Exploring the True Nature of Addiction and the Path to Recovery, Part One
EP. 16
In this episode of The Mae B Mindful Podcast, host Hannah Mae takes a deep dive into the complex world of addiction, sharing both personal insights and professional experiences. She discusses the differences between addiction and bad habits, clears up common misconceptions, and explains why addiction must be treated as a three-fold illness affecting the mind, body, and spirit. Hannah highlights the critical role of a 12-step program in fostering true recovery, emphasizing how it addresses the spiritual component often overlooked in other treatments. Whether you’re navigating addiction yourself or supporting someone on their path to healing, this episode offers valuable guidance and hope for finding freedom and wholeness.
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Episode Transcript:
Hello, and welcome to The Mae B Mindful Podcast! I'm your host, Hannah Mae. I'm a mother of six, a conscious birth instructor and educator, a spiritual growth facilitator, and a certified hypnotist. This podcast is all about inspiring hope, expanding awareness, and raising consciousness to revolutionize how we live and experience our lives. You can expect thought-provoking episodes each week on a range of topics, drawing from both my own journey of transformation and healing and my work with others. I hope you find this podcast to be informative, refreshing, illuminating, and instrumental in your own soul's evolution and growth. Let’s jump right in!
Hi everyone! Welcome back to The Mae B Mindful Podcast. Today, we’re going to discuss a topic that you probably saw in the title: addiction.
This is a topic I’ve been avoiding, even though I'm comfortable discussing it, because it feels so big and overwhelming, and I want to do it justice. I have a lot of personal experience overcoming addiction in different ways, and I've worked closely with others in their own recovery journeys. If you're alive on this planet, you probably know someone who has struggled with addiction, even if you haven’t yourself.
First, I want to distinguish between someone affected by the disease of addiction and someone who has a bad habit they struggle to overcome. For example, an alcoholic is very different from someone who occasionally drinks excessively but can manage or control it. The former is dealing with a serious condition that often requires a radical solution, while the latter may be dealing with a problem but not necessarily a life-threatening disease.
Addiction is the epitome of being cut off from the true self through dissociative means, often involving external behaviors or harmful substance use. Addiction can lead to a personality shift, and if you've known someone who has suffered from it, you've probably witnessed the loss of that person, even if they are physically present. It can be heartbreaking.
Whether you're walking this path yourself or watching someone you love struggle, there is often a state of denial, a lack of awareness, and consideration for others. The urge to satisfy a craving can become the most important thing in life, eclipsing everything else. There's a lot of misunderstanding about addiction and what the most effective solutions are.
Many health professionals do a great job, but I've found that the most effective are those who acknowledge when they can't help and suggest resources like 12-step programs. Addiction is a complex, three-fold illness—affecting the mind, body, and spirit—and often, medical professionals only address the mental or physical aspects. There is also a spiritual deficit that needs to be addressed, or people usually don’t recover.
If addiction were purely a physical problem, then a simple solution like a vitamin supplement would suffice, but that's not the case. The spiritual component is often ignored. Many refer to this as a "God-sized hole"—a void that no external remedy can fill. This is why people with addiction often have insatiable cravings for their substance of choice.
Craving is not just about a desire for a substance. It's often an allergy—a phenomenon where certain behaviors or substances trigger an abnormal reaction in the body that sets off an uncontrollable craving. For some, this might be as simple as a strong desire for sugar or alcohol, but for others, it leads to relentless, destructive behavior.
It’s common for people to think of addiction as a moral issue, believing those affected are making poor choices. However, the truth is that those suffering from addiction have lost the ability to make reasonable choices. They are driven by something much bigger than themselves, which encompasses both the mental and spiritual components of this illness.
If recovery were just about eliminating the craving, people could quit their substance or behavior and move on with their lives. But there's a reason why people with decades of recovery can still relapse and destroy everything. They haven't found the relief needed from the underlying condition that their addictive behaviors attempt to mask. That’s why addressing all aspects of addiction—mind, body, and spirit—is absolutely critical for recovery.
When people turn to external solutions like medication, it can help address deficiencies, but it's not a solution for addiction itself. True healing involves much more, including community and connection, because addiction thrives on isolation. Community is essential for recovery, and being seen and understood by others who have walked the same path can be the most effective tool for recovery.
Many people in recovery refer to themselves as "grateful addicts." This can be confusing, but it stems from the realization that their addiction led them to find an incredible solution—a deep transformation they may not have experienced otherwise. The process of getting sober and well brings a profound understanding of oneself and others, deep compassion, and the ability to serve others uniquely. It’s a powerful, transformative journey.
The essence of recovery is not just about getting sober but about living a life in service to others. People who recover successfully are often those who carry the torch of recovery forward, helping others along the way. This creates a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Thank you for tuning in to The Mae B Mindful Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps us grow and improve. For more information, resources, and exclusive content, visit our website at maebmindful.com or follow us on Instagram @maebmindful. If you enjoyed this episode, please screenshot it and tag us! Until next week, when we bring you another thought-provoking and inspiring topic. Until then!