Courage Recovery

Courage Recovery is an addiction education company founded by Roger L'Hereault in 2016.  This episode is a brief introduction to the company and covers what inspired it all as well as the type of topics that will be discussed on future shows. This podcast's content will be centered on teaching foundational addiction and recovery concepts to benefit recovering addicts & recovering alcoholics wherever they are in the process but with a focus on the first 24 months. Instagram @Courage_Recovery www.Courage-Recovery.com

Addiction stigma influences us from within and from society. Raising our awareness can help us reach out to others and sustain our recovery. By the end I hope to shine a light on how essential mental health compassion is for yourself and loved ones. Useful resourced in this episode: - ASAM.org - "Feeling Good" by David D Burns M.D.

A core element of addiction involved in influencing the perceptions and behaviors of addicts is the malfunctioning reward center of the brain called the Limbic System. This episode looks at this element through the perspective of Survival Instinct Behaviors and how they differ between addicts and non-addicts.   Resources of note: "Pleasure Unwoven" DVD by Kevin McCauley

The Disease of Addiction is a progressive, chronic illness of the brain's reward system where substance use for short-term reward persists despite long-term negative consequences. This discussion expands on the illness as well as common points that cause some to hesitate accepting the diagnosis. Instagram:  @Courage_Recovery www.Courage-Recovery.com

The holidays are a wonderful time of year filled with vacations, great food, social gatherings and unfortunately, triggers. Tips for smoothing out your path are covered to get you thinking strategic today so you can have more fun and peace of mind during these special life events. Here are the 4 tips covered: 1. Stick with your routine 2. Plan ahead 3. Resentment Traps 4. Seasonal Affective Disorder   Resource referenced: Re: Seasonal Affective Disorder https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20364722 Re: General Holiday Tips “Tips for preventing the holiday blues,  staying sober“ https://www.hazelden.org/web/public/hol21202.page

This 2 part podcast covers essential aspects of the addiction cycle to help people find understanding, compassion and a strategic perspective on gaining and sustaining recovery.   Helpful for the newcomer, established people in recovery and even families of addicts.   IG @Courage_Recovery www.Courage-Recovery.com

This is the second of a 2 part set of episodes on the addiction cycle focusing on the consequences of use on the mind, body and spirit. Significant focus is on Cognitive Dissonance and Cognitive Distortions and how they play a major role in shaping the negative tinted lens that we see the world and ourselves through.   Resources: "Feeling Good" by David Burns M.D. Free "The Addiction Cycle" PDF available at www.Courage-Recovery.com for subscribers  

In this episode I will be discussing the hazards of unaddressed co-occurring issues whether they be other mental or physical health conditions.   IG:  Courage_Recovery www.Courage-Recovery.com

We unfold and dig deep into the meaning and benefits of the prayer. IG: Courage_Recovery www.Courage-Recovery.com

As many know, Humility is an essential ingredient in recovery. It helps us to see our powerlessness over addiction, opens us up to getting help and guides us in building a solid foundation. The interplay of Consistency, Ego and Complacency are factors that can whittle away at our humility. This is what we will examine in this episode. IG @Courage_Recovery www.Courage-Recovery.com  

In this episode we will look at why many people join fellowships to get clean and sober and why they benefit from incorporating a higher power. The Higher Power concept as a spiritual, pragmatic part of recovery is examined with and without a religious context. For those who are unfamiliar with addiction related concepts pertaining to our hijacked survival instinct, The Disease Concept and the necessity for active daily Humility, I recommend pausing this episode and going back to Listen to episodes: 3, 4 and 10. IG @Courage_Recovery www.Courage-Recovery.com  

Relapse is a condition of addiction and part of the cycle. It's not failure. It's the illness taking deeper root again. We will look at the forces that work against a person getting back into recovery after a relapse.   www.Courage-Recovery.com IG  @Courage_Recovery

What does it mean to enable a person suffering with addiction? Enabling is all about shifting the mirror away from reality towards a never ending blue sky.  How does this hurt them and us? We break the mirror to allow healing for all.   IG @Courage_Recovery www.Courage-Recovery.com

This brief episode gives an overview of Healthy Boundaries by answering: What they are? Why they matter? How to set them?   www.Courage-Recovery.com IG @Courage_Recovery

What is Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome? How do we focus in on these symptoms to survive and thrive in our first 365 days of recovery? We will minimize surprise and open our eyes to the huge role our recovering brain plays in our early success in recovery.   Note: Also known by other names like Protracted Withdrawal Book Recommendation: "Staying Sober: A Guide For Relapse Prevention" by Gorski, Miller   IG: @Courage_Recovery www.Courage-Recovery.com

Whether we fall into drama or are drawn to it, one thing is for certain-it can torpedo our recovery. We look at how this climate of emotional extremes can enter out lives and what we can do about it to regain control and peace.   Instagram @Courage_Recovery www.Courage-Recovery.com

Identifying as an addict or alcoholic should have meaning for you or why bother with it right? Statements that show ownership of having the disease of addiction have value in a person's recovery. We explore why.   Instagram @Courage_Recovery www.Courage-Recovery.com

We learn about a 5 minute process to identify feelings, look for triggering patterns, the benefits of a personal inventory and how to customize a coping skill strategy all in the context of today's recovery testing problem you are facing. Bring a bad day and an open mind or just some curiosity. Resources: "5 Minute Tool Kit" found by joining our email list at  www.Courage-Recovery.com   Instagram @Courage_Recovery

The tendency to look away from our troubles is an all too real dilemma in any stage of recovery. The small things at first glance might be worth examination if we honestly appraise them to be diminishing our lives in some way.  Recorded out in nature for a change on Lake Washington!   www.Courage-Recovery.com IG @Courage_Recovery  

It's essential to know every source of emotional pain in every category of your life as you build a strong relapse prevention plan.  This two part set of episodes looks at identifying our triggers and how to manage them.   www.Courage-Recovery.com IG @Courage_Recovery