"The Addicted Mind Podcast" offers hope, understanding, and guidance for those dealing with addiction, with real stories and research to inspire and show the journey to recovery is worth it.
Ever Had an Emotional Hangover?
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Hi Reader, Here’s something we don’t talk about enough: emotional hangovers. An emotional hangover can happen after a big day — a tough conversation, a family gathering, a stressful event, even an exciting milestone. You got through it… and then the next day you feel drained, foggy, irritable, or flat. That’s not weakness. That’s your nervous system recovering. When you’re “on” for hours — managing feelings, reading the room, staying regulated — your brain burns energy. Afterward, it needs time to reset. Instead of judging yourself, try this: Recovery isn’t just about handling the moment. It’s about caring for yourself afterward. Sometimes the healthiest move is gentle recovery from the recovery. With you, Duane |
The Addicted Mind Podcast
"The Addicted Mind Podcast" offers hope, understanding, and guidance for those dealing with addiction, with real stories and research to inspire and show the journey to recovery is worth it.
Hi Reader, Here’s a simple reminder that can save you a lot of stress: Not every thought deserves your attention. Our brains produce thousands of thoughts every day. Some are helpful. Some are random. And some are just old fears or habits showing up again. In recovery, those thoughts can sound convincing:“This is too hard.”“One time won’t matter.”“I can’t handle this.” But a thought isn’t a command. It’s just mental noise passing through. Instead of arguing with every thought, try noticing it...
Hi Reader, This week on The Addicted Mind, I have a fascinating conversation with Dr. Alexandra Katehakis about something that affects almost everyone in recovery—shame. One of the biggest insights from our talk is that shame isn’t just a thought or emotion. It’s actually rooted in the body, especially in the gut and nervous system. When shame shows up, it can create a deep sense of collapse that many people try to escape through substances or addictive behaviors. We also talk about how early...
Hi Reader, This week on The Addicted Mind, I sit down with Dr. Rachel Docekal to talk about something that’s impacting almost every family right now—youth mental health and addiction in the digital age. We discuss what she calls the “double whammy” of COVID isolation and smartphones. Anxiety and depression are rising fast, and for many young people, substance use is a symptom—not the root problem. We also talk about high-potency THC, the mental health risks tied to it, and why prevention has...