"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.
What Anxiety Is Trying to Tell You
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Hi Reader, Let’s talk about anxiety. If you are in recovery, you have probably noticed that anxiety and addiction often travel together. The tricky part is that anxiety feels like an emergency. Your brain starts throwing out worst-case scenarios, your body gets tense, and suddenly you want relief right now. That is where many unhealthy coping habits begin. But here is something worth remembering: Anxiety is uncomfortable, but it is not dangerous. Most of the time, anxiety is your brain trying to protect you. The problem is that it can be a little overprotective. Kind of like a smoke alarm that goes off when you all you've done is burn toast. Instead of trying to make anxiety disappear, try getting curious about it. What is it trying to tell you? Do you need rest? Connection? A break? A difficult conversation? The goal is not to eliminate anxiety. The goal is to learn that you can feel it without letting it run the show. You are stronger than a passing feeling. 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, Have you ever picked up your phone to check one thing, only to look up twenty minutes later wondering where the time went? You are not alone. There is a name for that drained feeling many of us experience after spending too much time on our devices. It is called digital fatigue. Our brains were not designed to process a nonstop stream of news, videos, messages, emails, and notifications. The constant switching of attention can leave us feeling mentally tired, distracted, and even...
Hi Reader, Do you find yourself saying yes to everyone else while putting your own recovery last? In this week's episode of The Addicted Mind+, Eric and I talk about four types of boundaries that can make a real difference in your recovery. We cover physical, emotional, intellectual, and time boundaries, and why each one matters. A lot of us worry that setting boundaries is selfish. The truth is, healthy boundaries are one of the best ways to protect your recovery and build stronger...
Hi Reader, Let me ask you something. If being hard on yourself really worked, would you still be struggling? Most of us think that criticizing ourselves will somehow motivate us to do better. But research tells us the opposite. When shame takes over, the brain shifts into a threat response. It becomes harder to think clearly, solve problems, and make healthy choices. That is not because you are weak. It is because your nervous system is trying to protect you. This is where self-compassion...