The Dysregulated Addict: Finding Spiritual Regulation in Recovery Series Pt. 1

The 12-Step Buddhist Podcast

Do you get distressed easily in sobriety? You may have a disregulated nervous system. If so, it's important to not compare your insides with anyone else's outsides. In Compassionate Recovery: Mindful Healing for Trauma and Addictions, we gain an overview of what is happening in our brain and body when it comes to trauma, addiction and recovery. All are welcome. No experience necessary. Join us for meditation and discussion on topics that you can apply to your recovery right away.

Transcript

Host (Darren Littlejohn): "Hello, and welcome to The 12-Step Buddhist Podcast. I'm Darren Littlejohn, a fellow traveler on the path of recovery. I've been where you are, I've felt the pain, the confusion, the fear. I've been sixteen, lying in a fetal position on the bathroom floor, my face bruised from a beating, hair chopped, identity obliterated—out of my mind with debilitating agony. But I've also found a way out, a way forward, a way to heal. And that's what I want to share with you.

Darren: "In this new series, we're going to explore some of the key concepts from my book, 'Compassionate Recovery: Mindful Healing for Trauma and Addictions'. We're going to delve into the nervous system, stress, allostatic overload, the window of tolerance, and how all these elements intertwine with mindful healing for trauma and addictions.

Darren: "Today, we start with the nervous system. It's like the body's electrical wiring, a complex network of nerves and cells, known as neurons, that carry messages between the brain and the rest of the body. It's the body's communication superhighway, and it's as crucial to our survival as the air we breathe.

Darren: "But why should we, as recovering addicts, care about the nervous system? Because understanding it is key to understanding stress, and stress, my friends, is a major trigger for relapse. We need to understand our enemy to defeat it. And in this case, our enemy is not just the substance or behavior we're addicted to, but also the stress that pushes us towards it.

Darren: "The nervous system is split into two main parts: the central nervous system, our body's command center, and the peripheral nervous system, our body's messengers. Within the peripheral nervous system, we find the autonomic nervous system, the silent puppeteer controlling involuntary functions like heartbeat, digestion, and breathing.

Darren: "This system is further divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic, our body's alarm system, preparing us for fight or flight. The parasympathetic, our body's peacekeeper, helping us to rest, digest, and heal.

Darren: "In the episodes to come, we'll delve deeper into these systems, and see how understanding them can help us navigate the stormy seas of stress, trauma, and addictions. We'll learn how to recognize when our body is preparing for a fight or flight response, and how to use mindfulness and compassion to bring ourselves back to a state of rest and healing.

Darren: "Thank you for joining me today. I hope this overview has sparked a flame of curiosity in you, and I look forward to fanning that flame as we explore these topics in more depth. Remember, recovery is a journey, and every journey begins with a single step. See you next time."

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