This episode of How to Be an Adult, the first of two parts, features a very special guest: Marc Lewis, Ph.D., psychologist, academic and bestselling author of Memoirs of an Addicted Brain and The Biology of Desire. Marc joins Luke in our studio to discuss how popular models of addiction are flawed, and how we can better serve those who are suffering:

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• The medical model of addiction as a disease disempowers those it’s supposed to help, by taking away their sense of agency and responsibility.
  
• Addiction is better understood as a psychological habit, a cognitive and emotional pattern, rather than a brain disease or pathology.
  
• The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, but connection—the lack of meaningful social bonds and relationships is a key factor in addiction.
  
• Practices like mindfulness, self-reflection, and cultivating self-love and compassion can be more effective in overcoming addiction than the disease model and 12-step programs.
  
• The disease model of addiction became popular as a way to remove stigma and blame from addicts, but it has had the unintended consequence of also removing their sense of agency.
  
• Addiction is deeply intertwined with our broader psychological and social lives, so it cannot be neatly categorized or treated as a distinct medical condition.
  
• The medical model of addiction is perpetuated in part because it is more easily institutionalized (and monetized) compared to approaches focused on personal agency and social connection.
  
• Engaging with the different “parts” of the self, including the addictive urges, with compassion and an understanding of their positive intentions can be a helpful approach (Internal Family Systems therapy).
  
• Addiction often stems from trauma and has an undercurrent of shame, so it’s important to address those root causes.
  

To learn more about Marc’s work, visit his website. Luke’s conversation with Marc continues in part 2 of this interview, which will be released in two weeks.

Table of Contents:

00:00 – Intro

02:42 – The dominant model of addiction

06:13 – Perception of addicts as lacking agency and the benefits of self-empowerment

09:35 – Practices for and approaches to treating addiction

23:41 – Marc’s experience with challenging the disease model

27:16 – Self-love’s role within addiction

35:56 – Internal Family Systems Therapy

42:01 – Outro

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The post About Addiction, with Marc Lewis (Ep. 16, pt. 1 of 2) appeared first on The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis.