S2 Ep5: The Gift of Addiction with David Smallwood

In this episode of This Is Powerful, Paul welcomes renowned therapist and author David Smallwood to explore addiction, recovery, and the deep roots of trauma. With 37 years of sobriety, David shares his personal journey—from growing up in a challenging home environment to struggling with anxiety, alcohol, and benzodiazepine dependence. He discusses how early childhood trauma shapes addiction and why addressing core emotional wounds is crucial for long-term recovery.

David and Paul dive into the concept of cross-addiction (why so many in recovery swap alcohol for tobacco, sweets, exercise, etc), the impact of fear on mental health, and the importance of connection in the healing process. He describes the impact of sensitivity in response to trauma and how his transformative experience in relapse prevention training reshaped his approach to treatment. Along the way, Paul and David swap personal stories of recovery, touching on moments of joy, fear, and the surprising gifts that come with addiction, if approached with the right mindset.

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If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

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Find David online  davidsmallwoodtherapy.co.uk

Find David’s book on Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/64QLZkQ