Dr. Joe Gerstein is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and First President of SMART Recovery. He is also a retired Harvard University professor and lectures at addiction symposiums. Joe introduced SMART to the world and has facilitated over 3,000 meetings. His passion and motivation for helping others is still going strong after 50+ years. Joe shares some of his thoughts and perspectives for being and staying motivated in your recovery.
In this podcast, Joe talks about:
- How the addiction and recovery fields have changed in medicine through the years
- His focus on establishing meetings in correctional facilities
- The two components of motivation being a simple yet complex phenomenon
- The translation of desire to commitment
- Can you ever be cured of alcoholism
- Realizing that SMART was more than a two-point program
- The benefits of peers in recovery meetings
- How humans are a habit-forming breed
- The decisions that brought you to a meeting
- Three things to be successful in recovery
Additional resources:
- Dr. Bruce Liese – University of Kanas Medical Center
- Jack Trimpey – The Small Book
- Vitaly Absorbing Creative Interest (VACI)
- Preparing to Attend Your First SMART Recovery Meeting
- Becoming a SMART Facilitator
Click here to find all of SMART Recovery’s podcasts
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IMPORTANT NOTE:
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We look forward to you joining the conversation!
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Today is my third time deciding that alcohol is something that has been a very negative influence in my life…my two attempts at AA didn’t work as I still felt shame in believing I should be able to drink moderately with no ill side effects or cravings for more. Listening to this podcast moved me from 9/10 to 10/10 on the motivation scale. I feel hopeful & so lucky to have come across this program, and look forward to my first online meeting. Thank you so much ????
Unfortunately moderate drinking isn’t possible for many. Quitting completely is the only option. Some us have have a very high dopamine level, which triggers addiction and prevents us from enjoying moderation in our lives.
I have predominantly inattentive type ADHD… I finally get that any amount of alcohol messes with my brain chemistry in negative ways… thanks for the reply ????
First step is where it has to start. If we continue to stay in denial and blame everything on people places and things and not the true cause a drug either alcohol alone or other drugs as well. So congratulations you are where I was 48 years ago when I DECIDED TO END MY FAILED RELATIONDHIP WITH ALCOHOL AND STAY SOBER AND ABSTAIN A DAY AT A TIME. I WISH YOU A GREAT JOURNEY!
Thank you so much ????
In my mid-60’s now … I actually did the intervention on my father when he was close to 60.
It’s been only a few days without the nightly wine and my brain feels so much clearer already. Light night sweats even stopped as of last night. I am grateful I have another chance to take proper care of myself… I fully accept that alcohol doesn’t help me… the temp euphoria comes with costs I don’t want to pay ever again. ????