Excellent my friend ... here is a great quote ... “Your addiction wasn’t your problem. Your addiction was your attempt to solve the problem. In all cases of addiction that I have seen, there’s deep pain that comes out of trauma. The addiction is the person’s unconscious attempt to escape from the pain. " -- Gabor Mat

I “failed” treatment 4 times, too! The difference in the fifth program is that my counselor made sure we had not just a plan for what NOT to do (use drugs). We each left with an individualized plan for how to replace it with meaningful activity and connection. Connection with our deepest selves, our purpose, loved ones, and community. We were always encouraged to come back, talk about how it’s going, and adjust it…anytime. I went from thinking I would never get off the streets and on drugs… to only 3 courses and a culminating project left in a degree program. I’m motivated, at peace, and eager to give back the help I received. I no longer beat myself up for experiencing addiction. Unconditional acceptance taught me not to judge others, and that every single person is equally valuable. I am grateful I survived…many don’t, especially today. If I’m still here, there must be a reason. This is the core belief stigma destroys in people struggling with this devastating disease. No wonder the recovery rate is too low. We don’t tell people with most any other disease they are unworthy of recovery, or failures if they don’t, although there are a few we treat similarly. Some mental illnesses and metabolic, endocrine, and inflammatory diseases that cause weight gain come to mind. Everyone needs to know we are not our disease, and we all deserve to be here. We all have a purpose. ❤️‍🩹

"Opposite of addiction isn't sobriety opposite of addiction is connection"

YES! The opposite of addiction is not sobriety -- it's connection!

I made the choice to change today and that's what brought me here. I've tried quitting drugs before and only ended up relapsing. Never again, this is not the life I want. I'm tired of being a disappointment to my folks and my pals😪. Hopefully I'll get through this ✊🏾.

very well spoken... inspiring shawn thank you ...im checking into a 3 month inpatient rehab program... pray for me guys ... im done with destroying myself.. i want to be fully clean and sober

This is wonderful!! Physical activity is something that is not promoted in the recovery community enough!! There need to be more programs like this!

Starting my recovery today. Very scary but i do have a plan.

6 years clean from h addiction used iv. Lost alot. Trafficked by rehab owners and employees in South Florida. Drugged and assaulted. Abusive relationships. Crimes. Deaths of my sister, best friends and family members. Became a nurse while in drug court, probation dropped when I was facing 15 felonies put into 1. Graduated number 6 in my class. Raising my daughter and little son, tried to open a peer center, spoke on a conference w people from the white house and traveled the country to share our stories. Started ths channel breaking chains the Whitney Project. It's been an amazing ride.

Today; 3/17/22 I AM 4 YEARS CLEAN!! at the height of my active addiction, I went to sleep each night praying I wouldn't wake up.. because I was TIRED. Tired of the chase, tired of lying, tired of scheming/stealing to get my next bag of pills.. my hubby found out what was going on and told me I had 2 choices: pack a bag and go to my mom's and get clean, or pack a bag and just get gone, he couldn't continue to watch me destroy myself, our girls, and our marriage.. I took the 30 days and got into a MAT program. Now here I stand..4 freaking years! I see and feel the world differently now..and use the coping tools to express my feelings..good or bad ones.. because numbing them doesn't solve them!! We. Can. Overcome. Addiction!!

I am very proud of you Shawn. Thank you for sharing your story on such an influential platform. And I agree that recovery will greatly benefit from a tribe of like minded people. I am excited to be involved! Thank you

Thanks Shawn for your personal story and inspiring service!

What a great program! Connection, community, compassion make up a powerful trio for long-term recovery.

Shawn is the real deal and someone who gets what needs to happen to change from the inside out.

I needed to hear this, I am in Seattle Washington. Dealing with wanting to relapse currently. I have a wife and three kids and it’s sad how much addiction has control over me. I will not let it get the best of me but it’s hard not to give in.

I'm going to rehab tomorrow, I'm ready to live free.

Thanks for this message, Shawn - very encouraging.

Great Ted talk from a great human being. Thanks for your compassion and commitment to help society .

Awesome Buddy... Paying it Forward... The Act of Kindness Love it...

This is the most blunt and plain TED i have seen

Yes, yes, yes!! Exactly!! Each one is as unique as their fingerprint. Brains continue to grow and can be rewired. 💕

Whenever something bothers me. Tedtalk is my go to place for knowledge. Love it.

I am interning as a Clinical psychologist in my state hospital and this Corona virus lockdown has unexpectedly caused an influx of the victims of Drug addiction due to the unavailability of drugs in this lockdown. Most of my patients have had relapses before and I needed to watch this video .

What a great video. Thank you for sharing this insight with all of us!

Thanks for your insight Shawn and congrats on your recovery!

So much respect 🙌 to all those helping others heal. 🦋 It's a true calling. I absolutely found my purpose in telling my story of borderline death ☠️ and life implosion 🤯 to healing my brain and body to get my life back! Much luv! 🕉 You can heal!

Going on week so far sober going be tuff road I cam feel it

Thanks for sharing Shawn!

Thankyou & God Bless 🙏❤️🙏

There is a different way to live thank you for your story. After stopping learning how to live and living is a step many people miss and because we forget this important step we go back out some die. Thanks again for this video

This is amazing ❤️

I’m ready

I work with people in active addiction and this speech is powerful. You are an inspiration. Each and every person I support is as unique as their own fingerprint ! I will always hold what you have said in my mind when I support my clients. Thank you

Today day 1 once again i need you're prayers.

Currently 36 days clean from meth this last year I lost alot thank God no trouble with the law

It is turning me into a best that I have notice that I with in help

I’m currently a bad alcoholic but I’m so bloody ready to change my life

I love that this video was 5 years ago, and my sobriety anniversary is 5 years today.

My mom overdosed for the first time yesterday. She's lucky to be alive. My sister and I are going to be there to help try and reset her course into treatment with a social worker.

Very Informative...Keep it up.

2 days clean 2 years soon

Awesome

67 comments, this content needs to reach more, 1 love my addict friends wanting to move on in life and show the people we love that we actually love.....

I agree totally and i am in recovery myself. I tend to lapse when i am around those who are actively using and for me, it is hard to make friends with anyone as i am fearful of trusting others and the words they speak. I consistently meet people with only one interest in mind, using substances........

Keep coming back....broo

I relaps 8 times i feel i cant .i no i not going give up on myself that i cant do..will not all get it right oneday

U see this now u blessed Dont use anymore

Thank you Shawn.

this just make me want to cry

Thanks, I also went through the same and I found sobreity

Love one another as I have loved you....

I leave in 9 hours. Terrified, but extremely ready, all at the same time

Such an amazing post, I love watching all your videos. They are super amazing and informative at the same time. Subscribe your channel already, keep posting more.

The opposite of addiction is connection. Connection that supports you to nourish yourself, mind, body and spirit. Get consistent with those things and the world becomed your oyster. 👏👏👏

The opposite of addiction is self love by working thru n healing the past...to thine own self be true N love

Shawn you are inspiration to all the men hear at Pura Vida, me included, thank you for everything you do for us, and when my damn collar bone heals from the recent fracture, I'll be back to put in some service hours at the house that's being renovated right now also even with only one good arm I'll help you get that piano to the 1804 location, thanks for giving me another chance at recovery. Though I'm not a religious man, it feels right to say God bless you 👌

As with many other addictions, substance abuse addiction can be a life and career threatening experience that requires a lot of conscious effort to overcome, which is what has been shown here. I also recommend having a workbook like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Worksheets for Substance Abuse by Portia Cruise can be a very handy companion to track your progress, stay motivated, and avoid relapse.

It’s so hard I’m so happy for everyone who betters themselves everyday

Love this

Pray for my soul

Thank you :-)

Proud of you, brother...

Wow!!

Great

Another common denominator of Of successful recovery that I've noticed is taking what we've been through and using it to help others . Hence the promise, we will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.

Anybody knows the name of the neuroscience podcast he talks about?

thanks

Thank you

People who don't know how pained it is expecilly how people who want to leave alcohol, those who have been doing it for years

I completely agree with you Shawn..i feel so alone every day and that makes me want to use. If we had something like this in my area i would jump on the chance to participate. Unfortunatley NA meeting really dont cut it for me. Id be more into a community like you described. Do you know if there is anything like that in Oceanside ca? Thanks! And thank you for what you do. :)

great stuff

I need this

great talk

is this Kyle Kinsburys brother?

It’s not the alcohol that’s “cunning, baffling, and powerful”...it’s the “ism”!

I'm getting clean and doing it on youtubev

Participate in life I like that

I love this video

How can someone contact you for treatment? Most Sincerely 🙏🏻

I only went to TREATMENT Once &stayed Clean ever since 06/26/2005 whats wrong with me

Addiction is hard man

How do I get my brother to go to rehab

Step 11 is prayer and meditation. Step 12 is service. Go to as many meetings as possible. Hang around other sober people. Get with a Higher Power. It's called AA

Thank you for seeing the truth...how do I contact you or your program?

Okie dokie

Sadly I need help , well that’s what I tell myself for once I wanna stop, but can’t please show me the way ,help me become strong minded it’s not ever to late for myself ,so I see that but why do I still catch myself Relapsing …. I hope nun but the best to those .god bless us

99% of Drug addiction stems from unresolved trauma. I wish these "mental health professionals" understood this. Rarely do they even ask why a person turned to drugs to begin with. That my friends is a crying shame. Perhaps if they treated the trauma things would get better. My best advice to anyone dealing with drug addiction is to make peace with your past. None of us can change a thing about our pasts, but we can all start today and lay to rest the ghosts of who we use to be. I ask all my friends share this. I have a feeling someone needs to read it. Let's make an impact.

I haven't never been in jail because of drugs or nothing esle but I have been though d ts and really hurt

This is literally my life on point smh

If you smoke put your ciggeretes further in another line of place.

Recovery only way to live

Good testimony but still no help for a addic how to get help with no insurance where to walk in where to start how to start.

Wow thank you iam struggling with addiction right now my plan is to stop tommorow but I say it every day

So far I've watched 2 Ted talks on addiction. Looking for some kind of help. So far I've found 2 people throwing sales pitches for their "treatments". Nothing a person can really use on day 1.

… I’m an alcoholic. I us my addiction to sleep. I had a bad pill struggle that I quit…. I see this as a very great way…. I gotta get motivated. “See me, at my best and at my worst.” See me as a person that is still discovering his self, I love booze. Wish I could be there. Imma get back to road work. My legs never did me wrong. I don’t ever want to be completely alcohol free. I want my drinking to be manageable for my lifestyle.

Hlo friends i want to ask something related to drugs is it right to not help someone who is dying from drug addiction pls reply if its right or wrong in my opinion that's totally wrong

I understand ur message and I vouch it… if y’all think this guy doesn’t wna help, ur tripping

A how to guide* Proceeds to pitch you his treatment program. I'm looking for a step by step guide on forcing someone into treatment when they drink themselves into stupor 4 months straight. :,(

Can you please help me? I'm not on the us. I'm drinking too much .

Not one single thing he said can actually help with addiction right now. Pretty much got to go to Washington State to find out what he's talking about. A speech to potential investors is my guess.