Takeaway for me was where Gabor says that AA addicts stand up and say their name and state they are an alcoholic, as if that’s who they are. And it’s not, they’re a wonderful human being who is using alcohol (or whatever) to sooth the pain they feel. And who they really are has always been there and still is. Another takeaway was the two sane ways and the insane way for parents to approach their addicted child. Total love, acceptance and intelligence. Thank you Gabor and thank you Bob for this wonderful conversation, so full of humanity ❤
I want to share my story. Hopefully others may be able to relate to it! For many years I was a "daily drunk"... That was, until I finally accepted that my drunken exploits were pushing all my friends away from me. I figured giving up alcohol would fix my problems. Unfortunately my main "crutch", marijuana, has prevented me finding my "real self". I attended some AA meetings and was turned off for the exact same reason you both mentioned. I quit drinking 22 years ago however, I have been a "pothead" since college... (I left school in 1981). The effects of marijuana (I always believed) to be less disruptive than those of alcohol which is partially true, also believing the "normalization" of alcoholism is a cultural problem in the UK. Getting "pissed" on weekends is a national pastime. I was the victim of bullying at school, which I regard as the major trigger point in my journey into addiction. Around 13, my class mates thought it would be funny to call into question my sexuality, since I was more interested in fashion than football. I handled it badly but at 13 years old, I wasn't equipped. It affected my confidence in approaching the opposite sex. Nonetheless I can also trace my issues inter-generational family problems. My maternal grandfather was definitely an alcoholic, dating back to his own prior trauma. My father's parents had a particularly dysfunctional relationship. Both parents were only children which I can't imagine helped matters. It's fair to say, my father in particular, found it difficult to show affection to us as children. I love my parents [and] I'm happy to say both parents are still alive and have been together for over 67 years. They have been life-long members of a small Christian group. Some of our problems, I am convinced, are a direct by-product of this somewhat "cultish" upbringing. We all witnessed inconsistency in their "so called" set of beliefs not aligning with the "realities" of how they went about parenting. I am the second of three brothers. All three of us have experienced problems with alcohol abuse. The rave culture of the late 80s and early 90s also normalized my use of narcotics, playing heavily into my particular journey. Fortunately when I stopped drinking, my use of cocaine, MDMA, psychedelics, etc., fell off dramatically. (I have sporadically "indulged" when I have been at festivals, which, in the last 20 years I could count on both hands). I always saw my self as an "all or nothing" addict. I used to smoke cigarettes. For a long time, I would mix tobacco with weed. About 10 years ago I broke the nicotine habit. For some reason I have been able to break habits via "cold turkey". I have always felt a sense of wanting to push away from people, even though I've always known it to be counter intuitive. Over the years, I've come to the realization the weed has been both the "cushion" and the "perpetuator" of my problem. I think it's no irony that I have never settled down and have remained single for most of my adult life. This is maybe my response to "not wanting to repeat" my parents' mistakes. My younger brother has also remained single too and now suffers with MS. We both believe that his lifestyle choices have played a big part in his health problems. His struggle with alcohol has been more of a challenge for him than it has for me. He acknowledges he has a problem, whereas my older brother is less willing to admit he also has one too. My recent decision to stop smoking marijuana has been my acceptance that my chronic use has led to a persistent cough. I have toyed with going down the "edibles" route. However my decision to stop smoking has led me to realize that in fact, I think I might just have enough strength of character to actually break the cycle once and for all. This podcast has really been so helpful. I thank you @dougbopst1 & @drgabormate9132
Takeaway for me was where Gabor says that AA addicts stand up and say their name and state they are an alcoholic, as if that’s who they are. And it’s not, they’re a wonderful human being who is using alcohol (or whatever) to sooth the pain they feel. And who they really are has always been there and still is.
Another takeaway was the two sane ways and the insane way for parents to approach their addicted child. Total love, acceptance and intelligence.
Thank you Gabor and thank you Bob for this wonderful conversation, so full of humanity ❤
Thank you Gabe, Truma has chagned my way of looking at it and understanding it along with my addicitom, i recvover self now, and christ also
This truly spoke to my soul. Excellent questions. This should be heard by the whole world
I want to share my story. Hopefully others may be able to relate to it!
For many years I was a "daily drunk"... That was, until I finally accepted that my drunken exploits were pushing all my friends away from me. I figured giving up alcohol would fix my problems. Unfortunately my main "crutch", marijuana, has prevented me finding my "real self". I attended some AA meetings and was turned off for the exact same reason you both mentioned. I quit drinking 22 years ago however, I have been a "pothead" since college... (I left school in 1981). The effects of marijuana (I always believed) to be less disruptive than those of alcohol which is partially true, also believing the "normalization" of alcoholism is a cultural problem in the UK. Getting "pissed" on weekends is a national pastime.
I was the victim of bullying at school, which I regard as the major trigger point in my journey into addiction. Around 13, my class mates thought it would be funny to call into question my sexuality, since I was more interested in fashion than football. I handled it badly but at 13 years old, I wasn't equipped. It affected my confidence in approaching the opposite sex. Nonetheless I can also trace my issues inter-generational family problems. My maternal grandfather was definitely an alcoholic, dating back to his own prior trauma. My father's parents had a particularly dysfunctional relationship. Both parents were only children which I can't imagine helped matters. It's fair to say, my father in particular, found it difficult to show affection to us as children. I love my parents [and] I'm happy to say both parents are still alive and have been together for over 67 years. They have been life-long members of a small Christian group. Some of our problems, I am convinced, are a direct by-product of this somewhat "cultish" upbringing. We all witnessed inconsistency in their "so called" set of beliefs not aligning with the "realities" of how they went about parenting. I am the second of three brothers. All three of us have experienced problems with alcohol abuse. The rave culture of the late 80s and early 90s also normalized my use of narcotics, playing heavily into my particular journey. Fortunately when I stopped drinking, my use of cocaine, MDMA, psychedelics, etc., fell off dramatically. (I have sporadically "indulged" when I have been at festivals, which, in the last 20 years I could count on both hands). I always saw my self as an "all or nothing" addict. I used to smoke cigarettes. For a long time, I would mix tobacco with weed. About 10 years ago I broke the nicotine habit. For some reason I have been able to break habits via "cold turkey".
I have always felt a sense of wanting to push away from people, even though I've always known it to be counter intuitive. Over the years, I've come to the realization the weed has been both the "cushion" and the "perpetuator" of my problem. I think it's no irony that I have never settled down and have remained single for most of my adult life. This is maybe my response to "not wanting to repeat" my parents' mistakes. My younger brother has also remained single too and now suffers with MS. We both believe that his lifestyle choices have played a big part in his health problems. His struggle with alcohol has been more of a challenge for him than it has for me. He acknowledges he has a problem, whereas my older brother is less willing to admit he also has one too.
My recent decision to stop smoking marijuana has been my acceptance that my chronic use has led to a persistent cough. I have toyed with going down the "edibles" route. However my decision to stop smoking has led me to realize that in fact, I think I might just have enough strength of character to actually break the cycle once and for all. This podcast has really been so helpful.
I thank you @dougbopst1 & @drgabormate9132
Great information!
I just love it!!! Thank you so much to both of you!!! So tue and comforting!!! 🙏🙏🙏
🌟
Well done
so good
I've never felt lost.
Amazing!
Every woman lives stress as she is pregnant. The unknown, the responsibility etc....