The Addicted Mind Podcast

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 of dopamine. Her expertise paints a vivid picture of the transformative power of neurofeedback to restore emotional regulation and improve personal relationships.

We take an intriguing look at how neurofeedback functions as a mental workout, akin to exercising muscles, that boosts neuroplasticity and helps break free from rigid brain patterns often associated with addiction and erectile dysfunction. By engaging the brain in real-time activities, this approach can ease withdrawal symptoms and significantly reduce the craving for dopamine. The motivation derived from witnessing one's own brain improvement is highlighted as a powerful catalyst for change. Dr. Leigh emphasizes how this method can empower individuals to regain control and foster a healthier relationship with their own minds.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Exploration of neurofeedback's role in treating behavioral addictions like porn, internet, and social media addiction.
• Insights into brain mapping and identifying electrical energy patterns to address a "strained brain" due to excessive dopamine exposure.
• Neurofeedback as a mental workout, enhancing neuroplasticity and reducing dopamine cravings.
• Supernormal stimuli and the "narcissistic bubble" impacting the brain's reward system and emotional health.
• Importance of detoxing from high-dopamine activities to reset pleasure pathways and improve mental wellness.
• Neurofeedback as a tool for fostering real-life joy and balancing dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin.

Follow and Review:

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Supporting Resources:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DrTrishLeighBrainRewire

https://drtrishleigh.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.

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The stigma of addiction is so bad that people who are struggling with it choose to hide it. However, addiction is not the real problem, but rather the symptom of all these underlying hurts, pains, and suffering.

Today’s episode is a replay of an interview with David Poses, who recently passed away, in honor of his life and legacy. A writer, speaker, and activist, David was a tireless advocate for all who struggled with mental health or addiction issues. David is the author of The Weight of Air: A Story About the Lies of Addiction and the Truth of Recovery.

David struggled with addiction, which he chose to hide for a long time. After trying to find a treatment that worked for him, he soon discovered buprenorphine, an opioid used to treat opioid-use disorders, which also saved his life from heroin. David also realized that being sober only means abstaining from whatever it is you’re addicted to, while recovery happens only when you’ve healed the wounds that led you to addiction in the first place.

That being said, there are different ways to treat addiction, and so, ultimately, you have to find one that works for you.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Resorting to heroin due to depression but it was also heroin that caused his depression
• Why AA wasn’t the right solution for him
• Finding the treatment and recovery method that works for us
• How opioids affect the brain
• Two medications that have been proven to dramatically reduce your risk of death, relapse, and overdose
• How buprenorphine saved David’s life
• Achieving recovery through healing the wounds that led you to addiction
• The stigma of addiction

Key Quotes:

[13:58] - "For every kind of vice or addiction, your neurotransmitters rewire, and they seek out the next hit. There’s the idea that sobriety gets easier with time and your brain heals in time and things go back to normal... But there have been a lot of studies about opioids that show that it doesn't necessarily go back."

[21:12] - "There are two medications that are proven to dramatically reduce your risk of death, relapse, and overdose: methadone and buprenorphine. All other forms of treatment or medications do not, and many others actually do the exact opposite."

[21:31] - “Any kind of abstinence-based treatment, whether it's forced or voluntary, increases your risk of overdose because you come out of it, you have no tolerance, and that's when people die.”

[23:10] - "Addiction has been so siloed off away from medicine for so long. Even with doctors, I tell the doctor the history and they assume I'm in there looking for drugs."

[35:03] - "If sobriety is I'm not taking drugs anymore or abstinence. Recovery is healing the wounds that led you to drugs in the first place."

[39:09] - "The stigma of addiction is so bad that I was seriously contemplating suicide."

[41:02] - "Addiction is not the problem. Addiction is definitely a problem but drugs are a form of self-medication."

[47:12] - "With any physical or psychological thing, we identify the source of pain, and we treat it so you can heal. With addiction, we explicitly tell you to ignore the source of pain because it's an excuse."

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:

GoFundMe campaign to support David Poses’ family

https://www.gofundme.com/f/we-love-you-david-posesand-love-your-family

The Weight of Air: A Story About the Lies of Addiction and the Truth of Recovery

https://davidposes.com/the-weight-of-air

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

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

How does one confront the silent battles of sex addiction within the LGBTQ community? Brandon Simpson, an associate marriage and family therapist from Novus Mindful Life Institute, joins this conversation to unravel this complex issue, sharing not just professional insights but personal experiences as a gay man. Together, Duane and Brandon shed light on the intersection of intimacy and identity, especially the uphill struggle against a heteronormative bias in therapy that too often overlooks the nuances in gay relationships. Get a glimpse of the shadows where shame and sexuality intertwine, offering a beacon of understanding for those navigating these often-misunderstood waters.

The weight of homophobia on the shoulders of gay men can be crushing, driving many towards sex as a coping mechanism and, potentially, into the throes of addiction. This candid discussion with Brandon uncovers the layers of this reality, diving into the internalized homophobia and the consequent shame that propels an individual into the depths of secrecy. They also tackle the daunting world of dating apps like Grindr, dissecting their role in the complex search for meaningful connections amidst a culture saturated with sexual expectations – a conversation that's as revealing as it is necessary for anyone yearning to grasp the full picture.

This episode is not just an examination of the challenges faced by the gay community, but it also celebrates the courage it takes to set boundaries and the transformation that comes with self-discovery. By sharing stories of resilience and change, this episode underscores the importance of supportive networks and the quest for alignment with personal values. It's a conversation that doesn't just affirm the experiences of individuals within the LGBTQ spectrum but also champions the journey towards a more authentic and fulfilling life. Join today’s discussion to affirm the beauty of personal truth – in a world still learning to embrace the full spectrum of human connection.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Challenging heteronormative standards in sex ed
• Internalized homophobia in the LGBTQ community
• Navigating stereotypes in gay therapy
• Navigating pressure in LGBTQ community
• Navigating friend group 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.

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Today's guest is Gregg Champion and he will be talking about hitting rock bottom, what that means, and the significance of finding ourselves sitting at the crossroads of wanting to change from a life of addiction to one of recovery. Gregg also discusses his rock bottom, and he tells us his recovery story.

Episode Link: www.theaddictedmind.com/76

Gregg is the co-founder of START UP RECOVERY, located in the Pacific Palisades. START UP RECOVERY is a transformational residence that supports people through career, passion, and what Gregg refers to as a recovery play-book. Their four cornerstones are a community, accountability, education, and love. They also provide for their residents the unique service of mentorship for long-term sobriety and long-term success.

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Gregg got sober 25-years ago when he was in his mid-twenties. He has managed to retain his sobriety by remaining willing to be willing. He maintains a mindset of life as a continuous journey going forward. In his first year of recovery, he did everything the old-school AA way, and over time, he began adding breath work, sound bath, and then Al-Anon to his play-book. He found that every time he became distressed in his disease, someone would show up with a new tool for him to try. He gets through all of life's painful problems with sobriety and with the support of the whole recovery network. He is always looking for ways to continue healing and growing.

Living a counseled and supported life during the years of recovery is essential because, when left to our own devices, our ego will show up. And with pride and ego involved, we tend to make bad decisions, even when we're sober. One addict helping another really works!

Rock bottom is choosing to do the same thing over again, knowing that the result is going to be bad. It can happen as a result of many different things, like childhood trauma, divorce, or addiction. At rock bottom, people often find themselves doing things that they said they would never do. It's the point when people begin to realize that they are powerless and their lives have become unmanageable. Having the compassionate support of others at this time is crucial.

Developing joy in life, and shifting from addiction to passion are parts of the process of recovering from rock bottom. This does not happen overnight. It happens one day at a time and it can result in people becoming addicted to a life of recovery.

For Gregg, it is important to help people to reach their rock bottom by showing them, rather than telling them, what he has done in his life to maintain his sobriety. He refers to this as co-piloting people through their recovery process.

Life is difficult. So Gregg believes that the Twelve-Steps would be a very helpful tool to incorporate into the school system. He suggests introducing it to children in the fourth grade, before they have reached puberty, and before they have discovered drugs and alcohol. With this process, they could develop the essential skills necessary for living joyful and passionate lives.

Recovery is a life-time process. Gregg encourages everyone to unpack their backpack of shame sooner rather than later because the longer it is carried, the heavier it gets, and the more it will weigh you down. To be tuned-in to recovery, he recommends being spiritually sound, sober, hard-working, diligent, and seriously honest.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-addicted-mind-podcast/donations

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