292: Personalized Recovery Paths for Atheists with Jeffrey Munn

What happens when the traditional 12-step recovery program doesn’t quite fit your belief system? Licensed marriage and family therapist Jeffrey Munn joins Duane to share his deeply personal journey through addiction and recovery, which led him to author "Staying Sober Without God: The Practical 12 Steps to Long-Term Recovery from Alcoholism and Addiction." Jeffrey opens up about his battles with isolation and internal turmoil and highlights the crucial support from his parents that helped him navigate this challenging path. His story underscores the necessity of individualized recovery approaches and shines a light on the often-overlooked needs of atheists and agnostics in recovery. Jeffrey discusses the integration of traditional 12-step programs with personalized mental health approaches, emphasizing the importance of addressing trauma, unresolved grief, and boundary-setting. He candidly recounts his own experience with the pressure to adopt a belief in a higher power within 12-step meetings and how this led to a temporary setback. Through his narrative, you'll learn about the significance of merging the wisdom of 12-step programs with modern psychological insights to create a more rational and personalized recovery journey. They also delve into the specifics of how inpatient rehab focusing on mental health practices played a pivotal role in his recovery. The conversation takes a deeper turn as they examine the challenges and benefits of faith-based recovery for those who struggle with blind faith. Jeffrey provides a logical and practical perspective on the concept of "letting go and letting God," drawing parallels to principles in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).  In this episode, you will hear: Finding personal recovery path without God Psychology-based recovery approaches Personal recovery and finding meaning Exploring alternative higher powers in recovery Navigating integrity and personal belief systems Challenges with faith-based addiction recovery Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://www.practicallysane.org/ Staying Sober Without God: https://www.amazon.com/Staying-Sober-Without-God-Alcoholism-ebook/dp/B07MBVCS29  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Om Podcasten

"The Addicted Mind Podcast" offers hope, understanding, and guidance for those dealing with addiction, with real stories and research to inspire and show the journey to recovery is worth it. We're here to do more than just talk about addiction. We want to show you how to heal and recover. Our talks with experts and people who have beaten addiction give you important insights into how addiction affects the mind and how recovery can happen in many ways. Whether we're looking at new treatment ideas or sharing stories that inspire, "The Addicted Mind Podcast" is all about understanding the complex world of addiction recovery and showing that recovery is possible. If you or someone you care about is dealing with the challenges of addiction, let "The Addicted Mind Podcast" be your friend and guide. We aim to give you the knowledge you need, share stories that inspire you, and show you that the journey to recovery is worth it. Subscribe now to be part of a community focused on learning, healing, and changing for the better. Your journey to a healthier mind and life begins right here.