Five Building Blocks of Recovery®
The Five Building Blocks of Recovery is a mental health podcast for people in recovery from one or more mental health conditions, their friends and family, and those in the mental health field who are providing support and treatment.
The podcast will be partly educational and partly conversational; some episodes will focus on one or more aspects of each of the Five Building Blocks, while others will consist of interviews with people in recovery or people with expertise on one or more building blocks.
Ultimately the goal is to leave you with simple ideas and action steps for your mental health recovery journey or for someone you care about.
New episodes typically come out every four weeks on Sunday afternoons at 3PM, Pacific Time.
Peer support group facilitator, peer support specialist, and professional mental health speaker Jared Bendifallah talks about mental health through the lens of his Five Building Blocks of Recovery which can provide a roadmap for recovery – a simple yet profound framework -- for those living with a mental health condition (and inspiration for their loved ones).
Remember, recovery is possible, and hope is real 😊
Disclaimer: The insights and offerings shared by guests reflect their own views and experiences. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health, clinical, or medical advice. Always use your own judgment when considering any services, programs, or resources mentioned.
For more information about the Five Building Blocks of Recovery and/or to contact Jared, go to Five Building Blocks of Recovery (thefivebuildingblocksofrecovery.com)
Five Building Blocks of Recovery®
Actions over Feelings - The Surprising Truth about Overcoming Negative Emotions with Stephen Nawotniak
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
A non-motorized trek across the East Coast. A hospital stay that reset everything. And a clear, human roadmap for living well with bipolar disorder. I sat down with Steven Nawotniak—occupational therapist, certified psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner, New York certified peer specialist, and award-winning author—to trace how he moved from coping with symptoms to building a purpose-driven life grounded in fulfillment and action over feelings.
In this episode Stephen and I discuss:
- The two types of stigma
- The power of expanded self-awareness (Building Block #5)
- Four perspectives living with bipolar
- Three things to have a good quality of life while living with discomfort
- The five rung acceptance ladder from hopelessness to gift
- Practical "and" statements to diffuse negative self-talk
Finally, the episode ends with Stephen sharing his hopes for the future related to mental health treatment and the two lies that depression tries to tell us.
If you’ve felt stuck chasing happiness and trying to fight or avoid negative feelings, this conversation points to something more powerful and grounded: fulfillment built through aligned action, even on hard days.
Subscribe, share with someone who needs hope, and leave a review with the rung on the acceptance ladder you’re on today and one step you’ll take next!
You can get in touch with Stephen at his website:
https://www.stephennawotniak.com/
Stephen's Books:
Bipolar Life Hacks: Keys to Loving Life with Bipolar Disorder
Handbook for Healthy Living with a Mood Disorder
Mubu the Morph (children's book)
Disclaimer: Guest views and offerings are their own. Any links, resources, or services mentioned are provided for convenience and informational purposes only. Please use your own judgment when exploring or purchasing anything. We appreciate our guests for sharing their insights and experiences.
*AI was used to help with the creation of the episode title and description
For more information about the Five Building Blocks of Recovery and/or to contact Jared, go to Five Building Blocks of Recovery (thefivebuildingblocksofrecovery.com)