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. Key Topics Covered: Mark’s Journey: Mark talks about his life from ages 17 to 37, when prison was a second home due to his addiction to various substances and a lifestyle of crime, primarily burglary. Life Behind Bars: Mark describes how he navigated prison life, finding some comfort in a familiar environment, but also the monotony and the endless cycle of getting locked up, released, and re-offending. Breaking the Cycle: Mark shares the moment that changed everything—his introduction to drug court, which focuses on treatment for offenders. He discusses how getting clean ended his need to steal and allowed him to rebuild his life, becoming a father and a role model. Transition to Counselling: Mark discusses his journey from inmate to counsellor, his motivation to help others, and how his personal story shapes his work with incarcerated addicts today. Giving Hope: Mark explains his approach to counselling, which centres on giving hope to those who are still struggling. He shares some of the techniques and strategies he uses to connect with clients and inspire them to change. Challenges and Reflections: Mark reflects on the challenges he faces as a counsellor, the misconceptions about addiction and crime, and how he deals with setbacks both personally and professionally. Community and Cultural Influence: Mark speaks about the importance of being a role model in his community and how his Samoan/Cook Island heritage informs his work and helps him connect with clients on a deeper level. Future Hopes: Mark talks about his hopes for the future, both for himself and the people he works with, and shares advice for those currently in the position he once was or those considering a career in addictions counselling. Connect with Us: Follow us on social media for updates and more inspiring stories. Subscribe to the podcast to never miss an episode! Check out our website to find out more about Break the Chain and to check out all of our content Breakthecain.net Call to Action: If Mark’s story resonated with you, please share this episode with someone who might need to hear it. Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. Your feedback helps us bring you more stories that matter.

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. For anyone who doesn’t know, Ketamine is a medical drug that has been used since the 70’s. It is safe in small doses and is effective in assisting the treatment of some mental health conditions. Ketamine is also popular as an illicit drug in the UK, Europe, North America, and many countries in Asia and is growing in popularity in Australia and New Zealand. As stated in the documentary, Government figures have shown that Ketamine addiction has more than quadrupled since 2016 in England and Wales. What may not yet be common knowledge is that the drug has serious health consequences. Rachel gives of background about herself and how she ended up involved in the documentary. She tells us what inspired her to specifically make a documentary about ketamine addiction. She shares insights from her experience and how this has changed her views of the drug. She discusses insights from people she spoke to with lived experience as well as experts. She tells us the ways that she hopes the documentary will contribute to public understanding and awareness. Including specific policy or societal changes, she hopes the documentary will inspire regarding drug education, treatment accessibility, or harm reduction efforts. The links that we mentioned in this episode were: https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Ketamineaddiction/ Learn more about us at breakthechain.net

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, Two years ago, on the very day of this year's London Marathon, Joe found himself hospitalized for the first time amidst a series of visits, gripped by the debilitating symptoms of MS. Struggling to walk or see, and plagued by relentless bouts of vomiting upon attempting to open his eyes, Joe's condition left medical professionals perplexed. After a harrowing ordeal, he was finally diagnosed with a severe form of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Joe suffered two relapses but Joe made his wellbeing and lifestyle balance a priority. He made a recovery and decided to run the London Marathon with a 360-degree camera strapped to him to raise money for two fantastic charities, The MS Society and Mind. All links to follow Joe, donate, and show him your support on social media can be found via the link below. linktr.ee/readysteady_joe

In this episode, I speak to a truly inspiring woman, Stephanie Crean. We do not speak much about the devastating events that shaped her life due to their heinous nature and the effects that they have left on her family and community. When Stephanie was just 2 years old, 4 men were ordered to murder her father. The first time they arrived at their house her was holding Stephanie in his arms, she was just 2 years old at the time. They were ordered to return and kill her even if he was holding his 2-year-old daughter. When he returned to the door he was not holding Stephanie and was tragically murdered. By the estimations of many these acts were unforgivable, however, after seeing the suffering that the events of the past were bringing to family and community she realised, on a deep level, that she had to make a change. In the morning, in the early hours, she wrote a letter addressed to the 4 men who had killed her father (Chris Crean). In that letter, Stephanie expresses complete and compassionate forgiveness for these men – “so that you may have peace and I too. So that our families may have peace, and so that the community may have peace also. So that the nation may have peace, because that is what is right.” There was a recent movie made about the killing of her father titled “Resolve”. Her letter is deeply moving and has affected the lives of many people. I highly recommend reading it. You can read the letter on her blog, My Life's Journey, by clicking the link below: https://www.facebook.com/mylifejourneyblog/posts/1967749856837704 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    :)