Trauma, Survival, and Recovery: The Truth About Addiction with Joe Polish, Dr. Don Wood, and Tim Westbrook

Joe Polish, Dr. Don Wood, and Tim Westbrook explore the link between trauma and addiction in this episode, sharing transformative solutions like brain reprogramming, TMS, and ketamine therapy. Learn how addressing root causes and fostering connection can redefine recovery.

Here’s a glance at what you’ll discover in this episode:

Why addiction isn’t a moral failing but a survival mechanism—and how understanding this can change everything.
The key to healing trauma: How to reset high-definition memories that keep your nervous system in a constant state of fight or flight.
How to break free from “the addiction cycle” and stop the biochemical loop of cravings, rituals, and despair.
Why identity matters in recovery—and how reframing who you are can make all the difference.
The importance of creating safety and connection: What every addict needs to heal but rarely gets...
How cutting-edge treatments like TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and trauma resolution therapies are reshaping recovery.

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Show Notes

Understanding Addiction

Addiction is not about morals or character flaws but a response to unresolved pain and trauma.
Trauma creates pain, and addiction becomes a solution—a survival mechanism for managing the pain.
The subconscious mind drives addiction as it seeks immediate relief, seeing no consequences for its actions.

The Role of Trauma

Unresolved trauma keeps the brain in a fight-or-flight state, preventing it from optimal healing.
High-definition memories of trauma can perpetuate survival responses and emotional pain.
Healing begins when trauma memories are "re-coded" to reduce their emotional impact.

Solutions and Treatment Approaches

Dr. Don Wood’s Approach:

Focus on resolving traumatic memories through reprogramming the brain's responses.
Uses techniques to shift the brain into an optimal state for healing.

Tim Westbrook’s Integrated Approach:

Combines transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), ketamine-assisted therapy, and wellness practices like meditation and cold plunges.
Emphasizes the importance of changing environment, habits, and identity to support recovery.

12-Step Programs:

Provide a community, a framework for personal growth, and opportunities for service work.

Insights on Addiction Recovery

Addiction recovery involves creating new habits and reprogramming the brain’s survival mechanisms.
Address both explicit traumatic memories and the subconscious coding that perpetuates addiction.
Incorporate practices like prayer, meditation, gratitude exercises, and surrounding oneself with supportive relationships.

The Connection Between Brain and Behavior

Advances in neuroscience highlight how trauma affects inflammation, immune responses, and mental health.
Treatments like TMS and ketamine can help reprogram the brain to break free from the cycle of addiction.

Practical Tips for Those Affected by Addiction

Seek a safe, supportive environment to begin healing.
Address trauma as a root cause of addiction through therapy or specialized programs.
Explore new and emerging treatments for brain health and recovery.