This is the first episode of six "Understanding Addiction". Chris is a recovering addict who is in remission of the disease of addiction and now an addiction counselor. He has been in remission for multiple years and through his own experience during active addiction and recovery,  he has recorded his perception and understanding of the disease of addiction that was never explained to him. Chris hopes that giving his own story, will give this important information to those caught in addiction, the families of addicts, and those who are yet to active their addiction disease.

An insight into the life of recovering addicts. What is an addictive personality? What is addiction? “The sleeping tiger within us” . Do we all have some sort of addictive personality? Amy, a recovering addict, shares her story of being in recovery with her husband who is still an active addict.

What is “the hole in your soul”? What is the insanity of active addiction? Is the disease of addiction just drugs and alcohol? What is a High Power, can it be anything?

“Addiction Behaviour” or life and living in the grip of the Tiger. How addict's behavior changes to feed their addiction. Why addicts cannot just have or do one. “One is too many and a thousand never enough”. Where to start the road to recovery, and how to begin. Two stories of experience, strength, and hope.

Rock Bottom is a concept that means something different to each and every addict. Generally, rock bottom refers to a time or an event in life that causes an addict to reach the lowest possible point in the disease. It is a time when the person feels like things cannot get worse for them. Their life has been damaged so badly that it seems like there is nothing good left to destroy. This is my personal story of my rock bottom.

“Hunger for Healing”. When reaching Rock Bottom and you have had enough, where to from here? In this episode, Chris talks about the decision that needs to be made. The choices are: to end up in jail, an institution, death, or life. If you chose a life free from active addiction, Chris will show the road map to start your recovery from Addiction. “If you want what we have, and are prepared to make the effort to get it, then you are well on your way to get it”. Taken from the preamble of Addicts Anonymous fellowship. Just listen for the similarities and not the differences.

Step 5 - 'We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs." The Fifth Step is the key to freedom.  "The initial examination of ourselves usually reveals some behavior patterns that we don't particularly like. However, facing these patterns and bringing them out in the open makes it possible for us to deal with them constructively. We cannot make these changes alone. We will need the help of God, as we understand Him and the addiction recovery 12 step fellowship of our choice."    (Big Book - Step Five.)

Step Four - “We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves”

"Step Three" - The 12 step program of recovery from addiction - Episode 4 Step Three -  "We hand our will and our lives over to the care of God of our understanding." The last of the giving up steps, we are giving up our control, our will, and our lives over to God who we have come to believe in. That is my journey, experience, and understanding of my Higher power Jesus Christ, and that by handing my will and my life to Him was a life-changing moment in my life, not just from my disease but to the life I have now. If I can do it, you can. You have so much more to gain epically when I had nothing to lose. In this episode my guest is Nadine. Nadine had been caught in the grip of addiction, the journey to feed her addiction was food. Her story is about her addiction and how it destroyed her life until she hit her rock bottom and today her life is free and now living a life guided by her Higher Power of her understanding. Please look at the similarities, not the differences, partially the addiction behavior.

Step Two of the 12 Steps of recovery from the disease of addiction. "We came to believe in a Power greater than ourselves that could restore us to sanity."  In this episode, we go over the meaning of what step two is all about. We are or have been in the grip of an addiction that has taken over our lives and we are out of control. Step two introduces a Power greater than ourselves, which for some comes easily, however for a lot of us it is a concept that is beyond anything we feel could possibly help. This was me, and I hope by listening to this episode you will see you are not alone.  The power my addiction had over me was greater than me, I had to first admit that this was true and that I needed a Power greater than myself to get out from this deep dark hole I was in. I finally did accept a Power greater than myself and my recovery then began, without it I could have never gone into remission of this disease and still be in remission today 37 years later. From one addict to another, I suggest this is an episode that will change your life if you are willing to let go of the past and begin an amazing journey to freedom from active addiction.