[Music] ten years ago on a sunny Sunday in April
ten years ago on a sunny Sunday in April
ten years ago on a sunny Sunday in April I found myself sitting in the light of
I found myself sitting in the light of
I found myself sitting in the light of this window playing a game of Crazy
this window playing a game of Crazy
this window playing a game of Crazy Eights with some teenagers a few months
Eights with some teenagers a few months
Eights with some teenagers a few months prior I started working at this
prior I started working at this
prior I started working at this addictions treatment center out in the
addictions treatment center out in the
addictions treatment center out in the ghost wilderness only about 10
ghost wilderness only about 10
ghost wilderness only about 10 kilometers northeast of here I was just
kilometers northeast of here I was just
kilometers northeast of here I was just starting to find my crew I looked over
starting to find my crew I looked over
starting to find my crew I looked over at one of the young ladies on the couch
at one of the young ladies on the couch
at one of the young ladies on the couch who up until that point have been
who up until that point have been
who up until that point have been quietly reading her book and I noticed
quietly reading her book and I noticed
quietly reading her book and I noticed tears streaming down her face
tears streaming down her face
tears streaming down her face immediately shifting from card-playing
immediately shifting from card-playing
immediately shifting from card-playing youth worker to concern there’s
youth worker to concern there’s
youth worker to concern there’s something wrong youth worker I asked her
something wrong youth worker I asked her
something wrong youth worker I asked her if she was okay with the look in her
if she was okay with the look in her
if she was okay with the look in her eyes that was equal parts pain and
eyes that was equal parts pain and
eyes that was equal parts pain and curiosity she asked me a question I’ll
curiosity she asked me a question I’ll
curiosity she asked me a question I’ll never forget Jeff is this what happiness
never forget Jeff is this what happiness
never forget Jeff is this what happiness feels like now aside from shaking me to
feels like now aside from shaking me to
feels like now aside from shaking me to the core with the realization that
the core with the realization that
the core with the realization that someone could make it to the age of 16
someone could make it to the age of 16
someone could make it to the age of 16 and first experience happiness at an
and first experience happiness at an
and first experience happiness at an addictions treatment program this
addictions treatment program this
addictions treatment program this question sent me on a journey of
question sent me on a journey of
question sent me on a journey of interrogating some of the most basic
interrogating some of the most basic
interrogating some of the most basic truths of addiction and the helping
truths of addiction and the helping
truths of addiction and the helping profession central to this journey was
profession central to this journey was
profession central to this journey was this question what is this thing called
this question what is this thing called
this question what is this thing called addiction here I was spending half my
addiction here I was spending half my
addiction here I was spending half my life out in the wilderness we were
life out in the wilderness we were
life out in the wilderness we were taking kids rock climbing and doing
taking kids rock climbing and doing
taking kids rock climbing and doing group psychotherapy treating their
group psychotherapy treating their
group psychotherapy treating their addiction with casual conversations over
addiction with casual conversations over
addiction with casual conversations over dishes and formal sessions with the
dishes and formal sessions with the
dishes and formal sessions with the psychologist and no one that I talked to
psychologist and no one that I talked to
psychologist and no one that I talked to was able to satisfactorily answer that
was able to satisfactorily answer that
was able to satisfactorily answer that question and the logical questions that
question and the logical questions that
question and the logical questions that start to follow what is addictions
start to follow what is addictions
start to follow what is addictions treatment and why is the wilderness such
treatment and why is the wilderness such
treatment and why is the wilderness such a powerful component I’m just out of
a powerful component I’m just out of
a powerful component I’m just out of curiosity quick show of hands or nod
curiosity quick show of hands or nod
curiosity quick show of hands or nod your heads who here would consider
your heads who here would consider
your heads who here would consider addiction to be a problem in society and
addiction to be a problem in society and
addiction to be a problem in society and maybe you’ve had a close encounter
maybe you’ve had a close encounter
maybe you’ve had a close encounter yourself or a friend or a family maybe
yourself or a friend or a family maybe
yourself or a friend or a family maybe read about fentanyl overdoses every day
read about fentanyl overdoses every day
read about fentanyl overdoses every day for the past couple years it’s perfectly
for the past couple years it’s perfectly
for the past couple years it’s perfectly reasonable for us to look at it
reasonable for us to look at it
reasonable for us to look at it shouldn’t say that’s a problem we should
shouldn’t say that’s a problem we should
shouldn’t say that’s a problem we should do something about it I’m here to
do something about it I’m here to
do something about it I’m here to suggest that today addiction is not a
suggest that today addiction is not a
suggest that today addiction is not a problem
problem
problem addiction is actually a solution and we
addiction is actually a solution and we
addiction is actually a solution and we need to start looking at it like that if
need to start looking at it like that if
need to start looking at it like that if we have any hopes with dealing with it
before we get to addiction being a
before we get to addiction being a solution we need to understand some of
solution we need to understand some of
solution we need to understand some of the different ways that we’ve
the different ways that we’ve
the different ways that we’ve conceptualized addiction in society
conceptualized addiction in society
conceptualized addiction in society first is the addiction as choice model
first is the addiction as choice model
first is the addiction as choice model and that addicts are somehow morally
and that addicts are somehow morally
and that addicts are somehow morally weak lack willpower and if they would
weak lack willpower and if they would
weak lack willpower and if they would just pick up by their bootstraps
just pick up by their bootstraps
just pick up by their bootstraps things would be better this conveniently
things would be better this conveniently
things would be better this conveniently takes the burden and the blame and
takes the burden and the blame and
takes the burden and the blame and places it squarely on the people
places it squarely on the people
places it squarely on the people suffering the most the addicts
suffering the most the addicts
suffering the most the addicts thankfully about 40 years ago
thankfully about 40 years ago
thankfully about 40 years ago psychologists came out with a new
psychologists came out with a new
psychologists came out with a new definition of addiction characterizing
definition of addiction characterizing
definition of addiction characterizing it as a disease like tuberculosis or
it as a disease like tuberculosis or
it as a disease like tuberculosis or Alzheimer’s this was certainly a move in
Alzheimer’s this was certainly a move in
Alzheimer’s this was certainly a move in the right direction it reduced the
the right direction it reduced the
the right direction it reduced the stigma and most more people would be
stigma and most more people would be
stigma and most more people would be inclined to seek treatment
inclined to seek treatment
inclined to seek treatment unfortunately widespread enthusiasm for
unfortunately widespread enthusiasm for
unfortunately widespread enthusiasm for this disease model has caused us to
this disease model has caused us to
this disease model has caused us to overlook the fact that addiction has
overlook the fact that addiction has
overlook the fact that addiction has very little in common with diseases
very little in common with diseases
very little in common with diseases there’s no infectious agent like in
there’s no infectious agent like in
there’s no infectious agent like in tuberculosis there’s no pathological
tuberculosis there’s no pathological
tuberculosis there’s no pathological biological process like in diabetes and
biological process like in diabetes and
biological process like in diabetes and there’s no degenerative conditions like
there’s no degenerative conditions like
there’s no degenerative conditions like in Alzheimer’s or arthritis in fact the
in Alzheimer’s or arthritis in fact the
in Alzheimer’s or arthritis in fact the only thing that addiction has in common
only thing that addiction has in common
only thing that addiction has in common with diseases that if you don’t do
with diseases that if you don’t do
with diseases that if you don’t do something about it it tends to get worse
something about it it tends to get worse
something about it it tends to get worse here’s the American Society for
here’s the American Society for
here’s the American Society for addiction medicines definition of
addiction medicines definition of
addiction medicines definition of addiction
addiction
addiction don’t try and read it I shrunk it down
don’t try and read it I shrunk it down
don’t try and read it I shrunk it down to six point font it still takes up more
to six point font it still takes up more
to six point font it still takes up more than three slides it’s more than 2,000
than three slides it’s more than 2,000
than three slides it’s more than 2,000 words long which is longer than most the
words long which is longer than most the
words long which is longer than most the essays I wrote in high school and
essays I wrote in high school and
essays I wrote in high school and central to this definition is this term
central to this definition is this term
central to this definition is this term bio psycho social spiritual like what is
bio psycho social spiritual like what is
bio psycho social spiritual like what is that or what isn’t that isn’t that
that or what isn’t that isn’t that
that or what isn’t that isn’t that everything addiction starts to look like
everything addiction starts to look like
everything addiction starts to look like the everything in the kitchen sink
the everything in the kitchen sink
the everything in the kitchen sink disease a convenient way to legitimize
disease a convenient way to legitimize
disease a convenient way to legitimize and organize addictions treatment into
and organize addictions treatment into
and organize addictions treatment into something that’s done by professionals
something that’s done by professionals
something that’s done by professionals with advanced degrees in clinical
with advanced degrees in clinical
with advanced degrees in clinical settings and more and more so with
settings and more and more so with
settings and more and more so with medication and here we were treating
medication and here we were treating
medication and here we were treating this so-called disease by carrying heavy
this so-called disease by carrying heavy
this so-called disease by carrying heavy packs around the forest sitting around a
packs around the forest sitting around a
packs around the forest sitting around a campfire talking about our feelings and
campfire talking about our feelings and
campfire talking about our feelings and learning how to trust each other and
learning how to trust each other and
learning how to trust each other and take the risks on a high ropes course
take the risks on a high ropes course
take the risks on a high ropes course I’m not a doctor and I’m not gonna
I’m not a doctor and I’m not gonna
I’m not a doctor and I’m not gonna pretend to be one here on the Ted stage
pretend to be one here on the Ted stage
pretend to be one here on the Ted stage but this struck me is fairly unusual
but this struck me is fairly unusual
but this struck me is fairly unusual treatment for a disease fast-forward a
treatment for a disease fast-forward a
treatment for a disease fast-forward a couple of years in a mode on Vancouver
couple of years in a mode on Vancouver
couple of years in a mode on Vancouver Island
Island
Island doing a residency in a master’s program
doing a residency in a master’s program
doing a residency in a master’s program and I pop into Monroe’s use book store
and I pop into Monroe’s use book store
and I pop into Monroe’s use book store if you haven’t been it’s wonderful you
if you haven’t been it’s wonderful you
if you haven’t been it’s wonderful you should check it out and I stumble across
should check it out and I stumble across
should check it out and I stumble across this book by dr. Gao Marmont who spent a
this book by dr. Gao Marmont who spent a
this book by dr. Gao Marmont who spent a lot of his career on the Downtown
lot of his career on the Downtown
lot of his career on the Downtown Eastside and Cooper working with the
Eastside and Cooper working with the
Eastside and Cooper working with the chronically homeless and addicted people
chronically homeless and addicted people
chronically homeless and addicted people that that find their way there finally
that that find their way there finally
that that find their way there finally something that started to explain
something that started to explain
something that started to explain addiction not as choice or as disease
addiction not as choice or as disease
addiction not as choice or as disease but as a completely irrational response
but as a completely irrational response
but as a completely irrational response to someone’s context that they find
to someone’s context that they find
to someone’s context that they find themselves in to the experiences that
themselves in to the experiences that
themselves in to the experiences that they’ve had in their life that have led
they’ve had in their life that have led
they’ve had in their life that have led them there in fact it’s a way to look at
them there in fact it’s a way to look at
them there in fact it’s a way to look at addiction not as pathological but as a
addiction not as pathological but as a
addiction not as pathological but as a completely logical response to the
completely logical response to the
completely logical response to the distress and the pain that we find
distress and the pain that we find
distress and the pain that we find ourselves in fact dr. Mattei says that
ourselves in fact dr. Mattei says that
ourselves in fact dr. Mattei says that the question we should be asking
the question we should be asking
the question we should be asking ourselves is not why the addiction but
ourselves is not why the addiction but
ourselves is not why the addiction but why the pain turns out that most drugs
why the pain turns out that most drugs
why the pain turns out that most drugs of abuse are actually painkillers from
of abuse are actually painkillers from
of abuse are actually painkillers from fentanyl to heroin to alcohol and most
fentanyl to heroin to alcohol and most
fentanyl to heroin to alcohol and most of the behaviors and habits that we
of the behaviors and habits that we
of the behaviors and habits that we develop from workaholism to shopping to
develop from workaholism to shopping to
develop from workaholism to shopping to compulsively checking our smartphones as
compulsively checking our smartphones as
compulsively checking our smartphones as earnest would point out our attempts to
earnest would point out our attempts to
earnest would point out our attempts to relieve distress relieve pain I started
relieve distress relieve pain I started
relieve distress relieve pain I started to understand addiction and substance
to understand addiction and substance
to understand addiction and substance use on a continuum not as black and
use on a continuum not as black and
use on a continuum not as black and white as we thought not choice or
white as we thought not choice or
white as we thought not choice or disease as existing in the in the gray
disease as existing in the in the gray
disease as existing in the in the gray with addiction and substance use
with addiction and substance use
with addiction and substance use disorders certainly on one end but
disorders certainly on one end but
disorders certainly on one end but ceremonial uses recreational medicinal
ceremonial uses recreational medicinal
ceremonial uses recreational medicinal should probably make the list lots of
should probably make the list lots of
should probably make the list lots of different ways that we can understand
different ways that we can understand
different ways that we can understand substance use and habits in society so
substance use and habits in society so
substance use and habits in society so it’s at this point that I’ve developed a
it’s at this point that I’ve developed a
it’s at this point that I’ve developed a fairly solid theoretical understanding
fairly solid theoretical understanding
fairly solid theoretical understanding of addiction and what I thought was
of addiction and what I thought was
of addiction and what I thought was addiction unbeknownst to me I was a few
addiction unbeknownst to me I was a few
addiction unbeknownst to me I was a few short years away from taking this theory
short years away from taking this theory
short years away from taking this theory and testing it in the real world
and testing it in the real world
and testing it in the real world in early 2011 I found myself getting the
in early 2011 I found myself getting the
in early 2011 I found myself getting the night to pee a lot thirsty all the time
night to pee a lot thirsty all the time
night to pee a lot thirsty all the time rapidly losing weight and irritable yeah
rapidly losing weight and irritable yeah
rapidly losing weight and irritable yeah you guessed it diabetes 28 years old
you guessed it diabetes 28 years old
you guessed it diabetes 28 years old relatively fit and a pancreas that had
relatively fit and a pancreas that had
relatively fit and a pancreas that had suddenly stopped producing the insulin
suddenly stopped producing the insulin
suddenly stopped producing the insulin like it should now I could probably do
like it should now I could probably do
like it should now I could probably do an entire TED talk on how to scare the
an entire TED talk on how to scare the
an entire TED talk on how to scare the crap out of your healthcare professional
crap out of your healthcare professional
crap out of your healthcare professional by ignoring their advice and eating lots
by ignoring their advice and eating lots
by ignoring their advice and eating lots of bacon and butter to manage diabetes
of bacon and butter to manage diabetes
of bacon and butter to manage diabetes but this is a talk on human nature not
but this is a talk on human nature not
but this is a talk on human nature not nutrition
being diagnosed with an actual disease
being diagnosed with an actual disease forced me to look this other disease
forced me to look this other disease
forced me to look this other disease this idea of addiction squarely in the
this idea of addiction squarely in the
this idea of addiction squarely in the face I realized that my tendency to open
face I realized that my tendency to open
face I realized that my tendency to open up the freezer and reach for the ice
up the freezer and reach for the ice
up the freezer and reach for the ice cream when I was stressed out about my
cream when I was stressed out about my
cream when I was stressed out about my thesis was the exact same biological
thesis was the exact same biological
thesis was the exact same biological mechanism that drags the alcoholic to
mechanism that drags the alcoholic to
mechanism that drags the alcoholic to reach for the bottle the junkie to reach
reach for the bottle the junkie to reach
reach for the bottle the junkie to reach for the needle and earnest to reach for
for the needle and earnest to reach for
for the needle and earnest to reach for a smartphone addiction starts to look
a smartphone addiction starts to look
a smartphone addiction starts to look like actually just a glitch in the human
like actually just a glitch in the human
like actually just a glitch in the human operating system as a biological
operating system as a biological
operating system as a biological mechanism left over from our
mechanism left over from our
mechanism left over from our evolutionary past that at one point
evolutionary past that at one point
evolutionary past that at one point served a really useful purpose and it
served a really useful purpose and it
served a really useful purpose and it was now killing us
was now killing us
was now killing us you see there’s essentially two things
you see there’s essentially two things
you see there’s essentially two things that we do as humans unless lots of big
that we do as humans unless lots of big
that we do as humans unless lots of big speakers have alluded to some of this
speakers have alluded to some of this
speakers have alluded to some of this but we ease distress and we chase
but we ease distress and we chase
but we ease distress and we chase eustress distress are those cortisol and
eustress distress are those cortisol and
eustress distress are those cortisol and adrenaline those the fight flight
adrenaline those the fight flight
adrenaline those the fight flight responses that distressing circumstances
responses that distressing circumstances
responses that distressing circumstances bring bring about eustress is the other
bring bring about eustress is the other
bring bring about eustress is the other side of that coin it’s the dope and the
side of that coin it’s the dope and the
side of that coin it’s the dope and the oxytocin and the serotonin that Ernest
oxytocin and the serotonin that Ernest
oxytocin and the serotonin that Ernest was talking about so these are the two
was talking about so these are the two
was talking about so these are the two things that were constantly doing about
things that were constantly doing about
things that were constantly doing about lots of different mechanisms for this
lots of different mechanisms for this
lots of different mechanisms for this from taking a yoga class to a glass of
from taking a yoga class to a glass of
from taking a yoga class to a glass of red wine both of those ease distress
red wine both of those ease distress
red wine both of those ease distress going out climbing paddling skiing all
going out climbing paddling skiing all
going out climbing paddling skiing all these things induce eustress so it is
these things induce eustress so it is
these things induce eustress so it is eating a healthy meal and having sex and
eating a healthy meal and having sex and
eating a healthy meal and having sex and doing lines of cocaine and just as
doing lines of cocaine and just as
doing lines of cocaine and just as footsteps on a forest floor will
footsteps on a forest floor will
footsteps on a forest floor will eventually wear down a path so to to our
eventually wear down a path so to to our
eventually wear down a path so to to our habitual coping mechanisms create
habitual coping mechanisms create
habitual coping mechanisms create pathways in the architecture and the
pathways in the architecture and the
pathways in the architecture and the wiring of our brain when we find
wiring of our brain when we find
wiring of our brain when we find something that works chances are high
something that works chances are high
something that works chances are high we’re gonna do that again and again and
we’re gonna do that again and again and
we’re gonna do that again and again and again and again it’s called learning
again and again it’s called learning
again and again it’s called learning something that we’re particularly good
something that we’re particularly good
something that we’re particularly good at it turns out there are two different
at it turns out there are two different
at it turns out there are two different ways to ease distress and to chase
ways to ease distress and to chase
ways to ease distress and to chase eustress functional and dysfunctional
eustress functional and dysfunctional
eustress functional and dysfunctional glass of red wine on a Friday night to
glass of red wine on a Friday night to
glass of red wine on a Friday night to deal with the stress of their week is a
deal with the stress of their week is a
deal with the stress of their week is a pretty functional way to unwind it’s
pretty functional way to unwind it’s
pretty functional way to unwind it’s when that glass turns into a bottle or
when that glass turns into a bottle or
when that glass turns into a bottle or two and every Friday night becomes every
two and every Friday night becomes every
two and every Friday night becomes every night we call it alcoholism and it’s not
night we call it alcoholism and it’s not
night we call it alcoholism and it’s not actually alcoholism until you’ve got
actually alcoholism until you’ve got
actually alcoholism until you’ve got hangovers and liver failure and broken
hangovers and liver failure and broken
hangovers and liver failure and broken families
families
families actually the substance is the problem
actually the substance is the problem
actually the substance is the problem the substance alleviates distress it’s a
the substance alleviates distress it’s a
the substance alleviates distress it’s a solution a temporary solution for the
solution a temporary solution for the
solution a temporary solution for the distress that we’re under same thing
distress that we’re under same thing
distress that we’re under same thing happens on the eustress side of the coin
happens on the eustress side of the coin
happens on the eustress side of the coin in fact you can take something as
in fact you can take something as
in fact you can take something as beautiful and abundant and natural as
beautiful and abundant and natural as
beautiful and abundant and natural as sunshine and take it to the extreme and
sunshine and take it to the extreme and
sunshine and take it to the extreme and it becomes tanorexia the addiction to
it becomes tanorexia the addiction to
it becomes tanorexia the addiction to tanning beds all the things on that list
tanning beds all the things on that list
tanning beds all the things on that list can be functional and they can become
can be functional and they can become
can be functional and they can become dysfunctional we call these things below
dysfunctional we call these things below
dysfunctional we call these things below addiction because of the consequences of
addiction because of the consequences of
addiction because of the consequences of that repetitive behavior for maxing out
that repetitive behavior for maxing out
that repetitive behavior for maxing out our credit cards from compulsive
our credit cards from compulsive
our credit cards from compulsive shopping to checking our smartphone 100
shopping to checking our smartphone 100
shopping to checking our smartphone 100 times a day or touching it to 2600 times
times a day or touching it to 2600 times
times a day or touching it to 2600 times a day to our more traditional ideas of
a day to our more traditional ideas of
a day to our more traditional ideas of drug and alcohol abuse with this new
drug and alcohol abuse with this new
drug and alcohol abuse with this new paradigm distress eustress we start to
paradigm distress eustress we start to
paradigm distress eustress we start to see addiction everywhere and not as
see addiction everywhere and not as
see addiction everywhere and not as choice or disease but as a logical
choice or disease but as a logical
choice or disease but as a logical response to the context we find
response to the context we find
response to the context we find ourselves in the context that we’ve
ourselves in the context that we’ve
ourselves in the context that we’ve built around ourselves that is actually
built around ourselves that is actually
built around ourselves that is actually just filled with distress we used to go
just filled with distress we used to go
just filled with distress we used to go days in the wilderness without running
days in the wilderness without running
days in the wilderness without running into big stressors and when we did they
into big stressors and when we did they
into big stressors and when we did they were acute they were a bear or a
were acute they were a bear or a
were acute they were a bear or a saber-toothed tiger or a storm something
saber-toothed tiger or a storm something
saber-toothed tiger or a storm something we could fight or flee from now we’ve
we could fight or flee from now we’ve
we could fight or flee from now we’ve built an environment around ourselves
built an environment around ourselves
built an environment around ourselves that’s filled with chronic stress
that’s filled with chronic stress
that’s filled with chronic stress traffic mortgage payments social media
traffic mortgage payments social media
traffic mortgage payments social media in fact I often find myself looking out
in fact I often find myself looking out
in fact I often find myself looking out into the crowd looking for the non
into the crowd looking for the non
into the crowd looking for the non addicts and having trouble finding them
addicts and having trouble finding them
addicts and having trouble finding them outside of very young children
outside of very young children
outside of very young children mr. Howard yourself with enough distress
mr. Howard yourself with enough distress
mr. Howard yourself with enough distress and the development of habitual coping
and the development of habitual coping
and the development of habitual coping mechanism seems to become inevitable in
mechanism seems to become inevitable in
mechanism seems to become inevitable in his book chasing The Scream author
his book chasing The Scream author
his book chasing The Scream author Johann Harry spent two years going
Johann Harry spent two years going
Johann Harry spent two years going around the world looking at addiction
around the world looking at addiction
around the world looking at addiction and he writes about some of the early
and he writes about some of the early
and he writes about some of the early research on addiction that involved
research on addiction that involved
research on addiction that involved taking rats and putting them into cages
taking rats and putting them into cages
taking rats and putting them into cages by themselves offering them water and
by themselves offering them water and
by themselves offering them water and water laced with cocaine not
water laced with cocaine not
water laced with cocaine not surprisingly the rats preferred the
surprisingly the rats preferred the
surprisingly the rats preferred the cocaine
cocaine
cocaine and wasn’t until a few years later that
and wasn’t until a few years later that
and wasn’t until a few years later that a Canadian researcher dr. Bruce
a Canadian researcher dr. Bruce
a Canadian researcher dr. Bruce Alexander replicated those studies with
Alexander replicated those studies with
Alexander replicated those studies with an important twist that we began to see
an important twist that we began to see
an important twist that we began to see the true nature of addiction he created
the true nature of addiction he created
the true nature of addiction he created this place called rat Park where rats
this place called rat Park where rats
this place called rat Park where rats were free to socialize and engage with
were free to socialize and engage with
were free to socialize and engage with each other being true to their nature
each other being true to their nature
each other being true to their nature and in that environment
and in that environment
and in that environment none of the rats used the cocaine none
none of the rats used the cocaine none
none of the rats used the cocaine none of them became addicted and none of them
of them became addicted and none of them
of them became addicted and none of them died of overdoses turns out that
died of overdoses turns out that
died of overdoses turns out that addiction has nothing to do with the
addiction has nothing to do with the
addiction has nothing to do with the cocaine and everything to do with a cage
so whenever I invite you into a
so whenever I invite you into a challenge over the next couple of days
challenge over the next couple of days
challenge over the next couple of days not today because your brains are gonna
not today because your brains are gonna
not today because your brains are gonna be full but over the next couple of days
be full but over the next couple of days
be full but over the next couple of days reflect on some of the habits behaviors
reflect on some of the habits behaviors
reflect on some of the habits behaviors or substance use in your own life and
or substance use in your own life and
or substance use in your own life and ask yourself how does this make sense in
ask yourself how does this make sense in
ask yourself how does this make sense in the context that I and myself in how
the context that I and myself in how
the context that I and myself in how does this make sense as a response to
does this make sense as a response to
does this make sense as a response to distress chances are high that you’ve
distress chances are high that you’ve
distress chances are high that you’ve been spending more time at your desk
been spending more time at your desk
been spending more time at your desk doing this and sitting around the
doing this and sitting around the
doing this and sitting around the campfire more time mindlessly going from
campfire more time mindlessly going from
campfire more time mindlessly going from work to dance class to soccer practice
work to dance class to soccer practice
work to dance class to soccer practice than purposefully going nowhere more
than purposefully going nowhere more
than purposefully going nowhere more time feeling lost in this chaotic and
time feeling lost in this chaotic and
time feeling lost in this chaotic and uncertain world instead of actually
uncertain world instead of actually
uncertain world instead of actually being lost they pull me in your thoughts
being lost they pull me in your thoughts
being lost they pull me in your thoughts and if only for a moment it’s only
and if only for a moment it’s only
and if only for a moment it’s only recently that I begin to feel myself
recently that I begin to feel myself
recently that I begin to feel myself getting closer to the answer for that
getting closer to the answer for that
getting closer to the answer for that elusive question what is this thing
elusive question what is this thing
elusive question what is this thing called addiction suddenly that
called addiction suddenly that
called addiction suddenly that experience that I had on the couch ten
experience that I had on the couch ten
experience that I had on the couch ten years ago with that young lady crying at
years ago with that young lady crying at
years ago with that young lady crying at the discovery of happiness makes so much
the discovery of happiness makes so much
the discovery of happiness makes so much sense she had opened the door to her
sense she had opened the door to her
sense she had opened the door to her cage turns out that the opposite of
cage turns out that the opposite of
cage turns out that the opposite of addiction is not sobriety the opposite
addiction is not sobriety the opposite
addiction is not sobriety the opposite of addiction is connection connection to
of addiction is connection connection to
of addiction is connection connection to ourselves connection to each other
ourselves connection to each other
ourselves connection to each other connection to the world around us
connection to the world around us
connection to the world around us connection to the true power of our
connection to the true power of our
connection to the true power of our human nature the power to create habits
human nature the power to create habits
human nature the power to create habits that will ultimately destroy us habits
that will ultimately destroy us habits
that will ultimately destroy us habits that will call addiction are the power
that will call addiction are the power
that will call addiction are the power to create habits that get us a little
to create habits that get us a little
to create habits that get us a little bit closer to eustress a little more
bit closer to eustress a little more
bit closer to eustress a little more often and with fewer side-effects
suddenly the answer to that question
suddenly the answer to that question what is addictions treatment becomes
what is addictions treatment becomes
what is addictions treatment becomes much more clear and it doesn’t surprise
much more clear and it doesn’t surprise
much more clear and it doesn’t surprise me they’re taking kids out of their
me they’re taking kids out of their
me they’re taking kids out of their cages and out into the wilderness
cages and out into the wilderness
cages and out into the wilderness reconnecting them with nature and with
reconnecting them with nature and with
reconnecting them with nature and with themselves and with other people would
themselves and with other people would
themselves and with other people would have such tremendous effects doesn’t
have such tremendous effects doesn’t
have such tremendous effects doesn’t surprise me that trading our cages for a
surprise me that trading our cages for a
surprise me that trading our cages for a taste of the open air be such a powerful
taste of the open air be such a powerful
taste of the open air be such a powerful way to heal what surprises me is that
way to heal what surprises me is that
way to heal what surprises me is that most of us don’t do the same thank you
most of us don’t do the same thank you
most of us don’t do the same thank you very much
very much
very much [Applause]
”
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