Dr. Jacques de Broekert
Dr. Jacques de Broekert
When You Feel Like Giving Up
When You Feel Like Giving Up
When You Feel Like Giving Up
Friday 14th November 2025
Dr. Jacques explores why people want to quit recovery and offers practical advice for staying on track.
26 minutes
Honest
Raw
Supportive
Encouraging
Eye-opening
About this podcast
Author:
Dr. Jacques de Broekert
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Family Recovery from Addiction
Recovery from Trauma
Creative Recovery Journeys
Links:
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Episodes:
142 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Feeling Like Giving Up? Dr. Jacques Offers a Lifeline
Episode Overview
- Identify three forms of giving up: accidental, experimental, and full surrender.
- Understand how emotional fatigue can signal deeper issues like post-acute withdrawal syndrome.
- Use lifelines such as sponsors or trusted friends to combat feelings of isolation.
- Setting boundaries is crucial for providing healthy support without enabling harmful behaviours.
- Recognise that wanting relief is not failure; it's part of the recovery process.
"Honesty is the oxygen in recovery. Without it, you're going to suffocate."
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? Dr. Jacques de Broekert, your addiction lifeguard, dives into the emotional and practical challenges faced by those in recovery, especially when they feel like throwing in the towel. In 'When You Feel Like Giving Up,' Dr. Jacques breaks down the sneaky ways addiction tries to lure you back, from accidental slip-ups to full-blown surrender.
He shares how internal dialogues like 'I'm tired' or 'I can't do this anymore' can signal deeper issues like post-acute withdrawal syndrome or emotional fatigue. The episode is a candid exploration of why people might want to quit their recovery journey and the mental gymnastics that occur when relapse seems like a relief. Dr. Jacques discusses three types of giving up: accidental, experimental, and full surrender, each with its own pitfalls and emotional traps.
He highlights how stress, isolation, and family conflicts can make recovery seem impossible but offers practical advice to combat these feelings. From being honest with yourself to using your lifelines—like sponsors or trusted friends—Dr. Jacques encourages listeners to step back from overwhelming emotions and observe them like a scientist. For those supporting loved ones in recovery, Dr. Jacques emphasises the importance of bearing witness without enabling harmful behaviours.
Setting boundaries and releasing responsibility are key to providing healthy support without falling into the trap of financial rescue or emotional guilt. This episode is a raw and honest look at the complexities of recovery and offers actionable steps for anyone feeling on the brink of giving up. So, if you're wondering how to keep moving forward when the road seems endless, this episode might just be the lifeline you need.
Remember, if you're thinking about giving up, it means you're still fighting. What future are you forfeiting by quitting now?