Coping with Addiction During Coronavirus

started to go online. The thing that shocked me was when you said that you had overdosed a few times. Wait, it's been a long time since I've had a drink, but old emotional habits try to creep back in. An addiction specialist answers your questions. I literally left rehab and that day was when this whole pandemic started to happen, and I was not there for that at all. Well through some drugs, smoking alcohol to overeating, I'm seeing a lot of people having a lot of struggle around absolute food.

I can feel your anxiety coming through. If you are anyone you know needs help, this is an important Red Table Talk God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change the current to change of things I can. Here we are, how's everyone doing out there? I know this is our quarantine time, and it's tough. We've decided to come to the table today to talk about addiction and how to deal with addictions of all kinds. Doing the time, this is the pandemic. Yeah, and doing

this quarantine, which is super tough. It happens to be a topic that is very close to home for us. As some of you may know, gave me was a heroin attic. Gam has been in recovery now for how long twenty nine years? So I'm actually years. I celebrated twenty nine years in December, so I'm in my thirtieth year. You're in your year. It's been a long time since I've had to rely on going to meetings daily. The quarantine,

believe it or not. Putting me back in touch with going to meet my sponsor called me and let me know that there were meetings online, and I actually went to my old home group back in Baltimore, and I'm telling you it was such such a good feeling. You kind of forget the importance of one attic helping another, right, I mean it was like being back home, right, you know. It was just such a good feeling to connect with people like me that understood what was going on, sharing

the same feelings and experiences. It's just so important people are struggling out here. Here's the thing that shocked me this morning was when you said you had overdosed a few times. Wait, so you like, we mean, oh, yeah, like overdosed a few times. Yeah, that's part of being

a drug addict. I can remember getting out of treatment and them wanting to put me on some kind of drug that was going to block the effects of the heroine and if I tried to go over to get past that block that, you know, I would potentially o d And I was like, you think that's gonna stop me? Like, that's that's not going to stop me from doing anything odd a couple of times, so that was not a big deal to me. I knew in my heart that I had to want to change my life, that there

wasn't a drug that was gonna stop me. I had to stop me, like I got to get this on my own. When you say overdose, because when I think of overdose, I think you're you can't, you're not responsib to bring you around. Somebody has to bring you around. So that's what happened to you. So how did they bring you around? One time they like put me in a tub of cold water. One time they put a lighter to my finger and just burn my finger to try to bring me around. Sometimes you come out of it,

and sometimes you don't. Well, all I can say is holloween for twenty nine years exactly because when you carry, when you're caught up, you don't you don't think of you don't You're not thinking about all that. You're just trying to get high. Willow. I'm really proud of you as well because you have decided to curb your excessive weed smoking exactly. Hallelu hallelu I mean you always were telling me. You would be like, I gotta stop that smoking.

You would always think only because as your mother I could see the effects of it that you couldn't exactly and now and for me it was like with the history that we have in our family, don't drive me. It was driving me crazy because all we could think about is that it's a gate to something else. Yeah,

I have haven't been smoking marijuana for three months. Specifically, when I stopped smoking, it was a really big like eye opener because I was like, there are so many people, like people that I called friends in my life who just kind of like you know what I mean. And I was like, really made me think, like this is really interesting. You know, there's a lot of social it's

very social. I mean for me it was. For me, it was it was like you know when you're young and you're with your friends and it's like, you know what, you know what I mean, it's like you don't think anything of it, and I know it sounds so cheesy, but it's like around the time I stopped smoking, I started doing a lot of yoga and I just excelled because I was putting all of my energy into that, like I wasn't doing anything else. And I was like, wow, what if I was doing this with everything, you know

what I mean? And then it really made me think, like what have I been missing? What have I been um not putting my all into or not putting like all of my brain power into For everyone, it's different, like for some people marijuana doesn't affect them like now I see it affected me, and even like like I had.

How do you see how it affected you though? When you when you look at yourself today and then you look at you then when you were I'll say smoking excessively because I do think that that plant can be helpful. It is a medicine for a lot of people, definitely,

and it raises quality of life for a lot of people. Sure, um, but when it's not something that is like you need it medically and you're just using it like for me, like maybe like you know once every two weeks or whatever is a vibe, but like for me it was like, yes it was, but like anything else, if you abuse it, yeah, it's not helpful exactly right. And I feel like people think because it comes out of the ground, you can't abuse it. Yeah, heroin comes out. Heroin comes out of

the ground too. So what have you seen that's different? Less anxious? Which is anxious? Who would have thought that's ridiculous. I never understood that smoking would actually make me more anxious. You feel like you're more productive one when I was bored, I would just smoke. Now because of this quarantine board all the time, but I'm putting my energy into different things.

So when you're ready to stop using you've got to be ready for a whole new lifestyle exactly and knowing exactly why that you're doing that, because for me, I realized it's the um oral fixation. Like it's not even really the getting high, it's the like oral fixation of

like just smoking that I really enjoyed. So now starting to like figure out, Okay, like utilizing CBD in different ways, it's not psychoactive, but because I've been working out so much helps your muscles, it helps all these other different things. So I'm like, maybe I can just saciate that in different ways that aren't psychoactive, that are like dumbing me down. Basically,

did it help at all? When I just kept going, hey, I need you to see this, I mean, or did it make you go you don't know what you're talking about? This is the thing. It's not that it didn't make

sense because now I see what you were saying. But before I was like, because my biggest thing was like I would understand if I was like not productive, not productive, if I wasn't working, and if I wasn't like making an effort in supporting yourself exactly, then I could see how it would be like But that was my um.

That was my justification of being like, oh, like, I'm doing all this so at the end of the day, as a parent, you did what you were supposed exactly because in the law rung it does she is going to remember that. I think that the more aggressive you are, the more the kid's going to go. But if you think that a parent tries to talk to their child in a way of like, hey, this is what I see, I know you have to make decisions for yourself. I'm afraid, you know, because I look at this as one day,

this isn't gonna be enough. But by going to something heavy, to me, that sounds like because this is the thing. I might be a little immature, but I'm not like off the wagon. No, But I'm not trying to hurt myself, you know what I mean. We don't have to think we're trying to hurt ourselves and we're just trying to have me either, trying to have a good time. Yep, that's all I was trying to do was have a good time, you know. And I'm just trying to have

a good time. I know what bloodline you come from, so I was just in there deep. I would just say to you, Hey, you're losing your shine. You're losing your glows. Like you could be doing even more than what you're doing now, you know, you could be doing more of the things that you really want to do. What would be your suggestion for young people that are quarantined at this time that are serious smokers, right, who might decide, Wow, I don't want to do this anymore.

I just really think about, like what is the first thought in your head before you smoke? Like, what is your first thought? And if and if that's like a thought of like stress or I thought of using it as a crutch in any way, try to think about that and if that comes from a negative place, examine that because if it comes from a negative place, if you're trying to run from something, that could just snowball. And just think about what are some other things that

you could utilize that aren't physically or mentally dampening. Like how did you how did you know? No? No, how

how did you start stopping? Yeah, start stopping your excessive smoking? Um, I got rid of all of everything, Like I got rid of everything that I could smoke with okay, and smoke after that, it was like okay, Like now if I want to smoke, I'm going to have to make an effort, you know what I mean, And then making that effort is going to make me feel like this is kind of going to make exactly So that would be my first thing, second thing for my health, and

especially now because COVID is a respiratory thing. I'm really glad that um I stopped when I did, because it does make you more vulnerable. You would explain it to me also that you have a routine. When you wake up, you know what you're doing, especially now when we got to stay in our house. I wake up, I do my hour and thirty minutes of yoga. I've been trying to get fluent in Spanish, so take a shower after that,

I'm like doing my Spanish work. You have to fill your days with things that I'm meaningful to think that I'm angry to you that like occupy your mind. I remember when I was first getting clean too, which happened many times. I was like a revolving door over for a while. But a routine was really important and I had to have a plan for my day. I'm still very routine. I still have to have a plan for

my day. If I don't have a plan, and I feel a little Yeah exactly, I'm not that spontaneous and people need to know where I am and what I'm doing. I could not have free time to myself and just be rolling and just be rolling. No, because if I'm rolling, you don't know where I'm going. I'm going over here, I'm going there. In popular growth, I don't need you, don't need somebody to help you stay accountable. Yes, And I think that that's what I would share with people

out here when they can't get to a meeting. It's about being connected to people, because just because you can't physically be near people, you can still be connected to people. And I'm telling you these online meetings are extremely helpful because you can opt to see people or not. You can have the video on or not, so you feel like you're at a meeting. That's great. That it is just as powerful. It's just as powerful. I will say that as your mother, I see that you are far

more emotionally balanced. Definitely, and you remain a more constant good place or I feel like when you were smoking, you were on a complete up and down the Yeah. Definitely, Yeah, So kudos to you. I'm so proud of you. Yeah, yeah, I'm proud of you. I'm really proud. So joining us is Dr Mike dow. He is a family therapist and psychotherapist specializing in addictions of all kinds. We know a lot of people are out there struggling, whether it's with food, alcohol,

or drugs during this particular time. Yeah, peop are really starting to feel the effects. Is because this is a hard time. You know, when you have the disease of addiction present. Um, what's at stake is their life, right, and you have something like a severe stressor like this pandemic, you're gonna see that this this this disease is really going to surface and come out in full force. Yeah. I have to agree because even I mean with me, it's it's been a long time since I've had a

drink or anything. But it's so funny because old emotional habits try to creep back in and that's been a trip because I haven't had to deal with that in a long time. But like you know, old emotional habits that you would use to justify. Let me just get out of bottle of wine and just kicking you know what I mean, just knowing that oh no, not you, because you know that one bottle will turn into two and then you'll be back to three. So Andrew and

Long Island, New York, has a question. What's going on? Andrew? My name is Andrew. Obviously um dirty years old. I've been dealing with heroin and opiate addiction since I was twenty three. As of today, I'm thirty four days clean. I literally left UM graduation. I left rehab and that day was like when this whole pandemic started to happen, and I was not prepared for that at all. But you know, I overdose twice in the same day before

I went to rehab. And I have a good planet everything, but with being really sober um, the one thing I'm really struggling with is without like that personal connection with in person conversations, meeting people, stuff like that. So I just want to ask, like, what advice would you give to, you know, fill that void that I feel like I'm lacking. Yeah,

I feel you. You know, there's something to be said, whether you're in the rooms or you know, in I know in my office, I'm missing that person to person connection. My advice for you is to just live through the serenity prayer right now. You could not control the fact that the pandemic was going to hit just at the time that you were getting out of rehab. But there are so many things that you have control over. You are missing connection, as I think so many people are

right now. So you know, in whatever way you can get that right now, get it, whether that's a Zoom meeting, video conferencing. I'm using like an encrypted video conferencing service for for my patients to do one on therapy, face timing friends, you know, setting up time to like have dinner with them over FaceTime, whatever it is that you can do for right now until that time passes. I don't know if you have a sponsor, Andrew, but I would encourage you to try to get a sponsor and

this time if you possibly can. Um and really, the the online meetings through Zoom are absolutely great. Have you tried that yet? Yeah, I've been going to that. I've been sharing, but for some reason, I can't get into the online meetings. You know, I'm not gonna say I love them. It's just tough for me. I feel you. I understand that it's difficult and challenging for you, but just know that this two shall pass. It will it

will pass. And this is just what you need to do to maintain yourself until you're able to get back into the meetings. And you know, it's something that you just don't have any control over, so you just have to try to stay connected however you can, and your phone and your computer right now is gonna be your best friend. Just so that you know, Andrew, to just give you a little context, my mother gave me here. She's she's twenty nine years clean, my heroin addiction. Heroin

was my drug of Joyce sues. I definitely feel you, yeah, and you can also look at this is that it's maybe a good time for you too, because now you're confined to the house and so you can't even get out there to like sneak out and go No, that's exactly like you know, I've been walking five six miles a day. I have a routine things that I do and meditate a lot of stuff. That's the hardest part was, like you know, dealing with your own emotions, especially nearly clean.

It's funny, the one thing I'm missing the most is seeing people in person. As far as what you said getting a sponsor, You're right, and I just did in the past. But I'm ready and you're doing it, Andrew. You're doing it, you know what I mean, You're actually doing it. So just focus on the things that you're doing right now. And once again, this too shall pay

as you're on the right path, you know. You keep trying. Yeah, temporary, and you're right, we have no control over it, right, and tell yourself your own story, remember what you came from, and know that you don't want to go back there. My mom saved my life. She walked in. I wasn't even breathing. I told her you gave birth to me, and then you read birth to me when you say my life, because I've been clean since then, and I have a totally difficult look and I thank her for that.

You know. Every day, you know what, Andrew, we are sending you love and strength and we're gonna be praying for you on this side, absolutely, but we're really happy for you to be where you are right now. Of course, day by day, I really yeah, one day at the time, Andrew, one day at the time. Thank you, Andrew. It's powerful, it is. I'm really concerned about the newcomers, especially those ones that I mean when I'm online, I'm hearing people

that have twenty seven days, nine days, twenty four hours. Yeah, so if you're newly sober right now, it's really tricky. But you can go back to the basics. You can do what a lot of addicts will do in the beginning of their sobriety, which is ninety meetings and ninety days. It can't be in person, you know, you may have to do those ninety meetings in zoom. You can find a sponsor. You can find a new individual therapist online and do weekly or even daily sessions if you need

you right now. And one thing I want to say to for for a lot of people, it was the meeting after the meeting. You know, you go to the meeting, but then it was all the socializing and the connections and the camaraderie that you developed and relationships that you developed with people after the meeting. And there's still a way to do that. Your phone is going to be your best friend around this time, and you just really have got to go the full length to stay connected

with people. And so I wouldn't get to really lean on your sponsor, yeah, big time. And if don't feel like if you don't have one. You can't get one because was on a meeting last night when there was a young lady that was looking for a sponsor, and the person that was running the meeting was like, Hey, anybody who can help this young lady, please put your information in the chat so that she can reach out. People, put your phone numbers in. I mean, it's still run

like a traditional meeting. All right, Next question, Aloha Jada. My name is Ruchelle and I'm from Eva Beach, Hawaii. I was on track to lose weight, but then the pandemic hit and now I can't go to the gym. How can I stay on track and fight off my cravings to want to sit at home? This is a hard one. I'm seeing a lot of people having a lot of struggle around absolutely food. Yeah. I have a

girlfriend that is going through the exact same thing. Yeah, because you're sitting home and you're just there's a bunch of junk and your board and you're eating out of boredom. Help us, Dr Mike Ye. And it's sort of crazy that health professional and and all the things you see

send the news always say to avoid processed food. And now you know all of the recommendations are, hey, stock up on all that food, and of course those processed foods are the ones that are highly addictive, and of course food is the most socially acceptable drug of choice. And you know, neuropally speaking, sugar releases dopamine in the brain just like cocaine does, so you know, you can see how all of these processed foods, especially UH can be so addictive in the brain. You know, I think

a couple of strategies work. First, having a plan. You know, we see in research that just the act of taking your food out of the container, putting it on a real plate, and sitting at a table works wonders at helping people to actually eat less because you know what happens we eat mindlessly. Research looking at other countries versus Americans, Americans don't listen to their internal cues for satiety. We tend to watch the TV as we're eating, so we

don't even realize that we're full. But when we actually sit down at a table, we're forced to turn to those internal cues. And by the way, now is not the time you need to like rush through your meal and get drive through. You know, you have the time to like prepare the meal, you could actually sit down

as a family. Just like you said, Dr Mike, that is one addiction that is super socially accepted, and we can build all kinds of justifications around why we should be allowed to eat whatever we want at this time. Because food is not available in certain areas, you've got

to get what you can. That's a hard course, and especially for food addicts, you know, because again again wouldn't sit at home with a bunch of heroin, but food addicts and people with eating disorders, they have to have food in their cabinets and theirs, so it's especially hard for them. Food addicts should be able to find programs

online as well. When you spoke about putting the food that you're planning to eat on a plate, taking it to the table, so that if you have issues with food addictions, that has to be part of the routine, right, that to bring yourself into a level of mindfulness that you got to put those cheetos on a plate good, right, or those barbecue Tata chips and you gotta put it on the plate and sit at the table and actually eat it. And then you look at it and go,

should I really be eating this? Right now, right, because it definitely puts in a certain mind perspective. Yeah, I think that's a really helpful tip, even for me. Yes, I have to remember that when I want a cookie, I have to check my plate and put my cookie on, you know, because for me is barbaracue, potato chips, so um, and French fris and pizza. Next question, Hey, ladies, my name is Brittany and I'm from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. So being home all day long because the quarantine is driving

me a bit nuts. I'm used to waiting until at least five pm for some wine, but now that my old friends and I are having a virtual cocktail party, I'm noticing my drinking starting earlier and earlier in the day. Do you think this is okay given the circumstances, or do you think I should be cutting back? Well, the fact that you're asking is early indication that maybe you do have a problem. You know, in healthcare, the four questions we ask are have you ever felt that you

needed to cut back on your drinking? Have you ever gotten annoyed that somebody else suggested it? Have you ever felt guilty? Um? And have you ever needed an eye opener in the morning, and you know, if you answer yes to one of those questions and you may have a problem with drinking. So you know, it's just a great time to change our relationship to foods, devices and

to replace. Then one of the things that I love Willow was talking about is using a lot of replacement therapy, so focusing not so much on what we're taking away from our lives, you know, less for twenty but actually focusing more on what we're adding, like more yoga. And it's like, Okay, what could I add to my life?

Not what am I taking away? Because when we focus on what we add, it's it's coming at life from this place of abundance as opposed to a place of lack, and human beings do a lot better when we when we come at it from like a what can I add to my day rather than what do I have to take away? I love that adding because really most of the time it's like we're thinking to ourselves like, oh man, like I already feel like I don't have enough.

So if this is taken away, like what I am I going to do with changing that perspective, No, what can I add? So that maybe I won't even have time for this part, right, all right, So next question him table. My name is Marvin. I'm from Washington, d C. And unfortunately I am with smoker. But I have been trying to quit because I do hear that COVID nineteen does kill smokers at a faster rate than non smokers. But I just can't seem to stop. Please help me.

That's a great question because it is so important for us all to quit. Urges don't actually last long. So if you can buy yourself five minutes, those addictive urges have a chance just sort of passed through. I really like diafragmatic breathing, So one thing that you can do is just place one hand up here and another on your belly. When we move into fight or flight, your breathing tends to be up here by your chest. When we're in that opposite state the rest and digest, your

breathing tends to be down in your belly. So all you have to do is only move the hand that is on your belly and keep the hand at your chest completely still. That actually tricks the brain into thinking that danger has passed. And if you just do this, really deep belly breathing for five minutes, You'll actually notice that blood pressure can come down, You're gonna feel more physically calm, and all of those things can allow that urged. That's amazing. So next question, Hijida. My name is Tara.

I'm from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I cannot stop worrying about COVID nineteen. I'm someone who already has a lot of anxiety, so times like this are really rough for me, and I'm also affecting friends and family. If you have any advice, I really appreciate it. I think a lot of people can relate to this, and I've seen o c D like symptoms in most of the country. Now, we can't confuse the possible with the probable. We have to just

continue to do what we can to keep safe. The one fear that I have is that all of the people with anxiety disorders and o c D, that this is going to be the undoing of them, because I've worked with them so hard to help them to realize that the world is actually a pretty safe place, and now they're gonna say, see, I told you the world wasn't safe. But that thinking is it's sort of this black or white, thinking that if if this time was unsafe, therefore the whole world is unsafe and it will always

be unsafe. And we have to realize that this is not how it will always be, and we have to realize that yes, in this time right now, we are doing things that are unique, and that this time will pass. And more we focus on the things that we can control, I think, the more piece we will all feel with the things that we can't control. I eat the coronavirus pandemic right now. It's so funny that you that you're talking about this because as you can see, we have

no shoes on. Because he was just talking about this before we came in here. I was saying, okay, everybody take their shoes all we can, you know, nowhere shoes anywhere in the house. Any shoe that's ever been outside, don't wear it in the house, because we heard that the virus might live on the bottom of your shoes.

And then Willow was just like, you know what, at some point, you just gotta chill and let go, you know, And so I'm really working on my my chill and let go because yeah, yeah, yeah, because it is so easy to just try to someone like me, who's you know, always trying to control everything? And I just realized in this particular circumstance, I'm really learning in a in a hardcore where when I'm actually not in control of at all. We have Marlene and Flint Michigan has a question. Hi,

ja don will dammy Hey. I have been a recovering alcoholic for four years now, okay, and I used alcohol to self medicaid from when I was younger because I had a very traumatic childhood. And now I'm in isolation, which means I have a lot of idle time, and I don't want to go back there. I really don't. Marlin, do you go on to any a A meetings online? No,

I don't go to a meetings online. I had really bad drink and had it at twelve, and I didn't realize what it was until I got older, and I kind of skipped the A A because they made me realize what it was that made me drink was my past. It's just a it's really hard for me to go back into it too far because that kind of suck it out. Yeah, and that's your brain protecting you. I believe that you have not gone to the root of your trauma. My gut is telling me that you still

have unprocessed trauma or undertreated trauma. Is that right? Unprocessed trauma is one of the biggest triggers in my experience for addiction. And if we could successfully process your trauma, I believe that you would notice a decrease in your urges to drink. Right. So, it's sort of like the dominoes. It's like you're sort of focusing on the eighth domino. We need to go back to the first domino. You know, why do those urges here in the first place? I

would say right now, avia zoom. But when this coronavirus isolation is over, you know, look for a practitioner in your area. He's trained to treat trauma. Well. Thank you, Marlene. You I'm really hoping that you can find a support group to at least get you through this time of isolation in regards to keeping on the path of not drinking. So we are sending you just love and strength. Thank you, you and I thank you. Guys are so beautiful. Thank you.

We have one of Willow's friends named Jesse, and the reason why I'm excited to have Jesse speak with us today is because Jesse's got a year clean as of two days ago. Jes Jessey, Jesse, congratulations, gratulates. We heard that you have a question for Dr Mike here. Yeah, so things around I live in a treatment center and things have been like a bit wild around here. Uh. And the fact is that I have a year and that's like a lot longer than some people have around here.

So how do I like shepherd people through the darkness? Right now? We're like, I can't even really see myself. Wow, that's real. That's a great question, Jesse. What I always tell people is get specific. You know, Hey, I'm gonna face time you or you know, you and I let's sit down and do a big book meeting like Thursday, you and me, you know. And the more specific you can get, especially if you see people are struggling with

that request or that that offer at the better. So so good work, Jesse, and thanks for being a like for others. I would say to Jesse to try to get people to stay in the now, and that people should not spend a lot of time looking towards tomorrow, like try to stay in the present, like what's happening right now today? And sometimes you have to do it minute by minute, hour by hour, you know, to just get through. But that's how we do it. One day at a time. Everything is one day at a time.

And if you start looking down the road to next Thursday or Friday, sometimes even tomorrow, it gets to be overwhelming. So you want to try to keep people focused on the present. What's happening right now? What are you doing right now? We're right now, you're talking to me. You know, we're having a conversation. You know, maybe there is a meeting that you can law going to in ten minutes or whatever. You know what I mean. So just try to keep people kind of focused on the now. Yeah,

I mean it's scary. Uh. I have a lot of friends who because of this, they decided to like leave the treatment center and they're now all like out And like one of my first left. The first day he left, he overdosed onufen and all managed to be He's like okay, but I said to him, I was like, dude, like, if you keep this up, you're gonna die. And we both lost a friend like two weeks ago. This is it's so serious around here. It's scary. Yeah. One of

my first days one of my best friends. Here's something to me that's stuck in my head, and that's uh. Rehab is where you meet people have the most intimate friendships you've ever had, the strongest relationships you'll ever to make, and then some of those people are going to die. There you go. Everybody's not gonna make it, and make it well. Thank you, Jesse. I really appreciate your desire to help others through the darkness during this time, and we're proud of you over here and we are flowing

you a lot of other strength. Take care of yourself, Jesse, I want to say to you, do have to be careful trying to help other people, and just recognize that you are the most important one. Right these are the times where everybody is so vulnerable. You really got to

make sure you're taking care of yourself first. I was talking to Karen the other day and with your sister who also has how many years you have thirty That means she probably has probably is going into for Okay, we were just talking about people are talking about being bored.

I see this whole time as an opportunity for the world to kind of hit the reset button and to really start going in side, thinking about who you are as a person, what's really important to you, think about how you've been living your life, and what changes you need to make for yourself, just for yourself. It's kind of like an opportunity to clean up and clean out, right,

I definitely believe that. So what do we do to try to keep people on a positive path to be in a more positive frame of mind while this is happening, I'm thinking's what the doctor was saying, instead of thinking about having to get rid of things and putting you know, it's more about what can I add versus what's being taken away? And I don't want to get foofie fufi.

But also just like what helps me is just like listing things that like I'm grateful for things that that I took for granted before and now really like every single aspect of everything, you know, really just you know, right now health like as of right now we're healthy, you know, and just going thank you, you know, any other time. I'm not even really thinking about that. For addicts, being grateful and that the attitude of gratitude is paramount

to our recovery process. The old thing is a grateful attic will never use you know, if you're staying grounded in gratitude, thinking about where you came from and where you are now, just tell yourself your own story. You don't have to hear anybody else's story. I don't need to hear anybody else's story really, if I remember my own. Okay, so a grateful attic, We'll not use you. Gotta do what what's necessary to stay in a place of gratitude. That works for all of us right now, to stay

in a place of gratitude. I just wanna thank everyone who shared their testimony with us today, and just know we are really sending love and strength to all those out there who are struggling with addictions of all kind. And even if you can't do it for yourself right now, find something or someone to do it for because we're not always in the space where we can do it

for ourselves. But I'll tell you what, in my times of trial, my kids, Yeah, my kids just find that thing and at some point in time, the light bulb will go on and you'll be doing it for you exactly. And that's real. And when the universe knows that it's something you really want, doors open, yeah, and that's true too. When the student is ready to teach, you will appear. Well, let's end in the serenity prayer. Damn, you know the

serenity prayer. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, change the curs the change of things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. There it is, there, it is. I wish I could give you guys a hug right now, but I can't. Yam, thank you you always come through with the games wisdom. That's all I gotta say. To join the Red Table Talk family and become a part of the conversation, follow

us at facebook dot com slash red table talk. Thanks for listening to this episode of Red Table Talk podcast produced by Facebook Watch, Westbrook Audio, and I Heart Radio.