45: An American Academy of Pediatrics Trainer Talks About Her Passion and General Underpinnings of Every Successful Strategy with Addiction in the Family45: An American Academy of Pediatrics Trainer Talks About Her Passion and General Underpinnings of Every Successful Strategy with Addiction in the Family
Families Navigating Addiction & Recovery
“But I would say a lot of intuitive knowing; a lot of deep knowing has sort of been lost. And so it's helpful to remember and to plug back into how we came into being and what is really embedded in our sequence. Because from there are the tools for...
52:44•12 Jun 2019
Karen Strange: How Birth Experiences Shape Addiction in Families
“Whatever the mother feels, the baby feels, and not only feels, but is building a body to support that environment once the baby comes out, because the time in Utero is always about preparing for life on the outside.”
Ever wondered how the earliest moments of life could influence addiction? In this episode of 'Families Navigating Addiction & Recovery', Karen Strange, a Certified Professional Midwife and instructor at the American Academy of Pediatrics, dives into this fascinating connection. Karen's insights reveal how a mother's emotional state during pregnancy can shape her child's future, including their susceptibility to addiction. Karen explains that whatever emotions a mother experiences, her baby feels too.
This emotional mirroring can set the stage for the child's development, influencing their ability to handle stress and form healthy relationships. She highlights the importance of co-regulation within families, where members help each other maintain emotional balance. The role of midwives in addiction and recovery is another key topic Karen discusses. She believes midwives can offer crucial support to expectant mothers, helping them create a calm and safe environment that benefits both mother and baby.
Karen also emphasizes the significance of the first three years of life, a period when foundational emotional and psychological patterns are established. Mindfulness and self-regulation come up as essential tools in this journey. Karen advocates for creating a 'container' of safety and calmness, where individuals can process their emotions healthily. She also touches on the role of the endorphin system in addiction, underscoring how our body's natural 'feel-good' chemicals play into the cycle of addiction and recovery.
This episode offers a unique perspective on addiction by tracing its roots back to our earliest experiences. It's a must-listen for anyone looking to understand the deeper factors that contribute to addiction within families.
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