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...
Feb 17, 2025•40 min•Ep. 321
Have you ever felt guilty for missing your addiction, even though you know it was destroying your life? You're not alone. In this powerful episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, hosts Duane and Eric explore the often-overlooked emotional journey of grieving your addiction during recovery. They dive deep into why letting go of addiction can feel like losing a best friend – even when that friend was toxic. Using Elizabeth Kubler-Ross's famous five stages of grief as a framework, they explain why these...
Feb 13, 2025•24 min
Our guest on this episode of the Addicted Mind podcast is Lacy Bentley, a recovery mentor, and coach in the areas of love and sex addictions for women. At age 13, Lacy found herself consuming erotic novels and pornographic anime called hentai. She didn’t realize it until much later in life, but her involvement with those types of pornography had created an addiction to the fantasy that affected all of her relationships into adulthood. She developed a pattern of escape and avoidance related to an...
Feb 10, 2025•38 min
What if the walls you built to protect yourself have become your prison? In this powerful episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, hosts Duane and Eric explore how sharing our authentic stories can break the chains of shame in recovery. They dive into why many people get stuck in their recovery journey, despite doing "all the right things," and reveal how authentic sharing can be the missing piece. Drawing from both clinical experience and research by Brené Brown, they explain why shame thrives in sil...
Feb 06, 2025•19 min
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. Tran...
Feb 03, 2025•32 min
In this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, Eric and Duane dive deep into the often-overlooked topic of perfectionism and its profound impact on recovery journeys. They explore different dimensions of perfectionism, from self-imposed standards to societal expectations, revealing how these can lead to self-criticism and hinder progress. Through personal anecdotes and expert insights, they offer practical strategies for overcoming perfectionism, such as mindfulness, self-compassion, and seeking ...
Jan 30, 2025•20 min
Join us for a fascinating exploration of the brain's potential with Dr. Trish Leigh, a cognitive neuroscientist and esteemed neurofeedback practitioner. Dr. Leigh shares her valuable insights on how neurofeedback can be harnessed to combat behavioral addictions such as internet addiction, social media addiction, and even porn addiction. She explains the science of brain mapping and how identifying electrical energy patterns can reveal the underlying issues of a "strained brain" due to the flood ...
Jan 27, 2025•43 min•Ep. 318
Ever feel like something's missing in your recovery journey, even after achieving sobriety? You're not alone. In this powerful episode, hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind dive into why finding purpose is crucial for long-term recovery success. Drawing from Viktor Frankl's groundbreaking work and real-world recovery experiences, they explore how purpose acts as a compass for sustained sobriety. The hosts break down practical steps for discovering your unique purpose, addressing common obstacles, and ...
Jan 23, 2025•19 min
Dr. Judson Brewer, a pioneering neuroscientist and addiction specialist, takes us on an exploration of the human brain and its role in addiction and recovery. Dr. Brewer shares his personal journey from medical school to co-founding MindShift Recovery, where evidence-based programs challenge traditional treatments. Drawing from Buddhist psychology, he offers a fresh perspective on addictive behaviors, emphasizing the transformative power of understanding the brain's mechanisms to foster lasting ...
Jan 20, 2025•45 min•Ep. 317
Have you ever felt like your emotions or memories suddenly hijack your hard-earned progress in recovery? You're not alone! In this episode of The Addicted Mind, hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind delve deep into the world of triggers, those sneaky culprits that can either strengthen or challenge our recovery journey. Discover the four main categories of triggers: environmental, emotional, physical, and cognitive, and learn how to identify and navigate them effectively. Duane and Eric share the groun...
Jan 16, 2025•21 min
Join us as we welcome Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher from Stanford University, an esteemed expert in adolescent health, who brings her wealth of knowledge to our conversation on the Addicted Mind Podcast. We focus on the heightened sensitivity of the adolescent brain to addiction, particularly when it comes to substances like nicotine and THC found in e-cigarettes and vaping. Dr. Halpern-Felsher shares her groundbreaking research and advocacy efforts, stressing the necessity of addressing these issu...
Jan 13, 2025•40 min•Ep. 316
Ever lie awake at night, desperately trying to force yourself to sleep, only to find yourself more awake than ever? This common experience reveals a fascinating paradox about control in our lives. In this transformative episode, hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind explore why our attempts to control certain aspects of life often backfire, leading to increased anxiety and stress. Through compelling research and practical insights, they reveal how understanding the difference between what we can and ca...
Jan 09, 2025•18 min
Decima Davis once believed she had found a miracle in Kratom—a natural supplement that seemed to promise relief from her battles with opioid withdrawal. She wasn't alone in her hope; many, like Decima, were drawn to Kratom during the opioid crisis, fooled by its marketing as a safer alternative. But Decima's story took a different turn, and today, as the founder of the Quitting Kratom Support Organization, she reveals the hidden dangers of Kratom addiction. Her candid account sheds light on the ...
Jan 07, 2025•36 min•Ep. 312
Are you constantly saying "yes" to everyone else's needs while your recovery takes a backseat? In this eye-opening episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, host Duane Osterlind and Eric Osterlind dive deep into the four fundamental types of boundaries that can revolutionize your recovery journey. Many people struggle with feeling selfish about setting boundaries, but as this episode reveals, boundaries aren't just about saying "no" – they're about creating a protective space where your healing can flo...
Jan 02, 2025•20 min
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 act...
Dec 30, 2024•33 min
When dealing with addiction, whether you’re addicted to alcohol, drugs, porn, food, or whatever it is, one of the most effective ways to achieve recovery is by going all the way back to your inner child and figuring out what triggers your pain points so you can eventually take mindful action. Author and licensed professional counselor, Eddie Capparucci, who specializes in the treatment of sex and pornography addiction, created the inner child recovery process to help people struggling with addic...
Dec 23, 2024•42 min•Ep. 313
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...
Dec 19, 2024•19 min
At the age of 15, Aaron Perra took his first drink, setting off a chain of events that would lead him through the tumultuous landscape of addiction and ultimately to the healing power of poetry. On the Addicted Mind Podcast, Aaron opens up about his struggles with identity, family rejection, and homelessness during his teenage years in Minneapolis. Each setback became a stepping stone, as he found sanctuary in a 12-step program and support from Minneapolis' Youth Links, which helped him pursue a...
Dec 16, 2024•40 min•Ep. 312
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 ...
Dec 12, 2024•18 min
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 ...
Dec 09, 2024•46 min•Ep. 311
Have you ever found yourself lying awake at night, replaying that moment when you said "yes" but every fiber of your being was screaming "no"? In this transformative episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind dive deep into one of recovery's most overlooked yet crucial components: setting healthy boundaries. They explore why boundaries aren't walls that keep people out, but rather fences that let the right things in. The hosts break down common misconceptions about boundar...
Dec 05, 2024•20 min
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 ...
Dec 02, 2024•42 min•Ep. 310
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 strateg...
Nov 28, 2024•20 min
Former advertising executive Pao Ortega once found herself trapped in a seemingly perfect life in New York City, at odds with the inner chaos of depression, anxiety, and burnout. During a pivotal moment of introspection, she made the courageous decision to face these challenges head-on. In our latest episode of the Addicted Mind Podcast, we explore Pao's enlightening transformation journey, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and kindness. Through her story, we uncover the profound impa...
Nov 25, 2024•46 min•Ep. 209
Ever felt like feedback in your recovery journey hits you like a punch to the gut? You're not alone. In this eye-opening episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind dive into why criticism can feel so painful during recovery and share game-changing strategies to transform those tough moments into opportunities for growth. Drawing from cutting-edge research in neuroscience and psychology, they explain how our early life experiences shape our sensitivity to criticism and why ...
Nov 21, 2024•19 min
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...
Nov 18, 2024•53 min•Ep. 308
Ever wonder why two people can experience the exact same event but walk away with completely different emotions? In this fascinating episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast Plus, hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind dive into the science of optimism and reveal how our attention shapes our reality. They explain that optimism isn't about ignoring negative experiences or forcing positivity – it's about training our brain to process both positive and negative information in a balanced way. Through practical ...
Nov 14, 2024•19 min
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....
Nov 09, 2024•44 min•Ep. 307
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 experie...
Nov 07, 2024•18 min
On today’s episode, Duane speaks with Dr. Karol Darsa about how to recognize trauma as well as some of the first steps you need to take to deal with trauma. Karol is the author of the book, The Trauma Map: Five Steps to Reconnect With Yourself. She dives deep into how trauma impacts us in our everyday life as well as what we can do to deal with our traumatic histories so we can heal and feel better. If you have struggled with some trauma in your past, hopefully you will get a lot of insights fro...
Nov 04, 2024•38 min•Ep. 306
