Loss And Living: A Life With Purpose
This week's podcast Coach Blu invites Desmond and Alison Lomax on the show. They discuss a very sensitive subject matter. They talk about suicide, grief, pain, love, and loss. They lost their son Mateen Lomax to suicide in November of 2019. We know you will feel the love that remains after listening to Alison, a certified fitness instructor and life coach, & Desmond, a licensed clinical mental health therapist and certified trauma-informed care specialist, as they talk about a heartbreaking situation that their family experienced and the understanding and healing that follows. When we experience a loss of a loved one, it can be difficult to find a way forward. The pain can be overwhelming and all-encompassing. Listen as Coach Blu and the Lomax's, explore dealing with loss when progress seems impossible. Do you know how they say, "Don't take life for granted?" To someone who has recently lost someone, it means more now. Listen to this powerful conversation on what exactly is "grief work" and discover it's more than the therapeutic modality your therapist uses. It's the human connection and the delicate balance of loss and living a life with a purpose and meaning after losing someone.
Check out Desi and Alison Lomax on their new podcast Loss and Living
You can also join their FB group called illuminaTEENunity dedicated to their son Mateen Lomax.
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Substance Use Disorder and Their Impact on Community
On this week's episode, Coach Blu was invited to sit on a panel at the University of Utah with Randall Carlisle from Odyssey House recovery, a former TV news acre, and Evan Done of USARA. This community recovery connection organization helps people find resources and training in recovery. Listen as they answer a student leadership board questions on how addiction recovery and addiction services are rendered in our community. It is incredible to see the differences and similarities and how addiction recovery is handled in Utah.
This panel discusses the following questions; What is a substance use disorder? What is the accessibility like for low-income folks to treatment? What might this look like for unsheltered individuals? How might mental health impact substance use? What does substance use look like on college campuses? How might stress exacerbate substance use disorders? What could these stressors look like? How do incarcerated people access treatment for substance use and what does that process look like? How have you seen how the stigma around substance use affects caregivers and those receiving treatment?
How can parents, educators, and leaders in our communities work towards addressing substance use disorders and supporting those affected by them?
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Public Defenders Perspective On Addiction
Listen as Coach Blu interviews a public defender and prosecutor on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. F. Wilson Myers, ESQ. is a Tribal Public Defender. He has worked for forty years as an attorney. He served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Alabama as a Public Defender. Wilson says, "No one chooses to be an addict. I am here to help them work through the consequences."
Stephen Mackenzie, ESQ. is a Harvard graduate. He has been a criminal Defense attorney for 15 years and a Public attorney for 15 yrs. He is now a tribal prosecutor. He has worked on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming and now the Uintah and Quray Reservation in Utah. Stephen believes addiction is a disease, not a crime.
Both these gentlemen work to focus on individual sentences that fit the defendant. They want to use rehabilitation to help defendants but understand that sometimes jail is a needed deterrent consequence. Their views on addiction are progressive and an excellent sign for Utah and further. These viewpoints will help us address addiction on a larger scale and work to decriminalize substance abuse which is essential to long-term changes and recovery.
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Expand Your Circle of Relationships
The relationships we form with others are vital to our mental and emotional well-being and survival. In this week's episode, Coach Blu talks about expanding our circle and building healthy relationships. It is through relationships that we will either excel at life or fail. It has been said that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with, so make sure to choose wisely.
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Exercising Recovery with Nicole Golden
Today Coach Blu speaks to Nicole Golden who is a NASM Master Trainer, CES, BCS, FNS and AFAA certified group fitness instructor and Master of Science in Applied Exercise Science/Sports Nutrition. Nicole shares the research and the importance of using exercise in your recovery. We all know exercise is a powerful depression fighter for several reasons. Most importantly, it promotes all kinds of changes in the brain, including neural growth, and new activity patterns that promote feelings of calm and well-being. It also releases endorphins, powerful chemicals in your brain that energize your spirits and make you feel good. Finally, exercise can also serve as a distraction, allowing you to find some quiet time to break out of the cycle of negative thoughts that feed depression and addiction.
Exercise can be a valuable medicine in the treatment of substance use disorders. Learn about the effectiveness of exercise as an adjunct therapy for drug/alcohol use disorders in this episode. Find out more about her business https://fwfwellness.com
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Disney On The Rocks
On today's podcast Coach Blu take a deep dive into his experience while attending a mental health and addiction conference in Orlando Florida. Following the conference, he was able to attend Walt Disney World Epcot theme park and was absolutely blown away by how much drinking of alcohol had become part of the Disney experience. After a 40-year absence of alcohol within the Disney theme park experience, 10 years ago wine and beer were introduced and now, September 2022, new park rules allow the spirits to openly flow. Listen as he discusses some of his thoughts and what he discovered from Walt Disney himself about why he would not allow the consumption of alcohol in his parks originally. Become informed about what you should be aware of before you book a family experience to a location like this and what you should know about potential triggers before you invest in Disney resorts for your next family vacation.
**Clarification on Disney lobbying to lower drinking age at Disney parks. We have found that to be misinformation-https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/disney-world-drinking-age/
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Signs of Childhood Trauma in Adults
In this week's podcast, Coach Blu and Marissa discuss childhood trauma and how it manifests in adults. Childhood trauma also results in feeling disconnected and unable to relate to others. Studies have shown that adults who experience childhood trauma were more likely to struggle with controlling emotions, and had heightened anxiety, depression, and anger. Listen as we share a Ted Talk from Nadine Burke Harris says childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up. Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris explains that the repeated stress of abuse, neglect, and parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain. Deep insight and excellent talking points on how to assess yourself using the ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) assessment.
ACE's Ted Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ovIJ3dsNk
NPR Article
ACE's Quiz
https://www.theannainstitute.org/Finding%20Your%20ACE%20Score.pdf
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Becoming Mentally Tough
In today's episode, Coach Blu dives into what is means to develop mental toughness. Most people define mental toughness as the ability to produce consistent results regardless of the situation. Mental toughness is a personality trait that determines your ability to perform consistently under stress and pressure and is closely related to qualities such as character, resilience, grit, and perseverance. There are many habits you can develop to improve your mental toughness. In fact, the hallmarks of mentally tough people are actually strategies that anyone can practice every day.
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Brain Chemistry, Your Mood, and Recovery
In this week's episode, Coach Blu and our Athletic Director Marissa deeply dive into the human brain and the hormones that can make addiction recovery challenging. The brain is the most complex organ in the body. This three-pound mass of gray and white matter sits at the center of all human activity—you need it for everything. The brain regulates your body's essential functions, enables you to interpret and respond to everything you experience, and shapes your behavior. In short, your brain is you—everything you think and feel and who you are. Listen as they talk about D.O.S.E., the four chemicals we as humans strive for.
D is for doapmine. Dopamine is a type of neurotransmitter. Your body makes it, and your nervous system uses it to send messages between nerve cells. That's why it's sometimes called a chemical messenger.
Dopamine plays a role in how we feel pleasure. It's a big part of our uniquely human ability to think and plan. It helps us strive, focus, and find things interesting.
O is for oxytocin. In the brain, oxytocin acts as a chemical messenger and has an important role in many human behaviors including sexual arousal, recognition, trust, romantic attachment and mother–infant bonding. As a result, oxytocin has been called the 'love hormone' or 'cuddle chemical'.
S is for serotonin. In the brain, serotonin helps with mood regulation and memory, but it also has important jobs in other parts of the body. In fact, most of the serotonin in your body is found in your gut, not your brain. The intestines produce almost all of the body's serotonin supply, and serotonin is required to promote healthy digestion. In other places in the body, serotonin helps with sleep, sexual function, bone health, and blood clotting.
E is for endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals produced by the body to relieve stress and pain. They work similarly to a class of drugs called opioids. Opioids relieve pain and can produce a feeling of euphoria. They are sometimes prescribed for short-term use after surgery or for pain-relief.
Blu and Marissa will share tips on how to increase these 4 vital chemicals in your daily life so that you can recover even more quickly from substance use disorders or mental health struggles.
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What's Emotional Intelligence?
In this week's episode, Coach Blu talks about the foundations of emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence (otherwise known as emotional quotient or EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict. Emotional intelligence helps you build stronger relationships, succeed at school and work, and achieve your career and personal goals. It can also help you to connect with your feelings, turn intention into action, and make informed decisions about what matters most to you. To develop a better foundation, give this a listen.
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Giving Sunshine: How To Heal From Grief
Today Coach Blu speaks to Jason Clawson, mental health therapist, about the process of healing from grief. Listen as Jason opens a window in his heart as he processes the passing of his wife 3 short years ago. Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional suffering felt when something or someone you love is taken away. Often, the pain of loss can feel overwhelming. You may experience all kinds of difficult and unexpected emotions, from shock or anger to disbelief, guilt, and profound sadness. The pain of grief can also disrupt your physical health, making it difficult to sleep, eat, or even think straight. These are normal reactions to loss—and the more significant the loss, the more intense your grief will be.
Jason found the process of healing through service and the launching of Giving Sunshine, an offering to families and loved ones who have lost a loved one. Jason has a big heart and you will feel the love he has as you listen.
For More Information:
https://www.givingsunshine.com/
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Recreational Cannabis Use?
In this week's episode Coach Blu takes a deep dive into recreational cannabis use. What do you think about medical marijuana? Is marijuana use dangerous?
Coach Blu discusses an interview conducted by David Letterman that touches on NBA's Kevin Durant's involvement with marijuana dispensaries and his personal use. Coach Blu touches on the harm reduction model. Harm reduction is an approach that emphasizes engaging directly with people who use drugs to prevent overdose and infectious disease transmission, improve the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of those served, and offer low-threshold options for accessing substance use disorder treatment and other health care services. Keep an open mind on both sides of this topic and see what your own thoughts will be. Help us create more podcasts by joining Addict II Athlete’s Patreon support page .
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Don't Give Up Too Soon with Dr. Paul Jenkins
If you have ever told yourself that it wasn't worth it, that your ship has sailed, that a old dog cannot learn new tricks, this podcast will help reshape your thinking to assist you in achieving any goal you have wanted to achieve. Listen as Dr. Paul Jenkins and Coach Blu discuss the intricacies of your mindset, the reality by which your thoughts govern your outcomes, and how to create a more excellent way by being aware of how much emotional authority you have. For more information: Live On Purpose Central is a comprehensive resource to help you transform your life into the one you've always dreamed of. With more than 1,000 hours of video and audio content from Dr. Paul's books, events, and studio-recorded courses, you'll have all the tools you need to live a happier and more fulfilling life.
These video and audio courses cover a vast array of topics and we are continually adding to our library and resources.
https://liveonpurposecentral.com
Dr. Paul is on YouTube!
Is Self Deprecation a Harmless Habit?
On this week's podcast Coach Blu takes a deep dive into the toxicity of Self Deprecation. It is a way many disparage or under value themselves. Self-deprecation is, in many ways, the cornerstone of negative humor. But many of us are guilty of taking self-deprecation too far – using it as a method of attention-seeking when feeling down or using it to mask low self-esteem which in turn brings you down even further.
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Sustainable Recovery with Tim Harrington
In this week's episode Coach Blu interviews Tim Harrington, a man who has taken his recovery and insight to the family system that desperately needs assistance now more than ever. Listen as Tim discusses his philosophy, approach, and unique language to assist families overcome addiction and develop stronger foundations. The words we choose within our recovery are important, we must be able to understand how strength comes from the words we choose to form the beliefs we will follow.
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Building Your Self Confidence
Coach Blu talks about Self-confidence. Self-confidence means; trusting in your own judgment, capacities, and abilities. It's about valuing yourself and feeling worthy, regardless of any imperfections or what others may believe about you. Self-efficacy and self-esteem are often used interchangeably with self-confidence. But they are subtly different.
Self-confidence is vital in almost every aspect of our lives, yet many people struggle to find it. Sadly, this can become a vicious cycle: people who lack self-confidence are less likely to achieve the success that could give them more confidence.
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How To Resolve Conflict
In this week's episode Therapist, Blu Robinson takes a very deep dive into conflict resolution.
Conflict resolution is a way for two or more parties to find a peaceful solution to a disagreement among them. The disagreement may be personal, financial, political, or emotional. When a dispute arises, often the best course of action is negotiation to resolve the disagreement. Conflict resolution through negotiation can be good for all parties involved. Often, each side will get more by participating in negotiations than they would by walking away, and it can be a way for your group to get resources that might otherwise be out of reach. Learn ways you can communicate better in all relationships in your life.
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Making A Better Approach with Dr. James Thompson
In this week's episode Coach Blu discusses a better approach, with a pioneer in the addictive medicine industry Dr. James Thompson. Dr. Thompson is the founder and chief medical officer of Master Center for Addiction Medicine in Virginia. Dr. Thompson serves as the president of Virginia ASAM and advises public and private sector organizations on the current addiction crisis.
After experiencing his own issues in regards to addiction Dr. Thompson felt a deep desire to take a different approach in his medical career. Due to his personal understanding of addictive tendencies, and the recovery process that seemed to be stuck in old traditions, he made some innovative changes to utilize the medical model to assist those struggling with substance abuse disorders. His compassion, understanding, and principle-based efforts have made huge differences in people that he has worked with and, have bridged the gap between the therapeutic and medical models. There are physicians and doctors out there that understand and as you listen to the discussion, the goal is for you to see that you're not alone in this recovery process. This is a podcast that should be shared with anyone who has struggled with, loves someone, or is battling their own addiction. Please share it with those who could benefit from it.
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Climbing The Mountains Of Recovery with Ryan Burke
On this week's podcast Coach Blu speaks with Ryan Burke a therapist, and adventure athlete about his approach to recovery, sobriety, and healing. Listen as they speak about the principles of moving for recovery. Our body and mind contribute far more to our lives than just emotional and physical attributes such as strength and endurance. When balanced our mind and body will play a major role in emotions, learning, and healing relationships. The body is intimately involved in all our thought processes, understanding, emotions, and decision-making. This is a podcast full of strong content to assist you in whatever may come your way.
Follow Ryan on Instagram and his website.
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The Reality Of Grieving
On this week's podcast Coach Blu discusses his feelings on dealing with the grief concerning the loss of a loved one. Grief is expressed in many ways. It can affect every part of your life; your emotions, thoughts, behavior, beliefs, physical health, sense of self, and your relationships. Grief can leave you feeling sad, angry, anxious, shocked, regretful, relieved, overwhelmed, isolated, irritable, or numb. Listen as the attributes of grief are discussed and suggestions for understanding the coping skills necessary to address.
If You Know Someone in Crisis
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency.
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