12th Step Podcast
12th Step Podcast
Lost Recording: Black & White Thinking: The Trap of All-or-Nothing in Recovery
Lost Recording: Black & White Thinking: The Trap of All-or-Nothing in Recovery
Lost Recording: Black & White Thinking: The Trap of All-or-Nothing in Recovery
Friday 4th July 2025
Explore black-and-white thinking traps in recovery with Gary, Mike, and Daniel as they share personal stories and strategies for growth.
Explicit
30 minutes
Informative
Encouraging
Supportive
Hopeful
Honest
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12th Step Podcast
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Sobriety Toolkit
Sexual Health in Recovery
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Financial Health in Recovery
Body & Mind
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Get the buttons here!Breaking Free from Black-and-White Thinking in Recovery
Episode Overview
- Black-and-white thinking can trap you in cycles of shame and guilt.
- Recognising small victories helps combat negative self-talk.
- Recovery is about living a better life, not just abstaining from behaviours.
- Use tools like gratitude journals to shift emotional states.
- Consider more than clean time as a measure of progress.
"I'm either really good because I'm working on my recovery or I'm just the world's worst human there possibly is"
In this episode of The 12th Step Podcast, Gary, Mike, and Daniel tackle the often tricky subject of black-and-white thinking in recovery. Inspired by a listener's email, the trio shares their experiences with the all-or-nothing mindset that can lead to cycles of shame and guilt. They discuss how this mentality – where you're either doing great or feel like a failure – can impact your recovery journey.
Through personal anecdotes and practical strategies, they encourage embracing the messy middle of growth, highlighting the importance of recognising progress beyond clean time. Gary shares how reframing his day helped him see productivity where he initially saw defeat, illustrating how shifting perspectives can alter emotional states. Mike and Daniel add their own tales, discussing how recognising small victories can combat negative self-talk.
The hosts delve into the concept of measuring success in recovery, urging listeners to consider more than just clean time as a marker of progress. The episode is a reminder that recovery isn't just about abstaining from addictive behaviours; it's about living a better life and handling challenges in healthier ways. Whether it's through gratitude journals or examining thinking errors, the hosts provide practical tools for combating black-and-white thinking.
So, if you've ever felt stuck in the extremes of good or bad, this episode might just offer the perspective shift you need. Are you ready to embrace the grey areas in your recovery journey?