Break The Chain Podcast

In this insightful episode, James Dear, founder of the Break the Chain movement, delves into the transformative power of communication in overcoming addiction and enhancing overall happiness. Drawing from personal experiences and professional insights as a drug and alcohol counsellor, James explores how effective communication can bridge the gap between isolation and connection, offering a lifeline to those struggling with addiction. Discover the crucial role of listening, the barriers that hinder effective communication, and practical strategies to foster meaningful interactions. Whether you're on a journey of recovery or seeking to improve your relationships, this episode offers valuable perspectives on how communication can radically improve your life. Tune in to learn how to harness the power of communication to build a happier, more connected life.Takeaways- Communication is essential for improving our lives.- Listening is the most important part of communication.- Barriers to listening include fear of judgment and distraction.- Body language plays a significant role in how we communicate.- There are four main communication styles: assertive, aggressive, passive, and passive-aggressive.- Passive communication can lead to resentment and frustration.- Aggressive communication alienates others and creates fear.- Passive-aggressive behaviour is subtle and often harmful.- Defence mechanisms can hinder effective communication.- Understanding our communication style can lead to healthier interactions. - Emotional responses can revert individuals to childlike behaviour when criticised.- Displacement and reaction formation are common emotional responses.- Assertive communication involves expressing feelings without blaming others.- Cultural differences significantly influence communication styles.- Assertiveness can be perceived as aggression by those unaccustomed to it.- Listening is crucial for effective communication and understanding.- Setting clear expectations helps prevent misunderstandings.- Apologising can be a powerful tool for repairing relationships.- Values play a critical role in how we communicate and interact with others.- Practising assertiveness can lead to improved self-esteem and healthier relationships.

In this episode, Finley Worthington shares his personal journey through ketamine addiction, detailing the struggles he faced and the eventual decision to seek help. He discusses the stigma surrounding ketamine, the unique challenges it presents in rehab, and the importance of community support. Finley emphasises the need for education about ketamine addiction, particularly among young people, and highlights the work of Ketamine Education Services in providing support and resources for those affected by addiction. The conversation also touches on the broader societal issues contributing to addiction and the importance of connection and honesty in recovery.You can find Ketamine Education Services athttps://www.facebook.com/ketamineeducationserviceshttps://www.instagram.com/ketamine_education_services/Chapters00:00: Finley's Journey into Addiction10:43: The Impact of Ketamine on Life15:58: Turning Point: Seeking Help and Recovery19:27: Creating Community and Support for Recovery24:33: Challenges of Ketamine Addiction and Recovery32:17: Future of Ketamine Addiction Treatment37:40: Understanding the Detox Pathway40:36: Recognising Warning Signs of Ketamine Use43:21: The Importance of Addressing Underlying Issues46:11: The Prevalence of Ketamine Addiction50:40: The Impact of Trauma on Addiction54:07: Self-Medication and Mental Health Challenges58:33: Establishing Ketamine Education Services01:06:19: Advice for Those Struggling with Addiction

Episode Summary: In this powerful episode, we sit down with Mark Cowan, a former inmate who spent 20 years in and out of prison due to his struggles with addiction. Today, Mark is on the other side of the prison walls as an addictions counsellor, using his personal experiences to help incarcerated individuals break the cycle of addiction and crime. Mark shares his journey from a life of crime to becoming a present father, a role model, and a community asset. He opens up about the turning points in his life, the impact of drug court, and his mission to give hope to those who feel trapped in the same cycle he once knew all too well.

In this episode, I speak with Rachel Stonehouse, an Investigative Reporter and documentary producer for BBC News and formerly for BBC NewsBeat. She recently produced and presented the documentary ‘Young and Addicted: Generation Ketamine” which took a graphic look at the impacts of recreational ketamine use.

In this interview, Rachel Stonehouse & James Dear were featured on BBC 5 Live with Stephen Nolan, following the release of the documentary 'Young & Addicted: Generation Ketamine. James was asked to share his experience as a ketamine addict as well as give some brief advice for anyone who may be addicted or considering using the drug for the first time.

The full documentary can be watched in the UK via the link below. A shorter version is due to be released to YouTube.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001yp76

In this episode, I speak with Joe Ramsden,

In this episode, I speak to a truly inspiring woman, Stephanie Crean.

You can watch the full movie about her father's story on YouTube by clicking the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSnU43PYYjE&t=1349s

Are you addicted to alcohol or substances and finally ready to do something about it but don't know where to start?   

Then this episode is for you.  I talk to Marek Hyde a recovering addict who has worked in the addiction field for 6 years. We are aware that the path to sobriety can be an overwhelming one. This is why we wanted to share with you some of the different options that you have in the United Kingdom whether you have access to money and other resources or not.   

Some of the different options that we discuss are,  

-The NHS route 

-Checking in with a GP 

-Local addiction services 

-The importance of finding an advocate 

-Alcoholic Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous 

-Seeing a counsellor  

Some of the services mentioned were,  

-Carpenters Arms 

-Loughborough https://www.carpenters-arms.org/  

-Betels https://www.betel.uk/  

-Jericho house https://www.jerichosociety.org.uk/location/derby/   

-Guide to free addiction helplines https://www.lifeworkscommunity.com/addiction-treatment/guide-to-uk-free-addiction-helplines  

Useful contacts 

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/recreational-drugs-alcohol-and-addiction/drug-and-alcohol-addiction-useful-contacts/

What does it mean to be a man? Where do we get ideas about what that means?   

In this episode, I was joined by retired muay Thai champion and mental health advocate Richie hardcore to explore this idea amongst some other topics such as mental health and addiction. Richie is also an educator and public speaker who works in family and sexual violence prevention, and fitness. He also spent 6 years working in drug harm prevention.  

Richie stated that he was a sensitive kid that liked reading books but fighting at school made him cool. Being masculine also made him feel strong and cool but he said that he was fortunate enough to be steered away from that path and didn't turn to gangs and violence like his friends. He credited a lot of this to his passion for martial arts and the sober culture of the straight-edge hardcore scene.  

Richie shares his life story then we dive deep into ideas surrounding masculinity from both a sociological and spiritual perspective. Finally, Richie tells us about his battle with depression and suicidal ideation and how he pulled himself out of that dark place.   

I really enjoyed this conversation. Richie does some fantastic work, please check him out.   

https://www.richiehardcore.com/podcast https://www.facebook.com/richie.hardcore 

https://www.instagram.com/richiehardcore/?fbclid=IwAR2RQyyoQsg7S96MDvqhmBmE0aDmgQzgOMctup7CY7xhK5t788RXyOMyZFc

In this episode, I talk to ex US marine and MMA fighter Tim Lodgen about his 27 year battle with alcoholism and other substances. Tim tells us that he doesn't remember his 20s and his drinking got really bad whilst during the Marine core. He suspects that it got worse due to trauma from the marines as well as his father leaving when he was 7. Tim tells us that he was drinking shots before work, being verbally abusive to his family, crashed a car and didn't remember, and was facing jail time due to his anger. Tim hit rock bottom when his wife told him that he couldn't be there anymore and shortly after his wife found him in the process of taking his own life.   

Tim got sober when his good friend and Jackass star Brandon Novak called him when he was at his lowest point offering him the opportunity of a lifetime. Brandon got him a plane ticket and booked him into rehab. After going through the 12 step rehabilitation process Tim has now been sober for 10 months and radiates nothing but gratitude. He is on a mission to change the world for the better.   

Tim said “Giving up is not an option, getting up is the only option”, “I didn’t realize I was in a cage and the one holding the key”  This is an inspiring story of hope that proves that it is possible to get sober even after 27 years.  

Please follow Tim's journey   

@Lodgen_tim on Instagram or Tim Lodgen on Facebook  

You can support the podcast and help us by making a donation to our Patreon. Break The Chain is not for profit and relies on your kindness and support to keep the show on the road.   

https://www.patreon.com/breakthechain   

:)