The Addicted Mind Podcast

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...

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,...

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 tox...

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 al...

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. Draw...

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 A...

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 p...

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...

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 hos...

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 behavi...

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, an...

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 share...

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 rese...

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 Orga...

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...

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 head...

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...

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. Dr...

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...

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...

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 approac...

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...

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, an...

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 Primar...

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, emphas...