“I Need Something”: Filling the Void in Addiction Recovery

“I need something.” I hear this a lot, as this is a familiar feeling in addiction recovery. “But Randy, I got to have something to…ease the pain, fill the emptiness, make life manageable, etc…” But what happens when the thing we reach for keeps changing while the need underneath, and that pull of the Void, stays the same? In this episode of the Alchemist Recovery Podcast, I explore the difference between finding relief and addressing the hurts. Evaluating substitute addictions and seemingly healthy routines, we’ll look at how our sources of comfort can support growth or how they can sometimes be holding us back. I’m going to pull a favorite quote from William Blake and contrast it to another fave from Hunter S. Thompson. I’ll revive a few memories of my own recovery to coincide with and rub against various conversations with clients. From all this, we’ll consider how moments of presence, belonging and acknowledgement of heartbreak are exactly the medicine we need to address the Pull of the Void - and without needing to escape it. In this episode, we explore: * Replacing one addiction with another: Recognizing substitution and questioning when it stops helping. * Relief versus resolution: Appreciating progress while remaining open to deeper work. * Healthy habits and avoidance: Examining our relationship with self-improvement, structure, and control. * The practice of belonging: Finding connection through community, shared experience, and offering our gifts. * Feeling enough: Making room for grief, gratitude, and the possibility that we already have something worth trusting. Thanks for listening, it’s greatly appreciated! As are all of your questions: [email protected] With Blessings, Randy Free delivery here… Get full access to Alchemist Recovery at alchemistrecovery.substack.com/subscribe