Using Connection to Overcome Addiction with Allan Kehler
In this episode, Roxanne chats with Allan Kehler about his personal journey with mental health, substance abuse, and body dysmorphia. They discuss his realization, decision to change, and strategies for coping with life's challenges. They also delve into overcoming fears, breaking isolation, and the importance of emotional communication.
Key Points
- Alan Kehler shares his personal journey of overcoming mental health challenges and substance abuse disorder, revealing that vulnerability and sharing one's story can empower others to do the same and foster a sense of community and support.
- Creating a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to express their emotions and struggles is crucial for healing, as exemplified by Alan's transformative experience with a teacher who offered compassion and a listening ear without attempting to fix the problem.
- To initiate positive change in one's life, it is essential to take the first step towards vulnerability, seek connections with others who understand, and find healthy outlets for suppressed emotions, which can lead to a more fulfilling and enjoyable life.
Quote: “The definition for healing for me is pretty simple. The more that you can get the darkness out, the more room you’re going to make for light.” Allan Kehler
There are many mental health issues and forms of addiction prevalent in our society and finding a path back to good mental health can be overwhelming. Often when support is offered the person struggling isn’t ready to take that first step. On this episode of Authentic Living with Roxanne we welcome Allan Kehler who has been through his own struggles with mental health and addiction and now helps others find their way back to good mental health.
Allan is a mental health advocate, international keynote speaker, best-selling author of four books. His writing has been published in countless national magazines and he has been featured on several television and radio programs. He has also instructed various mental health-related courses at the college level and spent years working as an addiction counsellor and clinical case manager. Allan is one of Canada’s most sought-after speakers when it comes to the topic of mental health and wellness. He has stood on more than 500 stages and is recognized for his engaging style and captivating approach.
Authentic Touch Points:
- Allan’s path from chaos to calm. 3:00
- How thoughts can impact behaviour. 7:15
- Running from the pain. 10:15
- Words of support that can make a difference. 13:15
- What helped create change for Allan. 17:00
- A safe space helps build trust. 21:30
- Men need communication and connection too. 25:30
Having persevered through his own mental health issues and substance use, Allan speaks from a place of experience. His moving stories tug on heartstrings, inspire a new perspective, and allow people to connect with themselves and others at a deeper level. He uses humour and compassion to create a safe space where people feel seen, heard and supported. Allan has developed a genuine appreciation and passion for learning and working with Indigenous people and communities. This has played a key role in his own recovery and these cultural teachings can be found in his presentations. Allan currently resides in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He shares his life with his beautiful wife, four boys, four dogs, and a tank of fish.
With many of us working from home and feeling the pressure of the pandemic, I encourage you to reach out with thoughts or questions about your own self-awareness and creating a healthier mindset.
I have created a new live coaching program to help you Create Healthier and More Authentic Relationships in your life and get more connected to your authentic self. Click here to contact me at your convenience or click here to book a complimentary call with me.
Links:
Allan’s website: https://www.allankehler.com Contact Allan: https://www.allankehler.com/contact/ Allan’s books: https://www.allankehler.com/shop/ Roxanne’s email: [email protected] Book a complementary Call with Roxanne: https://calendly.com/roxanne-8/15min?month=2024-02 Roxanne’s previous podcasts: https://roxannederhodge.com/blog/
Chapters
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Transcript
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