Amber HollingsworthRecovery Conversation Simulator, Amber's Recovery Practice Lab · Interactive learning tool trained on Amber methodoloy

Better than 12-step meetings?

29 May 2023 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:46

Amber Hollingsworth argues in a short YouTube commentary that watching stand-up comedians (example: John Mulaney) discuss their addiction recovery can be therapeutically helpful. She says self-deprecating humor lets viewers accept responsibility for past actions without overwhelming shame and that laughter releases right-brain chemicals that help protect against addiction.

Chapters

So I was watching John Mulaney's new stand up comedy Netflix special, and it suddenly occurred to me that watching stand up comics talk about their addiction recovery might be one of the most therapeutic things you can do for your own recovery. Here's why. Listening to them talk about the crazy things they've done, but also they're laughing at their self, but they're also accepting responsibility for it helps you to look at the crazy things you've done and accept responsibility for it, but not be overwhelmed by all that shame and guil frustration. It's kind of like, yeah, I can see it was a mistake. That was super dumb of me, and now I can move on. And bonus, all of the laughing produces all the right brain chemicals in your brain that help protect you against addiction.