Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong | Johann Hari | TED

"if you can't bond because you're traumatised, isolated or beaten down by life, you will bond with something that will give you some sense of relief"

As a recovering addict, I think you are spot on...when I overdosed and woke up in ICU the doctor asked me why I did what I did and I said “to escape reality”....now I’m sober 6 years, and after completely changing my environment, I’m now close to finishing medical school!

Thank you Johan for making this.. I was on the street of L.A. for 5 years slamming fentanyl, and because my brother saw this video and showed it to my family, they started visiting me. Fast forward a bit, after having 2 surgeries from an infection on my spine, I got an infection on my heart and had a stroke and basically woke up in the hospital.. I now have 200+ days clean, which is the longest I've been clean for since I was 13.. all this to say that without this video and your studies on the subject, they wouldn't have visited me on the street. Thank you.. -- Chris Moran Thank you EVERYONE. Just to update you all, I have over a year clean now and am a Data Analyst for work! -- Chris Moran

“The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection.” Hit the nail right on the head, thank you ❤️

Virtual hugs to all the addicts out there. You're not alone.

I believe that loneliness is what fueled my addiction.

Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.

I started smoking weed since my teenage. Got addicted to Crack for over 23 years. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.

The opposite of addiction is connection. Profound.

Everyone of us that searched and clicked this video has become aware of themselves and wants to change. Good luck everyone, much love

As a 24 yr old addict myself, I have not a single soul to fall back on, to vent to, to connect with, etc. I’ve been traumatized and abused my entire life and never wanted to be an addict. My whole world flipped upside down after leaving a long term abusive relationship and tried meth for the first time. 2 years later, I haven’t stopped despite the desire and conscious knowledge of wanting to recover. I have no one that tells me they love me or are there for me, and I’m lonely with no human interactions in my daily life. I absolutely hate it and want connections with others. I have changed my toxic mindset completely over the past 4 years and nobody sees me for how I am now, only how I was as a child and young teen. I hope I can take the steps to recover for myself. I don’t want to lose my life or travel this path forever. I’m thankful for this video and the people that have commented. ❤you all, addicts or not. You matter & you’re seen.

I just got out of detox after relapsing after 17 years of sobriety and we watched this video in there. So spot on. Addiction is lonely. We need connection.

Crazy as it sounds it’s true 10 years ago I was a user , my mom found out after the back nd forth of arguing one day she told me “ I’ll. Be here for you regardless I love you either way” I got sober the next week . Been sober 10 years

"The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection." This gave me all the feels 😭♥️

"Using because you can't bear to be present in your own life." Thank you so much for this video. I really needed to hear this and I'm sitting here crying as I feel my perspective shift about the addicts in my life. Thank you

This made me cry. Children need to be taught in public school about mental health and therapeutic tools to cope from trauma and family dysfunction, self awareness and mindset, because a society that emphasizes maths and science while neglecting the human condition does not provide the basic human skills/education for a functioning adult in society no matter how great their SAT score, nor does it allow us to become a great society and reach our human potential. I felt I didn’t get enough connection growing up from my parents, and I have an “addictive personality.” I think we need to teach and emphasize more public education about communication skills, coping skills, and healthy relationships.

So spot on. My addiction progressed the more alone I became.

40 days sober today and I can tell you I'm grateful to be on the other side of this addiction.

I used to be addicted to heroin and cocaine but now I don’t do any drugs. Just had to break away from that AA/NA mindstate and stop telling myself “I’m recovering”, Instead I just started telling myself the truth which is “I just don’t do drugs anymore so I’m already recovered”. After someone quits smoking they don’t sit around talking about smoking and referring to themselves as “recovering smokers”, They just say “I don’t smoke” and move on with their life. The words you use can and will subconsciously reinforce the thought that you’re giving something up, Or the thought that there’s nothing to give up at all.

That's so interesting to me. I have had depression on and off for a few years now. I think this also explains depression quite nicely. You see, my room is a mess, my grades are a mess,...my life is a mess. Yet I never wanted to get up because I have no friends, and my family did not try and reach out and help me. I always feel so lonely, and that I am worth nothing. My family, especially my mom, would make fun of me to other people. Talk behind my back intentionally so that I would hear what she says about me. Everything I say, my parents look at each other and make me feel as if I am crazy. My mom would tell my friends about how messy I am, how I am a terrible child. I ended up feeling isolated and unwanted, as she always told me she wished I was not her daughter and that some one else's child is. It was the fact that she said this so calmly and final that it unnerved me. They only yell and scream at me, Shame. Shun. Belittle. I no longer feel like a person. I know that no one will see this comment, but if anyone, ANYONE, sees this, this is my cry for help.