 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:04.779 You start losing interest. You start getting 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:07.579 bored easy. These are traits that a person who 00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:10.900 has ADHD would have, but you're not ADHD. It's 00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:12.880 the drugs that you're taking. It affects your 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:15.539 normal cycles of how you're doing things. It 00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:18.039 slows your concentration. It makes your attention 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:20.920 waver. Even the simplest things like a stupid 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:24.019 episode, a Spongebob. could draw your attention 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:26.059 away from doing your homework when before you 00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:27.660 used to be able to ignore your cousin sitting 00:28:27.660 --> 00:28:30.079 in the living room watching TV while you're sitting 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:31.599 there doing your homework and reading a book. 00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:35.039 So, there's that. Then there's the next thing. 00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:40.980 Emotional impact. This one. The emotional toll 00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:44.279 of addiction can further exacerbate cognitive 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:51.400 challenges. Such as... How do I put this? Feelings 00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:56.089 of guilt. Shame. High levels of anxiety. They 00:28:56.089 --> 00:28:58.069 can create a cycle of negative thoughts that, 00:28:58.130 --> 00:29:00.950 for whatever reason, make it even more challenging 00:29:00.950 --> 00:29:03.630 to learn or retain information. There have been 00:29:03.630 --> 00:29:05.710 times where people on medications were afraid 00:29:05.710 --> 00:29:08.210 to touch a book because as soon as they started 00:29:08.210 --> 00:29:11.529 reading, it started overwhelming them. Anxiety. 00:29:11.890 --> 00:29:14.470 You know, some people have high levels of anxiety, 00:29:14.650 --> 00:29:17.069 which can lead to high blood pressure and a bunch 00:29:17.069 --> 00:29:20.049 of other issues. So for those taking medication 00:29:20.049 --> 00:29:22.599 that... causes this, I would really, really highly 00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:27.839 advise you to go consult a doctor and find an 00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:29.599 alternative to whatever medication you're on. 00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:33.539 Now, let's discuss the journey to rebuilding 00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:36.259 cognitive skills during the recovery process 00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:42.220 for those poor people who have been part of whatever 00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:46.619 addiction it is for so long that it has affected 00:29:46.619 --> 00:29:50.789 their learning process. Learning As a process. 00:29:51.450 --> 00:29:56.970 Okay. Or rather. Recovery as a learning process. 00:29:57.710 --> 00:30:01.329 Begins. For the person in recovery. It begins 00:30:01.329 --> 00:30:04.890 recovery from the addiction. Is in many ways. 00:30:05.150 --> 00:30:10.609 A process of relearning. How to be them. Essentially 00:30:10.609 --> 00:30:13.589 is what I'm trying to say. It involves. Acquiring 00:30:13.589 --> 00:30:16.799 a new coping mechanism. Something. to replace 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:20.019 the drug that they used to take before. It's 00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:23.119 rebuilding fractured relationships and essentially 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:27.519 reestablishing normal, healthy routines in their 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:31.099 life and finding ways to deal with whatever anxiety 00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:35.180 or whatever issue that forced them towards taking 00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:37.599 these drugs or forced them to overtake on whatever 00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:41.500 drugs that they have, whether it be sugar, opioids, 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:44.599 acetaminophen, whatever it is, doesn't matter. 00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:47.819 um because there are some people like i guess 00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:49.680 in a way you could think of it like a person 00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:53.599 who's an introvert they seek out running away 00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:58.619 uh from most uh situations and such that deal 00:30:58.619 --> 00:31:01.259 with people because they're unlike an extrovert 00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:03.660 who can be out there an introvert like myself 00:31:03.660 --> 00:31:07.200 well i can definitely sit here and do these podcast 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:09.819 episodes and talk to you about these indirectly 00:31:09.819 --> 00:31:14.769 for me it's in a way difficult to talk to people 00:31:14.769 --> 00:31:17.690 in person. Now, I can if I could find some level 00:31:17.690 --> 00:31:21.210 of interest. That's perfectly fine. But for the 00:31:21.210 --> 00:31:23.450 most part, it takes a second for me to come up 00:31:23.450 --> 00:31:25.509 with something to say. If I have to say something, 00:31:25.609 --> 00:31:27.970 I feel compelled that I have to do something. 00:31:28.190 --> 00:31:31.609 And more times than not, if I could leave, I 00:31:31.609 --> 00:31:36.849 would probably leave. Nexus Therapeutic Approaches 00:31:36.849 --> 00:31:40.170 Therapy includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, 00:31:40.170 --> 00:31:44.119 or CBT, in most cases. And it can help individuals 00:31:44.119 --> 00:31:46.799 develop strategies to improve memory, attention, 00:31:47.140 --> 00:31:50.880 and problem -solving skills. Think of it as essentially 00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:53.960 therapy. Like for people who's been in a really 00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:56.279 bad accident and they're trying to regain use 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:58.380 of their hands, legs, or whatever, it's the same 00:31:58.380 --> 00:32:01.519 thing, but for your brain. It also aids in managing 00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:04.420 the emotional toll of the addiction and helping 00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:09.140 them to not think so heavily on it. Like I mentioned 00:32:09.140 --> 00:32:12.000 before, those feelings of guilt, like this is 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:13.579 all your fault, that none of this would have 00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:15.180 been happening if you didn't do it in the first 00:32:15.180 --> 00:32:18.440 place. It helps resolve most of that. Then there's 00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:23.059 healthy life choices. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, 00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:25.460 including regular exercise, proper nutrition, 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:29.319 and adequate sleep, because most people have 00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:32.539 a hard time sleeping, can significantly enhance 00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:34.880 cognitive function during recovery, especially 00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:38.799 for a lot of people. Then, Remember the family 00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:40.880 and friends I mentioned earlier? Support from 00:32:40.880 --> 00:32:43.700 loved ones. Family and friends play a crucial 00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:45.700 role in supporting cognitive recovery. Their 00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:48.380 understanding and encouragement of that person 00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:51.220 can boost an individual's motivation to regain 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:53.220 cognitive abilities because they like seeing 00:32:53.220 --> 00:32:54.900 their family happy. They like seeing that their 00:32:54.900 --> 00:32:57.660 family is happy about them being happy and recovering. 00:32:57.980 --> 00:33:00.259 They're going to want to do it, thus replacing 00:33:00.259 --> 00:33:04.000 that reward aspect. Then there's patience and 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:07.720 self -compassion. Like I said before, Recovery 00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:11.000 is a process and setbacks are expected. It's 00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:14.039 essential for individuals to practice self -compassion 00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:16.640 and understand that rebuilding cognitive skills 00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:21.720 and their regular skills takes time. It's not 00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:25.359 going to happen overnight. They will fail multiple 00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:28.559 times before they succeed. And even if they get 00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:32.440 one level of success, that may be the motivation 00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:35.180 that they need to move forward. Also could be 00:33:35.180 --> 00:33:36.960 a way that's hindering them because moving too 00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:40.700 far forward too fast too soon could actually 00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:44.299 hurt you more than help you. I would know. I've 00:33:44.299 --> 00:33:46.319 done it more times than I can count. When I've 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:50.140 fallen and I had to start over because I basically 00:33:50.140 --> 00:33:53.799 screwed everything up, not realizing that because 00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:55.440 I thought I was moving at a steady pace and everything 00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:58.940 was going good, then I just walked right off 00:33:58.940 --> 00:34:01.000 of the edge of a cliff and had to climb back 00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:04.380 up. Figuratively speaking, I've never walked 00:34:04.380 --> 00:34:06.440 off the edge of a cliff. I'm not that crazy. 00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:12.000 Continued learning and growth is the last one. 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:18.699 Finally, individuals in recovery should embrace 00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:23.300 what's called a mindset of continued learning 00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:26.440 and personal growth. Engaging in new hobbies, 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:28.820 pursuing education, or setting and achieving 00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:33.010 goals that can reignite their passion for learning 00:34:33.010 --> 00:34:36.090 or doing whatever it is that they love. In my 00:34:36.090 --> 00:34:38.610 case, it was this podcast. And I have to find 00:34:38.610 --> 00:34:42.429 a way to bring myself back out of all of what's 00:34:42.429 --> 00:34:45.590 happened to me to get myself back into the habit 00:34:45.590 --> 00:34:48.929 of doing this. I used to do this daily or every 00:34:48.929 --> 00:34:52.469 other day. And, you know, I'm going to be honest 00:34:52.469 --> 00:34:55.750 with you. Life got to me. It's one of those things 00:34:55.750 --> 00:34:57.409 where I was just trying to find out some way 00:34:57.409 --> 00:34:59.150 to make me feel better with everything that was 00:34:59.150 --> 00:35:03.980 going on. But I couldn't do it. And coping with 00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:06.619 it required me doing things that I did not want 00:35:06.619 --> 00:35:09.739 to do that felt good at the time. It made me 00:35:09.739 --> 00:35:11.940 feel better, but it didn't solve the problem. 00:35:12.360 --> 00:35:16.940 Okay? Long story short, and I'll close this out 00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:19.980 and we'll end the episode. Within the last two 00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:23.199 years, with the scattered episodes, and I know 00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:25.340 I had scattered episodes and that season two 00:35:25.340 --> 00:35:27.420 was like super, super short, and I apologize. 00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:33.099 Season 3 started up with the anticipation of 00:35:33.099 --> 00:35:37.179 resetting me as a person because of all that 00:35:37.179 --> 00:35:41.099 happened in my family. And within the last two 00:35:41.099 --> 00:35:49.179 years, my dad, his mom, due to negligence within 00:35:49.179 --> 00:35:52.159 the family and a lot of other stupid things that 00:35:52.159 --> 00:35:57.400 happened, caused my grandma to get hurt. Her 00:35:57.400 --> 00:36:00.820 condition considerably got worse over time, and 00:36:00.820 --> 00:36:03.679 family members weren't exactly doing what they 00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:05.920 should have been doing from the get -go. And 00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:08.019 his older sister, who was the one in charge, 00:36:08.199 --> 00:36:11.300 her negligence, and the fact that her and her 00:36:11.300 --> 00:36:13.840 sister, my dad's youngest sister, so he had an 00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:17.679 older and a younger sister, for whatever reason 00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:19.659 couldn't seem to get along with their mom. And 00:36:19.659 --> 00:36:23.059 their negligence caused her situation to worsen 00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:25.820 to the point where there was basically no recovery. 00:36:26.570 --> 00:36:30.130 She had fallen more than twice, and her memory 00:36:30.130 --> 00:36:33.230 started to fade. And the process of all of that 00:36:33.230 --> 00:36:35.769 just, I mean, it was angering. Both anger -inducing 00:36:35.769 --> 00:36:39.590 for my dad, especially my dad, who knew his sisters 00:36:39.590 --> 00:36:41.829 and them should have known better. My mom, who 00:36:41.829 --> 00:36:43.849 was watching them and doing everything she could 00:36:43.849 --> 00:36:46.409 to try to help out when she could. Of course, 00:36:46.429 --> 00:36:48.730 me and my two younger brothers were pissed off. 00:36:49.320 --> 00:36:52.420 Like it wasn't anybody's business. Not talking 00:36:52.420 --> 00:36:54.599 about the other outside family members who knew 00:36:54.599 --> 00:36:58.780 my grandma and hung out with her a lot. Long 00:36:58.780 --> 00:37:03.940 story short, two years ago, she passed. And not 00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:06.519 even a day after her, the pastor of our church, 00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:10.780 who was my grandma's sister, one of her twin 00:37:10.780 --> 00:37:13.079 daughters passed away as well the day after. 00:37:14.260 --> 00:37:19.179 And just with dealing with that, that fall, in 00:37:19.179 --> 00:37:23.079 September and October was already a pain. Five 00:37:23.079 --> 00:37:26.239 weeks later, after the funeral of them, my cousin 00:37:26.239 --> 00:37:28.900 that I hang out a lot with, can't give his name, 00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:31.119 doesn't matter. He currently lives in West Virginia. 00:37:31.139 --> 00:37:34.340 He doesn't live here anymore. His sister was 00:37:34.340 --> 00:37:37.260 shot. And I was like, you got to be kidding me. 00:37:37.719 --> 00:37:39.880 You know, we were really, really close. I was 00:37:39.880 --> 00:37:43.599 like, so stack my grandma being gone. Because 00:37:43.599 --> 00:37:45.179 she wasn't married, so I didn't have a grandfather. 00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:47.199 So that was my only grandparent on this side 00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:50.340 of my family, on my dad's side. She's gone. My 00:37:50.340 --> 00:37:54.860 aunt's daughter, one of them, passed away. One 00:37:54.860 --> 00:37:56.420 I was really close to. I was really close to 00:37:56.420 --> 00:38:01.480 those two, the twins. Passed away. My cousin's 00:38:01.480 --> 00:38:03.960 sister passed away. She was really cool for the 00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:06.219 times I did hang out with her. Loved her company. 00:38:06.639 --> 00:38:09.599 Then the following year, the youngest sister 00:38:09.599 --> 00:38:12.949 of my dad, her dad, passed away. And then to 00:38:12.949 --> 00:38:15.789 add insult to injury, you know, let's just go 00:38:15.789 --> 00:38:17.550 ahead and push it even further. You know, why 00:38:17.550 --> 00:38:20.429 not? That fall, just when I thought everything 00:38:20.429 --> 00:38:22.030 was finally recovering and I could go back to 00:38:22.030 --> 00:38:25.550 school, my aunt, the pastor, my grandma's sister, 00:38:25.730 --> 00:38:30.030 she passed away. And then as I finally started 00:38:30.030 --> 00:38:33.769 to recover from that this spring, my other aunt 00:38:33.769 --> 00:38:37.349 turns out to be my dad's aunt. So my great aunt 00:38:37.349 --> 00:38:43.210 passes away in March. Right after I moved with 00:38:43.210 --> 00:38:46.949 my girlfriend to this new place, and why this 00:38:46.949 --> 00:38:50.650 one hurt significantly more, probably about the 00:38:50.650 --> 00:38:53.489 same as the others, but just as much, hurt as 00:38:53.489 --> 00:38:56.530 bad for me, was this is the aunt that taught 00:38:56.530 --> 00:38:58.730 not only me, but my two younger brothers how 00:38:58.730 --> 00:39:01.190 to drive, and also taught my dad a lot about 00:39:01.190 --> 00:39:03.949 the stuff that he knows. So when I say that this 00:39:03.949 --> 00:39:09.269 last one hurt a lot, for me, my family, my dad, 00:39:09.329 --> 00:39:12.769 my mom, it was terrible. And as you know, like 00:39:12.769 --> 00:39:15.409 I said in previous podcasts, my grandfather had 00:39:15.409 --> 00:39:19.469 passed in 2018. And that was my mom's dad. So 00:39:19.469 --> 00:39:21.469 I've already lost a lot of people in my family. 00:39:21.510 --> 00:39:23.550 And the grief has been utterly overwhelming. 00:39:23.909 --> 00:39:26.309 There have been times I've wanted to just sit 00:39:26.309 --> 00:39:28.469 down and cry, but I couldn't make myself do it. 00:39:29.650 --> 00:39:32.469 So like I said, for each person, it's a little 00:39:32.469 --> 00:39:35.869 bit different. And the need for something to 00:39:35.869 --> 00:39:39.110 help cope with that. for a lot of people just 00:39:39.110 --> 00:39:41.210 isn't there and they turn to drugs and things 00:39:41.210 --> 00:39:43.949 of the sort. And for me, it was playing games 00:39:43.949 --> 00:39:46.469 and focusing on stuff that I shouldn't have been 00:39:46.469 --> 00:39:49.530 focusing on that was basically driving me away 00:39:49.530 --> 00:39:54.369 from where I needed to be. So it's a path. It's 00:39:54.369 --> 00:39:57.210 a journey. It's a thing that people have to go 00:39:57.210 --> 00:40:00.289 through that they need help. And sometimes they 00:40:00.289 --> 00:40:04.789 need someone to help point out that something's 00:40:04.789 --> 00:40:11.929 wrong and they need help. At any rate, like I 00:40:11.929 --> 00:40:15.349 said before, addiction may impact memory and 00:40:15.349 --> 00:40:17.849 learning, but it doesn't have to define an individual's 00:40:17.849 --> 00:40:19.989 future, just like it didn't have to define mine. 00:40:20.210 --> 00:40:22.969 With the right support, dedication, determination, 00:40:23.469 --> 00:40:25.750 people in recovery can rebuild their cognitive 00:40:25.750 --> 00:40:28.570 skills, rediscover the joy of learning, rediscover 00:40:28.570 --> 00:40:33.889 life in and of itself. As we wrap up this episode, 00:40:34.090 --> 00:40:39.139 I want to encourage you. all of our listeners 00:40:39.139 --> 00:40:43.480 here on food for thought thoughts of it were 00:40:43.480 --> 00:40:46.440 you by dark cancer productions to reflect on 00:40:46.440 --> 00:40:49.519 the resilience of the human spirit. Okay. Recovery 00:40:49.519 --> 00:40:52.940 is a treatment to the incredible capacity of 00:40:52.940 --> 00:40:56.980 individuals to overcome obstacles, learn from 00:40:56.980 --> 00:41:00.400 their experiences and essentially build a brighter 00:41:00.400 --> 00:41:06.760 future. Okay. Thank you guys for sticking around 00:41:06.760 --> 00:41:08.639 for as long as I have. I know this episode's 00:41:08.639 --> 00:41:11.119 longer than most of my normal ones and this segment 00:41:11.119 --> 00:41:13.739 went longer than I normally would go. But like 00:41:13.739 --> 00:41:15.960 I said, I just wanted to bring out there that 00:41:15.960 --> 00:41:19.119 I'm trying to bring my podcast back. And I want 00:41:19.119 --> 00:41:20.980 to thank you all, you people out there that are 00:41:20.980 --> 00:41:24.820 still subscribed to this for sticking around 00:41:24.820 --> 00:41:27.320 for as long as you have and who plan to stick 00:41:27.320 --> 00:41:30.309 around longer in the future. I just want to go 00:41:30.309 --> 00:41:32.530 ahead and say that my podcast has been moved 00:41:32.530 --> 00:41:34.829 over to what's known as a subscription -based 00:41:34.829 --> 00:41:38.489 service. And if you want to help me and support 00:41:38.489 --> 00:41:42.630 my decision to keep doing these podcasts and 00:41:42.630 --> 00:41:46.809 keep being part of this learning group for people 00:41:46.809 --> 00:41:49.630 who need help, don't know if they need help or 00:41:49.630 --> 00:41:51.730 want to consider help or want to learn more. 00:41:52.909 --> 00:41:56.170 in life feel free to hit the subscribe button 00:41:56.170 --> 00:41:58.130 or follow the link from wherever you're listening 00:41:58.130 --> 00:42:01.789 to this podcast from and subscribe it's i know 00:42:01.789 --> 00:42:04.389 it i know it seems a bit steep for ten dollars 00:42:04.389 --> 00:42:08.110 a month but for people like me who essentially 00:42:08.110 --> 00:42:10.550 has lost their job lost their drive i lost my 00:42:10.550 --> 00:42:13.530 car over all of this stuff that's happened over 00:42:13.530 --> 00:42:17.110 the last three years i mean all you're doing 00:42:17.110 --> 00:42:19.730 when you subscribe is helping me rebuild everything 00:42:19.730 --> 00:42:22.989 that i've lost and start over So for that, I 00:42:22.989 --> 00:42:25.769 would like to thank you. We'll be moving forward 00:42:25.769 --> 00:42:28.710 into the future with more episodes on more topics 00:42:28.710 --> 00:42:32.369 and such. And I hope to see you guys there as 00:42:32.369 --> 00:42:35.469 we, you know, continue moving forward. Today's 00:42:35.469 --> 00:42:38.789 episode is the neuroscience of addiction. I'm 00:42:38.789 --> 00:42:42.030 your host, Neogentrix. This is food for thought 00:42:42.030 --> 00:42:44.369 thoughts if it were you by Dark Cancer Productions. 00:42:45.269 --> 00:42:48.070 And I look to see you guys soon in the future 00:42:48.070 --> 00:42:52.619 with more episodes and on YouTube. Real soon. 00:42:53.239 --> 00:42:56.239 See you next time for episode 11. Treatment and 00:42:56.239 --> 00:42:58.280 recovery from narcotic addictions.