To make it 90 days opioid-free takes focus and determination (Ep. 159)

Speaker 1 (00:02): Thanks for tuning into the elevation recovery podcast, your hub for addiction, recovery strategies hosted by Chris Scott and Matt bench

Speaker 2 (00:13): Is episode one 59. I'm your host, Matt Finch. And this episode is on harnessing the absolute focus and determination to make it 90 days off opioids. It's been a while since I've done an opioid specific episode. So I'm very excited to deliver this to you. And here we go, most people that want to quit opioids spend years or longer trying to do so they may even quit several times, but rarely make it to the 90 days free opioid marker. And if they make it past 90 days, there's still a very high chance that within months or years they'll get back on daily opioids. Why is this opioid use disorder? Oh, you D is a chronic relapsing condition. The negative changes to the brain from the prolonged daily administration of opioids, often results in severe neuro-transmitter imbalances erosion of the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making dysregulation of the dopamine pleasure reward system, hijacking of the unconscious.

Speaker 2 (01:15): And survival-based midbrain negative changes due to neuro-plasticity glutamate, excess, or even toxicity, endocrine dysfunction, adrenal dysfunction, and more. This is gnarly. And it's unfortunate that most individuals who begin taking opioids daily, aren't aware of the many devastating negative consequences of prolonged opioid use, but that's the reality. And the good news is that all of these can be corrected and restore to normal, or even better than your pre opioid dependent brain. Now this takes time work, patience, diligence, commitment, resolve, focus, determination, resilience self-compassion, and resourcefulness of course, one also needs an effective detox plan as well as a plan for getting through post-acute withdrawal syndrome and healing the addicted brain. But that's why I created the ultimate opioid recovery system. It's a go at your own pace video course that I recently updated to include all of the new and wonderful quitting strategies I've learned and created this past year.

Speaker 2 (02:20): The purpose of this episode is to target the resources, focus and determination, which I believe are missing ingredients to many folks, recovery puzzles, we'll start with determination. There are two types of people that want to quit opioids. The first type of wants to quit, but they don't want it enough to be able to successfully make it off opioids for gut. The second type wants to quit and they do want it badly enough to successfully quit for good. I've seen people with the best withdrawal remedies and a ton of time off, not be able to quit. And the main reason in these situations is often, although not always due to not having enough determination, determination is a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult. I can usually tell on the first call or two with a new client, how determined they are.

Speaker 2 (03:10): It's important to note that it usually takes a 10 out of 10 level of determination to overcome opioid dependence. A nine out of 10 level of determination is still good, but it's not always good enough to see the challenge through to the end. Luckily, there are ways to build higher levels of determination. And the best way I know of is to spend just three to five minutes every morning, visualizing yourself opioid free, happy, healthy, confident, energized, and enjoying life to the fullest. Another helpful tool for increasing determination is to write a list of everything. Opioid use disorder has cost you in the following areas, mental, emotional health, physical health, spiritual health, relationships, and finances. Another important thing that I've noticed is that people who believe in themselves and believe they can do it, have much higher levels of determination than those without belief in themselves, our beliefs shape our lives in a powerful way to explore this topic more.

Speaker 2 (04:14): I highly recommend going on YouTube and searching for Dr. Joe Dispenza, as well as Dr. Bruce Lipton. Now let's move on to focus in our current age of information and misinformation ha there seems to be an epidemic of people with pathological preoccupation, meaning that most people's attention spans are not up to par with being able to accomplish big goals, such as ending an opioid dependence. I openly admit that I've had struggles with preoccupation as well on and off over the years. Although about seven months ago, I did some major work in this area and I'm feeling really good about my focusing abilities. Pathological preoccupation usually leads to slow progress in quitting opioids at best and backward momentum at worst to successfully transition off opioids and make it past 90 days. It takes the exact opposite. AKA, the antithesis, which is absolute focus, a skill that most successful people have developed over time.

Speaker 2 (05:19): Here's some tips for getting more focused, delete all non-essential apps off your phone. Take a break from social media check email two to three times a day and Denmark clean and organize your home and get rid of clutter clean out your vehicle inside and out up the habit of making your bed every single morning and your morning shower with freezing cold water for one to two minutes longer, use a new Tropic formula. Nervy is the one I'm using and love and quality of mind is another one I've used and really like unplug your television and keep the power cord and another room until you want to watch something, improve your diet and cut out some of the crap, drink more water and focus on healthy sleep habits. Finally, a great way to stay super focused is to write down why you want to quit opioids and the date you plan to quit and place this paper on your bathroom mirror, where you'll see it every morning and night at a minimum, our brains are naturally goal seeking machines.

Speaker 2 (06:28): The reticular activating system, RAs in the brain works like a missile that can course-correct when its target moves or changes by reviewing your ideal outcome of quitting opioids several times a day, every single day, you keep your RAs focused on the target. This makes it way easier to stay focused on your long range goal of quitting. Plus, it can also build more determination, key concepts, opioid use disorder as a chronic relapsing condition, but it doesn't have to be as using the right strategies and tactics. You can quit and never relapse. Again, determination is a powerful resource needed to be able to quit. And there are proven ways to enhance this internal resource EEG daily visualization of yourself, living an opioid free and awesome life and writing lists of everything. Opioid addiction has cost you. And the important domains of life focus is another extraordinary tool for quitting that is often lacking in most people's abilities and our current age of digital overstimulation.

Speaker 2 (07:33): And there are proven ways to enhance focus, EEG, decluttering your home, taking a break from social media, taking new tropics, et cetera. You can and should harness the power of your brain's reticular activating system. The RAs by writing out your ideal outcome of being opioid free with a concrete date to quit, then taping it up on your bathroom mirror where you'll see it every morning and night. I hope these practical tips are value to you. And please remember that podcasts and reading are great, but it's in the application of what you learn that helps you the most learning leads to knowledge, but applying that knowledge leads to positive

Speaker 1 (08:26): [inaudible].