1 00:00:10,040 --> 00:00:07,509 [Music] 2 00:00:12,499 --> 00:00:10,050 when I started having a drinking problem 3 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:12,509 and I went cold turkey and I developed 4 00:00:15,919 --> 00:00:14,370 massive cravings so I went from being 5 00:00:17,450 --> 00:00:15,929 just sort of a social drinker to a 6 00:00:19,429 --> 00:00:17,460 heavier drinker to then a binge drinker 7 00:00:22,250 --> 00:00:19,439 because when I relapsed from that 8 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:22,260 sobriety I I would just binge and then 9 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:24,330 go sober again so it that turned into a 10 00:00:28,279 --> 00:00:25,890 completely different style of drinking 11 00:00:30,950 --> 00:00:28,289 which is a different alcohol use 12 00:00:33,380 --> 00:00:30,960 disorder binge drinking in sorry at its 13 00:00:36,020 --> 00:00:33,390 worst before you sought help how bad was 14 00:00:39,260 --> 00:00:36,030 it oh I would if well the its 15 00:00:42,110 --> 00:00:39,270 progressive so so the the binges would 16 00:00:44,510 --> 00:00:42,120 get worse my my last horrible binge was 17 00:00:46,790 --> 00:00:44,520 I had to go to a medical detox because I 18 00:00:49,130 --> 00:00:46,800 didn't know back then that it wasn't 19 00:00:51,439 --> 00:00:49,140 it's not safe to go cold turkey you 20 00:00:53,060 --> 00:00:51,449 should taper off of alcohol and I didn't 21 00:00:55,639 --> 00:00:53,070 know that so I would just always go cold 22 00:00:59,990 --> 00:00:55,649 turkey and suffered this particular time 23 00:01:02,180 --> 00:01:00,000 back in 2009 I suffered really bad 24 00:01:04,609 --> 00:01:02,190 withdrawal and sort of went into the DTS 25 00:01:08,179 --> 00:01:04,619 and lost muscle control and things like 26 00:01:10,730 --> 00:01:08,189 that so I went to a medical detox so 27 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:10,740 that was the that was the worst you know 28 00:01:15,320 --> 00:01:12,450 does that mean that was a 30-day rehab 29 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:15,330 no no no no that was just a I went into 30 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:17,250 a medical detox place that my insurance 31 00:01:22,190 --> 00:01:20,130 would take they gave it was a horrific 32 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:22,200 experience for me they were they just 33 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:24,450 treated you like crap and it was very 34 00:01:28,819 --> 00:01:26,610 demeaning and and the people there had 35 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:28,829 no compassion whatsoever where was it 36 00:01:35,270 --> 00:01:32,130 here in Tarzana and this is what type of 37 00:01:36,740 --> 00:01:35,280 this is a County a medical it's a 38 00:01:38,420 --> 00:01:36,750 medical detox that happened to be 39 00:01:40,100 --> 00:01:38,430 covered by my insurance and you just go 40 00:01:41,359 --> 00:01:40,110 in there you fill up even though you 41 00:01:43,130 --> 00:01:41,369 think you're about to die and you're 42 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:43,140 shaking so hard that and you're puking 43 00:01:47,149 --> 00:01:45,329 they won't let you touch your belongings 44 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:47,159 to get a sweater they make you fill out 45 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:48,930 paperwork before giving you you know 46 00:01:53,690 --> 00:01:51,570 oodles of paperwork before even helping 47 00:01:55,039 --> 00:01:53,700 you calm down from the physical think 48 00:01:56,420 --> 00:01:55,049 withdrawals that you're going through 49 00:01:58,429 --> 00:01:56,430 somebody bring you in there 50 00:02:00,440 --> 00:01:58,439 I had a friend drive me of course yeah I 51 00:02:03,050 --> 00:02:00,450 had a friend drive me over there and I 52 00:02:04,490 --> 00:02:03,060 left the second I didn't mean I also 53 00:02:07,370 --> 00:02:04,500 didn't know about medications that could 54 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:07,380 help you to calm down and to not maybe 55 00:02:13,910 --> 00:02:13,050 go into a complete stroke you know I 56 00:02:16,610 --> 00:02:13,920 didn't know any of 57 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:16,620 I really was naive believe it or not but 58 00:02:19,940 --> 00:02:18,450 but you can die from this you can die 59 00:02:22,010 --> 00:02:19,950 from this yes you can you can die from 60 00:02:24,770 --> 00:02:22,020 withdrawal from from alcohol opiates 61 00:02:26,900 --> 00:02:24,780 from from many things but particularly I 62 00:02:28,850 --> 00:02:26,910 did not know how bad it could be with 63 00:02:30,170 --> 00:02:28,860 alcohol nobody ever told me I didn't 64 00:02:34,010 --> 00:02:30,180 read Hamm's I didn't know that you 65 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:34,020 should taper off a low alcohol thing and 66 00:02:37,970 --> 00:02:36,090 slowly detox your body I would just go 67 00:02:39,740 --> 00:02:37,980 oh gosh I can't do this anymore and I 68 00:02:41,630 --> 00:02:39,750 just stopped and it was very dangerous 69 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:41,640 that particular time once I got the 70 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:43,410 medication I don't even know what they 71 00:02:47,330 --> 00:02:46,170 gave me maybe a trazadone or valium or 72 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:47,340 whatever the heck they used in those 73 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:49,410 places the second it hit my system I 74 00:02:52,310 --> 00:02:50,970 checked myself out and I said I can't 75 00:02:54,410 --> 00:02:52,320 stay here it was awful 76 00:02:56,270 --> 00:02:54,420 you saying that I just checked myself 77 00:02:58,040 --> 00:02:56,280 but the drug hitting your system 78 00:03:00,920 --> 00:02:58,050 whatever was the drug hit my system and 79 00:03:02,300 --> 00:03:00,930 I stopped shaking oh I said okay I'm out 80 00:03:03,949 --> 00:03:02,310 of here because they're not helping me 81 00:03:05,540 --> 00:03:03,959 whatsoever this is I'm just checking 82 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:05,550 myself out it wasn't one of those things 83 00:03:09,020 --> 00:03:06,810 where they lock you up or anything like 84 00:03:11,540 --> 00:03:09,030 that you you know you're it's voluntary 85 00:03:13,430 --> 00:03:11,550 it wasn't like I was passed out I was 86 00:03:16,670 --> 00:03:13,440 fully comprehensible I was just 87 00:03:19,190 --> 00:03:16,680 suffering physical results of and so 88 00:03:21,289 --> 00:03:19,200 then where did you go next for treatment 89 00:03:24,220 --> 00:03:21,299 well then I stayed as always I had a 90 00:03:27,949 --> 00:03:24,230 long bout of sobriety and what was 91 00:03:29,930 --> 00:03:27,959 sister you was at AAA no I did 17 92 00:03:32,150 --> 00:03:29,940 meetings in two countries I didn't 93 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:32,160 respond to a meetings made me want to 94 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:33,810 drink I didn't want to sit there for the 95 00:03:36,500 --> 00:03:35,370 rest of my life identifying as an 96 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:36,510 alcoholic that would be like me 97 00:03:41,539 --> 00:03:39,930 identifying as a cancer victim or oh hi 98 00:03:42,110 --> 00:03:41,549 I'm Claudia of leukemia hi I'm Claudia 99 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:42,120 have leukemia 100 00:03:47,180 --> 00:03:44,130 I think words are extremely powerful I 101 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:47,190 wanted alcoholism to be behind me not in 102 00:03:52,069 --> 00:03:49,650 front of me every single day I know you 103 00:03:54,319 --> 00:03:52,079 refer to it for yourself as alcohol use 104 00:03:56,060 --> 00:03:54,329 disorders what you have as the reason 105 00:03:58,069 --> 00:03:56,070 the reason why that has nothing to do 106 00:03:59,930 --> 00:03:58,079 with 12-step programs and by the way I 107 00:04:01,789 --> 00:03:59,940 have nothing against 12-step programs 108 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:01,799 the only thing that they say is you have 109 00:04:05,300 --> 00:04:03,690 to have the desire to quit drinking to 110 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:05,310 attend a meeting so I don't see why 111 00:04:09,830 --> 00:04:07,410 people can't use medication while their 112 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:09,840 if their if their main goal is sobriety 113 00:04:13,940 --> 00:04:11,850 then there's no reason why anybody can't 114 00:04:16,610 --> 00:04:13,950 attend an AAA meeting and take a camper 115 00:04:18,259 --> 00:04:16,620 state for cravings or take naltrexone to 116 00:04:19,849 --> 00:04:18,269 slowly diminish their cravings and to 117 00:04:22,370 --> 00:04:19,859 stop drinking there's no reason why you 118 00:04:24,290 --> 00:04:22,380 can't mix Matt with a a but that's a 119 00:04:26,029 --> 00:04:24,300 whole nother story but for me I didn't 120 00:04:27,860 --> 00:04:26,039 like it and then I tried a regular rehab 121 00:04:29,990 --> 00:04:27,870 and it had no effect on me what 122 00:04:31,460 --> 00:04:30,000 so ever in fact once again alcohol 123 00:04:32,990 --> 00:04:31,470 deprivation effect you're in a false 124 00:04:34,430 --> 00:04:33,000 environment you're paying thousands of 125 00:04:36,530 --> 00:04:34,440 dollars so your guilt was your right 126 00:04:39,740 --> 00:04:36,540 your inpatient 30-day cut I went to I 127 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:39,750 went to a 30-day and and it was it was 128 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:41,970 just a 12-step program so why pay for it 129 00:04:48,290 --> 00:04:43,650 I paid thirty thousand dollars to sit 130 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:48,300 there that was beige or something up 131 00:04:52,460 --> 00:04:49,770 north Northern California 132 00:04:54,260 --> 00:04:52,470 I can't remember Bay recovery Bay Center 133 00:04:55,879 --> 00:04:54,270 and just give us a little insight into 134 00:04:57,920 --> 00:04:55,889 your 30 days there what are you doing on 135 00:04:59,390 --> 00:04:57,930 a day to day basis tai chi and hang out 136 00:05:01,159 --> 00:04:59,400 with girls who are sneaking out and 137 00:05:03,230 --> 00:05:01,169 getting alcohol and go to a gym which is 138 00:05:06,830 --> 00:05:03,240 right next to a liquor store with nobody 139 00:05:08,570 --> 00:05:06,840 watching you you have a therapeutic 140 00:05:10,879 --> 00:05:08,580 session where they label you as 141 00:05:12,290 --> 00:05:10,889 narcissistic and an anti-social which 142 00:05:15,530 --> 00:05:12,300 every single addict whether they were 143 00:05:17,840 --> 00:05:15,540 methadone or heroin or opiates or 144 00:05:19,460 --> 00:05:17,850 alcohol or bulimic they were all labeled 145 00:05:22,159 --> 00:05:19,470 exactly the same we all compared 146 00:05:24,110 --> 00:05:22,169 afterwards so okay so that was sort of a 147 00:05:28,879 --> 00:05:24,120 one-size-fit-all that all addicts are 148 00:05:31,159 --> 00:05:28,889 narcissists and they're all she actually 149 00:05:32,659 --> 00:05:31,169 dragged out the war shot that the 150 00:05:35,029 --> 00:05:32,669 drawings I mean that the [\h__\h] would 151 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:35,039 hirako the the butterflies and Dragons 152 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:37,289 and all that stuff war shock yep so 153 00:05:42,290 --> 00:05:40,530 that's what tell us what this yes she 154 00:05:44,510 --> 00:05:42,300 dragged out those but then it was just a 155 00:05:46,790 --> 00:05:44,520 somebody with a you know a certain 156 00:05:49,010 --> 00:05:46,800 amount of sobriety under their belt that 157 00:05:50,450 --> 00:05:49,020 is called an addiction specialists you 158 00:05:52,790 --> 00:05:50,460 know because they've been sober for ten 159 00:05:55,250 --> 00:05:52,800 years but you know on the narcissism 160 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:55,260 thing it does strike me and I haven't 161 00:05:59,750 --> 00:05:57,090 this hasn't come up in our show yet that 162 00:06:01,159 --> 00:05:59,760 people who are addicts they they're they 163 00:06:02,870 --> 00:06:01,169 are very focused on themselves I think 164 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:02,880 because they're not feeling good right 165 00:06:06,890 --> 00:06:05,130 and when you don't feel good it's hard 166 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:06,900 to think about other people so is that 167 00:06:09,950 --> 00:06:08,490 that's such a that's that's like saying 168 00:06:12,140 --> 00:06:09,960 somebody who's suffering from breast 169 00:06:13,879 --> 00:06:12,150 cancer is narcissistic yeah because 170 00:06:15,980 --> 00:06:13,889 they're focused on their recovery that's 171 00:06:17,870 --> 00:06:15,990 just [\h__\h] right sorry they don't 172 00:06:20,180 --> 00:06:17,880 suffer from narcissism for instance like 173 00:06:23,540 --> 00:06:20,190 that's our president does but what I 174 00:06:26,150 --> 00:06:23,550 mean is during the the time that you 175 00:06:28,250 --> 00:06:26,160 have the addiction problem you might 176 00:06:29,810 --> 00:06:28,260 exhibit narcissistic type behaviors 177 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:29,820 because you are very focused on yourself 178 00:06:33,260 --> 00:06:31,530 but it's not you it's not being focused 179 00:06:34,850 --> 00:06:33,270 on yourself it's a compulsive brain 180 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:34,860 disorder I don't know if you've ever 181 00:06:37,909 --> 00:06:36,450 suffered from any addiction but if you 182 00:06:39,529 --> 00:06:37,919 have do you know what exactly what I'm 183 00:06:41,029 --> 00:06:39,539 talking about whether it's that's like 184 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:41,039 you know you tell a bulimic to stop 185 00:06:43,939 --> 00:06:41,610 throwing 186 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:43,949 good luck with that it's a compulsive 187 00:06:48,529 --> 00:06:46,050 behavior you know that what you're doing 188 00:06:49,550 --> 00:06:48,539 isn't rational but there's no way you 189 00:06:56,959 --> 00:06:49,560 can stop it 190 00:06:58,760 --> 00:06:56,969 like you tapping your leg know it so in 191 00:07:00,439 --> 00:06:58,770 other words if you walk in the in the in 192 00:07:01,700 --> 00:07:00,449 the shoes of an addict do you understand 193 00:07:03,499 --> 00:07:01,710 that that I'm not 194 00:07:05,510 --> 00:07:03,509 I didn't choose a bottle of wine over my 195 00:07:08,510 --> 00:07:05,520 mom I didn't choose a bottle of wine 196 00:07:10,909 --> 00:07:08,520 over my boyfriend I wasn't being selfish 197 00:07:12,830 --> 00:07:10,919 it's not a selfish behavior it's your 198 00:07:13,369 --> 00:07:12,840 cue it's like somebody takes over your 199 00:07:16,550 --> 00:07:13,379 brain 200 00:07:18,379 --> 00:07:16,560 somebody's hijacked you to the outsiders 201 00:07:20,180 --> 00:07:18,389 it looks old of course it looks selfish 202 00:07:23,330 --> 00:07:20,190 and that's one of the biggest problems I 203 00:07:25,550 --> 00:07:23,340 have when I when I deal coach couples is 204 00:07:27,499 --> 00:07:25,560 that the spouse will say well they're 205 00:07:29,809 --> 00:07:27,509 choosing alcohol over me and I have to 206 00:07:30,980 --> 00:07:29,819 explain to them addiction is not a 207 00:07:32,899 --> 00:07:30,990 rational behavior 208 00:07:34,879 --> 00:07:32,909 you can't rational with it you can't 209 00:07:38,390 --> 00:07:34,889 reason with it did you see the movie 210 00:07:41,140 --> 00:07:38,400 beautiful boy I did yes that that movie 211 00:07:43,939 --> 00:07:41,150 really bothered me because the father 212 00:07:46,279 --> 00:07:43,949 didn't react properly to the son I don't 213 00:07:49,309 --> 00:07:46,289 think he was like oh son you're choosing 214 00:07:51,589 --> 00:07:49,319 this over me not recognizing that hey 215 00:07:53,719 --> 00:07:51,599 this is a serious problem dealt with 216 00:07:57,050 --> 00:07:53,729 seriously they show kind of the 217 00:07:59,930 --> 00:07:57,060 ineffectiveness of a in these rehabs and 218 00:08:01,339 --> 00:07:59,940 so on but at the end of the day the 219 00:08:02,869 --> 00:08:01,349 closing credits where they kind of give 220 00:08:03,409 --> 00:08:02,879 you the update and stuff it's basically 221 00:08:04,879 --> 00:08:03,419 Oh 222 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:04,889 millions of people suffer from this 223 00:08:11,540 --> 00:08:08,810 problem help is available go seek help 224 00:08:13,159 --> 00:08:11,550 that's it yes show us the two hours how 225 00:08:14,749 --> 00:08:13,169 ineffective these different rehab things 226 00:08:16,939 --> 00:08:14,759 but then they give you no solutions 227 00:08:18,980 --> 00:08:16,949 whatsoever no well I was really 228 00:08:22,670 --> 00:08:18,990 disappointed by that III know that 229 00:08:24,950 --> 00:08:22,680 they've been doing small experiments 230 00:08:27,890 --> 00:08:24,960 with opiate antagonists for meth 231 00:08:32,180 --> 00:08:27,900 addiction but once again because we are 232 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:32,190 in such a 12-step based you know that is 233 00:08:37,850 --> 00:08:35,610 what people immediately react to all of 234 00:08:39,949 --> 00:08:37,860 these various medically assisted 235 00:08:41,540 --> 00:08:39,959 treatments really aren't spoken about as 236 00:08:43,339 --> 00:08:41,550 much but let me let me say something 237 00:08:45,590 --> 00:08:43,349 positive here and that is that when I 238 00:08:49,009 --> 00:08:45,600 started this in 2009 I only knew of one 239 00:08:51,650 --> 00:08:49,019 doctor in the entire United States when 240 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:51,660 it to get back to the story to finish 241 00:08:54,410 --> 00:08:53,250 that up after I got out of that detox 242 00:08:56,870 --> 00:08:54,420 treatment 243 00:08:59,330 --> 00:08:56,880 I started I grabbed a flyer there and it 244 00:09:01,370 --> 00:08:59,340 was for the shot vivitrol so I went home 245 00:09:03,410 --> 00:09:01,380 and I googled it and I and I and I 246 00:09:06,350 --> 00:09:03,420 looked it up and I found dr. Royce 247 00:09:08,570 --> 00:09:06,360 coppice book which is soo rather grandly 248 00:09:11,300 --> 00:09:08,580 named the cure for alcoholism and I 249 00:09:14,780 --> 00:09:11,310 started reading the free pages excerpts 250 00:09:16,310 --> 00:09:14,790 from that and and I I it made sense I 251 00:09:18,290 --> 00:09:16,320 come from a family of doctors and 252 00:09:19,700 --> 00:09:18,300 researchers and it dead scientists and 253 00:09:22,310 --> 00:09:19,710 that really made sense to me so I 254 00:09:24,530 --> 00:09:22,320 ordered naltrexone from some place in 255 00:09:27,230 --> 00:09:24,540 India and tell me where did you find the 256 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:27,240 flyer in that in the rehab facility so 257 00:09:32,330 --> 00:09:29,610 just like a stack of lawyers I took them 258 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:32,340 all I took I took a stack for for this 259 00:09:35,870 --> 00:09:34,770 meeting smart recovery AAA meetings and 260 00:09:37,940 --> 00:09:35,880 all this stuff and then there was one 261 00:09:39,860 --> 00:09:37,950 that said cravings for alcohol question 262 00:09:41,660 --> 00:09:39,870 mark get the vivitrol shot but that was 263 00:09:43,250 --> 00:09:41,670 twelve hundred bucks a month and when I 264 00:09:45,230 --> 00:09:43,260 called that Tarzana place they never 265 00:09:47,660 --> 00:09:45,240 returned my call probably because I left 266 00:09:49,070 --> 00:09:47,670 early or something so I ended up 267 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:49,080 researching myself and that's when I 268 00:09:53,390 --> 00:09:51,090 found that the shot is not as effective 269 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:53,400 as oral naltrexone taken in a targeted 270 00:09:57,890 --> 00:09:55,650 manner meaning one hour prior to the 271 00:09:59,540 --> 00:09:57,900 first drink of the day so here now by 272 00:10:02,240 --> 00:09:59,550 the time the pills arrived I had three 273 00:10:04,010 --> 00:10:02,250 four months sobriety under my belt and I 274 00:10:06,260 --> 00:10:04,020 was scared because what if I was one of 275 00:10:07,730 --> 00:10:06,270 those tiny percentages of the people 276 00:10:09,230 --> 00:10:07,740 that don't respond to an El Trek so and 277 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:09,240 I would go on a worse binge and maybe 278 00:10:13,430 --> 00:10:11,730 die because the last one was so bad by 279 00:10:15,350 --> 00:10:13,440 the way when you say arrived what do you 280 00:10:18,350 --> 00:10:15,360 mean pills arrived I had to order them 281 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:18,360 at that point in 2009 there was there 282 00:10:21,830 --> 00:10:19,770 were no doctors that would accept that 283 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:21,840 would give it to me my GP refused me 284 00:10:25,130 --> 00:10:23,250 even without looking it up 285 00:10:27,110 --> 00:10:25,140 he immediately presumed it was an opiate 286 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:27,120 a painkiller which is it is the 287 00:10:30,470 --> 00:10:29,010 antithesis of that in fact if you're on 288 00:10:31,790 --> 00:10:30,480 opiates and you take an opiate 289 00:10:33,950 --> 00:10:31,800 antagonist you go into full withdrawal 290 00:10:36,650 --> 00:10:33,960 so this is not good for people who are 291 00:10:38,270 --> 00:10:36,660 on opiates currently if you're clean you 292 00:10:40,550 --> 00:10:38,280 can take no tracks on to stay off of 293 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:40,560 opiates so I asked mr. saris at ninety 294 00:10:47,630 --> 00:10:45,930 nine 2009 2009 I asked my GP I asked 295 00:10:49,490 --> 00:10:47,640 another doctor everybody turned me down 296 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:49,500 so I went online and I just started 297 00:10:51,980 --> 00:10:51,330 googling now Trek so I found an Indian 298 00:10:54,260 --> 00:10:51,990 pharmacy 299 00:10:55,970 --> 00:10:54,270 I gave him my credit card but hold on 300 00:10:59,030 --> 00:10:55,980 this is stunning to me that you're 301 00:11:00,710 --> 00:10:59,040 talking to M DS medical doctors yes 302 00:11:02,150 --> 00:11:00,720 you're acknowledging to them which a lot 303 00:11:03,190 --> 00:11:02,160 of ya addicts don't like to acknowledge 304 00:11:05,260 --> 00:11:03,200 that I have a proud 305 00:11:07,150 --> 00:11:05,270 with alcohol there is a medication out 306 00:11:09,670 --> 00:11:07,160 there called the track zone it's FDA 307 00:11:12,010 --> 00:11:09,680 approved since 1994 thank you very much 308 00:11:13,810 --> 00:11:12,020 for yeah to treat alcohol is great to 309 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:13,820 treat alcoholism and I said I want that 310 00:11:17,350 --> 00:11:15,890 medication for cravings and he said I 311 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:17,360 didn't even tell him I was wanted to do 312 00:11:20,500 --> 00:11:18,650 the Sinclair method that I would drink 313 00:11:22,150 --> 00:11:20,510 on it I said I just want it for cravings 314 00:11:25,030 --> 00:11:22,160 and he said never heard of it want you 315 00:11:28,630 --> 00:11:25,040 to stop drinking thank you so much Wow 316 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:28,640 helpful then so finally I ordered it and 317 00:11:31,990 --> 00:11:30,410 I by the way do we know whether your 318 00:11:34,180 --> 00:11:32,000 insurance would have covered it if you 319 00:11:37,690 --> 00:11:34,190 had my insurance does cover it now how 320 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:37,700 about then you know yes yes now trek 321 00:11:41,260 --> 00:11:38,810 zone would have been covered by my 322 00:11:43,780 --> 00:11:41,270 Screen Actors Guild insurance even back 323 00:11:45,940 --> 00:11:43,790 then so so and it said you ordered from 324 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:45,950 India hundreds of dollars and it took 325 00:11:51,190 --> 00:11:48,650 forever took months it was the pills not 326 00:11:52,770 --> 00:11:51,200 the shot it was yeah the shot the shot 327 00:11:54,970 --> 00:11:52,780 doesn't allow you to do targeted 328 00:11:56,920 --> 00:11:54,980 extinction because you can't target the 329 00:11:59,830 --> 00:11:56,930 alcohol because your nail track zone 330 00:12:01,480 --> 00:11:59,840 will be in your body 24/7 so I ordered 331 00:12:03,700 --> 00:12:01,490 the 50 milligram tablets they arrived 332 00:12:05,620 --> 00:12:03,710 you know like two months later I had 333 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:05,630 this sobriety under my belt I got the 334 00:12:10,750 --> 00:12:08,330 pills I bought a bottle of wine and I 335 00:12:12,820 --> 00:12:10,760 made myself a meal and I prayed to God 336 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:12,830 that this would work and I took the pill 337 00:12:17,110 --> 00:12:14,810 I waited an hour and I didn't even 338 00:12:20,770 --> 00:12:17,120 finish the glass of wine that was what I 339 00:12:22,540 --> 00:12:20,780 now know as anecdotal evidence or 340 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:22,550 experience from all the people that I've 341 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:24,050 coached over the years is that is a 342 00:12:27,700 --> 00:12:26,330 common reaction in the beginning now of 343 00:12:29,050 --> 00:12:27,710 course it doesn't necessarily mean that 344 00:12:31,150 --> 00:12:29,060 within two weeks you're gonna stop 345 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:31,160 drinking my journey has had you know 346 00:12:36,910 --> 00:12:33,290 dips and valleys and all sorts of things 347 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:36,920 since 2009 when I finally knew that I 348 00:12:41,860 --> 00:12:39,410 had that my brain had switched back to 349 00:12:44,980 --> 00:12:41,870 normal was when I drove by a billboard I 350 00:12:46,270 --> 00:12:44,990 speak about it in my TEDx talk I there 351 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:46,280 was his billboard on Ventura Boulevard 352 00:12:50,350 --> 00:12:48,290 that had a big glass of red wine on a 353 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:50,360 steak on it and every time I would drive 354 00:12:54,670 --> 00:12:52,370 by it when I was sober I would be 355 00:12:56,590 --> 00:12:54,680 triggered to want to drink and when I 356 00:12:58,060 --> 00:12:56,600 was drinking I would be triggered to 357 00:13:02,140 --> 00:12:58,070 want to drink it was just a never-ending 358 00:13:03,850 --> 00:13:02,150 reminder of my poison red wine and this 359 00:13:05,770 --> 00:13:03,860 time I drove by that billboard and my 360 00:13:07,180 --> 00:13:05,780 brain just said that's the billboard and 361 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:07,190 that's after you've been taking an 362 00:13:10,990 --> 00:13:09,650 attraction about four months yeah and 363 00:13:12,310 --> 00:13:11,000 that's when I knew my brain had I 364 00:13:14,050 --> 00:13:12,320 literally pulled over and started to 365 00:13:16,030 --> 00:13:14,060 weep because I realized my brain 366 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:16,040 I wasn't obsessing people also don't 367 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:16,610 quite on 368 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:19,850 standing ID as a kid I had OCD I was a 369 00:13:24,670 --> 00:13:22,490 counter so I think I had the reference 370 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:24,680 to this current kind of compulsive 371 00:13:30,310 --> 00:13:28,130 behavior I would count everything when 372 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:30,320 and I outgrew that well with with 373 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:34,130 alcohol even when you're abstinent 374 00:13:37,180 --> 00:13:35,450 you're obsessed with it 375 00:13:39,490 --> 00:13:37,190 because you you're planning everything 376 00:13:42,550 --> 00:13:39,500 that's what that saying that I don't 377 00:13:44,139 --> 00:13:42,560 like dry drunk or white knuckling it's 378 00:13:46,060 --> 00:13:44,149 because even sitting in a meeting you're 379 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:46,070 thinking oh god you know just god I'm 380 00:13:50,079 --> 00:13:48,410 dying you know going out to people with 381 00:13:51,190 --> 00:13:50,089 people you say oh that guy's gonna drink 382 00:13:53,380 --> 00:13:51,200 too much so I don't want to go out I'm 383 00:13:56,380 --> 00:13:53,390 gonna stay home um you know oh I can't 384 00:13:58,030 --> 00:13:56,390 buy that rum raisin ice cream because 385 00:13:59,560 --> 00:13:58,040 it's gonna want to trigger me to do this 386 00:14:00,940 --> 00:13:59,570 oh I don't want to see these people 387 00:14:03,759 --> 00:14:00,950 because they have a wine group it's 388 00:14:05,889 --> 00:14:03,769 conscious it's like a radio in your it's 389 00:14:07,750 --> 00:14:05,899 the committee that constantly is telling 390 00:14:09,730 --> 00:14:07,760 you even if you've been sober for some 391 00:14:11,829 --> 00:14:09,740 people for 40 years I've spoken to 392 00:14:13,389 --> 00:14:11,839 people who say that's why they say one 393 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:13,399 day at a time they wake up and they're 394 00:14:16,990 --> 00:14:15,290 craving their their white knuckling 395 00:14:18,699 --> 00:14:17,000 through each day and they plan their 396 00:14:20,380 --> 00:14:18,709 days accordingly I'm not gonna walk down 397 00:14:22,329 --> 00:14:20,390 that aisle in the supermarket because 398 00:14:24,189 --> 00:14:22,339 that's where the booze is so that that 399 00:14:26,110 --> 00:14:24,199 to me didn't mean that I would be healed 400 00:14:28,329 --> 00:14:26,120 even if I was abstinent I knew that I 401 00:14:30,550 --> 00:14:28,339 was miserable in my abstinence I'm here 402 00:14:32,319 --> 00:14:30,560 to ask you about the OCD because you 403 00:14:33,939 --> 00:14:32,329 said at some point you kind of outgrew 404 00:14:36,730 --> 00:14:33,949 the OCD but I'm wondering did that then 405 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:36,740 morph perhaps into you know I find a lot 406 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:39,290 of coexisting issues with individuals 407 00:14:43,689 --> 00:14:41,930 with an alcohol use disorder I note that 408 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:43,699 a lot of women have eating disorders I 409 00:14:49,269 --> 00:14:46,850 was anorexic briefly in my teens and the 410 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:49,279 OCD a lot of us do I I treat a lot of 411 00:14:53,980 --> 00:14:52,010 people with I help excuse me hon got a 412 00:14:57,519 --> 00:14:53,990 doctor I help a lot of people with 413 00:14:58,840 --> 00:14:57,529 bipolar manic depressive but so do you 414 00:15:01,810 --> 00:14:58,850 think were you self-medicating perhaps 415 00:15:03,730 --> 00:15:01,820 with the alcohol on the no because that 416 00:15:05,740 --> 00:15:03,740 was gone by the time I was about nine 417 00:15:08,550 --> 00:15:05,750 and I didn't like I said I was a very 418 00:15:12,699 --> 00:15:08,560 light drinker alcohol didn't interest me 419 00:15:14,230 --> 00:15:12,709 really until I started I was living with 420 00:15:15,430 --> 00:15:14,240 somebody who was a restaurateur and I 421 00:15:17,590 --> 00:15:15,440 think that's when it started I started 422 00:15:20,380 --> 00:15:17,600 to entertain more and be around it more 423 00:15:20,710 --> 00:15:20,390 but I wasn't I I could take it or leave 424 00:15:24,009 --> 00:15:20,720 it 425 00:15:26,290 --> 00:15:24,019 what is your theory as to how come you 426 00:15:28,860 --> 00:15:26,300 got addicted to it I think I had the 427 00:15:31,260 --> 00:15:28,870 genetic predisposition 428 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:31,270 position of course I mean my both sides 429 00:15:36,030 --> 00:15:34,330 of my family I definitely had the the 430 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:36,040 genetics and then I engaged in the 431 00:15:39,150 --> 00:15:37,690 behavior and to me talked about Mike 432 00:15:41,490 --> 00:15:39,160 Pond did that's definitely part of his 433 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:41,500 yeah and he did brain studies and so on 434 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:44,650 on himself and found these parts of the 435 00:15:49,230 --> 00:15:47,170 brain that absolutely I believe that if 436 00:15:51,210 --> 00:15:49,240 you and also the other thing is I did 437 00:15:52,829 --> 00:15:51,220 taste alcohol before my brain was fully 438 00:15:56,100 --> 00:15:52,839 developed and that is just a no-brainer 439 00:15:58,620 --> 00:15:56,110 right there if you're if you drink when 440 00:16:00,840 --> 00:15:58,630 you're also have done that 15 16 17 441 00:16:02,340 --> 00:16:00,850 years well people with a genetic 442 00:16:04,650 --> 00:16:02,350 predisposition who engaged in the 443 00:16:07,050 --> 00:16:04,660 behavior drinking before their brain is 444 00:16:10,110 --> 00:16:07,060 fully developed around age 21 to 23 445 00:16:13,110 --> 00:16:10,120 they have like a 40% more chance of 446 00:16:16,230 --> 00:16:13,120 developing an AUD then it had they 447 00:16:18,900 --> 00:16:16,240 waited till they were fully developed in 448 00:16:20,579 --> 00:16:18,910 the brain so that is something that if 449 00:16:21,900 --> 00:16:20,589 you have addiction in your family and 450 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:21,910 you have children I would certainly 451 00:16:25,860 --> 00:16:24,130 encourage you to not have them drink in 452 00:16:28,380 --> 00:16:25,870 their teens to really explain to them 453 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:28,390 look this is a crappy thing to happen to 454 00:16:33,060 --> 00:16:30,610 you as an adult so if you can just you 455 00:16:34,949 --> 00:16:33,070 know hold off till the legal age 21 yeah 456 00:16:36,870 --> 00:16:34,959 you know um yes the problem in this 457 00:16:39,870 --> 00:16:36,880 country the binge drinking that happens 458 00:16:41,430 --> 00:16:39,880 at early age which I engaged in and so 459 00:16:43,290 --> 00:16:41,440 many people do and then in college I 460 00:16:46,199 --> 00:16:43,300 mean you're 18 years old in college and 461 00:16:48,150 --> 00:16:46,209 in these fraternities and so guess what 462 00:16:51,140 --> 00:16:48,160 guess what it costs us every year two 463 00:16:53,730 --> 00:16:51,150 hundred and fifty billion dollars 464 00:16:56,370 --> 00:16:53,740 alcohol misuse costs the United States 465 00:16:57,960 --> 00:16:56,380 two hundred and fifty billion dollars 466 00:17:00,150 --> 00:16:57,970 and that's just a monetary number that's 467 00:17:02,010 --> 00:17:00,160 not well we also have one in three 468 00:17:04,470 --> 00:17:02,020 adults human element yeah one in three 469 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:04,480 adults that will develop an AUD and 470 00:17:08,309 --> 00:17:06,850 eighty eight thousand that will die 3.3 471 00:17:11,460 --> 00:17:08,319 million people around the world die 472 00:17:14,730 --> 00:17:11,470 yearly that's more than so many other 473 00:17:17,610 --> 00:17:14,740 diseases and and and yet it's constantly 474 00:17:19,380 --> 00:17:17,620 brushed aside for whatever happens to be 475 00:17:22,740 --> 00:17:19,390 in the news that day because alcohol is 476 00:17:26,579 --> 00:17:22,750 legal it's everywhere and it is and 477 00:17:28,590 --> 00:17:26,589 you're allowed to promote it and and the 478 00:17:30,180 --> 00:17:28,600 publicity campaigns make it look like if 479 00:17:32,100 --> 00:17:30,190 you drink beer you're going to have 480 00:17:35,090 --> 00:17:32,110 really hot girlfriends and you're going 481 00:17:37,530 --> 00:17:35,100 to be happy and successful and and 482 00:17:39,419 --> 00:17:37,540 jobless for if that was for fentanyl if 483 00:17:41,070 --> 00:17:39,429 they had if they had advertisements you 484 00:17:42,570 --> 00:17:41,080 know where people are like hey shoot it 485 00:17:44,700 --> 00:17:42,580 up take fentanyl you 486 00:17:46,830 --> 00:17:44,710 feel great I mean you know alcohol 487 00:17:48,570 --> 00:17:46,840 destroys lives on and and and I'm not 488 00:17:50,399 --> 00:17:48,580 saying and this is coming from somebody 489 00:17:51,269 --> 00:17:50,409 who's who's in a harm reduction model 490 00:17:53,700 --> 00:17:51,279 okay 491 00:17:56,549 --> 00:17:53,710 I'm not I'm not in an abstinence based 492 00:17:59,060 --> 00:17:56,559 sober based that's not what I advocate I