On this segment of Mental Breakthroughs, host Patricia Wu is joined by psychologist, Dr. Geri-Lynn Utter-Godfrey, providing insight into battling addiction and getting on the road to recovery.
Co-Occuring Concerns
Dr. Utter-Godfrey works with many people who would be considered marginalized populations. While she helps her patients address substance and alcohol-use disorders, many of her clients also have other mental health concerns, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Dr. Utter-Godfrey also works with the forensic and prison systems, helping people break the cycle of incarceration.
Addiction Risk Factors
The risks for addiction fall into two camps, environmental factors and genetic predispostion. Environmental influences during childhood can put people at greater risk for developing addiction, usually associated with a chaotic homelife or being raised by parents with a very laid back view of substance use. However, environmental factors aren’t only rooted in the household, as poor grades in school caused by learning differences like dyslexia and ADHD can also put children at a higher risk for developing addiction. For genetic predispositions, Dr. Utter-Godfrey recommends that everyone look through their family tree, and regardless of race, religion, socio-economic background; everyone will likely have some form of addiction that has run in their family. Having family members struggle with a certain form of addiction doesn’t mean that you will become addicted yourself, but it does make you vulnerable for possibly developing that addiction.
Knowing How to Avoid Addiction
Dr. Utter-Godfrey shares that she was at risk for addiction with environmental factors and genetic predispositions, but what helped her avoid falling down that path was her parents. She says that her parents were very upfront with their own vices and their family history, giving Dr. Utter-Godfrey a clear view of what to be cautious of. While she grew up in what she describes as a chaotic family upbringing, she says her saving grace was her parents raising her with a clear sense of self and identity.
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