Today we talk with Dr. Jonathan Avery and Trey Laird about addiction and the stigma of addiction. Then we talk with DeWone Bennett about loneliness.

Addiction Stigma and Trey's Story

Dr. Jonathan Avery, MD, is the director of psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center. He is a leading doctor talking about the stigma of addiction. This meaning, the difference in the way we as a culture view substance use addiction versus other mental illnesses. The stigma seems to be very judgmental toward substance use compared to other struggles that people go through. This stigma is what Dr. Jonathan is striving to change.Trey Laird is the CEO and Founder of The Lighthouse Sober Living. For 22 years, Trey was a Wall Street equities trader. He travels regularly to share his story of recovery and to empower others to share their stories as well. Both Dr. Jonathan Avery and Trey are fighting the fight on the addiction stigma as well as the treatment. Because there are other mental and emotional challenges that come with substance use addiction, it makes for a prescription drug abundance. And this is something Dr. Jonathan Avery feels very strongly about. Listen in to hear their discussion!

Loneliness with DeWone Bennett

DeWone Bennett talks with us today about the ins and outs of loneliness. DeWone is a licensed professional counselor with over 10 years of experience. He first tells us the difference between solitude and loneliness. A lot of people use the word "lonely" in the wrong context, because it is actually a feeling and not being physically alone. For example, someone can feel extremely lonely while around a group of people, or around their family and friends. This is an innermost feeling from something deeper going on. As a licensed counselor, DeWone knows how to get his clients through this. It is also EXTREMELY common, so if you feel this way you are not alone. The first step is to talk to someone about your feeling of loneliness. Then, you can work to make your way past it and start feeling like yourself again.