The Freedom Model
The Freedom Model
Pleasure, Habits, and the Illusion of Addiction
Pleasure, Habits, and the Illusion of Addiction
Pleasure, Habits, and the Illusion of Addiction
Friday 29th August 2025
Mark & Michelle explore addiction myths and self-directed recovery, challenging conventional beliefs about habits and pleasure.
36 minutes
Eye-opening
Informative
Inspiring
Encouraging
Honest
About this podcast
Author:
The Freedom Model
Overview:
Categories:
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Sobriety Toolkit
Family Recovery from Addiction
Sexual Empowerment & Identity
Body & Mind
Links:
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Episodes:
278 (View all)
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Episode Overview
- Addiction is not a disease; it's a temporary problem.
- 12-step programs are based on myths and are not effective.
- Awareness helps build or break habits on personal terms.
- Identify benefits of addictive behaviours to challenge them.
- Substances are props; meaning is attached by individuals.
"What do I lose by quitting? It's ingenious because it immediately identifies a benefit."
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? In the podcast episode "Pleasure, Habits, and the Illusion of Addiction," hosts Mark Sheeran and Michelle Dunbar challenge conventional wisdom on addiction recovery. They explore the controversial idea that addiction is not a disease, and how habits perceived as joyful can become entangled with the illusion of addiction. Through their engaging dialogue, Mark and Michelle argue that awareness allows individuals to build or break habits on their own terms.
They dismantle myths surrounding 12-step programs and treatment centres, advocating for a self-directed approach to overcoming addiction. Listeners will be intrigued by their unique perspective on addiction, which emphasises personal choice and the power of self-awareness. Michelle shares a clever technique used in her coaching sessions, encouraging people to ask themselves, "What do I lose by quitting?" This simple question helps identify the benefits people attach to their addictive behaviours, enabling them to challenge these perceptions.
The hosts liken substances to props in a theatrical play, suggesting that it's our own interpretations and beliefs that give them power over us. This eye-opening discussion aims to shift the narrative around addiction from one of helplessness to empowerment, offering a refreshing take on personal responsibility. As you listen, you'll be prompted to consider how these insights could apply to your own life or those around you.
Could it be time to re-evaluate the way you perceive addiction and recovery?