In Episode #5 of Forged From The Ashes, Jeff explores how addiction sustains itself through self-deception—quiet, believable thoughts that sound like logic but keep people trapped in the cycle.

In this piece, I explore why addiction isn’t something people can “just quit.” Drawing from personal experience, I explain how addiction lives in thought patterns, routines, identity, and emotional coping—not just in the substance itself.

In Episode 3 of Forged From The Ashes, Jeff shares how rock bottom isn’t one moment, but a quiet buildup of grief, addiction, and loss—and how finally seeing himself clearly became the start of change.

The podcast episode begins with an introduction and overview of the podcast, followed by a discussion on recognizing the first signs of addiction and the cycle of denial and negotiation. The host shares personal experiences and insights related to these themes, providing a raw and unfiltered perspective on addiction and recovery.

Takeaways

• Recognizing the first signs of addiction
• The cycle of denial and negotiation

 I want to tell you who I am.

Not the clean-up version. Not the safe version. The real version.

So this episode is called "I wasn't supposed to make it"

And the truth is, I mean that. Because there were a whole lot of moments in my life where it really looked like I wasn't going to make it at all.