Tune into the Why Intervention Podcast for an enlightening episode with host Chris Doyle featuring Joe Polish, founder of Genius Network & Genius Recovery. Explore compassionate addiction treatment and recovery, jam-packed with personal insights and actionable advice. Support for families and those struggling with addiction awaits!

Episode Highlights

• Addiction: The fastest two-word definition.
• Chris Doyle’s personal recovery story.
• The delusion of addiction: “I don’t have a problem.”
• Identifying moments of clarity for intervention.
• Definition of addiction vs. dependence.
• The concept of “can’t stop” in addiction.
• The misunderstanding that addicts must “hit bottom” to seek help.
• The role of a family member in helping addicts.
• Importance of external motivating factors in recovery.
• Substance use disorder’s definitions and criteria.
• Chris Doyle’s role as an interventionist for first responders.
• The importance of addressing trauma in recovery.
• Recovery: Managing the need for a solution.
• Challenges in helping high-stress professions (first responders) with addiction.
• The lasting impact of early interventions in first responder communities.
• The family’s role in getting a loved one to realize the need for help.
• Empathy and support for those dealing with addiction.
• The significance of acknowledging and supporting recovery pathways.
• Community support in maintaining sobriety.
• Tailoring addiction recovery to individual needs.

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://whyintervention.com/
• https://twitter.com/whyintervention
• https://www.facebook.com/whyintervention/

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In this Valentine's Day special, intervention specialists Christopher Doyle and Danny Klein reveal counterintuitive truths about loving someone with addiction…

They discuss the challenges of maintaining a loving relationship with someone struggling with substance use, the importance of connection, and the necessity of intervention and support. The speakers emphasize the need for effective communication, setting boundaries, and recognizing addiction as a serious issue that requires outside help. They share a case study illustrating the positive impact of a recovery contract and highlight the importance of envisioning a healthy future in relationships.

In this conversation, Chris and Danny explore the complexities of relationships affected by substance use. They discuss the importance of understanding the impact of addiction on loved ones, the difficult decisions that must be made, and the duality of outcomes that can arise from these situations. The conversation emphasizes the need for support, the effectiveness of contrary actions in conflict resolution, and the significant role family members play in the recovery process. They highlight that external influences often drive individuals towards sobriety and encourage listeners to seek help and resources for their loved ones.

Episode Highlights

• Relationships are central to our lives and recovery.
• Addiction complicates relationships, creating a two-on-one dynamic.
• Effective communication is crucial in relationships affected by addiction.
• Intervention is often necessary to address addiction.
• Recognizing addiction is the first step towards recovery.
• A recovery contract can provide structure and accountability.
• Improving communication can enhance relationships, regardless of addiction status.
• Setting boundaries is essential for both partners' well-being.
• Envisioning a happy future can motivate change in relationships.
• Honesty and willingness to change are key to overcoming challenges. If your loved one continues to use substances, your vision for the future may be impossible.
• Making informed decisions about relationships can lead to healthier outcomes.
• Divorce can sometimes lead to positive changes for both partners.
• Hope exists in various forms, even in difficult endings.
• Addiction requires a unique approach that differs from typical relationship advice.
• The most obvious actions in addiction situations can often be the most dangerous.
• Supporting recovery is not the same as enabling addiction.
• Family members can play a crucial role in initiating recovery for loved ones.
• Most individuals achieve sobriety due to external influences rather than internal motivation.
• It's essential to seek help and resources when dealing with addiction in relationships.

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://whyintervention.com/
• https://twitter.com/whyintervention
• https://www.facebook.com/whyintervention/

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In this poignant episode, Chris returns with Danny after a long break to share a heartfelt story of loss, resilience, and hope. Christopher opens up about the devastating loss of his son Conor and the challenges faced by his family. Despite the grief, Christopher found new strength to help other families by preventing addiction early. This episode is a moving testament to healing, community support, and the power of turning tragedy into a mission for good. Listen to discover how Christopher’s personal journey could drive change in your life too.

Episode Highlights

• Discussing unexpected life changes.
• Devastating loss of son, Conor.
• Story of strength during delivery crisis.
• Grieving and explaining to young children.
• Recovery community’s support.
• Wife’s health scare and resilience.
• Writing a transformative book.
• Stop addiction early to save lives.
• Addressing the opioid crisis.
• Empowering parents to act early.
• Honoring Conor through action.

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://whyintervention.com/
• https://twitter.com/whyintervention
• https://www.facebook.com/whyintervention/

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This podcast episode features Certified Professional Coach Mary Ann Palmer who shares her struggles with denial about the severity of her son’s addiction and how she overcame it. She addresses misconceptions about addiction and stresses the importance of family support in the recovery process. Mary Ann emphasizes the need for patience and persistence due to the long-term nature of recovery. She also provides insights on managing a child's cravings, identifying triggers, and the benefits of community support. She advises working with a professional coach and continuous self-education. Chris and Mary Ann challenge the idea of waiting for a loved one to reach their lowest point before considering stepping in to help.

Episode Highlights

• The story of her mother's addiction and her brother suffering from alcohol use disorder and eventually passing sober
• The notable moment when she found her son's backpack full of empty beer bottles and had her first acceptance of the fact that there was something wrong
• The assumption and denial stage in which most parents are in when they seek out help
• The final time her son went to rehab was his path to sobriety, as he did so after finding out that his girlfriend was pregnant
• Her son's momentary relapse after a year of sobriety when she found him drunk in their kitchen
• How she strategized her response to her son's relapse using the CRAFT methodology and displayed calmness instead of anger, resulting in a constructive conversation
• The usefulness of the term "influence" in managing addictive behavior
• The exercise she uses to explain what addiction feels like to the person suffering from it
• What drew her to peer coaching and how she decided to help parents going through what she went through in dealing with a child suffering addiction
• How you can start preparing a plan and potentially writing a contract for relapse situations
• The importance of positively reinforcing good behaviors

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://whyintervention.com/
• https://twitter.com/whyintervention
• https://www.facebook.com/whyintervention/
• https://www.maryanncpalmer.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-ann-c-palmer  

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Chris and Danny provide a walkthrough of what to expect during a professionally led family intervention process.

Episode Highlights

• Danny shares a recent case of a concerned mother and father whose adult son is facing alcoholism
• The need to have professionally guided conversations when talking about issues of addiction or treatment
• The methodology of leading with love and concern in interventions
• How a problematic behavior is caused by addiction or alcoholism
• The issue of families confronting addiction on a surface level, rather than a deeper, more meaningful level
• Reinforcing the importance of seeking professional guidance in conducting interventions
• How interventions are not about ambushing or deceiving the person suffering from addiction, but are aimed at creating a directed, loving, and caring conversation to encourage them to agree to get help
• Common beliefs families endure, like waiting for their loved one to hit rock bottom before they can get help

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://whyintervention.com/
• https://twitter.com/whyintervention
• https://www.facebook.com/whyintervention/?ref=br_rs
• https://www.amazon.com/Intervention-Help-Someone-Doesnt-Want/dp/0935908315
• https://www.amazon.com/Love-First-Familys-Guide-Intervention/dp/1592856616  

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Chris had guest Brinn Flagg to discuss her personal and professional experience with handling other people's addictions. She shares her knowledge on addiction and codependency. She suggests clear communication and boundary setting and stresses the need for individual recovery work. The decision to leave an addicted partner is complex and personal, and continuing personal growth after leaving is crucial to prevent repeating toxic patterns. 

Episode Highlights

• How Brinn Flagg got into the field
• Her experience dating someone with an active addiction to prescription drugs which differed from her sister's heroin addiction
• The importance of learning about addiction to navigate its challenges and lend compassion towards loved ones in the throes of addiction
• Her relationship experience as a codependent partner to someone addicted to substances
• The nature of her partner’s addiction
• The benefits of recovering on her own and how seeking a coach led her to recognize harmful tendencies in relationships
• The complexities of dealing with family addiction, particularly concerning the high level of focus and concern on the addict
• Negative impacts of codependency on mental and physical health

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://whyintervention.com/
• https://twitter.com/whyintervention
• https://www.facebook.com/whyintervention/?ref=br_rs
• Connect with Brinn Flagg
• brinn@joinawen.com
• https://www.brinnflagg.com/
• https://www.brinnflagg.com/work-with-me
• https://www.instagram.com/brinnflagg/  

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Chris and Danny talk about the mindset and perspective shift families gain by applying separation, empathy and compassion to their loved one's addiction.

Episode Highlights

• The concept of separating loved ones from their addiction
• Seeking information about addiction and recovery
• Separation, empathy, and compassion as tools to understand and handle addiction
• The hardships families face dealing with an addicted loved one
• The importance of separating the person from their addiction
• Substance abuse not being a moral failing, countering the stigma that people with substance use issues are inherently flawed or have made poor choices
• Who may be the most empathetic towards addiction?
• How to address a loved one in a situation like jail due to addiction
• Remember to “Take a S.E.C.” when you approach your addicted loved one
• Letting them off the hook: Understanding that they're 'hooked' on their addiction and can't unhook themselves without intervention

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://whyintervention.com/
• https://twitter.com/whyintervention
• https://www.facebook.com/whyintervention/?ref=br_rs
• Jessica Lahey's book "The Addiction Inoculation": https://a.co/d/cb3IUO1  

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Chris and Danny discuss the action steps you can expect to see your loved one taking when starting out in a 12-step program and what you can do to be helpful in their recovery journey.

Episode Highlights

• The importance of helping families understand the journey of the individual who is recovering
• How, as a loved one in recovery, attending 90 meetings in 90 days (a meeting everyday) can be essential along with the family supporting the individual
• Getting a sponsor and listening to suggestions
  The essential advice for loved ones returning home after treatment
• The sense of commitment and responsibility that being part of a home group can promote
• Importance of feeling good about oneself as a motivation to keep away from destructive, addictive behavior
• Using the 12-step recovery journey as a way to model recovery and provide support
• Behavioral changes that can take place through this process, helping the individual to become more truthful, reliable, and focused on helping others
• The concept of being 'restored to sanity' in every meeting attended and the subsequent shift in perspective that occurs
• How surrendering to the powerlessness over addiction is a crucial part of the journey
• How loved ones can support the recovery journey by creating conditions that allow sobriety to occur, despite the inability to control the outcome
• Some family members’ misconceptions about rehab after a relapse
• How an individual’s reflection on their powerlessness can be a turning point

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://whyintervention.com/
• https://twitter.com/whyintervention
• https://www.facebook.com/whyintervention/?ref=br_rs 

Call to Action
Schedule a Call
Free Resources

Review, Subscribe and Share
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