The Addicted Mind Podcast (Duane Osterlind, LMFT)

On today’s episode, Duane speaks with ultra-runner and recovering alcoholic and addict, Henry Ward, as he shares his own story of recovery, about how alcoholism and drugs took his whole life, and finally getting into treatment.  For a few years, Henry was wandering around, not being able to do anything, until he stumbled into running. Today, he shares how running has impacted his life, and how he uses running, not only in his own recovery but also to bring his passion for running to others through his nonprofit Running Without the Devil.  Growing up in a family and community where alcohol was prevalent, Henry subconsciously knew he got the addictive gene. Eventually, he got stuck into this vicious cycle which caused a lot of damage to his reputation and pushed away relationships. Ultimately, he went into treatment and discovered his passion for running. The more runner’s high he got, the more he felt like himself. After 22 years of drinking and using, Henry had dealt with all the pain, the shame, and the guilt. And so, for him, his physical pain from running was nothing compared to what he went through back then – because if he got through that, then he can get through anything.  In this episode, you will hear: Henry’s story of addiction Putting the work in to set yourself up for success Discovering his passion for running What is an ultra-marathon? Pushing through the stinking thinking How he used his history of addiction to his advantage Key Quotes: [33:19] - "There is no magic pill. It doesn't matter if it's diet or exercise or recovery from addiction, you have to put the work in. If you want to succeed in a career, you can't just half-ass it.” [33:30] - "If you have a half-assed recovery, you're going to get half-assed results, and you probably go back out there." [38:15] - "I found that thing that helps you burn off the anxiety, get me out of my own head, get my confidence back. And when I run, I feel like myself. The more runner's high you get, the more I feel like myself." [40:22] - "You get a lot of time on your feet. But you get a lot of time in your head, and you really learn a lot about yourself and what the human body is capable of." [43:02] - "Quiet the negative voices. Quiet that devil and just take it like a small little fragment, and break it down... it teaches you to stay in the moment." [46:22] - "Everything always works out for the better and better than you imagine. It doesn't matter what it is, you get what you put into it." [46:29] - "Keep hustling, keep trying, keep asking people and keep networking, and something good is going to come of it. Put the time in, but it's not worth worrying about." Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Running Without the Devil https://runningwithoutthedevil.com  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s so easy to compare your own trauma with somebody else's trauma but trauma is trauma. You can have no kids and not be married, and put your dog down. And that can be just as traumatic as somebody who went through losing a child. All of our pain is unique to us and it's painful to us no matter what it is. But at the end of the day, we are all left with two roads – one is the road of anger, despair, and hatred and the other is a road of inspiration and motivation – which one are you going to take? On this episode, Duane speaks with Jeff Johnston about his story of loss and grief, losing his eldest son and his wife to addiction, and having to deal with his own recovery from alcoholism.   Jeff was a functional alcoholic who has been drinking since he was in eighth grade. He was also a compulsive gambler for 15 years. But his pivot point in his life came in October 2016 when his 23-year-old son, Seth died from fentanyl poisoning and heroin overdose. Jeff initially drank his way to cope with the pain. Then in December 2017, as an alcoholic since eighth grade, he just woke up and realized he was tired of being tired. Although we always have two choices, there was only one choice for him because the bitter road was never an option for him. In June 2021, his wife died of alcohol abuse at the age of 46.  Jeff took the deaths in his family as the beginning of something beautiful. For Jeff, things didn’t happen to him, but things had to happen for him. With this kind of mindset, he is committed to living a life undeterred. He made a choice to turn his pain and suffering into something transformative, not only for him but also for other people. And out of that came his Living Undeterred project, where he tours around the United States, working to change the narrative on mental health, substance abuse, and addiction.    In this episode, you will hear: Jeff’s story of losing his 23-year-old son The two roads you can go down Do things happen to you or for you? Pain is unavoidable, suffering is a choice Jeff’s coping mechanisms Keeping yourself from being addicted to your vulnerability Reframing your situation Ending the stigma of addiction About Living Undeterred The opposite of addiction The quiver of arrows metaphor in life  Key Quotes: [08:43] - “Death presented an opportunity for me to be a better man, not a bitter man.” [10:20] - "We have one road of anger, despair, and hatred, and we become alcoholics ourselves. Or we have a road of inspiration and motivation, and this can be the single greatest moment in our lives to make our own lives better and those around us." [11:40] - "As an alcoholic since eighth grade, I just woke up and said, I'm tired of being tired." [13:21] - “Do things happen to you or do things happen for you?” [15:20] - "Pain is unavoidable, but suffering is a choice." [23:00] - “A death of somebody doesn't have to be the end of you. It can be the beginning of something beautiful." [27:59] - “The opposite of addiction is connection.” [31:06] - "We all have a "why" and you just have to find it. And then when you find it, your way gets revealed right in front of you."  If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Living Undeterred https://www.livingundeterred.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmGZTTnszWNlkG0sIGcp-YQ  This One's For You: An Inspirational Journey Through Addiction, Death, and Meaning https://www.thisonesforyoubook.com/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest today is Marnie Breecker from the Center for Relational Healing in Los Angeles. In this first episode of a two-part series on the topic of relational and betrayal trauma, we will be defining what this type of trauma looks like and its impacts on both partners in the relationship. As a sex addiction therapist and a marriage and family therapist, Marnie is an expert identifying and assessing the traumatic impact of the discovery of infidelity or betrayal on relationships as a whole and on the individuals involved. She shares with us that there are two types of trauma that affected partners go through: the trauma of discovery and the trauma of their own response to the betrayal. It is very rare for addicts to come forward for help on their own, so it is likely that the partner has discovered the betrayal either intentionally or unintentionally through their partner’s computer history, text messages, or receipts and bank statements. Upon this initial discovery of betrayal, the partner can exhibit symptoms of depression, shock, anger, hypervigilance, isolating behavior, lifestyle changes such as beginning to smoke or drink, and a general questioning of everything they thought was true before this discovery. When the partner’s expectations are violated, they lose trust in their partner as well as themselves, and they begin seeking safety in a variety of ways because they feel that they cannot trust their own senses.   After the initial trauma of discovery has run its course, partners often go through a time of trauma about their own response to the betrayal, extending their questioning of everything they thought was true as well as noticing ways that their lifestyle may have changed during the process. Common reactions to betrayal include obsession, depression, anger, hypervigilance, and rumination on the betrayal, and these reactions can cause the partners to lose faith in themselves and their abilities to make rational decisions. Marnie identified the five dimensions of trauma as emotional, sexual, existential, life crisis, and relational, so the healing process must encompass each of these dimensions. When reconciliation begins between the two partners in the relationship, it is important for the recovering addict to put in the effort to support their partner and not exasperate the trauma that they have gone through. There is always opportunity for rupture or repair, and even in the recovery process there are triggers that could unearth aspects of the trauma that have or have not yet been dealt with. Though this is a tough journey, it is important to remember that it will not always be this way, there are plenty of resources to help heal from relational betrayal, and there is hope. To find out more about Marnie and the Center for Relational Healing, visit lacrh.org or call (323) 860-9999. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone has a level of healthy narcissism. We all see things through our lens to some degree. The narcissist, however, has pathological levels of self-involvement and he or she experiences fundamental developmental deficits early on in life. According to author and speaker, Julie Hall, addiction is a huge part of the narcissistic family system. There is a pattern of depression, anger, confusion with family rifts, and alienation, and there is no awareness of what the core issue is.  In her book, The Narcissist In Your Life: Recognizing the Patterns and Learning to Break Free, Julie breaks down the pattern of a narcissistic personality disorder. Narcissism vs. Narcissistic Personality Disorder Everyone has a level of healthy narcissism. We all see things through our lens to some degree. The narcissist, however, has pathological levels of self-involvement and he or she experiences fundamental developmental deficits early on in life.  With narcissists, there’s an underlying sense of profound vulnerability, shame, inferiority, and worthlessness.  Narcissism is a defensive coping structure and children who develop this kind of coping structure tend to repress their feelings of vulnerability and shame. They build an exterior persona to mask their overwhelming feelings.  They develop a false grandiose and superior personality, often becoming domineering and competitive. They are out of touch with their inner, emotional world and so they don’t actively engage with people on an emotional level.  The narcissistic personality avoids self-reflection at all costs and it learns to mimic certain behaviors that look like intimacy.  Narcissists tend to see themselves and others as either worthless or wonderful. When they see themselves (or others) as perfect, they need to stay that way in order not to feel worthless. They seem to be in a state that is disconnected from other people. The Narcissistic Family and Its Role in Addiction In a family in which one or both of the parents are narcissistic, the family is structured in such a way that the needs of the children are secondary to the needs of the parents. Several dysfunctional families are set up that way. But there are differences unique to a narcissistic family as opposed to an alcoholic family or an addicted family. Addiction is a huge part of this whole narcissistic family system. People coming out of families like this are dysregulated themselves, and they are carrying complex trauma. There’s a pattern of depression, anger, confusion, family rifts, and alienation. It manifests in many ways, whether it’s substance abuse, sex addiction, eating disorders, or any kind of addiction. There’s a loss of homeostasis when you’re in that traumatizing environment. And so, you try to find a way to cope with all of the confusion. Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the traditional 12-step recovery program doesn’t quite fit your belief system? Licensed marriage and family therapist Jeffrey Munn joins Duane to share his deeply personal journey through addiction and recovery, which led him to author "Staying Sober Without God: The Practical 12 Steps to Long-Term Recovery from Alcoholism and Addiction." Jeffrey opens up about his battles with isolation and internal turmoil and highlights the crucial support from his parents that helped him navigate this challenging path. His story underscores the necessity of individualized recovery approaches and shines a light on the often-overlooked needs of atheists and agnostics in recovery. Jeffrey discusses the integration of traditional 12-step programs with personalized mental health approaches, emphasizing the importance of addressing trauma, unresolved grief, and boundary-setting. He candidly recounts his own experience with the pressure to adopt a belief in a higher power within 12-step meetings and how this led to a temporary setback. Through his narrative, you'll learn about the significance of merging the wisdom of 12-step programs with modern psychological insights to create a more rational and personalized recovery journey. They also delve into the specifics of how inpatient rehab focusing on mental health practices played a pivotal role in his recovery. The conversation takes a deeper turn as they examine the challenges and benefits of faith-based recovery for those who struggle with blind faith. Jeffrey provides a logical and practical perspective on the concept of "letting go and letting God," drawing parallels to principles in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).  In this episode, you will hear: Finding personal recovery path without God Psychology-based recovery approaches Personal recovery and finding meaning Exploring alternative higher powers in recovery Navigating integrity and personal belief systems Challenges with faith-based addiction recovery Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://www.practicallysane.org/ Staying Sober Without God: https://www.amazon.com/Staying-Sober-Without-God-Alcoholism-ebook/dp/B07MBVCS29  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest today is Chris Shorrock, a psychologist in private practice in Medicine Hat. Our point of discussion is the opioid addiction and opioid epidemic, and Chris understands this topic very well. He’s got experience in treating addicted disorders in different treatment centers that he’s been working with after being a registered psychologist. He’s also worked at the methadone maintenance treatment program. So we can certify he’s got first-hand experience dealing with opioid addiction. An opioid is a powerful form of painkiller that’s known to suppress very intense pain. Nothing can compare to how effective opioid can be at masking or lowering pain. It must be noted that there’s a considerable difference between opioid and other forms of drugs like cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, etc. However, opioid does not in any way help to heal a particular disease but really what it does is it numbs your feelings so you won't feel pain intensely. It's been puzzling to psychology practitioners to understand why opioid patients become so addicted even after healing. Recent research has shown it is the turn-on of addictive genes and it goes from using the drug to numb pain to abuse and ultimately addiction, which is hard to overcome. When you think of opioid addiction, your mind goes straight to the homeless on the streets, but there are people of all socio-economic status, race, a religion that are dealing with addictive disorders with an opioid. Some people can be from wealthy families, and that can make the issue much more difficult to treat because there's always a form of denial with them. Opioid addiction is now an epidemic. People are dropping dead today than any other time in history. A probable cause of this is that now opioids are produced chemically. Fentanyl is a fully synthetic compound, which means it's not using parts of the opioid poppy or plants anymore. Refining opioids made them even more powerful and refined down, which is useful but can dangerous. With these new drugs, some addictive properties were underreported and overprescribed. Oxycodone was changed to Oxyneo to try and become tamper-resistant such that you couldn’t snort, or crush them, or inject them. It is so powerful that changing the mode of ingestion made it a whole different drug. It's effective in suppressing pain but incredibly dangerous, and this is what led to allegations that the pharmaceutical responsible for it knew about how addictive this drug could become but just gave it out as a safe alternative. It’s been discovered that taking the same amount of opioid over a given amount of time will start to have a lesser effect which can become an issue even in a regimented regular opioid use in problems like chronic pain. Although there are other forms of treatment, the oldest and probably the best is taking all the opioid drugs, trade them all in and get a monitored, measured, regular dose of methadone. This can control the withdrawal symptoms, and it can also withdraw a considerable amount of perceived pain. It's not an easy fix, though, but it's helpful. However, one thing that Christopher has found in his practice is that the treatment differs between teenagers and adults. For teenagers, you need to have a form of active outdoor activity that leads to relationships if you want a chance of having a therapeutic relationship with them. By all means, if you know anyone dealing with any addiction it might be friends, family, or even yourself, just come out of the shadows and ask for help. There are different kinds of support out there, and you only have to make an effort to know what will work for you. Not all routes you use will work, but don't give up, try something different. You can get your life back and live the kind of life you want to ultimately. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered how nutrition could be the missing link in your journey to sobriety? Join Duane as he sits down with Dr. Brooke Scheller, a trailblazer in clinical nutrition and the founder of Functional Sobriety. Brooke shares her compelling journey to sobriety and how she's transforming alcohol recovery through nutritional and functional medicine. She explains how alcohol can wreak havoc on our bodies, affecting everything from the endocrine system to gut health, and how simple dietary changes can effectively reduce cravings and improve overall wellness.  This episode highlights the often-overlooked but critical connection between diet and the ability to maintain sobriety. They also dive deep into the physiological aspects of cravings, focusing on the interplay between blood sugar levels, mood, and gut health. Brooke demystifies how blood sugar fluctuations can lead to increased cravings for alcohol and sugar, often mistaken for a lack of willpower. By understanding these physiological signals and making informed dietary choices, individuals can significantly enhance their recovery journey. From increasing protein intake to utilizing functional medicine testing, this episode offers a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to support their sobriety through better nutrition. In this episode, you will hear: Nutritional health and alcohol connection Alcohol's impact on health and wellness The importance of nutrition in health Power of helping in recovery Alcohol, blood sugar, and cravings Understanding brain chemicals and mood  Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://www.brookescheller.com/ NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever felt like you're stuck in a never-ending battle with addiction? You're not alone. In this eye-opening episode of Addictive Mind Plus, hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind dive into the game-changing world of mindset shifts in recovery. They reveal that beating addiction isn't just about willpower – it's about rewiring your brain. The duo kicks things off by exploring why so many of us fall back into old habits, even when we're trying our hardest to change. They argue that the key to lasting recovery lies in how we think about ourselves, our addiction, and our future. It's not just about following rules; it's about embracing a whole new way of seeing the world. Throughout the episode, Duane and Eric break down five crucial mindset shifts that can transform your recovery journey. They explain how simple changes in thinking can open up a world of possibilities and help you build the skills and support network you need to thrive. One of the most powerful ideas they discuss is the shift from seeing relapse as a failure to viewing it as a learning opportunity. This change in perspective can help reduce shame and build resilience, making it easier to bounce back and stay on track. The hosts also dive into the importance of recognizing that recovery is a journey, not a destination. This shift can help listeners stay present and focused on their growth, rather than getting discouraged by setbacks. By the end of the episode, listeners will have a toolbox of mental strategies to help them navigate the ups and downs of recovery. Whether you're just starting out or have been on this path for a while, this episode offers fresh insights and practical tips to help you rewrite your recovery story. Download: 5 Crucial Mindset Shifts for Addiction Recovery Worksheet. Join Our Deep Dive, where we discuss this episode in depth. Register Here: https://theaddictedmind.com/deepdive Click Here to Join the TAM + Community Waitlist. Get the support you need. Key Topics The importance of mindset in addiction recovery Moving from "I am my addiction" to "I am a person in recovery" Viewing recovery as a journey rather than a destination Shifting from relying on willpower to building skills and support Reframing relapse as a learning opportunity Recognizing personal power and choices in recovery Practicing self-compassion throughout the recovery process Timestamp • [00:01:20] Introduction to the five crucial mindset shifts • [00:03:00] Discussing the first mindset shift: "I am a person in recovery" • [00:04:57] Exploring the second shift: "Recovery is a journey" • [00:07:00] Examining the third shift: "I need skills and support" • [00:09:52] Delving into the fourth shift: "Relapse is a learning opportunity" • [00:12:32] Discussing the final shift: "I have choices" • [00:15:30] Concluding thoughts and advice on implementing mindset shifts Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Raised with dreams of becoming a missionary, Dean Patrick's journey took an unexpected detour following a fateful encounter with cocaine in high school. This pivotal moment diverted him from a path of faith toward one of ambition and excess, eventually leading to Stanford and the cutthroat world of cryptocurrency. On this episode, Dean shares his battle with substance abuse and the profound lessons he learned through the chaos of addiction and the healing power of Zen meditation. Dean's story is a raw exploration of the intoxicating pursuit of wealth and the harsh realities it veils. Influenced by his brother's secular views, Dean shifted from his Christian upbringing to atheism, which set the stage for his descent into stimulant use as a means to boost academic performance. The allure of fast money and status through cryptocurrency seemed promising until the 2018 crash thrust him into despair. Through candid reflections, Dean reveals how embracing pain instead of fleeing from it became his gateway to recovery, and how quieting the mind through meditation reshaped his understanding of success. In this episode, you will hear: Dean Patrick's transformation from a Christian upbringing to atheism and later embracing Zen meditation. His battle with addiction starting from a high school encounter with cocaine and escalating during his time at Stanford. The rise and fall of his cryptocurrency hedge fund, culminating in the 2018 market crash. The importance of embracing pain for personal healing and growth. Reflections on the value of community and connection over wealth and status. Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Mary Crocker Cook graces our latest episode of the Addicted Mind Podcast, bringing her 35 years of expertise in therapy and addiction counseling. We tackle the intricate ties between attachment, addiction, and relationship patterns, particularly spotlighting the challenges faced by accomplished women who find themselves in mismatched partnerships. Dr. Cook sheds light on her pioneering approach of attachment-infused addiction treatment, helping us understand how early attachment disruptions shape decision-making and relational dynamics with profound emotional and financial consequences. Our conversation takes a deep dive into attachment styles, focusing on the anxious and avoidant spectrums. We uncover how fear of disconnection can lead individuals to become overly anxious or to suppress their needs, causing relational dysfunction. Dr. Cook shares insights on how these behaviors are often rooted in a lack of trust and how addiction can serve as an escape from unmet emotional needs. We explore the critical role of recovery and supportive relationships in fostering secure attachments and breaking unhealthy cycles. Navigating challenging relationships requires a balance of compassion and self-protection, and Dr. Cook offers practical advice for women trapped in unhealthy dynamics. By understanding attachment wounds and prioritizing harm reduction, financial independence, and boundary-setting, individuals can start making informed decisions toward better well-being.  In this episode, you will hear: Exploring the connection between attachment styles, addiction, and relationship patterns. Challenges faced by accomplished women in mismatched relationships due to early attachment disruptions. The role of anxious and avoidant attachment styles in creating relational dysfunction. Understanding addiction as an escape from unmet emotional needs and the importance of recovery. Practical advice for women in unhealthy relationships, focusing on self-care and financial independence. Navigating challenging relationships with compassion, self-protection, and setting boundaries. Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Caitlin Morrison found herself facing the bittersweet task of continuing her brother Matthew Perry's legacy, she embraced it with a deep sense of purpose and resilience. On this episode of the Addicted Mind Podcast, Caitlin joins us to share her poignant journey of supporting a loved one through addiction and how it shaped her work at the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada. Through her story, we unravel the layers of hope, frustration, and the powerful drive to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction. We explore the intricate world of addiction treatment, emphasizing the necessity for extended care and the brain's lengthy healing process. We challenge the misconceptions around addiction by advocating for a perspective that treats it as a chronic disease, akin to diabetes or heart disease. With insights from Caitlin's experiences and Matthew's courageous openness about his struggles, we highlight the importance of long-term support and the role of compassion in recovery. In this episode, you will hear: Caitlin Morrison's journey continuing her brother Matthew Perry's legacy in addiction support. The role of the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada in advocating for long-term recovery. Addressing addiction as a chronic disease, similar to diabetes or heart disease. Importance of reducing stigma and embracing compassion in addiction recovery. The transformative impact of community-centric facilities like the Matthew Perry House in Ottawa. Matthew Perry's courageous openness about his struggles inspiring others to seek help. Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources:  matthewperryfoundation.ca Instagram: @mpfcanada NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re sharing a special episode from another podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, from Pushkin Industries. In this preview, four-time Grammy Award-winning musician Jason Isbell discusses how his early career was plagued by addiction. Getting sober allowed him to re-examine aspects of his personality that he once saw as his greatest weaknesses. Hear more from A Slight Change of Plans at https://podcasts.pushkin.fm/scp5?sid=addicted.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with author Carder Stout about his book, Lost in Ghost Town, the story of his addiction and recovery. Duane also addresses the difficulty of the ongoing COVID-19 situation by starting a campaign of stories trying to spread hope in a time of darkness. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Carder grew up in Georgetown, where his father constantly worked and his mother was an alcoholic. From an early age, he had feelings of disillusionment and worthlessness. By the time he was 11, his parents had divorced, securing the disarray in his home. By twenty, he’d already gone through eating disorders and was living on cocaine in New York. He thought that moving to Los Angeles would help him distance himself from the people he knew and his addiction, but in Venice, the epicenter of crack at the time, Carder’s addiction spiraled. Carder meets a drug dealer in Venice named Flynn, who, with his grandmother Beatrice, actually showed Carder the familial love that he never received from his actual family.  Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness As a child, Carder experimented with drugs and alcohol as early as age 7. By age ten, he was regularly smoking weed, bein altogether unsupervised. He talks about receiving visions, for lack of a better term, from his grandmother, as frightening as that is. His grandmother, who was a clairvoyant in her life, ultimately became something of a spirit guide for him while he was high. While in the midst of dealing drugs, Carder talks specifically about being surrounded by guns in the culture. In the middle of a lot of psychological pain, he says that he could not stop the “loop” of obsession and compulsion, the things that kept his addiction rolling. In a lot of ways, Flynn became the person that loved him through the cycle of addiction.  In Santa Fe, Carder is accepted into a psychology school after getting out of in-patient care. He worked 2 or 3 jobs for almost ten years working on his degree. Now, he’s a practicing psychologist in Los Angeles. Part of his platform is pushing the idea that developing a sense of purpose is one of the first steps people can take toward a successful recovery program. Forgiveness also plays a vital role in recovery. Carder talks about forgiving his family and forgiving himself, and how that opens the door to freedom. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/94 Carder carved out 4 hours a day, three days a week and set a goal to write. He found some hope in the writing process, which allowed him to tell his story and materialize healing. A publisher under Simon & Schuster picked up his book and he was able to do a reading before an audience before the COVID-19 outbreak. In his sobriety, he married and had two children, and he points to his life as living proof that addicts can recover. There is hope for those who actively seek support. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unlock the secrets of transformation and discover how mindfulness can revolutionize your life. Join us as we chat with Pat Smith, a high-performance coach and corporate trainer for NeuroChangeSolutions, who shares his extraordinary journey from a decade-long addiction to personal redemption. Learn how Pat's initial pursuit of physical fitness blossomed into a comprehensive wellness approach that includes nutrition, sleep, and community, highlighting the incredible power of meditation and mindfulness in overcoming anxiety and depression. Journey with us as we explore the deeply personal stories of overcoming adversity through mindfulness practices. We delve into the mind's potential for reprogramming through practices like meditation and journaling. We liken the mind to a garden, emphasizing the necessity of weeding out detrimental thoughts and cultivating empowering ones. This conversation also touches on the importance of emotional regulation, particularly in high-stress environments, and how mindfulness can enhance leadership, promote a happier workforce, and unlock greater potential.  In this episode, you will hear: Pat Smith's journey from addiction to personal redemption through mindfulness and meditation Importance of a holistic wellness approach: physical fitness, nutrition, sleep, and community The role of meditation and journaling in reprogramming the mind and fostering personal growth Emotional regulation and its impact on decision-making and leadership in high-stress environments Insights into the benefits of mindfulness for enhancing professional performance and overall well-being Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Pat’s Website: https://patsmithwellness.com/ NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marnie Breecker from the Center for Relational Healing in Los Angeles joined me for the second part of our discussion on relational and betrayal trauma. She walked us through the Six Dimensions of Relational and Betrayal Trauma as well as the steps in the process of partner healing. The Six Dimensions are: Shattered Inner World – In this initial dimension, the four core beliefs (the world is benign and a source of pleasure; the world is meaningful, controllable, and just; people are trustworthy and worth relating to; and the self is worthy, lovable, good, and competent) are threatened by the traumatic event(s) of betrayal. This has been compared to the trauma of finding your house burned down and losing all of your belongings. Life Crisis – The disparity between belief and reality that develops after the discovery of the addiction causes the trauma symptoms discussed in Part One of our discussion with Marnie in Episode 21. This dimension can include wondering who to tell and where to get help, making childcare arrangements, handling other aspects of daily life that have been shaken, and the uncertainty of whether the threat of betrayal continues. Existential Trauma – In this dimension, the partner loses faith in their own ability to make decisions, questions the core beliefs around which they have created meaning, begins to approach this “new world” with distrust and fear, and experiences damage to the relationship with self. This can be the dimension that takes the longest to heal during the process. Emotional Trauma – This involves the patterns of emotional abuse (lying, deceiving, manipulating) used by the addict to keep their secret. Emotional trauma can be overt (rage, yelling, etc.) or covert (sophisticated attack patterns in which the anger is less obvious because the addict casts blame or makes the partner feel crazy, which can be known as “gaslighting”). Sexual Trauma – Neglecting to address the partner’s sexual trauma makes later restoration and healing more challenging, so it is crucial for their feelings to be validated and their responses to be normalized. Relational Trauma – In this dimension of trauma, the addict must build the skill of empathy and understand that relational healing will take a lot of time and patience. There are no shortcuts to relational healing after the drastic rupture of betrayal that has occurred. The steps for partner healing are contingent on their basic background: Do they have children? Are they married to the addict who betrayed them? Do they have a history of abuse? Do they have a mental illness that will need to be factored into their healing process? The first step for partner healing is to reach out for help.  The second step is for the partner to seek out resources such as strategies for coping, meeting with a doctor if they are in need of medication, and joining a support group.  The third step is for the partner to come up with a list of what they need in order to feel safe in the relationship if the individuals have decided to restore their relationship. The fourth step is for the partner to identify the losses they have suffered because of the betrayal so that they can adequately grieve or mourn and be able to move on. Finally, the partner’s counseling and healing process should involve different modalities which will heal the nervous system. For more information about the “Helping Couples Heal” 2-day workshop focusing on the Six Dimensions discussed in this podcast as well as providing tools to heal the relationship hosted by the Center for Relational Healing, visit http://lacrh.com/workshops-and-groups/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks Georgia-based counselor Eddie Capparucci about his personal experience with addiction and how to fight off sex and porn addiction. He also talks about the impact of fears of abandonment and how that drives sexually destructive behavior. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Jumping into the idea of the inner child, Eddie explains that children make up for not being seen by creating new realities in their mind. Playing out fantasies in their heads is part of how they cope with abandonment. He never realized that because of that pain, he was using women. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> After you get through the period of regret, Eddie says, you experience a kind of euphoria in understanding what the problem is. Eddie walked away from two marriages because he felt that his infidelity couldn’t be fixed. Soon after, he sought therapy and began to understand his abandonment issues. Eddie also discusses his idea of the “inner child.” It provides insight into why people engage in addictive behaviors. By identifying the core emotional triggers, you can take control. He names nine different kinds in his Inner Child model: The Bored Child The Unaffirmed Child The Unnoticed Child The Emotionally Void Child The Lack-of-Control Child The Entitled Child The Inferior-Weak Child The Stressed Child The Sexually Early/Stimulated/Abused Child Most people identify with three of four of these kids. Some people identify with all nine of them. The goal here is to identify the triggers associated with your inner child. Moving onto treatment, Eddie talks about how you need to produce mindfulness. Once you’ve identified your triggers, you can start to apply them to situations moving forward that activate your inner child. People with sex and porn addictions are trying to comfort the inner child. It’s easier to feel sexual arousal, Duane says, than to feel depression or isolation. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/103 Eddie is concerned about how the ease of access to porn will affect the next generation. He believes that young boys are going to be taught that objectification is normalized and even encouraged. When you understand your own trauma, you can move forward. You’re no longer stuck as a “bad person.” But people have to hit the point where they do want change in their lives. And someone actually interested in the sex industry only gets there because their self worth has already been eroded. It’s tough because most people don’t really want to look back and look their pain in the face. They don’t want to spend time thinking about how they were hurt in their childhood. But ultimately — there’s a benefit to doing this work. You can change your life. There are a ton of resources you can tap into and you can finish strong. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Ellie Katz has spent the past 35 years working in the area of addiction treatment, using her holistic approach and real talk with compassion to work with her clients. She joins us on this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast to discuss her experiences and observations about the field and about human nature. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Ellie has been living in Israel for 40+ years and she began her career in psychological linguistics, but she always had a desire to help people directly. Even as an adolescent, people recognized her deep intuition about those around her, calling her the Earth Mother and coming to her for advice and guidance. Ever since she transitioned to helping people with their addiction treatment, her focus has been on helping her clients and their families sort through the irresistible urges that had been ruling the addicts’ bodies. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Ellie went through a traumatic surgical procedure when she was 5 years old, which caused her to develop an addiction to food that her mother did not know how to handle. Having experienced these psychological ramifications of eating for several years, she can recognize where the addicts that come to her treatment facility are struggling. Patients spend between 7-12 months in the therapeutic rehab community where Ellie works, and she teaches them how to interact with each other and do the internal work necessary to heal the impacts of their addictions. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/71 She created a model that she calls “The Six Essentials”, which are building blocks for personal success: Some of them are good mood, love, and kindness, discipline, flexibility, and forgiveness. Ellie is not afraid to call her clients out when she sees them say or do something that they said they wouldn’t say or do and she provides them with the support to help them change. She believes in caring for everyone without judgment because she recognizes that it could have just as easily been her struggling with the addiction. She wants the best for her clients who are really just wounded people in need of someone to help them pick themselves up and head in the right direction. Ellie wants everyone to know that as long as you are drawing breath, change is possible.   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane talks with Justin B. Long about his journey through childhood trauma and how he tried to escape it through alcoholism. We discuss the traps of toxic masculinity, the idea that, as men, we can't share our feelings. We can't be vulnerable. We should be stoic at all times. In the episode, you’ll learn how that idea prevents us from being able to heal from our past wounds. Justin shares his story of hope and healing for everyone else out there who's struggling with the same issues.  Justin is the author of The Righteous Rage of a Ten-Year-Old Boy: A Journey of Self-Discovery. In his book, he talks about uncovering our deeper feelings by addressing childhood events and traumas and changing how our emotions are tied to those memories. Justin has poured his deepest, darkest secrets into the book. As he pointed out, the more sunshine gets on those secrets, the less power they have over him.   As he was trying to recover from alcoholism in his mid-30's, Justin had to go back to the beginning of time to understand what drove him to alcoholism. Justin grew up with two very emotionally dysfunctional parents: his dad was a workaholic and a rageaholic and his mom was deep into extreme religiosity and hoped that God would solve her emotional challenges. He found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. His parents didn't have any emotional tools to support him or help him. Therefore, he grew up in an unhealthy environment. The way his dad treated him taught him that he was a failure no matter what he did.  Feeling unworthy, uncomfortable, and untrusting, Justin turned to books as a way to escape reality. Then, as he got older, he discovered alcohol. It made him feel good about himself and he felt accepted for the first time in his life. So, alcohol became his tool to feel good about himself. Justin didn’t realize that it wasn’t a solution or that it was just a band-aid. However, like all external things, it had diminishing returns over time. It worked less and less until it stopped working altogether. In this episode, you will hear: Justin’s childhood trauma What it was like to not know how to handle his feelings  How covering up feelings of shame and guilt through drinking became a cycle How he changed his perspective from being a failure to being okay How a recovery meeting became the first pinprick that showed him reality What his righteous rage looked like and how letting it go allowed him to achieve true freedom What happens when your pain is greater than your fear Why it’s okay to feel your feelings Justin’s motivation to put his book out there Key Quotes: [09:21] - "My biggest problem that made me decide I had to quit drinking was that the more I got drunk around other people, the more I misbehaved and just couldn't seem to control myself." [13:15] - “Everything that I thought I knew about myself to be true was not true. And I get to rewrite that story." [16:12] - "In your formative years, you take everything from around you, and you believe that to be true." [18:33] - “True freedom comes in moving past that and letting go of that rage, even if it's justified.” [21:02] - “The pain has to get greater than the fear. And that's how it was for me. It hurt bad enough that I was willing to step into the fear." [22:14] - “I'm trying to learn how to feel the feelings and be okay with them. And sometimes it hurts, but I've learned that that's okay, too. It's part of it.” [25:17] - “The more sunshine gets on those secrets, the less power they have over me.” Supporting Resources: The Righteous Rage of a Ten-Year-Old Boy: A Journey of Self-Discovery Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you want to improve your emotional regulation and decision-making? I will be sharing the key to achieving greater emotional control and better choices. Learn the secret to enhancing your ability to manage your feelings and make sound decisions. Discover the solution to experiencing improved emotional regulation and better decision-making in your life. Download the “Distinguishing between Primary Vs. Secondary Emotions Worksheet” In this episode, you will be able to: Discover effective strategies for mental health and addiction recovery. Learn to identify and manage primary and secondary emotions. Explore the principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for emotional regulation. Cultivate mindfulness and self-reflection for improved emotional well-being. Understand the impact of trauma on decision-making processes. Effective Mental Health Strategies Understanding and managing primary and secondary emotions are crucial strategies for effective mental health. These strategies involve recognizing the differences between valid and genuine emotional responses versus responses that arise from judgments of these primary emotions. This enables individuals to maintain emotional balance by preventing secondary emotions from amplifying the intensity of primary emotions. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Download the worksheet that helps identify primary versus secondary emotions and navigate them effectively. Click Here Share this podcast episode with a friend who might benefit from the wisdom shared about primary and secondary emotions. Write a review for The Addicted Mind podcast on iTunes to show support and help others discover valuable content. Connect with The Addicted Mind podcast on Instagram @addictedmindpodcast and leave suggestions for topics you'd like to hear in future episodes. Leave us a message and let us know what topic you want to be covered on The Addicted Mind + Podcast. Click Here https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Download the “Distinguishing between Primary Vs. Secondary Emotions Worksheet” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you want to improve your emotional regulation and decision-making? I will be sharing the key to achieving greater emotional control and better choices. Learn the secret to enhancing your ability to manage your feelings and make sound decisions. Discover the solution to experiencing improved emotional regulation and better decision-making in your life. Download the “Distinguishing between Primary Vs. Secondary Emotions Worksheet” In this episode, you will be able to: Discover effective strategies for mental health and addiction recovery. Learn to identify and manage primary and secondary emotions. Explore the principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for emotional regulation. Cultivate mindfulness and self-reflection for improved emotional well-being. Understand the impact of trauma on decision-making processes. Effective Mental Health Strategies Understanding and managing primary and secondary emotions are crucial strategies for effective mental health. These strategies involve recognizing the differences between valid and genuine emotional responses versus responses that arise from judgments of these primary emotions. This enables individuals to maintain emotional balance by preventing secondary emotions from amplifying the intensity of primary emotions. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Download the worksheet that helps identify primary versus secondary emotions and navigate them effectively. Click Here Share this podcast episode with a friend who might benefit from the wisdom shared about primary and secondary emotions. Write a review for The Addicted Mind podcast on iTunes to show support and help others discover valuable content. Connect with The Addicted Mind podcast on Instagram @addictedmindpodcast and leave suggestions for topics you'd like to hear in future episodes. Leave us a message and let us know what topic you want to be covered on The Addicted Mind + Podcast. Click Here https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Download the “Distinguishing between Primary Vs. Secondary Emotions Worksheet” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever noticed that after a slip in recovery, your thoughts immediately jump to "I'm worthless" or "I'm never going to get better"? These aren't just random negative thoughts – they're part of a powerful emotion that might be secretly sabotaging your recovery journey. In this eye-opening episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind dive deep into the crucial difference between guilt and shame in addiction recovery. Through evidence-based research and practical experience, they reveal why many people mistakenly identify their shame as guilt, and how this misunderstanding can keep them trapped in the addiction cycle. The hosts share three powerful, scientifically-backed tools that listeners can start using immediately to build shame resilience and strengthen their recovery journey. Whether you're in recovery yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers essential insights into breaking free from the destructive grip of shame while building a healthier relationship with yourself and others. Download: Shame Sabotaging Your Recovery Worksheet Click Here to Join the TAM + Community. Get the support you need. Our Deep Dive is now in the community, where we discuss this episode in depth. KEY TOPICS The critical difference between guilt ("I made a mistake") and shame ("I am a mistake") How toxic shame fuels the addiction cycle Research findings on shame's direct link to substance use problems The importance of shame resilience in recovery Three easy tools for breaking the shame spiral The role of connection and community in overcoming shame Practical language shifts for transforming shame into growth TIMESTAMPS [00:01:20] Introduction to shame's impact on recovery [00:02:31] Research findings on shame vs. guilt in addiction [00:04:00] How toxic shame creates a negative cycle [00:08:14] First tool: The Language Shift technique [00:09:40] Second tool: The Shame Interrupt method [00:11:00] Third tool: The Connection Practice [00:13:40] Community resources and next steps Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast is Dr. Michael Steuer of the Pacific Ketamine Institute in Los Angeles. Dr. Steuer’s training and practice have mainly been in the areas of anesthesia and pain management, but for the past 5+ years, he has shifted his focus somewhat to the use of ketamine to treat depression, mood disorders, addiction, and chronic pain. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Before 2013, when the effectiveness of ketamine for these purposes was discovered, the main drugs to treat depression and mood disorders such as PTSD were SSRIs and SNRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors). While these medications were effective in temporarily treating the symptoms of depression and mood disorders, they often took weeks or months for patients to feel their effects and they often came with unpleasant side effects. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness While ketamine has been abused by people for its hallucinogenic properties in high doses, it has been found that lower doses have minimal short-term side effects and patients typically begin feeling relief from their symptoms during the infusion or shortly thereafter. Even patients with “treatment-resistant” depression or chronic pain feel better almost immediately, and these feelings are sustained for weeks or months after each infusion. It is recommended that patients have 6 infusions over 2 weeks in order to jump-start their recovery and most patients continue to receive one infusion per month to maintain their results. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/65 In the case of chronic pain, many people are prescribed narcotics or opioids, which essentially intercept the messages being sent from the body to the NMDA receptor of the brain which regulates mood and pain and the drugs themselves have addictive potential. Ketamine has proven to be more effective in modulating pain as well as addictive impulses, depression, and mood because it heightens the brain’s ability to recognize the signals being sent. This property causes ketamine to treat the root cause of the pain, rather than masking it like many opioids do. There are no known addictive properties of ketamine, making it safe for use in prescribed doses and frequencies, which may differ from person to person. Dr. Steuer’s message to listeners who are struggling with depression is that you don’t have to be alone or feel like you want to give up. Reach out, because there are people who want to help. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of "The Addicted Mind" podcast, we dive into the inspiring world of Ronnie Marmo, a talented actor, director, and writer with a 25-year journey through addiction, recovery, and the arts. Ronnie opens up about his personal battle with addiction, finding solace and salvation through Alcoholics Anonymous at a young age, and how this experience has profoundly influenced his career in the entertainment industry. He shares behind-the-scenes insights into his work on plays like "I'm Not a Comedian...I'm Lenny Bruce" and "Bill W. and Dr. Bob," which explore themes of addiction and recovery. Ronnie's story is a testament to the power of hope, resilience, and the transformative impact of the arts on both the creator and the audience. This episode is a heartwarming reminder that it's never too late to turn your life around and make a positive impact on the world. Key Topics - The impact of Alcoholics Anonymous on Ronnie's life and career. - Behind the scenes of "I'm Not a Comedian...I'm Lenny Bruce" and "Bill W. and Dr. Bob." - The role of art and theater in promoting healing and understanding. - How Ronnie uses his experiences to inspire and connect with others facing addiction. Time Stamps: - [00:00] Introduction to Ronnie Marmo and the episode. - [02:00] Ronnie's early encounter with addiction and recovery. - [08:00] The significance of plays in Ronnie's life and their message. - [15:00] The interplay between Ronnie's recovery journey and his artistic endeavors. - [22:00] Insights into the creation and impact of "Bill W. and Dr. Bob." - [30:00] Ronnie's advice to those struggling with addiction. - [37:00] Conclusion and where to find Ronnie's work. Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: A Night of Recovery” Live From the Moravian Center NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine this: You're about to play the biggest game of your life when someone offers to just put the final score on the board—you win! No sweat, no struggle, no game. Would you take that deal? In this eye-opening episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind explore why most of us would actually turn down this seemingly perfect offer. They introduce the powerful "Scoreboard Metaphor" from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) that helps separate goals from values in addiction recovery. Many people in recovery focus solely on hitting milestones—30 days sober, 90 days sober—only to feel empty when they reach them or completely defeated if they relapse. This episode flips that thinking on its head by showing that while goals (the score) matter, how you play the game (your values) matters far more. The hosts break down why people often relapse after reaching milestones. When we chase outcomes without connecting to the values behind them, we create an emptiness that no achievement can fill. The scoreboard might say "win," but without the journey—the struggle, the growth, the connection—it feels hollow. Through practical examples and personal insights, Duane and Eric show how this mindset shift transforms recovery. If you're living each day with honesty, courage, and connection, each day is a success—regardless of whether you've hit your sobriety goal yet. And if you do relapse, you haven't lost everything. The values-based actions you took still matter, and the game isn't over. Download The Worksheet The episode concludes with five simple steps to apply this metaphor to your own recovery journey, helping you identify your true values, clarify meaningful goals, and build resilience when facing setbacks. The hosts also invite listeners to download a free worksheet and join their supportive community where these concepts can be explored further. Whether you've felt lost chasing empty goals or you've hit recovery milestones but still feel unfulfilled, this episode offers a refreshing perspective that could change how you view your recovery journey—and maybe even your life. Join our TAM+ Community Feeling stuck in your recovery and wondering what’s next? Ready to take the next step toward becoming your best self? Join the TAM+ community, where we dive deep into practical tools and worksheets designed to guide you toward the life you want. With evidence-based strategies and actionable steps, we’re here to help you unlock your potential and achieve your goals. theaddictedmind.com/community Support TAM+ Subscribe and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy, please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center. NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest today is AdaPia d'Errico and she is going to talk about intuition and paying attention to our authentic self. Her book is titled Productive Intuition: Connecting To The Subtle.  Often, our intuition and our authentic self can be very subtle and difficult to pay attention to, especially if we've struggled with trauma and hardship.  AdaPia is really passionate about her work, sharing her story, and sharing her wisdom.  Her Story AdaPia was at a point in her life where she was so completely lost and essentially went through a spiritual crisis. Everything she knew how to do was not working. She completely lost her marbles. She didn't have anybody to talk to.  She was prejudging herself before even going into something new. What life or the universe or God delivered to her was just failure. Her whole identity fell apart and, in that process, she realized it wasn't actually failure; it was a different door she had to go through to get clarity and trust herself. Her book comes out of her last few years of getting that clarity and discovering how intuitive she is, how intuitive we all are, and how to use that intuition intentionally. We all have intuition. Sometimes we use it and it works but we don't understand it. Other times we don't listen to it at all. If we've had trauma or hardship, especially early childhood trauma, listening to intuition can be difficult. In some ways, it doesn't even seem like it's there. We've all had different levels and types of trauma. What connects all of us as humans is trauma. The conditioning and stories we grew up with as well as being told who we should be and how to please were all essentially traumatic. In this episode, you will hear: How trauma connects all humans What the intuitive space is How we're neurologically biologically hardwired for intuition Ways of understanding our intuition Why it’s so hard to let go of a thought This takes work and energy! Key Quotes: [04:30] - "We've all had different levels and types of trauma, and what connects all of us as humans is trauma because we've all had it." [05:49] - “You just know. You're not believing something, you're not listening to a voice, it's not a voice, it's a knowing. And that is inherently tied to intuition.” [07:02] - "It's super important to get the left brain on board to really understand instead of blindly believing, because blind belief isn't going to get us anywhere." [07:40] - “There's all these different mechanisms inside of us that are ways of moving inward instead of outward.” [08:26] - “Noticing our own pattern starts to bring us inward because we're focusing on ourselves instead of on somebody else or on an outside object.” [10:30] - “That emotional, energetic charge lives in our body, which is why so much somatic work is really important to help us release the stories and release the thought.” Supporting Resources: Productive Intuition: Connecting To The Subtle www.adapiaderrico.com/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine finding your true calling amidst the chaos of addiction recovery. That’s exactly what happened to Patrick Holbert, a former TV producer who took a leap of faith and became a stand-up comedian. In this episode, Patrick shares his incredible journey of overcoming addiction and how joining a 12-step program and the Artist's Way workshop led him to pursue his passion for comedy. We explore how his acclaimed show "Punchline Drunk" uses humor and personal storytelling to educate college students about alcohol abuse, and how fatherhood has added a new emotional layer to his performances. Patrick opens up about the complexities of filling the void left by addiction with work and external validation, and the burnout that often follows. He candidly discusses the pivotal moment of joining an Artist's Way group, which helped him dive deeper into self-discovery and community support, ultimately highlighting the need for holistic recovery. We also touch on the courage it takes to seek meaningful change and the setbacks that can occur when old habits resurface, emphasizing the importance of addressing inner needs for true fulfillment in sobriety. In this episode, you will hear: Patrick Holbert's transition from a TV producer to a stand-up comedian during his addiction recovery journey. The impact of joining a 12-step program and the Artist's Way workshop on Patrick's path to sobriety and comedy. The creation and success of "Punchline Drunk," a show that educates college students about alcohol abuse through humor. The challenges of filling the void left by addiction with work and the resulting burnout. Insights into the supportive yet challenging environment of the New York City comedy scene. The development and significance of Patrick's comedy special "Qualification," filmed at a recovery convention. Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9W_bKp4qEw www.youtube.com/patmiscellaneous Instagram: @theholbertreport  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with Gill Tietz, a biochemist and the host of the Sober Powered Podcast. Gill shares her alcohol addiction journey, the connection between our brain chemistry and addiction, and how she used her knowledge of science to achieve sobriety, change her way of thinking, and ultimately change her life. Gill had her first drink at 18 years old and, after feeling shame and guilt, she decided not to drink anymore after that. Four years later, when she was at grad school, she started drinking with her colleagues. Having dealt with bullying and trauma early in life, Gill just wanted to fit in. Once she had just one drink, she thought it was magic and the best feeling in the world. Best of all, she finally felt included.  Within a year, she became a daily drinker. Drinking was a huge part of the culture of the lab she worked at so she thought it was normal behavior. By the second year, she was drinking a lot more with 80% or more alcohol in her drinks. She was blacking out several nights a week and going to work massively hungover. Towards the end, she started having several mental health issues, hating herself, and becoming very suicidal.  Finally, Gill braved through her alcohol issue by accepting reality and looking at her drinking for what it was versus what she was hoping it could be someday. By removing emotions from the equation, she started to look at things from a more scientific perspective. Having removed feelings of shame and guilt, she opened herself up to self-compassion.  In this episode, you will hear: What it’s like to be in a work culture where drinking is normal  How drinking impacts mental health The science behind addiction How understanding the science behind it opened Gill up to self-compassion How sobriety is achieved by looking at facts and removing emotions How brain chemistry is related to addiction The study looking at endorphin levels for social drinkers and people with alcohol issues The misconception about dopamine The concept of neuroplasticity Key Quotes: [10:08] - "I really didn't think my behavior was weird. I was just doing what you're supposed to do." [19:42] - “In science, you're trained to be very objective. Your thoughts and beliefs about something don't make it true.” [20:07] - “The big reason I was able to stop – I finally accepted reality and looked at my drinking for what it actually was." [22:56] - “When you can disconnect yourself from that, and just look at the actual facts of what's going on, it's helpful to make a good decision." [24:47] - “It's a bunch of different risks that add and subtract from each other. And if they add up enough, your risk of having a problem is very, very high. And then bam, you have a problem." [29:15] - “As you abuse alcohol, it makes changes to your reward system and other areas of your brain.  [29:27] - “Not everyone's brain reacts exactly the same to alcohol.” [32:26] - “Endorphins actually trigger the release of dopamine." Supporting Resources: Sober Powered Podcast Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast is Joshua Shea, who joins us to tell his story of addictions to alcohol and pornography and the past 4 years of recovery. Joshua was first introduced to porn around age 11 and alcohol at age 15, and looking back, he recognizes that he was addicted from Day 1. Even at a young age, he began to use alcohol and porn as an escape from life and a way to soothe whatever emotions or pain he was experiencing, seeking the element of power or control over his circumstances that he didn’t have in the real world. He leaned on the notion that alcohol and porn were never going to let him down or tell him he wasn’t good enough, and this mentality became a crutch for him. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Joshua remembers that things began spinning out of control when he was struggling to keep up with work and his public service, so he took himself off of his medications for bipolar disorder to have more time and perceived clarity. Instead, his consumption of alcohol and porn exploded and became uncontrollable, which magnified the unmanageability of his life situation. He had learned during his 20+ years of addiction how to get away with things, but he knew at this point that something was going to get him. He began to have dreams about childhood memories that he had repressed about abuse and trauma that he had endured. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> On March 20, 2014, the Maine State Police knocked on Joshua’s door and arrested him for child pornography. Apparently one of the women that he had engaged in a porn chatroom was, in fact, an underage girl. He was immediately fired from his job, which he saw as a removal from one of the stressful situations in his life and was the beginning of his “clean slate.” He met with his lawyer after his arrest and finally realized that he had a problem with alcohol and porn. Although his life had been spinning out of control and he was mostly estranged from his wife and children, he had not recognized that he was an addict. He sees now that he would not have been receptive to anything less than getting into trouble with the law regarding confrontations, interventions, or conversations about his behavior. He entered a rehab program at the recommendation of his lawyer with low expectations, but he was utterly amazed by the content of the program and his progress along the way, and he ended up staying in alcohol rehab for 10 weeks instead of the original 4. He began seeing a therapist regularly, which unearthed the repressed childhood traumas and allowed him to process them and how those memories had been affecting him for decades since. Finally, 22 months after his arrest, Joshua was sentenced to 6 months in jail. At this point, he had already completed rehab and began a new life, committed to recovering, so he spent those 6 months writing the first draft of his book. He also went through 7 weeks of rehab for pornography and then began working as a freelance writer, which allowed him the time flexibility to focus on his health and recovery. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/55 Now, Joshua is 4+ years sober and lives a much simpler life than before, focused on his family and not on the judgments of others. He has committed to remaining sober and has set up safeguards and tools that aid him in staying away from alcohol and porn. He is an advocate of addicts going through rehab programs if they have the resources, but the most important thing is to just reach out for help.   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harry Derbitsky, President of Advanced Coaches Training Inc. and author of “Evolution of Addiction Recovery”, joins us on this episode of The Addicted Mind. While Harry himself has never been addicted to a substance, he recognizes that there are addictive behavior patterns in every person, and he has committed his life to help reorient the minds of those affected by addiction. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> During his time working with the indigenous people of Vancouver, Harry has found some common patterns: people want to leave their addiction, but they do not know how, many of the common strategies focus on personal effort, and working with clients on their internal condition first brings much more significant results. Harry uses a three principles model which includes mind, though, and consciousness and combines mental health and spiritual wisdom. With this model, the primary goal is to guide the client to find the answers within themselves, connecting to the spiritual and having their moment of insight, rather than continually trying to take in anything they are being taught. In this place, they will finally feel the relief that they have been trying to find through their addiction all this time. But now, they have experienced it in authenticity and satisfaction, and they will want to stay there rather than going back to the patterns of thinking and behavior that lead them away. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness From the therapist’s standpoint, it is most useful to give them the space to find what they need internally and help them process what they are experiencing, perhaps sharing some of your own experiences of what you have seen. It is also essential to understand and remember that thought creates feeling and feeling creates form. This process is one of the driving forces of addiction, but it can also be the golden ticket out of the addictive behavior pattern. You should focus on talking about their health rather than something being “wrong with them” and recognize that even though the topic is severe, you don’t have to be serious about it. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/63 Harry encourages people who want more information about the three principles or other aspects of his philosophy towards addiction treatment to visit his website. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever felt like recovery is a mountain that's just too steep to climb? You're not alone. In this powerful episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, host Duane Osterlind tackles the most damaging myths that keep people trapped in cycles of addiction and shame. Drawing inspiration from Johan Hari's profound insight that "the opposite of addiction isn't just sobriety, it's connection," Duane explores how recovery isn't about perfect willpower or never making mistakes – it's about reconnecting with yourself, your values, and others who support your journey. Whether you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed by shame, or convinced you're "too broken" to heal, this episode offers a compassionate roadmap forward. Duane breaks down six harmful myths that create invisible barriers to recovery and provides practical strategies to move beyond them. You'll discover why slip-ups aren't total failures but opportunities for growth, why your addiction doesn't define your identity, and why the trust you think you've permanently lost can actually be rebuilt over time. Most importantly, you'll learn that healing isn't linear – it moves in waves, with highs and lows that are all part of the journey. Through challenging negative thinking patterns, reconnecting with your values, developing healthy coping strategies, and practicing self-compassion, you can rewrite your recovery story. The path isn't about perfection or living up to others' expectations; it's about choosing actions that align with your values each day, even in small steps. As Duane reminds us, recovery is possible for everyone. Your story is still being written, and it has the potential to unfold in ways you can't yet imagine. This episode includes a downloadable worksheet to help you identify and rewrite the myths holding you back on your journey to healing and connection. Download: THE BEYOND WILLPOWER WORKSHEET Join our Deep Dive in the TAM+ Community. Click Here to Join TAM + Community.  Get the support you need. Support TAM+ Subscribe and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California, Idaho, Vermont, or Florida and are looking for counseling or therapy, please visit Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center. ⁠⁠NovusMindfulLife.com⁠⁠ We want to hear from you. Please leave us a message or ask us a question: ⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Disclaimer⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can small, consistent changes truly lead to a life-changing transformation? Join us on the Addicted Mind podcast as we sit down with Justin McClure, a Forbes top creator and acclaimed TED Talk speaker, who shares his extraordinary journey from the grip of addiction to a life of fulfillment and success. Growing up in rural Georgia, Justin faced significant family trauma and neglect, which fueled his dependency on substances. His story is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the impact of daily, mindful efforts in overcoming personal struggles. In this episode, Justin unveils his latest book, "Daily Sober: 365 Daily Lessons to Breaking Habits," designed to guide those battling addiction one day at a time. Through candid conversation, Justin discusses the importance of self-compassion, therapy, and patience in the recovery process. He highlights the profound effects of small, manageable steps in creating lasting change, much like a plane altering its course by just a few degrees. Reflecting on his disciplined approach to writing and the joy he finds in self-improvement, Justin offers invaluable insights into the journey of healing and self-love. This episode is a beacon of hope and practical advice for anyone struggling with addiction, illustrating the power of incremental progress and supportive environments in achieving a fulfilling, sober life. In this episode, you will hear: Impact of family trauma and neglect on addiction Importance of small, consistent changes for transformation Self-compassion, therapy, and patience in recovery Daily lessons from Justin's book "Daily Sober" Embracing discomfort and incremental progress Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Justin’s Website: https://www.dailysober.coach/ Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anita Abdul-Karim is our guest for today. Anita is a registered dietician and she has written a book called Bad Bitches Don't Diet. Today, she will be sharing her journey and talking to us about her book.  Anita is from the Middle East. She struggled to fit in while growing up because there weren't many other Middle Eastern people at her school. She was also chubby, and not the smartest kid in the class, so, although her parents did the best they could under the circumstances, all of that added to the social pressure that Anita was experiencing. Anita was overweight, and that impacted on her socially, and also within her family. So she tried to take matters into her own hands while growing up. Having a scientific mind, she gravitated towards any available information about diets and nutrition.  Episode link>>>>www.theaddictedmind.com/91 Anita lost a lot of weight in the seventh and eighth grades. However, in her senior year of high school, a lot was going on, and she gained thirty pounds in one month. It was a very dramatic situation. Although Anita's weight fluctuated a lot, she was always aware of being overweight. And although she binged from time to time, she still knew that she wanted to become a dietician, and study nutrition. Anita has always wanted to understand and move towards the truth. So she enrolled in an excellent program and learned about the science of nutrition. Then she came across a book called Intuitive Eating, written by two dieticians, Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole, and that took a huge weight off her shoulders and changed her entire life. The philosophy behind eating intuitively is all about learning to trust your body to tell you what it needs. Unfortunately, however, most people grow up being taught not to trust themselves. This can cause a lot of misery and even lead people towards addictions because the further you push away from yourself, the more miserable you become. Anita continued to suffer a lot of social pressure while she was studying because she was still overweight and people often made nasty comments about her being large and studying nutrition. So although she was still suffering the misery of trying to figure out her body, she started learning how to come back to herself and block the opinions of others. She soon learned how to be completely still and surrender to the point of being okay with herself and with everything happening in the present moment. She realized that any deviation from that kind of thinking could lead her towards an addiction. Coming from a background as a health educator, Anita found that asking her patients questions inevitably led to better outcomes for their lives. That is because asking people questions empowers them and informs them subconsciously that they have the answers to most of their ailments.  Many people don't consider food to be their medicine. Nor do they consider food to be something that can cause them to feel something immediately like medication does.  Links and resources: Anita’s Instagram Books mentioned:  Bad Bitches Don't Diet: A True Philosophy About Food by Anita Abdul-Karim  Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works by Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Duane talks with Faith Elicia about her nine-year journey through an eating disorder. They discuss how she struggled several times to get help and how she finally found something that worked for her. They also talk about what helped her deal with not only her eating disorder but also with her anxiety, depression, and family history of addiction and family dysfunction. Faith's story provides a lot of hope that, even when you feel at your worst and like you can't go on, there's still hope out there.  Faith comes from an addictive household, being a child of an alcoholic. She used to believe that all dads yelled. She was scared of all fathers and generalized that all dads are mean. At 16, Faith saw her dad drunk for the first time, throwing a chair while she was hiding under the table. Then, he sought help and got sober for 30 years until his death three years ago. She also has a sister who found recovery in Narcotics Anonymous and another sister who found recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous. Although she was very familiar with the behaviors of addiction growing up, she wasn't aware that there was addiction in their house because of shame. Everything had to stay within the walls.  After she had her third child, Faith dealt with anxiety, panic, and agoraphobia. This was in the 80s and there wasn't really an understanding of anxiety disorders at that time. She couldn't tell anyone for fear they would lock her up in a psychiatric ward. Mental health just wasn't talked about like it is now. Understandably, Faith was petrified.  She was very afraid of drugs and alcohol. However, impulsive compulsive behavior can come out in other forms. Food became her way of coping and dealing with her internal chaos. Faith’s anxiety disorder turned into an eating disorder. It wasn't until she started to incorporate a mindfulness practice that things shifted for her. In this episode, you will hear: Growing up in a family with addictive behaviors Depression and anxiety during her third pregnancy How her anxiety disorder morphed into an eating disorder  Feeling guilt knowing her daughter also had an eating disorder Finding her home in Codependency Anonymous The shift that occurred when she joined the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program How she deals with the eating disorder voice that comes in Digging deeper into what’s really going on Key Quotes: [08:39] - “Addiction is a disease. It's a sickness.” [14:41] - ​​"It becomes all-consuming, weighing myself all day. It really took over." [16:26] - “It's very important for someone who thinks they have an eating disorder to seek help from someone who specializes in it and who really understands it." [19:00] - “No two eating disorders are the same. No two recoveries are the same. ... this is a process. It's a journey.” [19:21] - “This is a journey of self-awareness, self-discovery, retraining my thoughts filling that void that was always inside with self-care." [32:34] - "When the eating disorder voice is trying to distract me, it's from some feeling or situation that I don't want to deal with." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Do You See What I See? by Faith Elicia The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz Codependency Anonymous Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind as they explore the profound impact of internal dialogue on recovery and mental wellness in this insightful episode of the Addicted Mind Plus. Discover how the words we tell ourselves can either hinder or help our journey toward healing. Learn practical tips on reshaping self-talk to foster resilience, overcome addiction, and enhance overall well-being. Whether you're looking to break free from negative thought patterns or simply seeking a mental boost, this episode offers valuable insights into the power of language in shaping our lives. Tune in to empower your path to wellness, one word at a time. Key Topics: The significant role of internal dialogue in recovery Differences between thoughts and internal monologues How changing language can alter emotional responses Common myths about self-talk and how to overcome them Practical tips for reshaping narrative to support mental health Key Moments: [00:01:00] Introduction to the power of language in recovery [00:02:01] Discussion on internal monologues vs. abstract thoughts [00:04:00] The influence of internal dialogue on emotional regulation [00:06:00] Examples of how self-talk can reshape personal narratives [00:09:00] Addressing myths and misunderstandings about self-talk [00:12:00] Strategies for changing internal narratives effectively [00:16:00] Closing thoughts and resources for further learning Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Renowned behavioral neuroscientist Judy Grisel joins us for an eye-opening conversation on addiction and recovery. Judy shares her compelling journey from grappling with substance abuse as a young teenager to becoming a leading expert in addiction neuroscience. Her book, "Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction," seamlessly intertwines her personal experiences with scientific insights, offering a nuanced understanding of how addictive personalities can harbor hidden potential. We examine the shortcomings of punitive measures in addressing substance abuse, advocating instead for the power of positive incentives in recovery. Through vivid stories, we illustrate how individuals transform their addictive tendencies into remarkable achievements and societal contributions. By focusing on the enrichment that comes with sober living, we emphasize the importance of novelty and excitement as vital components in breaking free from addiction's grip and building meaningful lives.  In this episode, you will hear: Judy Grisel's journey from substance abuse to becoming a renowned neuroscientist. Exploration of her book "Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction." The inefficacy of punitive measures and the benefits of positive incentives in recovery. The role of adolescent identity development in addiction vulnerability. Discussion of gender differences in stress sensitivity and addiction. The impact of novelty-seeking and dopamine on addictive behaviors. Strategies for building a meaningful life beyond addiction. Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com https://www.bucknell.edu/fac-staff/judy-grisel Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What most people don't realize about addiction, whether it’s to alcohol, drugs, shopping, overeating, or porn, is that it’s not the core of the problem. The addicted person just uses it to cope with their real problem: their addicted mind or funky brain. For recovery to happen, people need to change their thinking to grow to new levels of awareness. On this episode, Duane talks with Dennis Berry, the author of Funky Wisdom: A Practical Guide to Life and the host of The Funky Brain Podcast. He has been sober since April 8, 2003 and now has expertise in life mastery. During the time since 2003, he became a successful businessman, athlete, and family man. His journey and recovery helped him find his mission in life: to help others achieve inner peace, success, and mastery in every area of their lives.  Dennis knows what it's like to be helpless and hopeless with no positive direction. He was able to climb out of the gutter and transform his life so now he spends his life helping others do the same. His goal is to help people understand life on a whole different level and to see the world differently. Living by his mantra of gratitude and service, he hopes to shorten people's learning curve for growing to new levels of awareness to six months or a year instead of five or seven years.  Dennis calls himself a grateful alcoholic because all that he did got him to this new place of living, growth, understanding, and awareness.  Today, Dennis talks about practical steps you can take to mitigate your suffering, ease your pain, and create the meaningful life you want. Hopefully, this episode helps you on your journey through recovery.  In this episode, you will hear: It’s not about drinking but emotional sobriety. The inspiration behind his book and why “funky wisdom.” The HOW approach to what. What you need to do when your world changes. What can you do with your most valuable asset? If addiction is not the real problem, what is? How do you create willingness? Why he's a grateful alcoholic. The value of having an expert in every area of your life. Rewiring your beliefs and behaviors in six categories of your life. Why writing is more powerful than talk therapy. Key Quotes: [02:30] - "It wasn't about not drinking... it's about following up. It's about looking at the world in the eye and acting like a mature adult. And what we strive for really is emotional sobriety” [07:32] - "You can't solve a problem you can't admit exists." [07:43] - "When you're in enough pain, that's when the change can occur because we don't like change as human beings." [08:15] - “When I'm stressed out, angry, resentful, fearful, you know, what I find is usually that the world changed, and I didn't change along with it." [13:47] - “We need to really change our thinking to really grow to new levels of awareness.” [23:19] - “It may not help them at this moment. But we're planting those seeds." [28:17] - "We want to surround ourselves with success all the time, whenever possible. So I was taught to have an expert in every area of your life." [30:37] - "There's no shame in asking for help. In fact, it'll get you there faster." [32:50] - “What we need to do is focus on one goal at a time. We start knocking down each of those goals at a high level. And then all of a sudden, we start changing.” Supporting Resources: Funky Wisdom: A Practical Guide to Life The Funky Brain Podcast Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of "The Addicted Mind," hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind dive into the transformative world of mindfulness meditation and its incredible ability to combat rumination. If you've ever found yourself stuck in a loop of repetitive thoughts, replaying past events, or worrying about future conversations, this episode is your first step towards breaking free. Duane & Eric explain how rumination can drain our energy, leaving us feeling depressed, anxious, and stuck. But there's hope! By harnessing the power of meditation, we can train our brains to focus on the present, build resilience, and ultimately lead a more fulfilling life. Whether you're a meditation newbie or looking to deepen your practice, this episode offers practical steps backed by scientific research to kickstart your journey to mental clarity and emotional freedom. Join us as we explore the basics of meditation, debunk common myths, and uncover the science behind why and how this ancient practice works. Ready to transform your mind? Let's dive in. Follow Eric on his Meditation journey. Download: “The Meditation Journey: A Cure For Rumination” (note: use coupon code tam8 at checkout to get it for free for the next 7 days) (ends 3/8/24 at 1:00 am PST) Key Topics: The impact of rumination on mental health and addiction cycles The basics and benefits of mindfulness meditation Debunking common myths about meditation The connection between breathing, meditation, and the nervous system Practical steps to begin your meditation practice Key Moments Timestamps: [00:00:00] Introduction to mindfulness meditation and its benefits [00:02:00] Understanding rumination and its effects [00:03:10] The science behind meditation and the nervous system [00:07:00] Meditation's impact on presence and reducing rumination [00:10:10] How to start your meditation journey: A step-by-step guide [00:12:00] The importance of consistency in meditation practice [00:15:00] Resources and support for deepening your meditation practice Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy, please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center. NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What drives you forward when recovery gets tough? In this powerful follow-up to their episode on values, hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind dive into the concept of "meaning making" – the essential fuel that powers your journey toward your most important goals. Have you ever achieved something you thought would make you happy, only to feel empty afterward? Or felt stuck in life despite doing everything "right"? This episode explores why so many people – even successful ones – struggle with feeling unfulfilled and disconnected from what truly matters to them. Using the framework developed by Thomas Mara, the hosts break down how meaning isn't something external that happens to you – it's something you actively create. If values are your North Star showing you direction, meaning is the engine that moves your boat forward. Duane and Eric explain how distorted meaning-making contributes to anxiety disorders, depression, addiction, and eating disorders – and how reconnecting with authentic meaning can transform recovery. They introduce the concept of "supreme concerns" – the things that matter most to you – and provide practical strategies for identifying them and building your daily life around them. Whether you're struggling with addiction, mental health challenges, or simply feeling disconnected from purpose, this episode offers a roadmap for creating a more authentic, fulfilling life aligned with what truly matters to you. The hosts remind us that meaning-making isn't just a nice addition to recovery – it's essential for building resilience against life's challenges and creating genuine happiness. Don't miss the downloadable worksheet mentioned in the show notes to help you identify your own supreme concerns and start creating more meaning in your life today Download the Worksheet Key Topics • The relationship between values and meaning in recovery  • Understanding meaning as a perspective rather than inherent in objects  • How distorted meaning contributes to mental health disorders  • The concept of "supreme concerns" as guideposts for meaningful living  • Practical strategies for embedding meaning into everyday life  • Overcoming obstacles to meaning making like fear and powerlessness  • How alignment with meaning creates resilience and authentic relationships Timestamp [00:01:30] Eric's analogy: Values as North Star, meaning as the motor  [00:03:00] Defining meaning and why it's personal to each individual  [00:05:49] How anxiety and depression distort meaning  [00:07:52] The challenge of misalignment even in successful people  [00:09:13] Exploring the concept of "supreme concerns"  [00:11:43] Overcoming obstacles to meaning making  [00:14:00] How meaning making enhances recovery and relationships Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Rosman never imagined that his storytelling journey would include a chapter about his family's battle with addiction. Known for directing charming family favorites like "A Cinderella Story" and "Life Size," Mark opens up about the unexpected struggle with his daughter's substance use disorder. This episode offers a heartfelt exploration of the fears and revelations that came with facing addiction head-on. Mark candidly shares the initial denial and the painful yet healing journey through therapeutic schools and rehab facilities, bringing to light the critical and often overlooked role families play in recovery. Our conversation unravels the profound shift that occurred when the focus broadened beyond just the individual battling addiction. Mark recounts a pivotal moment with a therapist who challenged the entire family to engage in self-reflection and embrace change. This perspective shift was instrumental in their transformation, prompting a journey of self-discovery and boundary-setting that taught them the importance of prioritizing their own emotional health. The narrative underscores the tumultuous yet rewarding path of learning to maintain one's well-being while supporting a loved one through addiction. Mark's experience doesn't just end with personal growth; it fuels his creative endeavors. He's channeling these experiences into a film project that brings his family's story to the screen, with hopes of illuminating the complexities of addiction and recovery for others. As Mark shares, the film is not just about addiction; it's about resilience, hope, and the power of storytelling to foster understanding and healing. This episode is not just a glimpse into a family's journey through addiction; it's a message of hope and heart, aiming to inspire and support families navigating similar challenges. In this episode, you will hear: The critical role of family involvement in addiction recovery. The shift from denial to acceptance and self-discovery within the family. The emotional journey of parents through support groups like Al-Anon/ Mark's film project inspired by his family's experience, focusing on the family's perspective. The importance of storytelling in fostering understanding and healing. Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com keepcomingbackfilm.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with Sarah Michaud, clinical psychologist and author of Co-Crazy: One Psychologist's Recovery from Codependency and Addiction: A Memoir and Roadmap to Freedom.  One of the reasons Sarah published a book on codependency is that after working with patients and clients for the last 30 years, Sarah noticed that a lot of them were recovering addicts and alcoholics. In her book, Co-Crazy, Sarah shares her own story as well. In 2006, Sarah married a guy, who was 15 years sober, and thought he was the man of her dreams. Unfortunately, he ended up relapsing after getting surgery and getting into the opiates. The major underlying issue for a lot of recovering addicts is unresolved codependency. Codependent behavior comes out of fear and addiction comes out of fear or unresolved feelings. For an addicted person, there’s all that rationalizing, minimizing, and denial happening. It’s the same process for the codependent as well. How do you then recover from codependency and addiction? Today, Sarah discusses how focusing on yourself and understanding your own needs and wants first, is the way to find peace and freedom in your life – not sacrificing yourself for someone else's addiction. In this episode, you will hear: Codependency and addiction How codependency becomes progressive Focusing on yourself to get better The consequences of codependency Reconnection to the self Confronting the discomfort and being with it Key Quotes: [02:47] - “Codependent behavior comes out of fear, and addiction comes out of fear or unresolved feelings." [06:17] "Many people who are codependent don't have an addiction. They're just preoccupied with their partner's lives." [10:36] "Until I realized that I had to focus on myself to get better, and start figuring out what I needed, I couldn't change the situation." [11:37] "The biggest fear is the person dying… the delusion is that you're controlling the other person's behavior." [15:17] “The consequence of codependent behavior is that the people around us start to believe they can't take care of themselves.”  [32:47] "If you can confront the discomfort and be with the discomfort, there might be a spike of intense bodily sensations. But if you set the boundary that is for longer-term comfort, then you're not going to have to experience it.” [36:45] “Check in with yourself even if it's five minutes a day and say, “What do I want? What do I need? What works for me?” because recovery is all about getting more in touch with yourself.” Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Co-Crazy: One Psychologist's Recovery from Codependency and Addiction: A Memoir and Roadmap to Freedom www.amazon.com/Co-Crazy-Psychologists-Recovery-Codependency-Addiction/dp/1736720430 Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind, we are joined by Amy Emerson and Shannon Carlin of the Multidisciplinary Approach for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) research group. Amy and Shannon’s group has had 107 participants complete their MDMA-assisted PTSD therapy program in the last several years, with promising results. As you may know, PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) affects 7% of the US population who have experienced life-threatening events such as military combat, car accidents, natural disasters, or childhood abuse. Individuals with PTSD experience prolonged instability in their lives, perhaps resulting in hypervigilance, fear, difficulty sleeping, and lack of trust. MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy, allows participants to experience the opposite of their PTSD symptoms, ideally increasing trust and dampening fear. Participants go through 3 previous therapy visits to establish a baseline and get them familiar with the therapy process, then they have their first MDMA session, followed by 3 integrative sessions, their second MDMA session, 3 more integrative sessions, and then their final MDMA session and 3 integrative sessions. Overall, the therapy sessions span 12-15 weeks, and though the courses are quite intense, participants have found this method to be less invasive and retraumatizing than their previous experiences with talk therapy. During their MDMA sessions, participants will spend 8 hours with 2 therapists who will guide the participant to follow their inner process by listening to their internal healing intelligence. This could mean that the participant talks a lot or barely at all during the session, but the purpose of the subsequent integrative visits is to help the participant process what they experienced and develop the new perspectives that they may be feeling in terms of life in general, coping with their trauma, work, and relationships. The MAPS research group’s research has shown that 2 months after completing their last therapy session, 56% of participants no longer had PTSD, while 12 months after finishing their therapy, 68% no longer had PTSD. Participants have been pleasantly surprised by their results and healing, and therapists are observing the sessions and effects have been amazed at its effectiveness. To anyone who has been seeking help and been discouraged with your progress, Amy and Shannon want you to know that there is hope and research advances are providing new treatment options to the field faster than ever before. Keep seeking help until you find the right fit for you. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gregg Ostrin, the brilliant playwright behind "The Spy Who Went Into Rehab," shares his incredible journey of recovery, maintaining sobriety since 1987, and how his personal experiences inspired his writing. Duane sits down with Gregg to discuss his fascinating career transition from acting to writing, his impressive work in film and television marketing, and his triumphant return to playwriting. The conversation takes a humorous turn as they explore the concept of his latest play that reimagines a James Bond-like character grappling with addiction and anger management issues, shedding light on the cultural implications of addiction through the lens of a spy character. They also tackle the challenges of producing original plays in smaller theaters, especially in Los Angeles, where revivals of well-known works often take center stage. Gregg shares valuable insights on attracting audiences to new plays and the impact of critical reviews. They reflect on how his play resonates with both the recovery community and those outside it, using familiar spy movie tropes to craft a narrative that connects with all generations. Join Duane and Gregg for this engaging episode that blends comedy, cultural commentary, and the profound journey of recovery. In this episode, you will hear: Reimagining James Bond in rehab Exploring personal history and freedom The challenges of producing original plays in smaller theaters Consumer culture and its pervasive influence on our behaviors and choices Nostalgic movie tropes in modern culture Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://pacificresidenttheatre.org/the-spy-who-went-into-rehab/ NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this vital episode of "The Addicted Mind Plus," Duane and Eric Osterlind dive into the critical topic of relapse prevention and planning. They stress the importance of being proactive rather than reactive when it comes to maintaining sobriety. The duo discusses how a well-thought-out relapse plan can significantly reduce the overwhelming feelings of anxiety and defeat that often accompany recovery. They also emphasize that making a plan during moments of clarity and health is essential. By incorporating practical strategies, such as identifying triggers and outlining coping mechanisms, listeners are equipped with tools to navigate challenging situations effectively. This episode is not only a guide but also an encouragement for anyone struggling with addiction to take control and prepare for the future. Download The Relapse Prevention Planning Worksheet Key Topics The critical importance of a relapse prevention plan Identifying and preparing for triggers The role of emotional and situational awareness in relapse Strategies for immediate response to cravings Building a support network as part of the relapse plan Key Moments [00:01:06] Discussion begins on the significance of relapse prevention. [00:02:22] Explaining the high risk of relapse and the best time to prepare. [00:03:15] The proactive benefits of planning are discussed. [00:06:32] The value of a support network in relapse prevention. [00:10:00] Detailed guidance on creating a personal relapse plan. [00:16:48] Conclusion and resources for listeners to create their own plan. Download link for show notes:  https://addicted-mind.ck.page/5c8f6968ca Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Shahjehan Khan, a voiceover artist, actor, and musician based in Boston. He is the host of the King of the World podcast, which explores his life as a Pakistani American Muslim in the post-9/11 era, 20 years later. Shahjehan shares how he weaved his struggle with addiction to cannabis, how all of that came together for him, and how he got into recovery.  Son of Pakistani American immigrants, Shahjehan grew up as an average American young person in the suburbs of Massachusetts. When 9/11 happened, he remembers being a senior in high school, sitting in a calculus class. At that time, he was already a struggling teenager, which also marked the beginnings of heavy substance use. By the time he got to college, he dropped out after a year, came home, and had his first suicide attempt.  He was then introduced to AA, but it really didn’t resonate with him. He had a relapse a year after he joined a band. Until he realized he had to make that change. Now eleven years sober, Shahjehan found therapy to be the one thing that has helped him through his recovery journey. During the pandemic, he also found a community of recovering folks he could relate with. It also made him realize it was okay to be a multifaceted person. At the time, he felt like there were a bunch of little pieces that never felt like a cohesive whole. When he was first approached to tell his story, he didn't want to tell another 9/11-centered Muslim story because he was sick of it. Then he realized he could frame it in a coming-of-age way, being able to show the parallels of his own personal struggles with what was happening in his outer world post 9/11. The King of the World podcast is shining light on the American Muslim experience. And seeing the impact it had on him and the people he interviewed is also important for us to understand and grow as a society.  In this episode, you will hear: Shahjehan’s addiction and recovery journey His experience the next day after 9/11 The moment he decided he needed change Experiencing a relapse being in a band  Finding the right method of recovery for yourself Why he stopped attending meetings and focused on therapy The impact of the King of the World podcast on other people His recovery process Key Quotes: [11:28] - "Doing the podcast in itself was an act of realizing that it's okay to be this multifaceted person... there were all these little pieces that never felt like a cohesive whole." [11:40] - "A lot of people in early recovery feel like fragmented people.. it's that process of that exploration." [14:43] - "9/11 made it so that we would always be responsible for something we never did."  [21:09] - "We're starting to finally become a voice for people in a way but it's this complicated thing where I myself inside, I'm sort of using that as a crutch almost." [26:43] - "It's not that it just happened overnight. It is a continuous process for sure." [27:30] - "You're so used to being that 'other' in the room that you almost welcome it in a way." [43:12] - “You should always be redefining success for yourself.” [48:18] - "Find one person that you can be brutally honest with... and that can hear you out. And that's where the healing can start." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: King of the World Podcast Immigrantly Podcast www.shahjehankhan.com  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt like reaching out for help is a sign of weakness? You're not alone. In this eye-opening episode of the Addicted Mind podcast, hosts Duane Osterlind and Eric Osterlind delve into the powerful impact of asking for help on the journey to recovery. Asking for help can be one of the hardest steps in addiction recovery, but it's also one of the most crucial. Duane and Eric discuss common barriers like shame, denial, and fear of vulnerability that keep people from seeking the support they need. They share personal stories and insights from their experiences as therapists, emphasizing that recovery flourishes in connection and not in isolation. Listen in as they break down five key internal beliefs that often prevent people from reaching out and offer practical advice on overcoming these hurdles. By the end of the episode, you'll understand why seeking help is not a sign of weakness but a profound act of courage and strength. Download: BUILDING YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK AND ASKING FOR HELP Join Our Deep Dive, where we discuss this episode in depth. Register Here: https://theaddictedmind.com/deepdive Click Here to Join the TAM + Community Waitlist. Get the support you need. Key topics • The 5 main barriers to asking for help in addiction recovery • Why social support is crucial for maintaining long-term sobriety • How childhood experiences can affect our ability to seek help • The importance of vulnerability in the recovery process • Practical steps to overcome the fear of asking for support • Free resources to help build your support network Timestamps [00:01:06] Introduction to the importance of asking for help in recovery [00:03:51] Discussing the 5 internal beliefs that prevent people from seeking help [00:04:12] Exploring shame and stigma as barriers [00:05:26] Addressing denial in addiction [00:06:34] The fear of vulnerability and its roots [00:08:00] Self-reliance mindset and its impact on seeking help [00:09:57] Dealing with hopelessness in addiction recovery Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt a whirlwind of emotions but couldn't pin down exactly what you were feeling? You're not alone. Many people, especially those on the road to recovery, struggle to identify their emotions. This episode of "The Addicted Mind" podcast dives into the crucial skill of recognizing and naming our feelings. Hosts Duane and Eric explore why pinpointing emotions is so important, especially for those battling addiction. They explain that many people used substances or behaviors to cope with overwhelming or confusing feelings. Learning to identify emotions is a key step in breaking free from destructive cycles. The hosts introduce a practical tool: asking yourself specific questions to figure out which emotion you're experiencing. They walk through examples for emotions like fear, envy, anger, shame, and guilt. By answering these targeted questions, listeners can better understand their emotional state. Duane and Eric stress that accurately identifying emotions is crucial for "checking the facts" – a method discussed in a previous episode. Once you know what you're feeling, you can examine if your emotional response fits the situation. This allows you to "adjust the volume" of your emotions – either dialing them up or down as needed. The hosts share real-life examples of how this process has helped people. In one case, a client realized they were feeling shame rather than guilt, leading to a breakthrough in their healing journey. Listeners are encouraged to practice this skill and to join a live "deep dive" session for more in-depth learning. The hosts also offer a downloadable worksheet to help listeners work through identifying different emotions on their own. Download: Identify And Regulate Worksheet Join Our Deep Dive, where we discuss this episode in depth. Register Here: https://theaddictedmind.com/deepdive Click Here to Join the TAM + Community Waitlist. Get the support you need. Key Topics The importance of identifying specific emotions in recovery Using targeted questions to pinpoint emotions Examples of questions for fear, envy, anger, shame, and guilt How emotion identification connects to "checking the facts" Real-life impacts of accurately naming emotions Resources for further learning and practice Timestamps 0:00 - Introduction and importance of emotion identification 2:43 - Connection to previous "Check the Facts" episode 5:43 - Exploring fear as an emotion 7:10 - Discussing envy and its complexities 8:05 - Examining anger and its various triggers 10:13 - Distinguishing between shame and guilt 13:43 - Closing thoughts and resources for listeners Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with Dr. Joseph Volpicelli, a world-renowned scientist clinician whose research led to the discovery of naltrexone (a drug that treats alcohol addiction) among many other discoveries related to addiction treatment.   Today, he talks about how naltrexone can help someone struggling with alcohol addiction reduce their cravings. With the help of naltrexone as one of the tools in their toolkit of recovery, people can now start to build a meaningful, purposeful life. They also talk about the importance of the other component: not just the medical intervention, but also the psychosocial interventions for recovery. Dr. Volpicelli has been interested in addiction treatment and research for 40 years now. Such interest started when he was a medical student working with individuals who were returning from Vietnam who had developed an alcohol addiction. Many of them were using opiates but when they came back to the United States, they started drinking more alcohol.  For a long time, he has been interested in the relationship between stress, alcohol drinking, and opiates, and has taken that observation into the laboratory working with rats. What he found out was that the ability to control trauma had a very profound effect in terms of one's ability to fight something like cancer. When you're exposed to uncontrollable trauma, your brain releases endogenous endorphins and endogenous morphine-like molecules that help kill the pain. The problem with addiction is that the behavior makes you feel better temporarily but it sows the seeds for the next episode when you’ll need to use alcohol or drugs again, thereby creating an addictive cycle. Dr. Volpicelli discovered how naltrexone helps moderate the highs and lows and, therefore, helps break that addictive cycle. This then gives a person a chance to find other things in life and gives them a sense of purpose and social connectedness. In this episode, you will hear: How Dr. Volpicelli got interested in addiction treatment Trauma and its effects on physical or behavioral disorders How stress is related to alcohol addiction Withdrawal from your own endogenous opiates The endorphin effect that happens in addiction How naltrexone breaks the addictive cycle Understanding the logical brain vs. the emotional brain The BRENDA Approach to enhance adherence Key Quotes: [04:06] - “The ability to control the trauma had a very profound effect in terms of one's ability to fight something like cancer.” [08:05] - “When you're exposed to uncontrollable trauma, your brain releases endogenous endorphins and endogenous morphine-like molecules that help kill the pain.” [09:24] - “A lot of times when people have a very stressful week, on the weekends, they just feel like sitting on a couch eating potato chips, and for some folks when they drink, it helps improve their mood… that's probably withdrawal from your own endogenous opiates.” [10:53] - "The problem with addiction is that the behavior, drinking alcohol or any other behavior, makes you feel better temporarily. But it sows the seeds for the next episode where you need to use the drug again. And so it creates an addictive cycle." [13:58] - “The naltrexone helps moderate the highs and lows so it helps break that addictive cycle.” [15:33] - “By breaking that cycle, the medicine then gives a person a chance to find other things in life to give them a sense of purpose and social connectedness.” [23:24] - "Rather than fight our emotional brain, it's important to understand how it works." [25:55] - "We like to do something purposeful and meaningful in our lives. And people who establish that have much less risk of going back to relapse." Supporting Resources: https://volpicellicenter.com  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever left a conversation feeling completely drained, questioning yourself, or worse – thinking about relapsing? You're not alone. In this powerful episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, Duane Osterlind tackles the crucial but often overlooked aspect of recovery: managing toxic relationships. Through a compelling case study of a woman six months into her sobriety journey, Osterlind reveals how seemingly supportive family members can unknowingly threaten our recovery with subtle comments and behaviors. He dives into the science behind how relationships affect our physical health, from our heart function to our immune system, and provides practical tools for identifying and managing toxic relationships in recovery. Whether you're in recovery or supporting someone who is, this episode offers valuable insights into creating a healthier support system for long-term sobriety. Download: Toxic Relationships Worksheet Click Here to Join the TAM + Community. Get the support you need. Our Deep Dive is now in the community, where we discuss this episode in deep dive Key Topics: • Physical and emotional impacts of toxic relationships on recovery • Scientific evidence linking relationship quality to physical health • Signs of toxic relationships and how to identify them • Three strategies for managing toxic relationships • The importance of boundaries in recovery • How to evaluate your current relationships • Building a supportive network for recovery Timestamps: [00:01:24] Opening question about exhausting conversations and recovery [00:02:15] Case study of client struggling with family relationships [00:04:11] Science behind relationships and physical health [00:06:39] How to identify toxic relationships [00:09:32] Three main strategies for handling toxic relationships [00:11:13] Practical exercise for evaluating relationships [00:13:12] Resources and action steps for listeners Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the traumas of your past could be transformed into a beacon of hope for the future? Join us for an intimate conversation with Greg Schindler, a trailblazer in longevity and cellular medicine, as he shares his remarkable journey from a tumultuous childhood in Houston, Texas, to becoming a leader in his field. From facing the heartbreaking suicides of both his biological and adoptive fathers to overcoming addiction, Greg's story is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience and transformation. Greg recounts the challenges of growing up with an abusive, alcoholic father and transitioning into a more affluent but emotionally complex environment with his stepfather. Despite the external stability, the internal battles led him down a path of substance abuse, seeking validation and escape from his trauma. His journey through self-acceptance and sobriety is both heartbreaking and inspiring, shedding light on the pivotal moments and people who guided him toward a healthier, more purposeful life. In this episode, you will hear: Struggles with addiction, self-acceptance, and the journey to sobriety. Role of a sponsor and the significance of spirituality in recovery. Emotional and transformative visit to the cemetery to close emotional loops. Overcoming negative self-talk and embracing self-compassion and healing. The intersection of personal growth, longevity, and cellular medicine. Addressing the aging population crisis and the potential of cellular medicine for better health. Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suzanne Jessee is with us today to talk about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). TMS is a relatively new treatment, at least in the United States, for individuals who are struggling with depression. Depression is often present in addiction and TMS is something that may help people that are struggling with addiction and treatment-resistant depression. Suzanne Jesse is the CEO and founder of Anew Era TMS in Huntington Beach, California. To start, Suzanne breaks down what TMS stands for. Transcranial means “beneath the cranium,” and magnetic stimulation means “stimulation using magnets.” The technology behind MRI magnets is used in TMS. But the big difference between TMS and MRI magnets is that the TMS magnetic technology creates a field of energy that is fairly intense that penetrates beneath the cranium into the brain. TMS focuses in on the mood center of the brain that is responsible for the depressive symptoms. That area is stimulated to wake up those neurons again so that they are able to fire efficiently and transmit the neurotransmitters across the synaptic gap more efficiently. For patients that have tried psychotherapy, and medications, and they haven’t seen the results that they are looking for, TMS may be very beneficial. Even though TMS has been used in Europe and Asia for more than 20 years, it is now being used in the United States. This use is mainly due to TMS being approved by the FDA for depression, but it can also be used to treat conditions like PTSD, OCD, anxiety, smoking cessation. It has also been used to address issues like dementia and Alzheimers. This cutting-edge technology has so many different opportunities for treatment that weren’t available before TMS coming to the United States. TMS is completely noninvasive. Patients can drive themselves in, have a 45-minute treatment, and then drive themselves home. The only possible side effects are sometimes a mild headache. Suzanne encourages people to come in for a free consultation and see the equipment. Her team of psychiatrists will do an overall assessment to see if this type of treatment is appropriate for you. Supporting Resources: visit https://aneweratms.com/ Or call (888) 503-1549 NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast, our guest is Tom Horvath, founder of Practical Recovery and co-founder of Smart Recovery. Smart Recovery is a non-12-step approach to addictive behavior problems that provides an alternative to programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. While both methods provide new communities and relationships to build on as well as specific examples of individuals who are models of success, AA is based on the idea that you must give yourself up to a higher power because “you are powerless” and must rely on your sponsor and meetings in order to recover. 12-step programs can be helpful to some, but they can be ineffective for others, so the demand for alternative programs is continuing to increase. Smart Recovery integrates any methods that have been supported by scientific evidence, are self-empowering and are applicable in a mutual help group, including CBT, DBT, and ACT. They recognize that there are multiple pathways to recovery and that great results occur in a community. Smart Recovery takes a self-empowering approach to recovery, relying on the individual to set their own limits and establishing a 4-point program for people to work through: Maintaining motivation Coping with craving Identifying and resolving other problems Achieving a greater lifestyle balance Smart Recovery emphasizes “ideal” recovery, rather than “real” recovery as is expected in 12-step programs. Ideal recovery may not be complete abstinence, but rather staying within the limits that each person sets (and potentially changes along the way) for themselves, which is the point of the accountability of attending meetings. Tom encourages those struggling with addictive behaviors or searching for a recovery group to be persistent in finding what works for you. Most people are able to resolve their problems with treatment, so just don’t give up. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Episode Credits Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com   If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us on an inspiring journey with "The Addicted Mind Plus," a podcast series hosted by Duane Osterlind, alongside his brother Eric Osterlind, a seasoned psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. This series, crafted with heart and expertise, offers a beacon of hope and practical guidance for those navigating the path of addiction recovery. In each concise 15-minute episode, we delve into simple yet powerful steps to transform your life. Our mission is to empower you with profound insights, valuable knowledge, and real-world strategies that foster healing and resilience. Drawing from a wealth of professional experiences and enriched by diverse expert perspectives, every episode is a step toward self-discovery and empowerment. Whether you are taking your first step towards recovery or seeking to strengthen your journey, "The Addicted Mind Plus" is your companion in exploring effective, life-enhancing practices. Tune in every Thursday for episodes that not only answer your deepest questions about recovery but also illuminate the path to a healthier, more fulfilling life. Subscribe now to "The Addicted Mind Plus" and together, let's embrace the journey towards becoming our best selves. Our mission with The Addictive Mind Plus is to provide you with insights, knowledge, and real-world strategies to support your path to healing. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:01 - Introducing the Addicted Mind Plus 00:00:47 - Practical Steps for Recovery 00:01:39 - Expert Insights and Guidance 00:02:14 - Weekly Release Schedule 00:02:39 - Conclusion and Next Steps   Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes, where we'll delve into the first of many steps towards a healthier and more fulfilling life. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheAddictedMindPodcast Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Depression sucks and it’s such a hard place to be. On the other hand, addiction used to be framed as this lack of moral character or willpower, and addiction, too, is a very hard place to be. But there's hope. On this episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane speaks with Ben Spielberg, the founder and CEO of TMS & Brain Health clinics. Ben is a specialist in neuroscience, neuromodulation, and neuroimaging. Today, Ben is going to talk about TMS or transcranial magnetic stimulation, and how TMS offers hope to people struggling with addiction and its underlying mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, and ultimately, returning joy and passion back to their lives. Ben started working in the field of mental health in 2010 as a biofeedback technician at a Substance Abuse and Recovery Treatment Center in Los Angeles. Part of his work was doing neurofeedback and he was just fascinated at how it impacted people, becoming more resilient to stressors without involving any medication or intervention.  Eventually, Ben got a master's degree in neuroscience at Columbia with the hope to specialize in the overarching field called neuromodulation, which refers to evidence-based, nonpharmaceutical ways to create real changes in the brain. With neurofeedback, all people need to do is to show up. It doesn't really matter what you’re thinking about. Your brain is picking up on the signals regardless. Listen in as Ben sheds some light on how TMS targets and activates specific areas of the brain that help reduce depression, anxiety, and all other underlying issues that lead to addiction. In this episode, you will hear: Ben’s experience in neurofeedback and neuromodulation The concept of neuroplasticity What is TMS and how does it work? Cognitive-behavioral therapy vs. TMS Types of issues TMS can treat The role of ADHD in addiction The history of TMS Key Quotes: [05:54] - "With neurofeedback, all you have to do is show up. It doesn't really matter what you think about. Your brain is picking up on the signals regardless."  [09:53] - "There's a part of the brain called the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex... it's the left top side of your head and that area has been shown to be underactive in people with depression." [10:35] - "When people do TMS typically five days a week, week by week, the symptoms of depression start to go away, just as this other part of the brain starts to come back online." [12:55] - "Cognitive behavioral therapy is definitely an evidence-based treatment for depression. But when it's not working, there's nowhere to go unless you're actually creating real changes in the brain." [15:37] - "People with ADHD are much more likely to be addicted than a neurotypical person… as well as way more likely to be incarcerated and a really a number of issues in life." [17:26] - "ADHD is an issue of sustained focus, whereas normally, people have the ability to continue focusing on things when they want to, and they're not necessarily bothered by any external or internal stimulus." [29:41] - "Addiction is really just a symptom of some other underlying mental health diagnosis." Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: TMS & Brain Health Clinics https://www.tmsbrainhealth.com/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Rychert joins us today. He will be talking about the recovery community called Recovery Dharma, in Boise, Idaho. Josh shares his personal story and explains how mindfulness, Buddhism, and learning to understand his dharma assisted him and can assist others too, by bringing the elements of peace and calmness into their lives and their recovery process.  Episode Link>>>>>www.theaddictedmind.com/88 Josh is in Boise, Idaho, where he has been involved in the recovery community since 2014. Recovery Dharma, under that name, only came into being last year. Recovery Dharma in Boise started as Refuge Recovery, with small groups and alliances with other similar groups through an online presence.  Recovery Dharma is an addiction recovery peer support group, with meetings all over the nation. It uses Buddhism, with the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, as a way to structure recovery for individuals. Josh's recovery began in 1995. After having had issues with an alcohol use disorder, he became involved with Twelve Step groups. And after many years of recovery, Josh eventually found himself moving away from the Twelve Steps and developing an interest in meditation, to help his depression. Eventually, he rediscovered his need for a recovery community, and he fell into the Buddhist addiction recovery path, under the name of Refuge Recovery. Buddhism was something that recognized Josh's capacity to have a life where compulsions and addictions were not the primary focus. It offered him an opportunity to identify with a recovery path that didn't identify with his addiction. He could, however, still recognize the risk of compulsions and addictions in his life.  The kind of present moment experience that Josh wanted from Buddhism was the experience of seeing the world clearly, being able to participate in life, and simply being alive and happy. While recognizing, at the same time, that he had certain risks to his wellness. For most people in recovery, options are not offered to them in the beginning. People with addictions are usually referred directly to Twelve-Step-based recovery programs, although many people don't resonate with that.  Having Buddhism as an option is valuable because it recognizes a modern incarnation of our knowledge of recovery and it does not require reliance on a Higher Power. Mindfulness has been scientifically validated. With cravings, mindfulness helps people to be with the discomfort, and sit through it. Also, when the cravings have lessened, mindfulness helps people to thrive, in the moment. Recovery Dharma is broken down into some general categories. There is the practice of meditation, there are recovery meetings, and there is the study of Buddhism. Dharma is often the word used to describe the teachings of Buddhism. More broadly, it describes a sense of truth, or a clear understanding of reality, or the wise teachings that bring about in people a sense of well-being and an ability to connect with the world. It allows people to share their wisdom and it offers them a sense of togetherness. The Recovery Dharma meetings facilitate a sharing of wisdom through engaging in a practice to build a sense of calm and equanimity. Recovery Dharma is a branch of Refuge Recovery and it addresses the underlying causes of people's addictions.  There's a recognition within the professional community today, that Recovery Dharma, and the practice of meditation, are very valuable to people on the path of recovery.  Links and resources: https://www.meetup.com/recoverydharmaboise/  Recovery Dharma's Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/recovery.dharma/ The Addicted Mind Website - www.theaddictedmind.com  For more info about Novus Mindful Life Institute, go to www.theaddictedmind.com/help Join our Facebook group. Go to www.facebook.com, type in The Addicted Mind, and click 'join'. Book: The Mindful Way Through Depression by  Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal, and Jon Kabat-Zinn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addictions are many things. But to simplify, they represent parts of our personalities that are out of balance. They represent a part of our body, mind, soul, or spirit that needs a lot of attention and that perhaps was neglected in childhood. As we continue using external substances, these imbalances get louder and louder until they have to be dealt with. Eventually, we get stuck in a cycle of shame and guilt that leads to hopelessness. On this episode, Duane speaks with Paul Churchill, the host and founder of Recovery Elevator. In 2015, Paul launched the podcast, which he thought was a risky move having only been six months sober from alcohol. It was a calculated gamble that actually saved his life. Now, it has opened a lot of doors for him to meet great people and impact other people’s lives. Paul was a normal drinker for about seven years since he was 15 years old. Soon, he found how the drug alcohol let him overcome his insecurities and fears in early childhood. At 22, after he graduated college, he moved to Granada, Spain and bought a bar. Moving to a foreign country with a drinking problem to buy a bar in Spain at a young age was a total dumpster fire. It was both the best time and the worst time of his life. The tipping point came at the very end when he blacked out for three straight days and realized he was tiptoeing around life and death. In 2010, he decided to go a month without alcohol and ended up going two and a half years without it. He was going forward on willpower. When you’re viewing life without alcohol as a sacrifice, your time is limited. So he went back to drinking, stopped again, and then went back to alcohol again. It was a cycle that gave him a sense of hopelessness to the point of him attempting suicide. In 2014, he finally surrendered and stopped fighting. Now, here he is – seven years later. He believes his addiction served a purpose that directed him to move forward in life without alcohol and to go internal instead of external for happiness and support. In this episode, you will hear: Paul’s addiction and recovery journey Being stuck in a cycle of shame and hopelessness How Paul was finding habits or distractions as part of his recovery Addiction as an adaptive behavior The endowment theory that forces us to connect  Ending the stigma of addiction itself and getting help for it Overcoming addiction through community and accountability Key Quotes: [03:13] - “Addictions are many things. But to simplify them, they represent parts of our personalities that are out of balance.” [04:16] - “Alcohol was a self medicating elixir in it. It worked wonders. The problem was it wasn't sustainable.” [07:11] - “It's a real dangerous cycle that we can get on where we have intense anxiety, alcohol relieves it. And then when alcohol goes away, there's more anxiety.” [10:18] - “Hope is constantly looking into the future for a better world, and that's a trap in itself.” [10:23] - “When you have lost all hope, and you really come crashing down into the present moment, that's where the bulk of the recovery work happens in this present moment.” [14:50] - “A lot of these addictions, especially in modern society, they're adaptive behaviors.” [19:40] - “Overall human beings, they're wired to help. And most human beings are really good people.” [23:08] - “It is a societal issue. And it's not the issue for just the addict or the alcoholic. And it's not even really their fault. A lot of this is generational and passed down.” [24:06] - “How to depart from addiction is complicated... but it can also be as simple as community and accountability.” Supporting Resources: https://www.recoveryelevator.com/  In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Dr. Gabor Maté  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you feeling stuck, unfulfilled, or like you're living someone else's life? In this powerful episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind dive deep into how unclear values might be sabotaging your recovery and overall well-being. Like a rudder on a boat, your values guide you through life's challenges and decisions. Yet many people in recovery struggle because they haven't identified what truly matters to them. The hosts explore how living without clear values can lead to anxiety, depression, and that nagging feeling that something's missing. They share practical insights on how to discover your authentic values across different life areas - from relationships to career choices. Whether you're in recovery or simply seeking a more meaningful life, this episode offers concrete strategies for aligning your actions with what truly matters to you. Plus, listeners get access to a special worksheet to help them define their personal values and start making better decisions today. Download the worksheet: Building a Life & Recovery Guided by Your Values Worksheet Key Topics: The connection between undefined values and recovery struggles How misaligned values lead to anxiety, depression, and unfulfillment The importance of differentiating between personal values and "shoulds" from others How values change throughout different life stages and circumstances Using values as a decision-making tool in relationships and career choices The role of emotion regulation in living according to your values Practical strategies for defining values in different life domains Timestamps:  [00:01:14] Values as a rudder: The importance of guidance in life  [00:02:37] Why values need regular review and refinement  [00:04:31] How undefined values impact mental health and recovery  [00:06:00] Using values to make better decisions [00:09:35] Breaking down values into specific life categories  [00:11:18] Practical examples of applying values to relationships  [00:13:21] Access to free values worksheet and resources Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recovery from addiction is a particularly challenging process for women, who are also mothers, to go through. Emily Lynn Paulson, author of the book, Highlight Real: Finding Honesty and Recovery Beyond the Filtered Life, is our guest for today's show. She shares the story of her addiction and her journey along the path of the process of recovery and healing.  Emily used to dislike herself a lot. She had difficulty with being honest, both with herself and with others. From a very young age, she used to tell white lies to cover up the things she didn't like about herself and to make up for the things she thought she lacked.  When Emily started drinking, it helped her to cover up, and make up, for the things she didn't like about herself or that she thought she lacked. The first time she ever drank alcohol, she realized that it affected her differently to the way it affected her peers. Rather than just having fun, when she drank, she felt that she was finally the person she was always meant to be. This theme wove its way into different areas of her life and followed her until she found recovery. As an adult, Emily had five children and she didn't drink while she was pregnant. So she continued denying her problem for quite some time until the consequences of her drinking finally started outweighing what she thought she was getting out of it. Emily didn't believe she was an alcoholic at first because she thought she could stop drinking. She made several attempts to stop but she always started again. Deep down, she knew that she had a problem but she was not willing to let it go forever. That is alcoholic-thinking, and it is very common. Eventually, it got to the point where Emily could no longer deny her alcoholism.  All the dishonesty, secrecy, and lies of omission can make addiction a soul-crushing condition. Other people are often not fully aware of what is going on, so they don't step in and offer to help. Although Emily came to realize that dishonesty didn't work, it was still very hard for her to become fully honest. She found that coming out with her sobriety, and also writing her book, helped her to make the connection and become truthful about who she was, and about the things she still needed to deal with. She knew that she could not start afresh without first dealing with everything that had come before. It's very easy to give a false impression of what is going on in our lives with social media. And many people fall into the social media "comparison-trap".  Having to confront her kids with her alcoholism was the most difficult part of recovery for Emily but it was also her biggest blessing because it brought about some very necessary conversations.  Alcohol is not something that women have to do to survive their kids. For Emily, her book is an important message to women, telling them how necessary it is, to tell the truth to other women about what alcohol does to mothers.  Since Emily started putting her sobriety first, she has been able to be there for her family in a way that she has never known before. Her life has become so much better. She's not perfect now, but her best day when she was drinking was always way worse than her worst day, sober.  Links and resources: Emily's website - www.emilylynnpaulson.com  Emily on Instagram - @highlight real recovery You can find Emily's book on Amazon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As you're trying to find hope in the grit of addiction and trauma recovery, there's power in being part of a community that can move us from a place of struggle to freedom. On this episode, Duane speaks with Caroline Beidler about her new book, “Downstairs Church: Finding Hope in The Grit of Addiction and Trauma Recovery,” and how one can find hope in their own journey of addiction and trauma recovery by harnessing the power of sharing their story.  Caroline Beidler is an author, recovery advocate, and founder of the storytelling platform Bright Story Shine. With almost 20 years in leadership within social work and ministry, Caroline is a team writer for The Grit and Grace Project and a blogger at the global recovery platform, In The Rooms. Caroline's insights and personal experiences offer practical advice and inspiration for those navigating similar struggles. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking for hope and healing in their own life. In this episode, you will hear: Why she came up with the title, “Downstairs Church” How she took the first steps down into the basement church How to find hope in the grit of addiction Having a personal relationship with God takes time How adversities give rise to healing The importance of showing up vulnerably  Highlighting the power of story Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Website: www.carolinebeidler.com Bright Story Shine https://www.brightstoryshine.com/  The Grit and Grace Project https://thegritandgraceproject.org/  In The Rooms https://www.intherooms.com/home/  Downstairs Church: Finding Hope in The Grit of Addiction and Trauma Recovery https://www.amazon.com/Downstairs-Church-Finding-Addiction-Recovery/dp/1631959786 NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*DISCLAIMER EXPLICIT CONTENT* Trauma is something that no one would choose to go through, but it can also be an opportunity for personal growth and wisdom. We may all have different stories and personal circumstances, but often, the dynamics at play are very similar in terms of how we heal.  In this episode of the podcast, Duane speaks with Nikki Eisenhauer, a psychotherapist, licensed professional counselor, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, and life coach specializing in trauma, addiction, grief, and loss in highly sensitive people. Nikkis is also a yoga and meditation teacher and host of the hit mental health podcast Emotional Badass: Where Moxie Meets Mindful. Through her personal and professional experiences, Nikki encourages us to take charge of our lives, even in the face of pain and suffering. By developing emotional intelligence and resilience, we can create a more peaceful, joyful, and fulfilling life.  Listen in as Nikki shares her story of resilience and emphasizes the importance of emotional resilience in overcoming difficult experiences. The conversation also touches on the topics of sexual abuse and incest, so if this is something that’s difficult for you, please approach it with caution. In this episode, you will hear: What it means to be an emotional badass Why incest is a taboo topic The importance of emotional intelligence in childhood Interpreting intuitive messages into verbal language The common plight of eldest children in dysfunctional families Guilt and shame as a big beach ball for the abusers The power of listening to and trusting your intuition How your body feels what your mind knows Cultivating patience and kindness to yourself Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Emotional Badass: Where Moxie Meets Mindful NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The journey from trauma to peace and acceptance involves an intermediate space of transition. During trauma, the body is in a hyper-vigilant state, leading to pain, hurt, and suffering. Moving away from trauma requires a shift towards something different - a space of healing and inner peace. In today's episode, Duane interviews Robert Common, who shares his personal story and discusses the work he does with clients who are dealing with addiction and mental health issues. Robert also advocates for protecting women and children from violence, and we'll be delving into that topic as well. He talks about how his Buddhism and experiences with trauma intersected and helped him overcome addiction, and how all these factors played a role in his journey to recovery. In this episode, you will hear: The intersection of trauma, addiction, and Buddhism The space of transition from trauma to peacefulness Buddhism and the noble truths How trauma pulls away from compassion How trauma can be a force for good The gift of pain and the power of mindfulness Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: http://www.novusmindfullife.com/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You could be raised by parents who are very nice people and they may not have any drinking or drug use issues. They could be super religious. But that doesn’t guarantee it’s going to save you from drug addiction or alcoholism. It's perfectly acceptable to ask for prayers if somebody is sick. But what happens when you do a repeated bad behavior that you can't seem to control? As children, we don’t really have the power to change our environment that has been created by adults. We have been taught to be fundamentally flawed and that we are all sinners. And sometimes, when our brains have been wired that way, it naturally brings feelings of guilt, shame, and pain – that the only way to numb those is resorting to addiction.  On today’s episode, Duane talks to Arlina Allen, host of The One Day at a Time podcast and creator of the Sober Life School.  Arlina Allen has been sober since 1994 after living a wild life of drugs, alcohol, and sex. Her tagline at the time was – “If it was in a bottle, a bag or blue jeans, I was doing it!” Alina had quite a rough childhood. She started seeing a shrink at age 9, drinking at age 10, and started smoking weed in junior high. Her parents got divorced when she was young, and she was sexually abused by their neighbor. Growing up, she only had two feelings: guilty and wrong – and she used addiction as her way out of pain. Eventually, this left her feeling lost, full of self-loathing, demoralized, and hopeless. Then she finally reached out to some sober friends who offered her a little bit of hope and safety to be able to look inward. Today, Arlina shares her understanding of how our own natural tendency for negativity and confirmation bias creates a painful feedback loop of continued self-loathing and continued pain, and finally, how reaching out to others can help change that process so we can unpack our baggage, see things more clearly with compassion, and begin to make the changes we want. In this episode, you will hear: How the shame spiral keeps going Understanding confirmation bias, negativity bias, and the brain’s default network What prompted her to finally make that switch to the other side How part of the AA’s 12-step program allows you to unload all of your baggage The role of community in addiction recovery Key Quotes: [07:11] - “In childhood, we develop these beliefs about who we are, it's like the subconscious mind. It's how we operate from it's like a computer's operating system. We then operate from that presupposition about who we think we are, and what we deserve, and what we're capable of.  [07:36] - “Confirmation bias meaning I've made a decision about who I was and what I was worth. And then my subconscious mind then looks for information to support my belief.” [08:16] - "The default mode network is like a thermostat, where you don't get too high, and you don't get too low. We live within this comfort zone." [15:54] - “We do have a negativity bias where we're looking for the problem so that we can solve it so that we can survive. But what we don't realize is that we are forgetting about our assets. We're forgetting to focus on the thousand things that go right every day.” [21:08] - "I just didn't see a way out. I was so self-centered but incapable of self-examination." [25:45] - “The how of recovery is honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness.” [31:54] - “There is no doing this alone because our minds are compromised. And so we need an outside objective, compassionate, third-party perspective on what's going on.” Supporting Resources: Arlina’s Self-Esteem Course: https://www.selfesteemcourse.com/ The One Day at a Time: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-day-at-a-time-podcast/id1453590397  Sober Life School: https://www.soberlifeschool.com/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Duane speaks with Andrew Drazan and Dr. Edmond Hakimi to discuss the pressing topic of addiction and addiction research.  Andrew Drazan is the founder and current chairman of Wellbridge Addiction Treatment and Research, which has been providing personalized care to individuals struggling with addiction for over a decade. Dr. Edmond Hakimi, the medical director of Wellbridge, brings his extensive expertise in addiction treatment to the conversation.  Today, delve into the medical model of treating addiction, the importance of research in this field, and the individualized care approach taken by Wellbridge. We will also address topical issues such as the opioid epidemic and the growing prevalence of synthetic drugs.  In this episode, you will hear: The medical model of treating addiction Bringing research into the addiction space How to measure the outcome of addiction treatment The importance of individualized care in the field of addiction Addressing the opioid epidemic in the United States Are synthetic drugs becoming even more addictive? The importance of a weekly dose of medication Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://wellbridge.org/ http://www.novusmindfullife.com/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Rebecca Williams joins us. Rebecca is a licensed psychologist, who lived and worked in beautiful San Diego, California for twenty-five years. She recently relocated to Savannah, Georgia to be close to the wildlife and the natural beauty of the area.  Rebecca's path into addiction opened up through her family's struggles with addiction. Especially those of her late mother. Episode link>>>>www.theaddictedmind.com/92 Growing up in this way, Rebecca wanted to learn as much as she could about addiction so she got her Master's degree in Counseling Psychology, followed by her Ph.D. at the University of California, Santa Barbara.  One of Rebecca's specialties is mindfulness. She has been working on it for the last twenty years and she has found it paramount to her self-healing and also to her capabilities as a psychologist. She discovered mindfulness through yoga when she started teaching it in the eighties before mindfulness became cool. Mindfulness helped Rebecca to quieten her anxious mind. It's also a tool that has been very helpful to her, in her profession, to help a lot of other people with anxiety, depression, and other issues relating to mental health. Mindfulness, as a practice, is a way through anxiety. Jon Kabat-Zinn described mindfulness as being in the present moment, on purpose, and without judgment. Being in the present moment is a challenge, and doing it on purpose takes work. Letting go of judgment can be difficult, but like everything, with practice, it gets easier. Although it can take a lot to rid yourself of judgment, Rebecca explains that when you get used to not judging anymore, your brain starts to re-calibrate itself. And new, smoother neural pathways start opening up.  Rebecca believes that it all starts with the simple step of finding a quiet place where you won't be disturbed for a while. Then close your eyes for five minutes, and focus something like a sound or your breathing. If you do this every single day, you will become calmer and more focused over time. There's no right way to meditate. It's just about permitting yourself to take the time to do it. Rebecca tends to struggle with her mind jumping around, so she concentrates on her breathing to help still her mind. She advises people to keep it uncomplicated, and as simple and as possible.  Rebecca also suggests doing a walking meditation. To do that, you can simply count the colors of green that you see while you're out walking. Or, if you're in the city, you can count all the different shades of grey you come across. The main thing is to permit yourself to be okay with any anxious thoughts that may arise because they are normal. And remember that the mind is designed to think so you can simply be grateful for that and keep going.  Links and resources: Rebecca's website: www.mindfulnessworkbook.com Books mentioned:  Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness by Jon Kabat-Zinn Gift of Recovery: 52 Mindful Ways To Live Joyfully Beyond Addiction by Rebecca Williams and Julie S Kraft The Mindfulness Workbook for Addiction: A Guide to Coping with the Grief, Stress and Anger that Trigger Addictive Behaviors by Rebecca Williams and Julie S Kraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know that addiction has been recognized as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act for well over 20 years now? This means that people with addictions have substantial legal rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This is such an important topic to talk and think about, as we learn how best to help everyone struggling with addiction as well as the pain and suffering that come along with addiction so we can help alleviate those. On today's episode, Duane sits down with John T Maier to discuss the concept of viewing addiction as a disability instead of a disease. Their conversation delves into the implications this has on how we handle addiction in society and when dealing with addiction personally. John T Maier holds an MSW in clinical social work from Simmons University and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton. He is a staff clinician at the Seeder Clinic and teaches regularly at Lesley University, with a book on the disability view of addiction currently in the works. In this episode, you will hear: How addiction is being viewed by society over the years The difference between disease and disability Policy on addiction and disability Disclosure of addiction and privacy The disability model as identity-driven vs. behavior-driven Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Michelle Chalfant, host of The Adult Chair Podcast, about being our best selves by sitting in the adult chair and how our adult self can help us navigate all parts of our trauma, inner child, and ego. Michelle gives practical advice that can help you move forward in your life in a way that will create meaning and purpose.  A therapist and coach, Michelle currently does coaching certification and workshops based on the Adult Chair Model, which was a culmination and combination of several teachers she has worked with over the last 25 years. The Adult Chair Model is a manual for life. It helps you learn how to feel your emotions, something that many of us have not been taught to do well. Michelle says that a lot of us know how to be physically healthy and have a good understanding of that. However, when it comes to emotional health, humans aren't great at it. Learning how to live as a healthy adult is the touchstone of The Adult Chair Model. When you begin to live with compassion, boundaries, and empowerment, and when you’re connected to your emotions instead of reacting to them, you become an emotionally healthy adult and the most authentic version of yourself. Growing up, Michelle was part of an Italian family and was raised with alcoholism all around her.  She recalls moments in college when she felt unhappy and even had suicidal thoughts. As her way of escaping from pain, she resorted to three things: smoking pot, drinking, and overeating.  After consulting a psychiatrist, she got diagnosed with depression and was given four days’ worth of medication. Three days later, she stopped taking the meds and decided to find another way to heal herself.  In this episode, you will hear: Her addiction and recovery journey from depression Turning towards the pain and learning how to feel your emotions How to become friends with your emotions Your body as your navigation system Checking in with your inner child Key Quotes: [03:20] - “The Adult Chair Model is a manual for life.” [03:40] - “A lot of us know to be physically healthy… but when it comes to emotional health, humans aren't great at that.” [14:46] - “You can only take people as far as you've gone.” [15:29] - "It's pausing life temporarily and then you hit play again the moment all the effects wear off, and all of a sudden, you're back in it and the pain is right there again. You have to turn toward the pain." [15:48] - “You've got to get to know your pain and we have to learn how to feel our emotions. And that is something human beings are not taught well how to do.” [19:20] - “You've got to go in there and let those feelings come through." [22:30] - “I found that I had to become friends with my emotions.” [26:54] - "When we tune into the body, we realize it's a navigation system for us and it tells us when we're off, when we're on, when we're okay, and when we're not okay." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: https://theadultchair.com/ The Adult Chair Podcast Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks with Daniel Snyder about decriminalizing drugs, the opioid crisis, and dealing with addiction. Based in Vancouver, Daniel describes working through the opioid epidemic in British Columbia. He shares some stories that demonstrate that addiction is a hidden thing for many people; that is, it’s not always as visible as the media would have you believe. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness He does believe that recovery is a process, which includes setbacks. Daniel initially believed that every relapse was a complete failure, but he soon figured out how to change his thinking around the recovery process. A friend asked him a pressing question that pushed him to realize he can learn through recovery. Overcoming the stigma of “once an addict, always an addict” was key. In Canada, there is an in-depth data evaluation process for fentanyl. They are offering guidance even in the midst of COVID for people struggling with addiction, but fentanyl has all but “saturated” the drug supply at large. Daniel was fortunate enough to have gone through his addiction behind closed doors. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Duane and Daniel also discuss how people struggling through addiction actually need to be connected to people to be successful. The intervention method of breaking addiction is dismally effective because it pits people against the last people in the world that they could still be connected with. Moving on to the politics of drug enforcement, Daniel discusses how people under addiction struggles are not free to just “decide” to get their act together, as the legality of it would suggest. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/104 Daniel explains that many of the now-antiquated ideas around drugs that informed initial federal policy are backwards. The criminalization of drug use was not born out of a compassion for people struggling with addiction. He advocates for reform that would consider this. The grim reality, he says, is that people ultimately die as a result of doing business with the drug dealer. It seems counterintuitive, Daniel explains, because we still look at drug use as criminal. In Mexico, a black market for alcohol popped up after the government shut down liquor stores in the wake of COVID. That market killed 100 people in a month from alcohol poisoning. There is also a fear attached to what a world with legalized drugs would look like. Daniel argues that ultimately it would reduce crime, it would reduce death, and it would reduce cost to the public in the health and human services sphere. People are now looking at the potential benefits that legalization could offer. If we can meet people where they’re at, we could actually save lives, Daniel posits. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you imagine overcoming addiction with the help of an app? In this fascinating episode, Duane had the pleasure of speaking with Chandler Rogers, CEO and co-founder of Relay, a digital group-based program for finding healing from addiction. Chandler opened up about his inspiring journey of overcoming behavioral addiction and the development of Relay, aiming to make recovery smarter and more accessible. They delve into Chandler's struggles with pornography, shame, and self-esteem, and how group therapy provided the compassionate accountability necessary for change. Chandler shares how the power of connection and support inspired him to create a digital tool that could help others in their recovery journey. Learn about the incredible development and support of the app, as well as the success stories that have come from those who have found healing through the program. By the end, they discuss Chandler's vision for the future of addiction recovery technology and how Relay is transforming lives. Explore how the app guides users through creating their recovery plan, feeling empowered and supported every step of the way. Learn more about this innovative tool and the incredible impact it's having on those struggling with addiction. In this episode, you will hear: The dangers of Internet pornography Teamwork and accountability in recovery  Building a tool for addiction support  Starting a company  Passion for Relay project  Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Relay App: www.joinrelay.app/addicted-mind http://www.novusmindfullife.com/  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up in a small town Brethren church, Aaron Porter's journey through life and faith has been far from ordinary. From his accidental career as a pastor to the way his faith was shaped by suffering, Aaron shares with Duane his experiences and insights with us in this captivating conversation. They explore the wisdom he's gained from Buddhist friends on viewing suffering differently and delve into the profound lessons found in the book of Job, even sharing a humorous moment along the way. In a world that often feels dark and heavy, Aaron reminds us of the importance of love, fun, and understanding the "person and work of Christ" in Christianity. They discuss the need to balance work and self-reflection with joy and play, and how slowing down can help us cultivate a deeper sense of self. Aaron also shares his thoughts on the power of language in shaping our identity, as well as the usefulness of tools like the Enneagram in understanding our natural tendencies. Don't miss this engaging and insightful conversation with Aaron Porter, co-host of the Pirate Monk podcast. In this episode, you will hear: Finding love and fun in Christianity Contemplating hope and self-reflection Finding God through suffering and spirituality Navigating suffering and growth Unconditional love and simplicity Hope's misconceptions The Quaker clearing committee Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com http://www.novusmindfullife.com/  https://piratemonkpodcast.com/ Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you could conquer a 26-year-long addiction and transform your life in just two years? Join us for a compelling conversation with Nic Kalo, who shares her incredible journey from the depths of drug addiction to a life filled with supportive, goal-driven individuals and mentors. Nic opens up about her relentless pursuit of the next high, her illegal shoplifting business, and the pivotal moments that led her to recovery. In this powerful episode, we explore Nic's experiences with rehab and the vital role of personal development and mentorship in overcoming addiction. Discover how attending a life-changing event during her newfound sobriety and surrounding herself with positive influences allowed her to believe in herself as others believed in her. Nic also discusses her insights on why her previous rehab attempts failed and what ultimately led her to take a much-needed deeper approach to recovery. Now, Nic is giving back by mentoring teens in high school and sharing her experiences. We'll delve into the importance of having a cheer squad and the powerful impact of a mentor's guidance and encouragement.  In this episode, you will hear: The shift from addiction to a book The importance of believing in yourself and your goals The importance of small steps and small wins The process of building a support network Mentoring teens in high school Mentorship and having a mentor About “The Power of Mental Wealth” Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: The Power of Mental Wealth: Success Begins From Within, Volume 3 https://www.amazon.com/POWER-MENTAL-WEALTH-Featuring-Kalo/dp/1951502779  http://www.novusmindfullife.com/ Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is addiction so hard to control? Does that mean addiction can’t be treated? On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks to Dr. Paul Kaloostian.  Dr. Paul Kaloostian is a neurosurgeon in Los Angeles as well as an author. His books include The Young Neurosurgeon: Lessons from My Patients and two different poetry books, From The Eyes Of A Doctor and My Surgical Cases Told In Poems. As a neurosurgeon for 17 years now, Dr. Kaloostian has dealt with thousands of cases of people with neurological conditions. Seeing the need for awareness of mental health, he took a poetic approach to his books to make it easier for the world to understand what it’s like for patients who are going through neurological conditions, some of which are caused or aggravated by addiction.  On today's episode, he talks about the brain, his patients, and why we do some of the things we do even when we don't necessarily want to do them.  No one wants to be addicted. But the brain is such a powerful organ that what our brains decide to do is what we do. We don't really have that much control. That’s why addiction is a hard problem to fight and beat. The brain is a powerful organ so once it gets stimulated, it's difficult to change. It takes work and energy – but it's not impossible.  Because of Paul's compassion for his clients and his appreciation for the vulnerability of his clients to come and seek help, this is an episode you need to listen to. While you may not fully understand what people with neurological conditions are going through until you’ve gone through the same experience, having the ability to understand these concepts today is a good way to start to develop empathy. In this episode, you will hear: What drew Paul to neurosurgery Why he took a medical poetic approach in writing his books The need to show empathy to these patients How the brain is linked to addiction Areas of the brain responsible for addiction Why addiction is a pathological condition Why addiction is so hard to control Key Quotes: [04:30] - "A single cell of the brain has so many different functions within it. It's literally a universe within a cell." [06:54] - “We only really use about five to 10% of our brains… And just imagine if we're able to utilize another 10% of our brains, what we would know, and 50% more of our brains, what we would know.” [12:02] - “Addiction is a big, big problem, not only in the field I'm in but just globally, in terms of economic costs, and medical costs and violence that happens." [12:44] - “After a while of doing drugs, alcohol, or smoking, the brain thinks that's normal so it makes your body want to stay in that environment.” [15:08] - "It's really the reward part that dominates because people like that high feeling of winning, being happy and super excited. That always will win over any other type of feeling in your brain. That's just part of the addiction process.” [15:54] - "What our brains decide to do is what we do. That's why the brain is such a fascinating and critical aspect of our lives." [16:37] - "The brain is very, very powerful. And once the brain gets stimulated, it's a powerful organ to change. It takes work and energy. But it's not impossible." Supporting Resources: The Young Neurosurgeon: Lessons from My Patients  From The Eyes Of A Doctor My Surgical Cases Told In Poems Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOTE: Since the date of recording this episode, our guest for this week has embarked on her gender transition. While you’ll hear her referred to by her previous name (often called a ‘deadname’) in the episode, we’ve updated the show notes to reflect this. Her name is Hana Leyland and she uses She/Her pronouns. What happens when you face your darkest fears and emerge stronger on the other side? We're thrilled to welcome the extraordinarily resilient Hana Leland to the show, who's about to unfold an absorbing narrative of personal transformation, navigating a queer identity, and dealing with a mother's mental health battle. Hana's life-changing journey saw her grappling with addiction and trauma, yet she found an unexpected superpower in the midst of these darkest hours. On today’s episode, Duane and Hana unravel the complex layers of her identity, and how she navigated through her queer identity in an ever-evolving world. The discussion takes a deep dive into the concept of Peter Pan Syndrome and its link with addiction, a rampant issue within the queer community. Hana's story is a testament to the power of self-exploration guided by therapy and internal family systems. She shines a light on the importance of mentors within the LGBTQ+ community and how they play a pivotal role in shaping identity. Moving forward, we explore the transformative journey toward authenticity. Hana highlights the role of sobriety in illuminating her own identity, and how harnessing the power of storytelling has been instrumental in reclaiming her authenticity. Not shying away from vulnerability, she emphasizes the need for support and mentorship on one's journey to self-discovery. Hana's narrative is an inspiring reminder that embracing our unique values and identities can lead to profound transformation and that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but strength. Tune in and let this heartfelt story inspire your own journey toward self-actualization. In this episode, you will hear: Overcoming addiction and finding grace Navigating LGBTQ+ identity and trauma Exploring identity and overcoming dark parts Asking for help and authenticity Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every day, we put on our armor and head out into the world, often unaware of the battle some are waging within. In today's conversation, Duane sits down with Nadia Davis, a warrior whose story of redemption and recovery is nothing short of awe-inspiring. She takes us through her life story – from her struggles with addiction to her triumph over the odds, all peppered with lessons of love, courage, and the power of human resilience. This conversation between Duane and Nadia took us through the labyrinth of trauma and triggers, further cementing the astounding strength that Nadia embodies. She enlightened us with her wisdom, shedding light on how embracing our inner truth can arm us against the fears and judgments that reside within us. Nadia's insights were backed by practical techniques to nurture this perspective daily, affirming the power of choosing love over fear. She stressed the importance of gentleness towards ourselves, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, we can reach out for love. As we ventured deeper into her journey, Nadia shared her experience of writing a book about her father's heritage story and her endeavor to free a wrongfully convicted person. She used her darkest hours as a canvas, painting a picture of wisdom for those struggling. We explored her resources – her website, retreats, yoga classes, and book events, all designed to reach out and help others battling addiction. This episode with Nadia triumphs as a beacon of hope, a testament to the power of love and redemption. Join us and bear witness to the power of the human spirit. In this episode, you will hear: Unraveling addiction and overcoming trauma Understanding unhealthy attachments and overwhelming shame  Surviving trauma and finding inner peace  Choosing love over fear and judgment  Manifesting, yoga, and writing a book  Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you shackled by the chains of a traumatic past? Meet Brooke Bralove, Licensed Clinical Social Worker who shines a light on the path towards healing, with the therapeutic technique known as Accelerated Resolution Therapy, or ART, a therapy to help with trauma stored in the brain and body.  Brooke masterfully guides us through how ART aids in processing traumatic memories and emotions trapped within our minds and bodies, offering an escape from emotional pain and distress. Plunge into the transformative world of ART and learn about how this potent healing tool can help overcome trauma, panic attacks, and even chronic pain.  Brooke, with her expert knowledge, explains how our body's instinctual responses to danger can be managed effectively through ART. Additionally, she explores the benefits of ART in addressing anxiety, depression, body image issues, eating disorders, and chronic illness.  She delves deeper into the profound benefits of ART and walks us through how the use of images and sensations in ART can help process the physical sensations associated with trauma. She signifies the vital role ART can play in complementing existing treatments and providing a holistic healing approach. Learn the relief ART can bring, not only to clients but also to therapists, in reducing burnout, and get equipped to unleash the healing prowess of ART.  In this episode, you will hear: • How ART can help process traumatic memories and feelings that are stored in our brains and bodies • How ART can be an effective tool to manage natural instinctive responses to danger • The benefits of ART therapy • The value of ART to therapists themselves, helping them ward off burnout Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you ready to unravel the complexities of eating disorders? Explore the challenging journey of overcoming eating disorders as Duane sits down with Scarlett O'Connor, a London-based therapist specializing in eating disorder recovery.  Scarlett shares her personal struggle with eating disorders that began at nine, starting with binge eating and then developing into anorexia. She discusses how her sense of self changed as she began to lose weight and receive positive feedback from society, and the physical and emotional toll anorexia took on her body.  They dig deep into the nuts and bolts of eating disorders and their addictive nature. Scarlett shares how her disorder was ingrained in her identity and became an integral part of her life, affecting her mental and physical health. She further dives into her crisis point and the arduous decision she had to make to survive. They also discuss the crucial role of separating one's identity from their disorder and how to help someone who may be at the start of their recovery journey. In this episode, you will hear: Navigating eating disorders and addiction and their impact on physical and mental health Overcoming eating disorders and how to help someone in recovery Separating the disorder from the person and how to talk to the voice of the disorder The sectioning process for eating disorders Supporting eating disorder recovery by focusing on the present Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can we navigate the turbulent waters of personal loss and addiction using the compass of 'Conscious Bravery'? Meet Pamela Brinker, a psychotherapist of 32 years, who has had a firsthand experience with these channeling circumstances. Pamela generously shares her deeply moving journey marked by the tragic loss of her second husband and her son’s struggle with substance misuse. A voyage that has taught her the significance of slowing down, showing tenderness, and steering through the maelstrom with bravery. Pamela's story doesn't end there; it evolves into a powerful technique of 'Conscious Bravery'. She shares her wisdom on collaborating in addiction and practicing self-care, even in the bleakest of times. Pamela's personal and professional experiences have led her to discover the uplifting power of indirect sunlight and structured practices. Tune in as she inspires us to stay awake, alert, and embrace the power of our essence in every moment of life.  As our conversation concludes, Pamela offers a unique perspective on 'Bravery in Caring for Addiction' and shares resources for anyone interested in exploring somatic practices. She introduces the idea of 'assertive surrender', the process of accepting our limitations while recognizing the power we hold to make changes. Even when things don't go as planned, Pamela encourages us to keep moving forward, find something greater to believe in, and be the healthiest we can be. Join us, and let Pamela's inspiring story of resilience, compassion, and conscious bravery guide you through life's most challenging circumstances. In this episode, you will hear: Conscious breathing and bravery in decision-making How she used conscious bravery to help her family cope with her husband's death and her sons' substance misuse How to use conscious bravery to embrace self-care, lift moods, and find inner wisdom Pamela’s experience of assertive surrender, mistakes, and conscious bravery to partner with God and make changes Resources on somatic practices, assertive surrender, and partnering with God Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://pamelabrinker.com/  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever felt like you're stuck in a downward spiral of negative thoughts and emotions? Well, you're not alone. Join us as we converse with the spectacular Alex Korb, eminent neuroscientist and author of 'The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time.' Our exchange pivots around his life-changing journey from probing the depths of neuroscience to uncovering the profound understanding of depression. You're in for a treat as Alex reveals the intricate workings of our brains, drawing an engaging comparison between tuning our minds to adjusting the volume on a speaker. Debunking the conventional belief in a one-size-fits-all treatment, Alex emphasizes the necessity of a personalized approach to mental health. Be ready to reframe your understanding of mental health as we traverse this enlightening conversation. Wrapping up our talk, Alex underlines the empowering nature of comprehending the human brain and the sheer potential of minor modifications leading to massive changes in our lives. This absorbing conversation is sure to offer a fresh perspective on mental health and equip you with practical ways to navigate it.  In this episode, you will hear: Personalized approach to mental health as opposed to a one-size-fits-all treatment The role of minor changes in transforming our lives and creating an upward spiral of positivity His journey from being a neuroscience student to understanding depression at a deeper level The importance of physical activity in enhancing neuroplasticity and the sensitivity of brain circuits Understanding the brain's function to empower oneself and instigate positive change Exploration of how small positive changes can lead to a powerful upward spiral in our lives The complexities of depression, and the importance of recognizing it as a biological, not moral, failing Neuroscience as a tool to better understand and manage depression The interaction between depression and addiction, and how understanding the brain can aid in managing both. Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time https://www.amazon.com/Upward-Spiral-Neuroscience-Reverse-Depression/dp/1626251207 NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surviving disaster is a testament to human resilience, the will to live, and the courage to heal. Today, we welcome a truly extraordinary guest, Geralyn Ritter, whose story is an inspiring manifestation of this spirit. As an executive vice president, board director, and author of the memoir 'Bone by Bone,' she recounts her journey of survival, recovery, and acceptance after a deadly train derailment in 2015. Listen in, as Geralyn shares the profound physical and psychological impact of the accident on her life, the challenges of managing potent pain medications, and her path towards acceptance of her life-altering experience. Geralyn's story is more than just overcoming trauma; it's about finding balance and reclaiming life after the unthinkable. Our conversation delves deep into her healing journey, the frustrations she faced, and the silver linings that emerged along the way. She candidly shares her struggle to find equilibrium in life while managing her medical vulnerabilities and her newfound purpose to help other trauma survivors. This episode is not just about survival; it's about resilience, healing, and reclaiming life after a devastating trauma. Listen in and be inspired by Geralyn’s courage and determination, a compelling testament to the strength of the human spirit. In this episode, you will hear: Surviving a deadly train derailment Unrealistic recovery expectations and depression The difficulty of managing both the physical pain and psychological trauma  A radical acceptance of her traumatic experience Finding balance while managing her ongoing medical vulnerabilities Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Bone by Bone by Geralyn Ritter https://www.amazon.com/Bone-Memoir-Trauma-Healing/dp/1950465551  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Walking through the uncharted territories of life, we all carry our burdens and battle our demons. One such journey is that of our guest, Courtney Collier, whose teenage curiosity led him down the path of alcohol addiction. In this candid conversation, Courtney bares his soul, recounting how alcohol became more than just a social activity but rather an integral part of his life narrative. His decision to confront his addiction and transform his life is a testament to his indomitable spirit. Courtney's path to recovery was fraught with challenges and required him to make significant lifestyle changes. A significant milestone in his recovery was moving into a sober living house, an environment that provided him with the community support he needed. He shares with us how taking medication, specifically, Naltrexone, helped him manage cravings and build coping mechanisms. Yet, it wasn't just about medication; Courtney had to face his inner trauma, develop a sense of self-efficacy, and establish daily rituals to maintain sobriety.  Courtney's journey didn't stop at recovery. Inspired by his own experiences, he decided to help others on their recovery journeys and became a licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor. Now, he is working towards his second master's degree in clinical mental health counseling and continues to give back to the recovery community. Courtney also shares how he uses social media to stay connected with his art and how it has become a source of motivation and inspiration in his recovery. It's never too late to rewrite your life narrative. In this episode, you will hear: Overcoming fear, shame, and anxiety with alcohol Courtney’s journey into addiction from drinking to IV drug use His eventual treatment after a dramatic incident His decision to move into a sober living house How he worked his inner trauma and built self-efficacy His journey to becoming a licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready to be moved by the story of our remarkable guest Gigi Langer, as she takes us through her raw and insightful journey to sobriety. Gigi's story begins in the Midwest, where her self-worth was initially tied to academic achievements and later, relationships. She opens up about her struggles with alcohol and drugs, the series of consequent failures, how she ended up becoming a functioning alcoholic, and her life-changing decision to quit drinking on January 11th, 1986.  Gigi didn't just stop at overcoming her addiction, she used her experiences as fuel to help others. She chronicles her transition to becoming an author, describing the initial challenge of finding a sponsor in recovery, learning to be vulnerable and honest, and the crucial role played by her mentor Jane. As you tune in, you'll get to hear about her remarkable recovery journey and the process that led her to pen her own book. However, Gigi's story of courage doesn't end there. She confronts the sexual abuse she endured as a child, recounting the healing process, the anger, and powerlessness she once felt, and her journey towards personal healing and empowerment. Through therapy, sponsors, and recovery meetings, Gigi was able to reclaim her power and establish healthier relationships. She provides a beacon of hope for those struggling with similar issues, sharing insights from her books and her own life. Get ready to be inspired by Gigi's resilience and wisdom, as you tune into this deeply personal conversation. In this episode, you will hear: Gigi langer's journey to sobriety Transitioning to writing a book from dark times The journey of recovery and healing Discovery and healing of sexual abuse Personal healing and empowerment journey Interview wrap-up and future connections Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we are in deep pain or we have these hardships in our life, we have to learn how to transmute them and turn them into something different – not just overcoming it. As for KL Wells, she decided to transmute her pain into service by helping others whose loved ones are struggling with addiction. KL is a businesswoman and she has a 30-year-old son who is a recovering addict. Through the course of her life, she has lived the generational story around addiction, not struggling with addiction herself, but being able to see addiction from a different perspective. Her mom was addicted to prescription medications, which was something popular back in those days. Then she had a brother who was addicted to cocaine. She married an alcoholic and divorced, and had her son out of that marriage. She subsequently remarried a recovering alcoholic of 28 years.  Seeing her son being arrested at gunpoint and who was yelling at her to save him was a very traumatic experience for her. In that moment, every dream she had for him shattered. Her heart broke, but in that "cracking open," she also knew it was meant to happen for her, fully aware that you have to give yourself permission to completely dissolve, and let the emotions work through you.  Hearing KL’s story, there's so much resilience flowing through her. When you have a child who is suffering from a disease that could kill him or her, it has a catalytic impact on us, as parents, like nothing else can. She knew she had to put this down in a way that she can help other people because it's incredibly painful to witness the people you love in so much suffering. Today, KL talks about her project, Voices InCourage, a community that provides that space where you actually feel heard on a multitude of layers and levels, and that people get you because they've walked that path. Then you can be raw and real, and transmute it for yourself so it serves your journey.   In this episode, you will hear: KL’s journey as the loved one of different addicts The two major questions from which Voices InCourage was born out of The two life-defining moments for KL Transmuting your challenges instead of overcoming them Embracing our traumas and grief Key Quotes: [06:56] - “Pain pushes until vision pulls.” [08:36] - "When you have a child who is suffering with the disease that could kill him or her, it has a catalytic impact on us as parents, like nothing else can." [12:17] - “You have to give yourself permission to completely dissolve, and let the emotions work through you.” [14:53] - “In the midst of COVID, with all the numbers just skyrocketing in terms of overdoses and relapses, addiction going up, alcoholism going up, and abuse going up… We're in a pandemic of proportions we've never seen before.” [16:59] - “We are on the planet to serve. All of our life experiences are building blocks to service.” [18:26] - “We're human beings, and we have a full component of emotions and sadness and grief are part of life.” [25:37] - "95% of our success or failure is predicated on the community that we surround ourselves with." [26:46] - "One of the top human needs is to be heard and we're not trained to do this as a society, as a culture, as a world." Supporting Resources: https://voicesincourage.com/ Man's Search for Meaning Book by Viktor Frankl Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of "The Addicted Mind," Duane and Eric Osterlind explore the concept of the hero's journey and how it applies to addiction recovery. Drawing from Joseph Campbell's work on mythology, they discuss the three phases of the hero's journey—departure, initiation, and return—and how these stages can provide a roadmap for personal transformation. By seeing recovery through the lens of a hero's journey, individuals can gain a new perspective and find hope in their path to sobriety. Join us as we delve into the powerful parallels between classic stories like "Lord of the Rings" and the journey to overcoming addiction. Worksheet: “Hero's Journey Addiction Recovery Worksheet” Join our TAM + Community wait list -> HERE Our weekly Deep Dive -> HERE Key Topics - The hero's journey framework by Joseph Campbell. - Applying the hero’s journey to addiction recovery. - The three phases: Departure, Initiation, and Return. - The significance of storytelling in personal transformation. - Creating a new narrative to support recovery. Timestamps 1. [00:01:04] - Introduction to the hero’s journey and its relevance to recovery. 2. [00:02:00] - History and significance of Joseph Campbell’s work. 3. [00:04:26] - The departure phase: Recognizing the need for change. 4. [00:06:31] - The initiation phase: Facing challenges and finding support. 5. [00:08:50] - The return phase: Embracing a new identity and sharing gifts. 6. [00:10:09] - Applying the hero's journey repeatedly in life. 7. [00:11:22] - Community support and upcoming deep dive session. Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the cheering crowds and the stadium lights fade, what remains for a former NFL superstar? Dominique Easley’s meteoric rise to football fame was rivaled only by the depth of his personal struggles. From Staten Island to the heights of Super Bowl victory, Dominique's narrative is a stark reminder of the thin line between professional success and personal turmoil.  On this episode, Duane speaks with Dominique who shares his powerful journey through addiction, mental health battles, and a profound spiritual awakening. This episode offers an unflinching look at the burdens of public perception, as Dominique candidly discusses the significance of embracing vulnerability and the transformative impact of spirituality on his life. His conversion to Islam during his NFL career marked the beginning of an intensive internal quest that challenged him to confront intergenerational trauma and seek healing. Dominique's willingness to share his story opens up a much-needed dialogue on mental health awareness, especially within the black community – emphasizing empathy and honest communication as pathways to understanding and resilience.  Dominique also delves into the complexities of navigating racism in America, reflecting on his transition from the diversity of New York to the overt bigotry he encountered in the South. His experiences, shared with raw authenticity, not only chart a path of personal growth but also offer valuable insights for listeners grappling with similar issues, underscoring the importance of treating others with thoughtful consideration and respect. In this episode, you will hear: Struggles with mental health and addiction Transformation through football passion Struggle with success and isolation Breaking the cycle of generational trauma Impacts of systemic racism on individuals Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: https://www.instagram.com/easie91  NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, my guest is Kay Simmeth, a Marriage and Family Therapist certified in EMDR. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a type of bilateral stimulation that activates both sides of the body and both sides of the brain. This dual action process of tapping on the client’s knees back and forth, listening to music or sounds that alternate between headphones, or feeling vibrations in alternating hands, the frontal cortex and the amygdala are both activated, which allows the client to access the portion of the brain where the trauma is stored and then shift those negative beliefs or cognitions to positive beliefs.  Without being able to access both sides of the brain simultaneously, the client will just continue to feel the negative beliefs related to the trauma and not be able to go any further by consciously and logically thinking about the situation. Doing so through the 8-phase process of EMDR allows the client to “melt” the trauma so that they can still access the memory of the trauma, but the intensity of their emotions and reactions about the trauma become less immediate and significant. The trauma simply becomes an “event” in their lives rather than something that impacts everything they experience. Going through EMDR takes the emotional weight out of the memory in the present and frees the client up for a brighter future. Kay uses EMDR with 98% of her patients and she has found that the changes her clients exhibit stick more than with other techniques. Through this type of adaptive information processing model, the length of time or number of sessions that the client needs to go through EMDR depends on the proximity, length, and depth of the trauma in their life, but all clients will see change along the way.  Kay’s advice to those experiencing trauma is to remember that they do not have to go through it alone and that there are plenty of resources for them to seek help.  Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People going through addiction recovery deal with feelings of shame, guilt, and unworthiness that no one else can understand unless they’ve gone through a similar situation. However, if someone comes to them at their level, they can automatically pull some of that shame away. This is where peer specialists can help people through addiction treatment and recovery.  Today’s guest is Kabir Singh, the CEO and Founder of Fresh Start Recovery Center and the Chief Operating Officer for Amatus Health. He talks about his journey through recovery and how he’s also helping others get the treatment they need and find healing in the process, all with human connection at its core. Kabir began gravitating towards substance abuse at an early age, not realizing he had a need for help that went unnoticed. Struggling at school, he always felt he wasn’t good enough and that he couldn’t measure up. He thought resorting to substance abuse was the only thing he was capable of doing. After getting a DUI three times throughout his life, he finally entered into the halls of recovery at 34 years old. He learned about his disease, about his addicted mind, and what drove and fueled his addiction.  In 2013, he became one of the first certified peer recovery specialists in the state of Maryland. In this episode, he talks about his role as a peer specialist, who can become one, how to be certified, how they’re different from counselors and therapists, and the value they provide to people struggling with substance abuse disorder. Ultimately, it’s by bringing humaneness to our connection that people heal. When we find ourselves in extreme pain, we don’t know if we still have anything to give. Healing is all about reminding each other of our value and that we all have something to offer the world.  In this episode, you will hear: Kabir’s road to addiction and recovery How he became a CPRS What peer recovery specialists do  The advantages of a peer group Why peer intervention is very helpful in helping people heal The need for self-care as a peer specialist Key Quotes: [11:23] - "There are multiple pathways to recovery, and that's what the peer movement is about.” [11:44] - "My heart was always in the right place. But my thinking was not." [17:08] - "I entered into the halls of recovery, learned about the disease... I learned about my addicted mind, what drove and fueled the addiction." [22:55] - "You do not have to be a person in recovery, and you can be what's considered an ally to recovery." [24:59] - "We're all on the same level in the group." [25:36] - "When you have a therapist and a client, there is this kind of hierarchical, unspoken structure there." [28:26] - "You already feel so much shame, you're already in the hospital, and this person comes to you at your level, automatically pulls some of that shame away." [30:26] - " What a better way to reach folks than to bring down all those walls of inequality and level out the playing field." [33:42] - "More often than not, we are in recovery. And it's very important that we as peers, and I as a peer, do the work I need to do on myself outside so that I don't mix up the two." [35:56] - "The greatest sign of strength is asking for help." Supporting Resources: Fresh Start Recovery Center Amatus Health Connecticut Community of Addiction Recovery Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addiction is a response to pain and trauma. Reaching out and making yourself vulnerable is challenging when you've been traumatized. You may not trust people and you may not trust the process. So what needs to be done to discharge the trauma off your body and break free from the symptoms – addiction being one of them? In this episode, Duane talks with Mike Govoni, an integrative holistic recovery coach who specializes in healing not only addiction but trauma as well. He has extensive experience in helping addicts overcome trauma and free themselves from addiction, a path that he has walked personally.  Mike was traumatized in utero, which led to his early-onset illness in long-term recovery. This set him up for addiction. As a result of childhood trauma, pain, and suffering, Mike escaped through alcohol and drugs at an early age. He smoked his first joint at 11. By the time he was 18 years old, he got addicted to oxycontin – the first substance that took his soul out of him. He had always thought it was under control until he finally had to reach out for help. When he was hit with depression, his mom brought him to a 12-step meeting which was his first exposure to life in recovery. At that point, he got sober and has been for about 16 years now. Interestingly, he never knew he was suffering from unprocessed unhealed trauma. It took the universe to conspire for his awakening and for him to have a mystical experience that led to profound healing. That's what led him on the journey to what he does today. Today, Mike and Duane are going to have an in-depth conversation about trauma, early trauma, how it hides in the body, and how we can begin to process through that trauma to be able to release it, find freedom, and be our authentic selves. In this episode, you will hear: Mike’s entry into addiction and where his childhood trauma came from How addiction is related to trauma What keeps people from seeking help Why trauma starts in utero What trauma really means and how it’s been programmed in the subconscious How our nervous system can help discharge the trauma The role of others in the process of healing yourself Key Quotes: [07:18] - “Addiction is a response to pain and trauma. And reaching out and making yourself vulnerable is challenging when you've been traumatized.” [07:58] - "If you look at the work of Stanislav Grof, who is a well-known psychotherapist, he talked about birth as the first real trauma."  [09:28] - "Trauma is really misunderstood. There's a lot of different definitions of trauma." [10:52] - “You can be in long-term recovery, and still be suffering from the symptoms of trauma.” [13:23] - “Many of us have traumas that we have suppressed and repressed so much that it's below consciousness.” [27:11] - “The nervous system naturally knows how to move through the cycle and discharge the trauma." [32:56] - “When you're stuck in survival mode, you don't have access to your creativity or have access to the full potential of who you are." [33:25] - “It's no wonder why people in addiction isolate and don't have access to this social engagement system. We're social primates. We are built for connection. We are built for touch.” Supporting Resources: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we have a great conversation with Jen Sugermeyer. She shares her story of addiction and recovery, and she talks to us about overcoming her shame and her fear of reaching out, and how she managed to change her relationship with herself.  Jen's addiction started at the age of twelve, with an eating disorder. At the time, she did not realize that she was paving the way for her brain to become accustomed to satisfying her reward system.  When she reached her mid-thirties, she was an alcoholic and she had been trying to get sober for more than a decade. Looking back, Jen could see her pattern of gaining control of one addiction, and then that leading to another one.  Jen was living an extremely chaotic life, running in and out of jails and hospitals, and then straight into work. She was trying to keep the two parts of herself separate and it was eating her up inside. She even became suicidal towards the end, from living such an unmanageable lifestyle. She kept trying to fix her symptoms when she was the problem. She couldn't get a hold on her addictions, and she knew that at some point, she would have to come to terms with the fact that she needed to work on herself.  Although Jen really wanted people close to her, she could never get too close to anyone because she only wanted people to see one part of who she was. And she was working in Corporate America, where there was a stigma around having any kind of mental health issue. So there was a constant battle raging within her between the two aspects of herself, and she felt very alone because there was nobody that she felt she could talk to. It was around this time that she became suicidal because it seemed the easiest way out.  It was only when she was about twenty-five that Jen admitted that she had an addiction problem. And it took at least another five years before she could admit to being an alcoholic, even though she had to acknowledge before that, that there were things about her behavior that didn't line up. From the age of twenty-five, she was in and out of AA for about ten years. Jen had to learn to love herself. This became abundantly clear to her when the man she was dating told her so and it was his words that finally launched her into sobriety. This was the first time that she understood what she needed to do.  Coming out and talking about everything has been an interesting road for Jen. She has been well-received and she's found the experience more liberating than she imagined. However, she realizes that there's still a lot of work to be done. Although Jen gave herself an entire year to work on her recovery, she knows that will have to continue working on herself every day, after that. Because, since she was twelve, she has never really felt her emotions and she has always been suppressing her feelings. About five years ago, Jen finally started admitting to her alcoholism. She got sober and began wrapping her head around the recovery process. Although it took a long time for her to find her sobriety, she's okay with it because she doesn't think that she would be the person she is today if she had found her sobriety at the age of eighteen. There is a whole lot of forgiving that goes with recovery. Not just for others, but yourself as well. Jen knows that she would not have been where she is today without having learned to let go.  Jen has written a book, called RESET (Recognize, Eliminate, Standardize, Elevate, and Transform). She started writing it on the first anniversary of her sobriety. It's about what she went through, and how to claim the life that you deserve. It will be coming out in the spring of 2020. You can sign up on her website for the VIP launch, to get a copy of her book for only 99 cents. Jen also has a 101 coaching program that will be coming out in 2020. Links: Jen's website - www.jensugermeyer.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Addicted Mind Podcast, listeners are introduced to Arlina Allen, host of the One Day at a Time podcast, who shares her profound journey from addiction to recovery. At a pivotal moment during a Giants game in Oakland, Arlina recognized the unyielding grip of addiction and the cycle of shame it perpetuates. Drawing from her new book, "The 12-Step Guide for Skeptics: Clearing Up Common Misconceptions of a Path to Sobriety," Arlina offers insights into the intricate process of recovery. Through personal anecdotes, she explores the influence of childhood experiences on addictive behaviors and emphasizes the importance of addressing root causes to break free from harmful patterns. The episode delves into the concept of the cybernetic loop in behavioral psychology, highlighting how negative experiences reinforce damaging beliefs. Arlina's journey is enriched by her exploration of self-discovery and spirituality, offering a refreshing perspective on recovery.  In this episode, you will hear: Arlina Allen's journey from addiction to recovery, highlighting personal experiences and family dynamics. Insights from Arlina's book, "The 12-Step Guide for Skeptics," addressing misconceptions about sobriety. The role of childhood trauma and family influences in shaping addictive behaviors. Exploration of the cybernetic loop in behavioral psychology and its impact on reinforcing negative beliefs. Internal Family Systems (IFS) theory and navigating internal resistance in healing. Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: NovusMindfulLife.com https://odaatchat.com/ https://www.soberlifeschool.com/ Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Duane speaks with spiritual leader and author Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati. In her book Hollywood to the Himalayas, she shares the journey of her transformation from trauma and abuse to healing and freedom. Her hope is to bring people into the natural state of freedom, peace, and joy and, ultimately, free people from suffering, pain, and addiction. Although Sadhvi has written other books on her teachings, she reveals that this was the first time she shared her actual full story – uncensored, raw, deep, vulnerable, honest, and genuine. She decided to write the book after seeing how critical it is to bridge spirituality and humanity at this time when too many people are in the throes of human struggle, including addiction. Sadhvi grew up in Hollywood. She lived a privileged life, had access to the best education, and graduated from Stanford University. And yet, as everyone with addiction understands, something was bubbling beneath the surface.  At an early age, Sadhvi dealt with sexual abuse and abandonment and, as a result, was yearning for love and approval. While she was succeeding beautifully in every external way, inside she felt like she had done something wrong and there was something wrong with her. Addiction became her go-to stress response and it never occurred to her that she could be free. At the age of 25, Sadhvi went to India and had an extraordinary spiritual awakening experience. It was unexpected, unanticipated, and unsought for on any conscious level. From that moment on, she knew she was one with all of the Divine creation and the rest of her life began.  In this episode, you will hear: Sadhvi’s journey through addiction and spiritual awakening Letting go of pain and the identification with pain Practicing to keep the mind on track How we become slaves to our thoughts What forgiveness means The two arcs of the book, Hollywood to the Himalayas Key Quotes: [03:18] - “It seems so critical today that we bridge spirituality and humanity.” [16:02] - “The dilemma with using psychedelics to get there is you have to just keep using them, which of course does not benefit anyone when you substitute awakening for addiction, and instead of freedom, you end up a slave.”  [18:10] - “What to do comes really naturally once you have an experience of who you are. The dilemma for so many of us is we don't know who we are and so we don't know what to do.” [20:03] - “The most extraordinary lesson has been that our freedom is our highest goal… and the question always is – is this pain, is this grudge, is this identity – is it worth my freedom?” [20:43] - “We act like thoughts run the show. We act like we are slaves and the thoughts are the master.” [23:46] - “Forgiveness says regardless of what you have done to me, regardless of what your anger, ignorance, fear, confusion, your patterns, regardless of what those made you do to me, I still deserve to be free. That is my birthright.” [26:55] - “Regardless of how stuck you feel, you can be free. You have that veto power." [29:10] - “You're not your body any more than you are your car. Your car is a vehicle that takes you places. Your body is a vehicle. It's what the soul is using on this particular leg of the karmic journey, but you're not the body." If you really enjoyed this episode, we’ve created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at www.theaddictedmind.com to download it. Supporting Resources: Hollywood to Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, Duane and Eric Osterlind dive into the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic goals and how they affect our well-being. Have you ever felt the high of achieving a big goal, only to have that happiness fade away? This episode explores why that happens and introduces the concept of the "hedonic treadmill." You'll learn how extrinsic goals, like money and status, give short-term happiness but don't last. In contrast, intrinsic goals, like personal growth and meaningful relationships, bring deeper and more lasting joy. Duane and Eric share practical tips on how to shift your focus to these intrinsic goals, cultivate gratitude, and build stronger, more fulfilling connections. They also discuss the importance of mindfulness, personal growth, and serving others in achieving true contentment. Tune in to discover how you can step off the hedonic treadmill and find real, sustainable happiness in your life. Download: INTRINSIC VS. EXTRINSIC GOALS Join Our Deep Dive, where we discuss this episode in depth. Register Here: https://theaddictedmind.com/deepdive Click Here to Join the TAM + Community Waitlist. Get the support you need. Key Topics  The difference between extrinsic and intrinsic goals Understanding the hedonic treadmill How extrinsic goals lead to temporary happiness The importance of intrinsic goals for lasting fulfillment Practical tips to shift focus and cultivate intrinsic goals Timestamp List [00:01:06] Introduction to the topic: Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Goals [00:03:08] Explanation of the hedonic treadmill [00:04:20] The impact of extrinsic goals on happiness [00:07:33] Defining and understanding intrinsic goals [00:11:00] How to step off the hedonic treadmill [00:16:04] Practical tips for cultivating intrinsic goals [00:19:00] Summary and closing thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt anxiety, grief, or shame bubbling up and immediately reached for your phone, a drink, or a distraction? That instinct to push away painful feelings is completely normal – but what if that very avoidance is keeping you trapped in unhealthy patterns? In this illuminating episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, hosts Duane and Eric dive into the world of emotional avoidance and reveal why our natural tendency to escape discomfort might be sabotaging our mental health and recovery. When we avoid emotions, we get temporary relief. But those pushed-down feelings don't disappear – they intensify and return stronger than before. This creates a dangerous cycle where we need more and more avoidance behaviors, which can easily develop into addiction. Our brains learn that emotions are dangerous rather than what they truly are: valuable information to help us navigate life. By facing our emotions instead of running from them, we can access our "Wise Mind" – the balanced place where intellect and emotions work together to make better decisions. WORKSHEET: Avoiding Emotions Worksheet The hosts share six practical steps to break free from emotional avoidance patterns: Recognize your avoidance patterns (Do you binge-watch TV when lonely? Overwork to avoid feelings of inadequacy?) Name your emotions (Simply labeling feelings as "sadness" or "anxiety" can reduce their intensity) Practice mindfulness (Learn to sit with discomfort instead of running) Shift to acceptance-based coping (Experience emotions without judgment) Try opposite action (Do the opposite of what avoidance urges) Seek support (Connect with professionals, friends, or community) The good news? With awareness and practice, emotions become less overwhelming over time. You don't have to be controlled by your feelings or constantly run from them. Instead, you can learn to navigate them with courage, make aligned life choices, and experience the richness that comes from emotional wellbeing. Whether you're in recovery, struggling with compulsive behaviors, or simply want to improve your emotional health, this episode offers transformative insights and practical tools to help you face life's challenges with greater resilience. Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever feel like you're carrying a secret that's too heavy to share? In this powerful episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind explore why sharing our authentic stories is crucial for lasting recovery. They dive into how keeping parts of ourselves hidden can actually deepen our isolation, while taking careful steps to share with trusted others can create profound healing. Drawing from the wisdom of pioneering psychotherapist Carl Rogers, they discuss how genuine connection and unconditional acceptance can transform recovery from a lonely journey into a shared path of growth. The hosts offer practical strategies for breaking down the walls of shame and secrecy, while emphasizing the importance of choosing safe people and spaces for self-disclosure. Whether you're in recovery or supporting someone who is, this episode provides valuable insights into building the authentic connections that make lasting change possible. Download: Self-Disclosure in Recovery Worksheet Click Here to Join the TAM + Community. Get the support you need. Our Deep Dive is now in the community, where we discuss this episode in deep  Key Topics: Understanding the relationship between isolation and addiction The role of unconditional positive regard in healing How to identify safe people for self-disclosure Practical steps for sharing your story The importance of starting small with vulnerability Using journaling to explore sharing readiness Creating a self-disclosure plan Timestamps [00:01:04] Introduction to self-disclosure and authentic connection [00:02:00] The impact of keeping secrets in recovery  [00:04:08] Carl Rogers' insights on understanding and acceptance [00:08:35] Practical steps for building vulnerability  [00:11:55] Understanding your comfort level with sharing  [00:13:21] Journaling prompts for self-reflection  [00:14:30] The power of community in recovery Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Mike Collins talks to us about sugar addiction. Mike is the chairman of the Food Addiction Institute, a non-profit which has been around since 2005. Their stated goal is to get chronic sugar use elevated to a substance use disorder.  Mike found recovery from his drug and alcohol addiction a little more than 34 years ago when he was 28. Over the years, he got married and had a normal career and business life. Yet, as he progressed with his sobriety, he started to recognize that his patterns with sugar were almost identical to his using patterns with drugs and alcohol. If he didn't have it he suffered withdrawals and became anxious, and irritable.  Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> In his intensive studies of addiction over the last five years, Mike has noticed that the sugar cravings in recovery seemed to revolve around the brain's reward system. He saw that many people, in their first year of recovery, would gain huge amounts of weight and he realized that they were getting an alternative dopamine rush from sugar.  Sugar is an easy way to make ourselves feel better, so it often becomes a substitute for other addictive substances. And although sugar is a powerful psychoactive, it gets no respect as an addictive drug because it is a habit that we've had since we were children. It's freely available, so instead of dealing with the pain and discomfort of the withdrawals, most of us simply reach for more sugar. With its continued use, life becomes only about fighting off withdrawals, so all of us need to connect the dots and realize how sugar affects the brain.  Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/73 Mike has been off sugar, flour, and caffeine for the last thirty years. It was a drawn-out and lonely struggle for him in the beginning, and it took a while to get off them, but once he managed to do it, he stuck to it. Mike has never seen anyone go for 90 days without sugar and then go back to it. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane sits down with Tracy Kenela about “calming the chaos” and creating peace and calm in our lives. Therapist and podcast host, Tracy discusses how she came to start studying “overwhelm” as a psychological concept. An expert in chaos, Tracy explains how chaotic factors contribute to our being overwhelmed. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Traci breaks down the different kinds of shock and responses that may manifest when our brain confronts chaos. It seems as though people get addicted to chaos or the absence of chaos. These things really just distract people from addressing the issues that matter. If you’ve grown up in chaos, it’s possible you’re reenacting chaos as a means of coping with trauma. Tracy and Duane both urge people in this case to seek counseling because they can break the cycle of chaos if they really want to. There is a phenomenon of victimhood in chaos addiction, too. People tend to self-create this chaos to get the right kind of attention or reactions from people around them. This is different from legitimate chaos (like the kind that just shows up in your life), but you still will need to respond to the chaos. Having a strategy to respond to chaos could save your life. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> Tracy then briefly talks about how she would go about treating someone who may need help dealing with the chaos in their lives. She will validate the chaos first and then offer ways to “calm the shock.” This part is rather physical, honestly. She may offer ice or a heat pack—some people even respond to particularly strong smells. Anything to help counteract the shock. She uses some motivational interviewing, but most of her work uses the trans-theoretical model. This model helps her to figure out at what point they’re at in regards to changing their behavior and moving away from the chaos. She then encourages her patients to take steps toward control. Even a small step like working on daily mindfulness can help you make huge gains in your focus and productivity. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/106 What does coping with the chaos look like? It’s usually slower, Tracy says. Taking slow, deliberate steps. Taking deep breaths and moving slowly—these things will help you to become more mindful. If you think you’re dealing with chaos, the first step is to talk to a professional to get help with relaxation tools and mindfulness practices. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane sits down with father, husband, sales executive, speaker, and author Kyle Dean Houston. They speak about being in the throes of addiction, despairing for hope, staring down your own doom, and ultimately persevering through recovery. Calming The Addicted Mind - 6 Day Mindfulness Email Series theaddictedmind.com/mindfulness Kyle openly describes trying methamphetamines and quickly spiraling into a needle-using meth user. At rock bottom, Kyle was overcome with depression and tried to overdose, but failed. He talks about spending months in county jail trying to learn to make the right decisions. Making and breaking promises to his family, Kyle eventually realized that he was powerless over his own actions and he couldn’t continue to live that way. Coming to grips with the role that the brain plays in your addiction was crucial during this time. Join The Addicted Mind Podcast Facebook Group>>> The moment that really changed everything was when he realized he could have a purpose for his life. Being alone in jail put Kyle in the position to finally start thinking about what he could actually do to change his life. His relationship with God and the spiritual goes back to his childhood, but in the moments alone in jail, his understanding of the spiritual really opened up. He began to see the full weight of his own ability to take control of his life. It struck him like a hammer, he says. He says that in the jail cell, he never felt so alone. Episode Link theaddictedmind.com/100 In transitioning out of prison, Kyle was institutionalized and he was scared to death. He knew that people were aware of his problems, his PTSD, and he felt prison would’ve been better. But only five months later, he met his future-wife, who would go on to be his rock and cornerstone. Kyle credits her for virtually all of his success. That, and his intense drive to accomplish what he sets out to do. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up amidst the chaos of a turbulent family life in Detroit, Dwayne Barnes discovered a lifeline in the form of creative expression. His journey from a tumultuous childhood to the bright lights of Hollywood is nothing short of remarkable. During our conversation, Dwayne opens up about how acting became his sanctuary, a place where he could channel the dysfunction of his upbringing into something beautiful and transformative. His debut book, "Their Eyes Were Never on Me," is a raw exploration of self-addiction and limiting beliefs, offering a beacon of hope for those eager to break free from their own chains. Our discussion with Dwayne shines a light on the intricate balance between family challenges and career aspirations. He shares candid reflections on the sacrifices made by loved ones, including a grandmother's unwavering support amidst addiction struggles. Navigating the pressure of Hollywood, Dwayne faced the daunting task of starring in roles that eerily mirrored his own life’s trials. Despite being surrounded by the glamor and allure of fame, he unveils the real-life personal battles and healing processes that unfolded behind the scenes, including the realization of personal issues, obstacles in therapy, and the unyielding quest for resilience. In this episode, you will hear: Dwayne Barnes' transformative journey from a turbulent childhood in Detroit to success in Hollywood Acting as a sanctuary; channeling his chaotic upbringing into creative expression Insights from his book "Their Eyes Were Never on Me," exploring self-addiction and breaking limiting beliefs The role of family dynamics and sacrifices, including the support of his grandmother, in his journey Navigating the pressures of fame while facing personal challenges and healing processes Embracing creativity and spirituality as tools for authentic growth and empowerment Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: http://www.authordwaynebarnes.com/ NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is Maureen Stanton, the author of the memoir, Body Leaping Backwards, Memoir of a Delinquent Girlhood.    Maureen spent about forty years writing her book but she kept avoiding taking it to the point of getting published because there was shame in it for her. So she only started writing the book seriously in 2014, once her dad had passed away. He had done the very best he could for her so she wouldn't have wanted him to feel ashamed of her.  Episode Link>>www.theaddictedmind.com/79 Maureen wanted to tell the story of what happened with her so long ago because she believes that it is still relevant and that it will still resonate with teenagers today, even though the specifics are different.    Maureen's teenage years were a time of great anxiousness, sadness, and confusion. She felt that she wanted to disappear. She had feelings of self-doubt and she lacked self-confidence to the point of self-loathing. So she turned to drugs to self-medicate. She started using Angel Dust, a dissociative anesthetic that was a very prominent drug in the 1970s. It numbed her, helped her to escape from the emotional pain that she felt as a teenager, and allowed her to stop thinking about her insecurities and sadness.   Maureen is now in her late 50s. She kept all her diaries from before she was using, and from the time when she began feeling a sense of despair and started doing drugs. Reading through the diaries as an adult, she was able to remember just how she had felt then, so she was able to convey that very clearly in her book. A lot of kids start using drugs or drinking during their fraught teenage years while crossing the bridge over the treacherous terrain from childhood to adulthood. Children who are suffering from psychic pain, and don't have guidance, are more likely to start using drugs and alcohol.   Maureen started with alcohol and marijuana. Her friend's older brother then introduced her to Angel Dust. As it was smoked in a joint, it seemed to Maureen to be very similar to marijuana, and there were no warnings at the time about the dangers of using this terrible drug. There was still a part of her, however, that realized that it would cause damage to her brain cells.    Mauren believes that essential loneliness and discomfort are felt by teenagers because they don't yet know who they are.   Maureen feels shame about her terrible, delinquent behavior while she was using drugs. She does, however, feel extremely fortunate that there was no lasting harm, that she knows of, done to anyone.   Who we are, as individuals, is defined by our passions and our interests. Maureen gave all of that up for getting high. She progressively stopped doing the things she loved as she slid deeper into her addiction. So although the drugs helped her escape and provided some relief, she continued to erase herself. She eventually became so empty and despairing that she knew she had to ask for help. Her mother arranged for her to see a counselor and Maureen paid for her counseling herself with the money she earned working for a gas station.   Maureen believes that the culture of a society impresses itself on teenagers in a way that they don't necessarily understand. In the 1970's the American culture was a bit lost, and there was a sense of despair, due to immoral leadership, the Vietnam war, and Watergate, and Maureen's journey seemed to mirror that to some extent. Looking back, Maureen realizes that some of the things she had to face were very hard, but she wanted to give something back and touch the hearts and minds of other teenagers. Her book is a public confession and she has written it in the hope of helping other people. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Mike Grant about his recovery story and how he used running as a tool to help him through his recovery process.  Mike currently works in the health care system as a licensed clinical social worker. He primarily works with people stuck in addiction. He’s an alcohol and drug counselor and the author of (Re)Making A Sandwich: An Addiction Case Study. As a lover of ultra marathons, Mike started a local running club for people in recovery and they have organized runs and done races together.  Mike grew up with some anger issues as a result of things that happened in his home. He started drinking at 13 years old and thought it would help him for many years. Instead, drinking at such a young age stunted his emotional development. He lacked the emotional skill set he needed to make good decisions in his life. Part of Mike’s story was being a habitual DUI offender. After being placed on county probation due to multiple DUI offenses, Mike finally realized that the consequences of his drinking could negatively affect his son. He got tired of backtracking his life with law issues, financial issues, and everything else he couldn't juggle or keep straight because of his relationship with alcohol. Knowing that he needed mandated treatment for himself, Mike did a three-year diversion program that changed his life and he has been sober ever since. The diversion program was more of a life management program to him than a non-drinking program because he learned how to live life in a lot of ways. Ultimately, working with people in active addiction allows Mike to connect with the rawness of what addiction really is. There's no romanticizing it from the side of recovery because he knows what it's really like.  In this episode, you will hear: Mike’s alcohol addiction and recovery journey How he invested in his progress through running How to make the huge mental shift from “I can’t” to “I can” How running helps some people in recovery Why grit is a transferable skill you can bring from addiction to recovery  Key Quotes: [07:02] - "I would make some progress in something and then alcohol would knock me back or my behaviors while drinking would knock me back." [12:04] - "I've shifted this perspective of shame-based thinking where I can't do something to why can't I?" [13:27] - ​​"If you actually enjoy the work that you're doing, it can make a workweek more tolerable." [14:31] - "Running is a metaphor for so many things. You have to do it. No one can do it for you. Set goals. You get out there and do it." [19:01] - "When you're in recovery, building grit is so important because you've got to weather some difficult things." [19:28] - “​​Grit is a transferable skill from your addiction…if you can use those skills that you learned in your addiction and bring to your recovery, that grit will get you far.” [22:33] - “Life doesn't have to be changed overnight. You just do little consistent things and get back to it, and monumental things can happen in 10 years.” [26:09] - “Life is messy and beating yourself up over it isn't going to help.” Supporting Resources: (Re)Making A Sandwich: An Addiction Case Study Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of people who may be struggling with a family member that is in the throes of addiction think the person needs to go get help. But there's this whole system that probably has to be addressed. In this episode, Duane and Dr. Brooke Keels discuss the importance of family therapy in addiction recovery from a systems perspective. Dr. Keels highlights the importance of each family member doing their own individual work to achieve health for the entire system.  With her experience in clinical and leadership roles within the recovery industry for over 15 years, Dr. Keels shares her passion for the process and the positive impact it can have on people's lives. Dr. Brooke Keels holds a Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy. She works to create, implement, and oversee the Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Program and Individual and Family Therapy Programs at Lighthouse Recovery, Texas.  Listen in to learn more about the family's role in addiction recovery and how to work towards health and happiness for all. In this episode, you will hear: The importance of family in addiction treatment The power of seeing the system Why family healing is so important What hope looks like in a dysfunctional family The value of validating the reality of the situation Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet.  We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Lighthouse Recovery Texas NovusMindfulLife.com Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we talk about sacrificial helpers’ syndrome, great for people who are in the helper profession or volunteer helpers. Sacrificial help syndrome can be defined as people giving more than they have for the people they serve. Our guest today is Katie Vernoy. A licensed family therapist, a coach, and consultant with helpers based in Torrance, California. As she says, she helps helpers to help better. Most people who’ve had traumatic experiences that completely changed their lives can end up with this syndrome because they just want others to get through it better than they did and in between that they don't think of taking care of themselves. For therapists, they put their own needs at bay and focus on what other people need and how they can help them. Working past normal working hours, neglecting own self-care practices, scheduling in clients during personal time, foregoing meals just to help someone out are mostly signs that you're sacrificing yourself too much. Katie’s experience came about when she was working in public mental health. She worked extra hours, focused more on her staff and clients, and she burned out because she was so passionate about what she was doing to the point of neglecting self-care. After going out solo, she realized it was important for helpers to take care of themselves because if not, eventually, the help they offer won't be available. Within the profession, it’s often expected of you to be overly benevolent out of the goodness of your heart, so when you ask for money, or set limits and say no sometimes there can be a backlash from the society. It's expected of you to do this. However, part of your helping has to have some limits because you need to empower people to start their recovery on their own. Access if the client’s emergency call is a crisis or if it's possible for them to problem-solve on their own and practice self-soothing techniques. Yes, it’s hard to say no to a client at a critical moment, but learning to set limits helps tremendously in improving your service. Most often than not, when you started feeling as though your clients should cancel on appointments or grumpy, or you feel fatigued and burned out, it's a sign that you’ve started or are giving too much already. At this point, you can't care much anymore, and it's a clear sign that you should take some time off and do some consultation. Never risk your recovery for someone else’s. The first recovery of the syndrome is recognizing you’ve got a problem. You should then address it efficiently and start making time for yourself. Set aside some time to do some mandatory extracurricular activities, e.g., meeting up a friend, shopping, surfing, etc. Make sure you hold yourself accountable or find an accountability partner. Accountability will help you make better choices and get some well-deserved rest. You're valuable, take care of yourself. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, Duane and Eric Osterlind dive into the groundbreaking ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) study. This research revealed how childhood trauma significantly impacts mental, physical, and emotional health in adulthood. By exploring the origins, findings, and implications of the study, they discuss how early experiences of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction shape our lives. The episode also provides practical steps for recognizing and addressing these traumas, offering hope and tools for those struggling with addiction and mental health issues. Join us to understand the profound connection between childhood experiences and adult well-being. Download The Worksheet  Key Topics - Introduction to the ACEs study and its significance. - Types of adverse childhood experiences (abuse, neglect, household dysfunction). - The impact of ACEs on adult mental and physical health. - Recognizing hidden forms of trauma and their long-term effects. - Practical steps for healing from childhood trauma. Timestamps 1. [00:01:00] – Introduction and significance of the ACEs study. 2. [00:02:28] – History and inception of the ACEs study by Dr. Vincent Felitti. 3. [00:04:21] – Types of adverse childhood experiences. 4. [00:06:25] – Impact of ACEs on adult health and well-being. 5. [00:09:38] – Recognizing hidden forms of trauma. 6. [00:13:23] – Steps to address and heal from childhood trauma. 7. [00:17:11] – Summary and resources for further help. Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center NovusMindfulLife.com We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices