Addicted Australia - Episode 4

[Bamboo [facilitator]]

Hello everyone

Tonight at 8:30pm on SBS the fourth and final episode of Addicted Australia will be airing. The documentary has opened the door to allow us to see what wrap around treatment and support looks like for 10 participants recovering from addiction. Here we'll get to see the progress that they have made over six months.

For some people you may have similar experiences to the participants on the documentary and although this can be relatable and helpful, some may find this triggering. If you find yourself feeling triggered by any content on the documentary, take a short break to ground yourself and we can also help support you on on the forums .

After you have viewed this episode we invite you to come back onto the forum to have a discussion with your peers. We'd love to know what thoughts and feelings came up for you whilst watching.

Take note of any themes you feel are important to focus on and any questions you may have throughout.

Also if you have missed last weeks episode you can view it on the SBS website or app

[Calvino01]

'Addicted Australia' fourth and final episode!!!

Hi there everyone

We are up to the last episode of the Addicted Australia Docu-series.
Catch it on SBS tonight at 8:30pm and please revisit the forums to have a chance to express your thoughts and feelings around it and also participate in a discussion around what common themes you recognise throughout.
If you miss the episode tonight you can view it on the SBS app or website

[Calvino01]

What were your thoughts of the final episode of Addicted Australia ?

As you would of noticed, it was a highly emotional episode showing us the progress, the setbacks, the struggles and the accomplishments of all the participants.

There were a few themes throughout the final episode that were worth noting:

Normalising relapse: Some of the participants did experience some type of relapse, throughout the program. It wasn't so much the relapse that was focused on, but instead it showed how the participant progressed further from that relapse by using it as another starting point and learning experience.

COVID isolation: We have all lived through some of the toughest restrictions and throughout the program we see how this isolation had impacted those that are in the middle of making drastic changes to their lives. Isolation had brought lots of stress and anxiety around the unknown which can make us feel our triggers to use, more intensely.

Suicide ideation: This can be a sensitive topic for lots of people. In the program we got to hear Heidi's personal story experience of suicide ideation driven by her attempts to stop drinking. For some people the hardest part is reaching out for support and discussing this with someone. It can sometimes feel next to impossible to see that light at the end of the tunnel but by reaching out for help, you give yourself a chance. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 if you need support as a first step.

What other themes stood out for you in the final episode? What were the main points you took away from the whole program over all four episodes?

[Cloudy]

The thing that stood out for me was
Yes it is exhausting being an addict it’s like you are always fighting yourself and Heidi s feelings were very confronting cos there is times when life feels like that so you can relate

[Leonarda]

Hey [mention]Cloudy[/mention] yes, Heidi did resonate with a lot of people didn't she - her struggles and always keeping that 'tiger' at bay where the worry is that the addiction may overwhelm you - but she is a fighter too, and it was good to see her throughout the documentary really trying to overcome her alcohol - I hope you found the documentary useful and supportive in any case.