Recovery: from reading a book to studying addiction

All I knew about Russell Brand back then is that he is a celebrity who is handsome and looks like Jesus, which doesn’t require any research, a photo will do. Not until I was watching Eckhart Tolle teachings, I found a video of him on Russel's podcast as curious as always I thought why is Eckhart, a spiritual teacher, on Russell’s podcast? so I watched the video and I was in shock not by all types of addictions he had before but by how openly he spoke about it his addiction and recovery, my first impression was such a transformation! So I started watching his YouTube Channel and follow his Instagram page.

Underestimating his experience, I thought his book, Recovery, will be an interesting pleasant book about recovery to read just to find out that I was hell wrong. I could read a maximum of 30 pages at a time. The first lesson I learned is: Recovery (including reading about it) is not easy, it is difficult to put it straight.

Although I did laugh occasionally when he was being sarcastic and for some reason which I didn’t know at that time, it was a difficult book to read, I felt distressed reading about someone going through all of this while he looked like having it all, I still feel the distress recalling reading it. Remembering people I know struggling every time I turned a page, not necessarily with addiction but with the reasons that push people at some point to start using or make other choices to self medicate to feel at ease while they look just "fine".. I could see myself, my friends, family members, colleagues experiencing different thoughts, emotions and/or events leading to making choices unaware of the why, why we are feeling and behaving this way and how this might end up for some.

I was amazed how vulnerable the recovered Russell sounded in this book while we, who didn't go on the addiction and recovery journey look strong, happy and healthy, we are not.

I believe this is where his recovery lies exactly - in him being ready to be vulnerable and exposed - and why those of us who might not be addicts to a substance or behavior still have the dis-ease.

It’s amazing how vulnerability becomes a strength while resistant and “holding it together” is a weakness. Just now everything Berne Brown says in Rising Strong makes more sense!

I eventually finished reading the book - taking breaks to read other books in between - but was left with many questions.

Thanks to the AI tracking my activities on the Internet, I came across an online course about the psychology of addiction and recovery by Stanford Medicine and I enrolled in 2 minutes looking for answers!

With all the important topics I learned and the answers I got on the why and on how I can help, I finished the book and the course happy knowing one thing: I am no longer a part of any social stigma that judges someone for the self medication choice they make or holds someone suffering back from seeking help, being themselves and showing their vulnerability (Including those who bothered me before by buying stuff they can't afford like that branded and extremely expensive bag, some of those people are self-medicating too)

The way the course linked science and compassion to achieve recovery was the highlight of the topic to me.

Thank you Russell Brand for shedding a light and helping me taking one more step towards being a more compassionate human.

Curiosity takes me places...

You can check the course here: Stanford Psychology of Addiction and Recovery

- t