Love, Recovery, and Rock & Roll Chris & Amy

Episode #5:Why won’t you just quit? For families, friends, and loved ones of those in addiction, this question is often asked. Therapist, Dennis Woodruff, helps answer this question by explaining the purpose of the midbrain and prefrontal cortex and how they are affected by addiction. He also discusses the importance of separating the behavior from the person and boundaries.







Episode Song: My Mind Is My Enemy by Praga Khan







LyricsI Like To Pretend That Nothing Has Changed But All I Ever Loved You Just Took It Away There’s A Knife In My Chest I Go To Sleep But Not To Rest What Was Once Will Never Be Past Looks Better Than Reality It’s Like A War Inside Of Me When My Mind Becomes My Enemy







My Mind Is My Enemy







Used And Abused By So Called Friends It’s Hard To Accept You’re One Of Them You Took It All, What Was Left Of Me My Pride, Respect, My Dignity You Killed Me Once, Now You Kill Me Again It’s Tough For Me To Understand It’s Like A Warzone, Deep Inside Of Me When My Mind Becomes My Enemy







My Mind Is My Enemy







I Close My Eyes Out Of Desperation My Soul Is Praying For Salvation Let Me Fade Away Into An Endless Sleep There Will Be No One Left To Weep A One Way Needle To The Stars Where I Can Find Peace In My Users Heart It’s Like A War Inside Of Me When My Mind Becomes My Enemy

Episode #6:Isaac, Chris’s friend from Turning Point, discusses his journey to sobriety. He became addicted to opiates as a youth after recovering from knee surgery. It was his 15th time in rehab that he was finally able to maintain sobriety. From living in motels and on the streets of LA, running from the law, and selling drugs to maintain his habit, Isaac has been sober for almost a year and a half. He is currently awaiting approval from a judge to move back home with his family, and we wish his all the best.







Episode Song:Homeward Bound by Simon & Garfunkel







LyricsI’m sitting in the railway stationGot a ticket to my destinationOn a tour of one-night stands my suitcase and guitar in handAnd every stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man bandHomeward boundI wish I wasHomeward boundHome where my thought’s escapingHome where my music’s playingHome where my love lies waitingSilently for me







Every day’s an endless streamOf cigarettes and magazinesAnd each town looks the same to me, the movies and the factoriesAnd every stranger’s face I see reminds me that I long to beHomeward boundI wish I wasHomeward boundHome where my thought’s escapingHome where my music’s playingHome where my love lies waitingSilently for me







Tonight I’ll sing my songs againI’ll play the game and pretendBut all my words come back to me in shades of mediocrityLike emptiness in harmony I need someone to comfort meHomeward boundI wish I wasHomeward boundHome where my thought’s escapingHome where my music’s playingHome where my love lies waitingSilently for meSilently for me

Episode #7:Healthy communication is not only a key component for recovery, but an essential aspect of all good relationships with our friends, families, loved ones, colleagues, and associates. This topic is truly something we can all benefit from. Mayreann Frantz, CMHC, therapist, defines different types of communication styles, shares tips & tricks for healthy communication, and provides examples of how we can have difficult, caring conversations.







Episode Song:Communication Breakdown by Led Zeppelin







Lyrics







Hey girl stop what you’re doin’!Hey girl you’ll drive me to ruin.I don’t know what it is that I like about youBut I like it a lot.Won’t you let me hold youLet me feel your lovin’ charms.







Communication breakdownIt’s always the sameI’m having a nervous breakdownDrive me insane!







Hey girl I got something I think you ought to know.Hey babe I want to tell you that I love you so.I want to hold you in my arms, yeah!I’m never gonna let you go,‘Cause I like your charms.







Communication breakdownIt’s always the sameI’m having a nervous breakdownDrive me insane!

Episode #8:Find out what a week of detox is like. Hear all about Chris’s experiences during his week of detox from alcohol, benzos, meth, and opiates. From leaving the intervention and going directly to detox, Amy and Chris reflect on the intake process to Chris’s decision to go to inpatient rehab. While Chris embarks on his recovery, Amy comes to terms with his addiction and helps him get the support he needed while taking care of their 2 month old baby. You will also hear Amy’s dramatic confrontation with a drug dealer.







Episode Song:Don’t Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me) by Marilyn Manson







Lyrics







Norm life babyWe’re white and oh so heteroAnd our sex is missionary







Norm life babyWe’re quitters and we’re soberOur confessions will be televised







You and I are under dosed and we’re ready to fallRaised to be stupid, taught to be nothing at all







I don’t like the drugs but the drugs like meI don’t like the drugs, the drugs the drugs







Norm life babyOur god is white and unforgivingWe’re piss tested and we’re praying







Norm life babyI’m just a sample of a soulMade to look just like a human being







Norm life babyWe’re rehabbed and we’re readyFor our fifteen minutes of shame







Norm life babyWe’re talk shown and we’re pointingJust like Christians at a suicide







You and I are under dosed and we’re ready to fallRaised to be stupid, taught to be nothing at all







I don’t like the drugs but the drugs like meI don’t like the drugs, the drugs the drugs







There’s a hole in our soul that we fill with dopeAnd we’re feeling fine







I don’t like the drugs but the drugs like meI don’t like the drugs, the drugs the drugs

Episode #9:Julia Parent, ACHMC at Turning Point shares her personal journey with grief & loss while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments while she completed her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling and worked as an intern at Turning Point. We also discuss the Grief Wheel from the initial stage of loss through recovery and how grief is cyclical as recovery from the loss of a loved one, disease (including addition), even situations that may seem happy (e.g. moving, starting a new job, having a baby), and many other life events. Most importantly we focus on how you can successfully manage the complexities of grief & loss in a healthy way.







Episode Song: Just Breathe by Pearl Jam







Lyrics







Yes I understandThat every life must endAs we sit aloneI know someday we must go







Yeah I’m a lucky manTo count on both handsThe ones I loveSome folks just have oneYeah others they got none







Stay with meLet’s just breathe







Practiced on our sinsNever gonna let me winUnder everythingJust another human being







I don’t want to hurtThere’s so much in this worldTo make me believe







Stay with meAll I see







Did I say that I need you?Did I say that I want you?What if I did and I’m a fool you seeNo one knows this more than me‘Cause I come clean







I wonder everydayAs I look upon your faceEverything you gaveAnd nothing you would takeNothing you would takeEverything you gave







Did I say that I need you?Did I say that I want you?What if I did and I’m a fool you seeNo one knows this more than meI come clean







Nothing you would takeEverything you gaveHold me ’till I dieMeet you on the other side

Episode #10:S. Lee Chew, MS, CMHC, NCC joins us to explain mindfulness and the value of it not only in addiction recovery but in everyday life. In this episode, you will learn the difference between mindfulness and meditation, how they complement each other, and how you can rewire your brain with mindfulness. Chris also shares his experiences with mindfulness and how it helps him stay sober. Lastly, join us for a guided meditation with Lee. If you would like to skip directly to the meditation, go to 39:24 of this recording.







Recommended Resources:







* The Mindful Self Compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff, PhD* Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement by Eric L. Garland, PhD, LCSW* Mindfulness Solutions by Ronald D. Siegal, PsyD* Refuge Recovery: A Buddhist Path to Recovering from Addiction by Noah Levine







Episode Song:Weightless by Marconi Union







There are no words to this song, but it is the perfect song to accompany your mindfulness practice. It was scientifically created to reduce anxiety. “The group that created “Weightless”, Marconi Union, did so in collaboration with sound therapists. Its carefully arranged harmonies, rhythms, and bass lines help slow a listener’s heart rate, reduce blood pressure and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.” From the article: Neuroscience Says Listening to This Song Reduces Anxiety by Up to 65 Percent