Ep 31: Internal Wisdom with Matt SametEp 31: Internal Wisdom with Matt Samet
Nature Untold
Matt Samet shares his journey from climbing peaks to battling benzodiazepine addiction and finding recovery through nature.
56:17•2 Aug 2022
Matt Samet's Climb: Addiction, Recovery, and Nature's Healing Touch
“There s something about just being outside with friends. I mean a lot of people can get off benzos and psych meds and within you know, Weeks or even Months feel relatively normal again, I think.”
What happens when a passion for climbing intersects with the struggle of addiction? In this episode of 'Nature Untold', host John Holdmeier chats with Matt Samet, a seasoned climber with 35 years of experience and a gripping personal story. Matt, who once edited Climbing Magazine and authored 'Death Grip: A Climber’s Escape from Benzo Madness', opens up about his journey from Albuquerque to the climbing peaks of Boulder, Colorado.
He dives into how the sport's culture nudged him towards an obsession with lightness and eventually led him down a path of benzodiazepine addiction. Matt's story is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the healing power of nature. He shares candid reflections on building a tolerance to Benzos, the grueling process of tapering off with psychiatric help, and how patient advocacy has transformed his experience with psych meds.
But it's not all about struggle; Matt also highlights the importance of climbing with empathetic partners and how reading about psych meds provided clarity in his recovery. This episode isn't just for climbers or those battling addiction—it's for anyone seeking hope and understanding in their journey. Tune in to hear Matt's inspiring tale and discover how the natural world can be a catalyst for profound personal change.
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.