Carrie Wilkens talks about the stigma around substance abuse, potential alternatives to abstinence, and the role of #meditation in #addiction and #recovery. In this episode we talk about: • The stigma around #substanceabuse • Defining terms: addiction vs. substance use disorder and why it matters • How substance use disorder affects our brain • How to diagnose a substance abuse disorder • Whether there is an alternative to abstinence • How we all need to be thoughtful about the relationship we want with substances • How and why a substantial percentage of people naturally recover without going to treatment •  The strategies to use if you have someone in your life who you think is on a destructive path •  What positive communication is and how to practice it • How we live in a quick fix society and recovery from substance abuse disorder is a slow process • What actually makes people change • The role of meditation in recovery—for the patient and the family • And the importance of taking care of yourself so you can take care of others Carrie Wilkens, PhD, is the Co-founder, Co-president and CEO of the Center for Motivational Change: Foundation for Change, a nonprofit organization with the mission of improving the dissemination of evidence-based ideas and strategies to professionals and loved ones of persons struggling with substance use through the Invitation to Change approach. She is co-author of the book, The Beyond Addiction Workbook for Family and Friends: Evidence-Based Skills to Help a Loved One Make Positive Change and Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change. Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/carrie-wilkens Learn more about Ten Percent Happier podcast at http://www.tenpercent.com/podcast. Check out guided meditations alongside practical teachings in the Ten Percent Happier app. Click here [https://10percenthappier.app.link/ins...] to get started. #danharris #dharma #healthandwellness #Meditation #mentalhealth #mindfulness #mindfulnessteacher #adults #anxiety #buddha #buddhism #fitness #health #interview #meditate #men #mental #help #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #podcast #mentalhealthtips #mindfulnessmeditation #science #selfawareness #selfhelp #selfhealing #tph #tenpercenthappier #tenpercent #panicattack #panicattackrelief #anxietyrelief #anxietytips