#13 F*ck Shame: Overcoming Addiction through Connection, with Dr. Adi Jaffe, PhD

You wouldn't know it just by looking at Dr. Jaffe today, but he was once convicted and sentenced to 1 year in jail for using, buying and selling hard drugs. After getting out of jail, it was impossible to find anyone who'd accept him for a job.

For many in the US, this situation leads people back to crime and in jail again, and so the cycle repeats. But for Dr. Jaffe, he attributes his success to the fact that he had (and has) a strong support system--people who believed in him and saw his value.

In this episode, Dr. Jaffe shares his full story from being a drug addict and becoming a convicted felon, to where is is today: an author, TedEx speaker, and nationally recognized expert on mental health, addiction, relationships and shame.

We also unpack his perspective on why putting drug users in jail isn't the right approach, why the goal of 100% abstinence for drug and alcohol addiction recovery isn't the right approach either, how we can truly help people stuck in the cycle of addiction, why community is so important, and much more.

Adi Jaffe, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized expert on mental health, addiction, relationships and shame. He was a UCLA lecturer in the Psychology department at UCLA for the better part of a decade and was the Executive-Director and Co-Founder of one of the most progressive mental health treatment facilities in the country - until he started IGNTD.

Dr. Jaffe, through IGNTD, is changing the way people think about, and deal with mental health issues. His passion in the role of shame destroying lives is the philosophy behind IGNTD Recovery and its aim to greatly reduce the stigma of addiction and mental health.

Resources Mentioned:
Free resource from Dr. Jaffe: https://www.igntd.com/feelingswheel
Dr. Jaffe's Ted Talk: https://youtu.be/A9xFJ_hqzDQ

Get in touch with Dr. Jaffe:
Website: https://www.adijaffe.com
Book: https://www.theabstinencemyth.com
Igntd: https://www.igntd.com

Get in touch with Michal and Maayan:
Website: https://www.sistersinpsychology.com
Instagram: @sistersinpsychology
Email: sistersinpsychology@gmail.com