S2-E9 | What if belonging is the medicine your addiction is searching for?

Highlight

"Your path to healing might start with a concerned friend, then maybe a doctor or a family member - each one gently suggesting something isn't right. It could be a coworker, a friend, or even a stranger at a bar. But it's that eleventh person - saying exactly what the other ten said before - 'I think you need help.' And suddenly, the penny drops. It's never about what they say - it's about being ready to hear it. Those first ten people? They planted the seeds that finally bloomed when that eleventh person appears. That's when the real journey begins."

Summary

Ever wondered why traditional counselling often misses the point? Nick Shepley knows this firsthand. From his first drink at 14 through fifteen years of searching for answers, his story illuminates a silent struggle.
This conversation removes the clinical facade of addiction and explores what lies beneath our coping mechanisms. Nick reveals why our adaptations made sense and how this understanding transforms recovery. His journey from survival to awakening shows what becomes possible when shame is replaced with genuine understanding.
Through honesty and experience, Nick highlights that true healing occurs when someone finally hears us. This isn't just another recovery tale—it's a powerful insight into how understanding can lead to freedom.

About Nick
You can find Nick here -
Website - https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/counselling/nick-shepley-cardiff-wls/1361336
Twitter - https://x.com/NickShepley
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nick.shepley.31

keywords

#addiction #recovery, #mentalhealth # counselling #self-worth #copingstrategies #alcohol #drugs

Takeaways

• Addiction often stems from childhood experiences and societal pressures.
• Finding a sense of belonging and acceptance is crucial for recovery.
• Support groups and community play a vital role in overcoming addiction.
• The journey to recovery is often non-linear and requires patience.
• Empathy and understanding can help individuals confront their issues.
• Change is possible when individuals recognise their problems.
• Therapy should feel collaborative and supportive, not confrontational.
• It's essential to see the person behind the addiction, not just the behaviour.

Sound Bites

• "When I work with people, I always ask the question, what makes sense about this situation?"
• "Recovery isn't about finding the right person. It's about being ready to hear the message."
• "Nobody graduates from childhood into adulthood with all the love their parents could give for them."
• "Sometimes you need ten people to plant the seeds before the eleventh can help them seek help and dare to change."
• "For some people, it's a horror story. For everybody else, there is something, some kind of minor crisis."
• "Part of the journey through life is taking that responsibility to address that lack and fill the hole myself."
• "If you break down the walls between addiction and other mental health phenomena, this story kind of makes sense."
• "The mind will try to solve the problem of trying to make things bearable."