Eric Garland - Working with Addiction & Pain

In this episode, Wendy speaks with clinical researcher and psychotherapist Eric Garland. Eric has spent his career developing effective ways to use mindfulness and other contemplative approaches for problems like addiction and chronic pain. Their conversation covers many topics, including: how early mystical experiences led him to a contemplative path; the power of meditation to heal and restore well-being; self-transcendence and non-dual states of consciousness; the features of his intervention, Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), and its application for addiction and chronic pain; how reappraisal can help in difficult situations; the role of savoring and reconnecting with natural rewards; deconstructing pain; a large clinical trial showing how effective MORE is, and how it might work; and the biggest lesson he's learned from his work so far. Full show notes and resources

Om Podcasten

What is a mind? What are the mental patterns that shape our experience—how are those patterns created, maintained, and changed? How can contemplative practices like meditation help us work with our minds? And what are the potential benefits these practices for individuals and society? This inquiry can happen through many lenses. Conversations on this show integrate contemplative approaches with perspectives from psychology, philosophy, neuroscience, anthropology, religion, social science, art, activism, and lived experience. On Mind & Life, we investigate these complex questions with leading researchers, thinkers, and on-the-ground practitioners, moving us toward a deeper understanding of ourselves and our world. Hosted by Mind & Life Institute Science Director, Wendy Hasenkamp.