Episode 209: Is Addiction a Disease?

with Michelle Dunbar

In a time when a lot of us are dealing with strong, difficult emotions, it can be easy to slip into bad patterns to try and cope and these patterns can spiral to harmful levels and addiction. On top of that, some of the most popular addiction treatments often end up reinforcing the idea that someone’s identity is “addict” which only serves to feed the pattern.

Michelle Dunbar has a different way of looking at addiction. Through the framework she helped to develop, Michelle and her team empower people struggling with addiction to change the trajectory of their lives rather than giving the power to substances and bad habits.

On Today’s Episode of A Healthy Curiosity:

  • What addiction means in the context of Michelle’s work
  • How her own experiences and those of other family members led her toward the framework she developed
  • The three distinct components of The Freedom Model
  • Why she says the opposite of addiction is diversification
  • What has surprised her along her career of helping people with addiction

Michelle Dunbar is the co-author of The Freedom Model for Addictions: Escape the Treatment and Recovery Trap and The Freedom Model for the Family. She is also Executive Director of Baldwin Research Institute, Inc., and The Saint Jude Retreats, not-for-profit research organizations with the mission to change the way people with substance use problems are helped worldwide. Michelle has been helping  people move beyond addiction for over 30 years.

Links:

Get A Free Sample of The Non-12 Step Addiction Ebook

Get The Freedom Model Books for free by using code “freedom100” through the end of 2020

Connect With Michelle Dunbar:

Saint Jude Retreats

The Freedom Model

Ebooks

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

Find out how to enroll in the Level Up course (on sale through the end of 2020!)

Work with Brodie 1-on-1

  • Get Our Self-Care Manifesto

    You have the right to take care of yourself, even before all the work is done and everyone else’s needs are met. When you take care of yourself first, everyone around you will benefit and will let you get more done in less time. If you need a reminder, click here get your free Right to Take Care of Yourself Manifesto. Print it out and hang it on your wall or fridge to remind you that taking care of yourself is not selfish; it’s essential.

  • Satisfy Your Healthy Curiosity

    Like what you heard? Subscribe for free and new episodes will find you every week, and don’t forget to share this episode with your people on social media.