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In a compelling episode of The Get Unhooked Podcast, Jason Coombs celebrates 16 years of sobriety while revealing his proven three-step process for making critical decisions when supporting addicted loved ones. Through candid conversations with coaching session participants and reflections from his book "Unhooked," Jason provides a roadmap for families struggling with the complex terrain of addiction recovery.

Episode Highlights

• Jason outlines his three-step decision-making process: research thoroughly, make the best decision possible, and seek spiritual guidance
• Jason emphasizes keeping a "personal revelation journal" to document insights and breakthroughs
• Important reminder that addiction is a mental illness requiring treatment - "they're sick needing to get well, not bad needing to get good"
• Jason reflects on his 16-year sobriety journey that began March 19, 2009
• "Instead of looking for God's hand in our lives, look for his fingerprints" - finding guidance in seemingly small moments

The Decision-Making Framework That Changes Everything

Jason outlines a straightforward yet profound approach to making decisions when helping someone battling addiction:

1. Research thoroughly – Weigh the costs, benefits, risks, and rewards of each option
2. Make the best decision possible with the information available
3. Seek spiritual guidance through prayer, asking for discernment if the chosen path aligns with divine will

The final key? Follow through on the course of action once determined.

The Overlooked Power of Journaling Personal Revelations

Jason emphasizes an essential practice for lasting recovery: maintaining a "personal revelation journal" to capture insights during moments of clarity.

"These calls aren't just a one hour of, 'okay, I feel better now. Now what?' Think of these calls as opening up the channels of light and love to heaven and to your higher power," Jason explains.

He recommends:

• Writing "PR" (personal revelation) in margins to mark significant insights
• Reviewing past journals regularly to recognize patterns and growth
• Recording "aha moments" to reference during difficult times

From Selling Hot Dogs to Saving Lives: Jason's Journey

March 19, 2009 marks the beginning of Jason's sobriety journey. His path from selling hot dogs outside Home Depot to founding Brick House Recovery illustrates the unexpected ways recovery unfolds.

"At the time I was like, my whole life squandered and I'm starting over," Jason recalls of his early sobriety at 31. "I was comparing myself to others that I'd gone to school with that were on their fourth kid and were vice presidents in their companies."

A pivotal moment came through an unexpected sign – literally. While contemplating educational directions, Jason noticed a utility box marked "communications" – the exact program he'd researched the night before. This led him to meet his future wife and ultimately establish his treatment center.

The Fingerprints of Guidance

Jason introduces a perspective shift for those seeking direction: "Instead of looking for God's hand in our lives, look for his fingerprints."

This approach transforms seemingly minor decisions into meaningful turning points:

• Moving in with parents to save money while

For more information check out brickhouserecovery.com

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In this "Get Unhooked Podcast" episode, Jason Coombs (Brick House Recovery) discusses Chapter 11 of "UNHOOKED" – the Hope chapter. He explores establishing boundaries, effective communication, and transforming struggles into service opportunities.

Key Moments

• 2:26 "Fear is lack of mental discipline" - Mental choices precede emotional responses
• 6:10 "Empathy isn't empathy without boundaries" - Proper boundaries bring hearts closer
• 8:03 Faith vs. fear - Challenges refine us "like a rolling stone down the river"
• 10:08 Service as path out of fear - Helping others alleviates obsessive thinking
• 13:03 "True recovery is identity change" not just abstinence
• 19:03 Two categories of fear - Not getting what we want; losing what we have
• 29:04 Testimony - Service transforms self-obsession into purpose
• 32:14 Recovery coach certification opportunities

Mental Discipline: Foundation for Change

Jason establishes that managing addiction – whether our own or supporting others – begins with mental choices, not emotional reactions. "Every day, what I have control over is how I choose to view any situation," he emphasizes.

Three Guiding Principles

• Boundaries enhance empathy – Referencing Brené Brown, Jason shows how boundaries actually bring hearts closer
• Faith as mental discipline – Contrasting faith (cultivated mindset) with fear (default state)
• Service as freedom – Serving others provides the fastest path out of fear

Identity Change: The "Sober Secret"

True recovery requires identity transformation beyond abstinence. "A lot of people can get sober, but the true recovery is identity change," Jason explains, sharing his transition from seeing himself as a failure to recognizing his qualification to help others.

Understanding this distinction helps family members better support the whole-person transformation essential for lasting change.

Understanding Fear

Jason identifies two core fear categories that drive anxiety around addiction:

1. Fear of not getting what we want
2. Fear of losing what we have

Service: The Antidote

Participants share how serving others transformed their journeys. One notes: "Serving with other struggling parents has made such a difference. All my things about myself get lost in being of service."

Actionable Takeaways

• Pause before responding emotionally
• Establish empathy-enhancing boundaries
• Identify your loved one's stage of change before communicating
• Distinguish between sobriety and recovery
• Find service opportunities to escape fear
• Join recovery communities for shared strength

Resources

• Get Unhooked podcast on major platforms
• "Unhooked" book (Audible, Amazon, Jason's website)
• Eight-week Get Unhooked family course
• Recovery coach certification paths
• Brick House Recovery services

Jason concludes with gratitude for the community, acknowledging that transformation occurs through connection with others and a higher power.

For more resources, visit Brick House Recovery or explore Jason's book UNHOOKED. For emergencies, call 911.

For more information check out brickhouserecovery.com

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In this episode, Jason Coombs of Brick House Recovery shares how a teen's frightening drug-induced psychosis transformed into an opportunity for healing and growth. After using psilocybin mushrooms and high-potency cannabis concentrates, the teen experienced severe hallucinations, mood swings, and panic attacks lasting five days.

Through building trust, identifying underlying issues, and reframing anxiety as a potential strength, Jason demonstrates how even the most challenging situations can become catalysts for positive change.

The Unexpected Emergency Call

When Jason Coombs received an urgent text from a concerned mother about her teenage son experiencing a drug-induced psychotic episode, he knew immediate action was necessary. The teen had been suffering from audible and visual hallucinations, mood swings, and panic attacks for five days straight—a situation requiring careful, informed intervention.

What began as a crisis evolved into a powerful lesson about modern substance risks, trust-building techniques, and transforming traumatic experiences into opportunities for growth.

Episode Highlights

• 1:06 A teen facing drug-induced psychotic episode after five days of symptoms
• 4:02 The dangerous combination of psilocybin mushrooms and THC concentrates
• [5:03 Cannabis education: Modern concentrate forms, potency levels and administration methods
• 9:36 Physical and psychological side effects of concentrated cannabis products
• 12:52 How Jason developed rapport through non-judgmental questioning and normalization
• 17:32 The three strategies: Transforming a nightmare experience into personal growth opportunities
• 22:16 Personal application: Jason's journey with anxiety as both a curse and a motivating superpower

The Reality of Modern Cannabis Concentrates

During conversations with the teen (referred to as "Troy" in the podcast), Jason discovered the crisis stemmed from a combination of psilocybin mushrooms and highly concentrated cannabis products. This reflects a dangerous trend facing today's youth.

Modern cannabis concentrates present significantly heightened risks compared to traditional cannabis:

• Potency levels: Concentrates contain 60-90% THC compared to just 15-25% in traditional cannabis flower
• Common forms: Wax, dabs, shatter, butter/batter, crumble, live resin, honeycomb, BHO, sugar, sauce, and more
• Administration methods: Vape pens, dab rigs, nectar collectors, edibles, tinctures, and infused joints

The physical effects can include rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, impaired coordination, respiratory issues, nausea, and headaches. More concerning are the psychological effects: acute anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, hallucinations, memory impairment, and potential triggers for psychosis in vulnerable individuals.

Creating Trust Through Non-Judgmental Communication

Jason's approach to helping Troy demonstrates the critical difference between gaining trust and building rapport with teens in crisis:

"Trust is a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, and strength in someone. Rapport is a close and harmonious relationship in which you understand each other's feelings and ideas."

Jason employed several key techniques that parents and professionals can learn from:

• Asking non-judgmental questions
• Normalizing experiences to reduce panic and shame
• Taking the "long game" approach rath

For more information check out brickhouserecovery.com