Duane Osterlind, LMFT
Duane Osterlind, LMFT
195: Treating Addiction Through Healing Abandonment Wounds with Susan Anderson
195: Treating Addiction Through Healing Abandonment Wounds with Susan Anderson
195: Treating Addiction Through Healing Abandonment Wounds with Susan Anderson
Monday 22nd August 2022
Explore how unhealed abandonment wounds can lead to addiction and self-sabotage with Susan Anderson's insights on recovery.
44 minutes
hopeful
challenging
informative
empathetic
motivational
About this podcast
Author:
Duane Osterlind, LMFT
Overview:
Categories:
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Sobriety Toolkit
Recovery from Trauma
Family Recovery from Addiction
Navigating Intimate Relationships
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Episodes:
486 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Healing Abandonment Wounds: Susan Anderson's Insights
Episode Overview
- Abandonment issues can lead to addiction.
- Healing requires addressing primal wounds.
- Emotional memories impact behavior.
- Recovery involves step-by-step progress.
- Hope and resources are available for healing.
There's hope. It feels so overwhelming and impossible trying to get rid of shame and trauma and heartache, but it isn't. There actually is hope.
In a compelling episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, host Duane Osterlind engages with Susan Anderson, the founder of Abandonment Recovery, to explore the deep-rooted connection between abandonment issues and addiction. Anderson, a specialist in separation anxiety and abandonment, shares her journey and the insights she has gained over two decades of helping individuals navigate the turbulent waters of heartbreak, loss, and self-sabotage. Abandonment, according to Anderson, is a universal experience, affecting everyone at some point in their lives.
It often triggers separation anxiety, a primal wound stored in the emotional memory of the brain's amygdala. This wound, when left unhealed, can manifest in behaviors aimed at instant gratification, such as substance abuse or compulsive activities. Anderson stresses that understanding abandonment is not enough to heal these wounds. Recovery requires active engagement in a structured program that addresses both emotional and behavioral aspects.
The abandonment recovery process involves recognizing how early life experiences shape current emotional responses and taking deliberate steps to overcome self-sabotage. One of the fascinating insights Anderson shares is the neurological response of the brain's receptor sites for separation anxiety to substances like heroin, highlighting the biochemical aspect of emotional pain and addiction. She also discusses how ongoing feelings of abandonment can lead to complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), requiring extended healing efforts. Despite the challenges, Anderson offers hope.
She emphasizes the availability of resources, including workshops, books, and online programs, that facilitate healing and recovery. Her website, Abandonment.net, provides access to these tools, encouraging individuals to take charge of their healing journey. The episode concludes with Anderson urging listeners to reach out for support, assuring them that change is possible and that there is something transformative on the other side of their efforts.
Duane Osterlind echoes this sentiment, encouraging his audience to engage with the podcast community for ongoing support. This episode is a testament to the power of understanding and addressing abandonment issues as a pathway to overcoming addiction and achieving emotional well-being.