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  • well, it is such a stressful time for all of us, and so many of us are struggling.

  • But for those with serious addictions, alcohol, drugs, food, times of crisis and isolation are even more dangerous.

  • And here to talk with us about this is addiction specialist and creator of the Beacon program here in New York, Molly Caramel.

  • Thank you so much for being with us, Molly and as an addiction specialist.

  • Tell us what is going on, what you're seeing during this time of quarantine.

  • It's a time that we want to be feeling different than we're feeling right.

  • We want to be feeling good.

  • We want to be feeling numb.

  • We want to be feeling high, so cute, these addictive behaviors for people who struggle, who struggle with them.

  • These are very familiar patterns that could be easy to go back to.

  • Alcohol, drugs, overeating, gambling, shopping, sex.

  • You name it right.

  • And then this is also another caveat.

  • Because those who are in recovery who were used to attending those regular meetings with support groups face to face that's gone now.

  • So what can they do?

  • What options are there for them?

  • Well, it's actually an incredible, incredible and very beautiful thing that was happens.

  • Those communities and specifically the 12 step community, has galvanized in a tremendous way.

  • Nearly the entire community, at least in New York City, is on zoom go business as usual.

  • And so for those who are struggling in general, I would suggest to go to the inter group home page of any of the 12 step communities, and you'll see that there are phone meetings that their online meetings.

  • It's different, but it'll d'oh!

  • That's amusing yet.

  • No, it's better than nothing, certainly.

  • So what are your tips for those who are at home struggling?

  • You say the first thing you should do is be flexible?

  • Absolutely.

  • As a therapist, all I'm hearing is like it doesn't feel the same.

  • My workouts don't feel the same.

  • That there if he doesn't feel the same and the truth is it's not the same.

  • But these days I think we have to say that something is better than nothing.

  • And so getting our heads wrapped around this being new and this we have to find a way to make this new life okay and reasonable for us, Yeah, the next one you say is get off your devices.

  • Oh, yeah.

  • I mean, talk about how isolating and crazy making those can be.

  • And I'm not one to say we should be on a news cleanse at all.

  • But finding a middle path between your scrolling and your information in take bursts is where it turns you into and towards spaces.

  • That doesn't feel useful towards you.

  • I think it's finding a middle path and limiting your screen use and your news on your feet, right.

  • You want to be connected, but you don't want it to somehow be disruptive.

  • So you also say you get a plan?

  • Absolutely.

  • And I think that this is one of the more common suggestions right now is you got a plan.

  • But I think that, you know, certainly an addiction we thrive on schedule on.

  • And I think there are things that people are overlooking, so scheduling our meals, scheduling are showering, and I actually think scheduling our connection, you know, the opposite of addiction is connection, and we can get isolated so quickly our minds can become a really dangerous neighborhood.

  • And so I'm actually saying thio schedule reaching out to three people a day you know, and by the way, helps other people too.

  • I know what I've been getting.

  • Phone calls have been like, Oh, I'm so glad you don't think about myself today.

  • You know what I mean?

  • Yeah, I know.

  • I think that's a great, great advice.

  • And the next one you say is to be mindful.

  • Yeah.

  • I mean, the thing is, like, we have a little bit of spare time.

  • Maybe not all the parents out there, but, you know, it's a meditation and mindfulness, and so it's a biologically based intervention.

  • It actually helps us to manager anxiety.

  • Like Dan Harris was saying this morning.

  • And so what a wonderful time to pick up a practice and not necessarily sitting quietly but getting focused for so many ways that we can be managing our anxiety, working on our neural pathways on dhe, you know, feeling.

  • I mean, we're certainly not gonna be feeling exactly the way we felt a few months ago, but we could be doing better than we're doing and feeling better than work feeling It's certainly somewhat of a self.

  • We had that power within Molly Caramel.

  • Thanks so much for joining us this afternoon.

  • Thank you.

  • Hi, everyone.

  • George Stephanopoulos Here.

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  • Thanks for watching.

well, it is such a stressful time for all of us, and so many of us are struggling.

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