The journey of our lives can be pockmarked with disappointment and trauma, as well as contentment and joy. It is the nature of our existence. Learning to cope with trauma and unmet needs without the use of addictive behaviors and substances can be trying and cause anxiety and depression. Often, what we cling to first to ease our pain may be the very thing we need to recover from later. Ultimately, internal work is the key to physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual recovery. To bring to light natural and expansive methods of addiction and trauma recovery, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two former addicts who transformed their lives and healed themselves through natural practices. Johann Hari shares the research he unearthed about the underlying causes of anxiety and depression while writing his book, Lost Connections. And, Noah Levine recounts the trauma at the base of his addiction to substances and the mindfulness practice that led him to heal himself and others by way of his Refuge Recovery program.

About Lisa’s guests:

Johann Hari is the New York Times bestselling author of Chasing the Scream, which is being adapted into a feature film. He was twice named Newspaper Journalist of the Year by Amnesty International UK. He has written for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and others, and he is a regular panelist on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher. 

Book: Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression — And the Unexpected Solutions 

Noah Levine is the founder of the Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society, with two centers in Los Angeles and over twenty affiliated groups in North America and Europe. He is the author of the national bestseller Dharma Punx and Against the Stream. He leads meditation groups and workshops nationally as well as in juvenile halls and prisons. Levine holds a master's degree in counseling psychology and has studied with many well-known and respected teachers in both the Theravada and Mahayana traditions. Levine lives in Los Angeles.

Book: Refuge Recovery: A Buddhist Path to Recovering from Addiction