Transcending addiction and redefining recovery: Jacki Hillios at TEDxBoulder

Addiction is giving up everything for one thing. Recovery is giving up one thing for everything.

I've seen it a million times. Someone will get up and say they were addicted to one thing or the other, but they courageously kicked the habit, went through rehab and they are now clean and sober and have been for 3 years. The next thing that happens is that everyone in the room stands up and applauds to show their support. Where were these people when they were looking for help? When their picture is published in the paper because they got caught with a dime bag or a joint. Where were they when the addict was on rock bottom,...and trust me, even the bottom has a little give to it. So many people see the addict at their worst and they just want them out of their neighborhoods, off the streets, they don't care, just throw them in jail and throw away the key. All addicts are on a journey. They have to get through this disease. They don't need people or organizations throwing stones in their passway. They need help. Let's help them.

Great presentation Jacki Hillios! Stigma and shame; my two closest companions. As a nurse for more than 30 years, returning to the clinical setting after earning my license back was incredibly difficult and shameful, hoping that my journey remain a secret. Now  3 years sober, I am eager to share my story and if revealing myself helps one colleague, it is all worth it. I wrote an e-book, lecture at nursing schools and face those from my past, who are shocked and speechless. It is no longer about the shame of my addiction, but rather the pride of my recovery.

Why are drugs and alcohol always separated? Alcohol is a drug!!

In recovery . And this brought me to tears. Thank u for advocating for our community.

Thank you for not shaming me....9 yrs clean 😎

Having a place to go and something to do with people with people who will support you is the desire of almost all people. If we had a society that focused on offering these things to begin with, maybe we could halt drug seeking behavior before it became addiction.

Wow, after reading the many comments below I'm not sure it's even appropriate to respond. So many opinions from people that treat addiction but haven't endured addiction themselves. I'm left to wonder if my being in recovery after 30 years of drinking and using qualifies me to offer up an opinion or is this just a shouting match. In any case, addiction is much too serious for foolish banter and careless insults. This is exactly why I shunned traditional treatment for a holistic approach to healing myself, for myself and by myself. And so far its working. Knock on wood.

I have been there before, I have been clean and sober for 34yrs, Changed gender when I was 24yrs clean and sober, and currently in my 3rd yr of college to become a Social worker,Trauma Therapist, and the nueroscience of it all. It has really been a process of feeling, and learning how to live in the reality of reality. Sobriety has been just a small gift, doing the feelings and grief work with a therapist has been the biggest gift of all to myself. Never give up on yourself. I got clean and sober at 24 yrs old, Iam now 58yrs old and have a very good life.

this video wasn't what I was searching for at all. I don't want sappy whinny advice on recovery, I want legit solid guidance and advice

The one sentence that brought me to tears..."it is valued". Trying to fit in with people who have no clue what addiction is gives you the clear knowing that your struggles and pride in yourself has no value to them. We must hang with other people we who know what we feel and value our strength.

I kinda liked what she had to say about recovery. I went to AA for 11 years but never really found any fun, hope and joy. I did however start doing a lot of voluntary work within the community & local schools and that brought me more fun, hope and joy than any AA meeting did. It was actually doing something with my time instead of boozing that worked for me I believe. Any AA meetings I've been to always focuses on the negative, the illness and stuff like that - you're just sitting around talking about it. For me, cos I suffer with depression too, I need to actually feel I'm doing something.

The number one roadblock to recovery, is people fixated on "not drinking". I tried 500 times to "not drink", and failed every time. I was convinced that my intellectual prowess, would eventually save me from going over the cliff. It didn't! When I came to, I discovered that I had been granted the gifts of desperation, and the willingness to "live differently". That was more than 27 years ago, and in all that time I have not fixated on alcohol once. My focus has been, and continues to be "taking action". My sobriety today begins and ends with my feet. It's not about what I think, or feel, it's about what I do. Period!

Making addiction recovery treatment more available is something that is greatly needed. That is part of my mission through the Online Mindfulness Therapy Service that I offer.

Thank you for this brilliant information. Thank you for sharing it so openly - as we work together we can and do accomplish miracles. We are not our addictions or our problems - we are limitless beings awakening into our magnificence.

I watched this and I cried. I haven't done drugs in a long time, but I'm still addicted to video games and other sources of instant gratification. I recently went on a powerkiting and wakeboarding weekend retreat and what you say meshes so well with my experience! When you have a healthy source of enjoyment, camaraderie, you don't need instant gratification. Thank you for putting what I felt into words.

WONDERFUL! I was blown away by this talk, one of the best recovery talks I have ever sees - and I have seen lot. Hits all the nails on the head. Thank you Jacki and Scott and all your colleagues.

I really enjoyed Dr. Hillios treatment approach and her loving description of people who struggle with overusing substances.

She is taking away stigma which is much needed to all the naysayers. I got sober in AA but it is not for everyone and this is a very good alternative!

as someone in recovery, i can see the huge benefits to this program...my hats off to them for being creative