The Addicted Mind Podcast

In this episode, Duane sits down with Dr. Frank Putnam, a pioneer in the study of childhood trauma with nearly 50 years of clinical and research experience. Dr. Putnam discusses his landmark 35-year longitudinal study—the Female Growth and Development Study—which tracked the biological and psychological impacts of sexual abuse on girls from childhood into adulthood. They explore the concept of "accelerated aging," the intergenerational transfer of trauma, and why early intervention is critical for breaking the cycle of violence.Key Discussion PointsThe Evolution of Trauma Diagnosis: Dr. Putnam recounts the early days of his career (the 1970s) when PTSD didn't exist in the DSM. Veterans and trauma survivors were often misdiagnosed with schizophrenia or borderline personality disorder before a language for trauma was developed.The "Old Before Their Time" Phenomenon: A core finding of Dr. Putnam’s research is that extreme childhood adversity accelerates biological aging.Puberty: Abused girls in the study reached puberty approximately one year earlier than the control group.Epigenetics: DNA methylation studies show that traumatized individuals have a biological age that exceeds their chronological age.Immune System: Some young girls exhibited immune systems that appeared "older" than those of healthy adults.The Role of Cortisol: The stress hormone cortisol plays a dual role. While levels are high during the period of active trauma, they often crash later in life, leading to a "blunted" stress response that mediates many negative health outcomes.Intergenerational Trauma: * Dr. Putnam’s research suggests a roughly 30% transfer rate of abuse across generations.This is not just behavioral; animal studies suggest that trauma-induced epigenetic changes can be passed down biologically.Resilience and Recovery: What differentiates survivors who thrive?Positive Relationships: High-quality relationships with older, supportive female role models were the strongest predictors of resilience for the girls in the study.IQ and Social Skills: Higher cognitive ability and personalities that attract social support also serve as protective factors.Treatment Success: Modern Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) has roughly a 70% success rate.Resources Book: Old Before Their Time: A Scientific Life Investigating How Maltreatment Harms Children and the Adults They Become by Frank W. Putnam.Organizations:NCTSN: National Child Traumatic Stress NetworkTF-CBT: Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.PCIT: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (effective for younger children).Guest Website: frankputnam.comIf you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery CenterNovusMindfulLife.comWe want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmindDisclaimerSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Download: INTRINSIC VS. EXTRINSIC GOALSIn this episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, Duane and Eric Osterlind dive into the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic goals and how they affect our well-being. Have you ever felt the high of achieving a big goal, only to have that happiness fade away? This episode explores why that happens and introduces the concept of the "hedonic treadmill." You'll learn how extrinsic goals, like money and status, give short-term happiness but don't last. In contrast, intrinsic goals, like personal growth and meaningful relationships, bring deeper and more lasting joy. Duane and Eric share practical tips on how to shift your focus to these intrinsic goals, cultivate gratitude, and build stronger, more fulfilling connections. They also discuss the importance of mindfulness, personal growth, and serving others in achieving true contentment. Tune in to discover how you can step off the hedonic treadmill and find real, sustainable happiness in your life.Key Topics The difference between extrinsic and intrinsic goalsUnderstanding the hedonic treadmillHow extrinsic goals lead to temporary happinessThe importance of intrinsic goals for lasting fulfillmentPractical tips to shift focus and cultivate intrinsic goalsTimestamp List[00:01:06] Introduction to the topic: Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Goals[00:03:08] Explanation of the hedonic treadmill[00:04:20] The impact of extrinsic goals on happiness[00:07:33] Defining and understanding intrinsic goals[00:11:00] How to step off the hedonic treadmill[00:16:04] Practical tips for cultivating intrinsic goals[00:19:00] Summary and closing thoughtsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Worksheet: Healing Power of ConnectionAsk people what the hardest part of addiction was, and they often won't say the drugs or the alcohol. They'll say the loneliness. Because addiction, at its core, is about isolation and shame. It's that crushing feeling of being in a crowded room and feeling completely invisible. It's the belief that if people really knew you—the real you with all your secrets and shame—they would run away.But what if the medicine for that loneliness isn't just sobriety? What if the medicine is people?In this powerful episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, hosts Duane Osterlind and Eric Osterlind explore what they believe is the single most powerful predictor of long-term recovery success: connection. Not willpower. Not perfect meetings attendance. But belonging to a tribe, a community, a place where you're not alone.Addiction demands secrecy. It thrives in the dark. Over time, you stop answering the phone, you stop going to events. You isolate to protect the addiction, but you end up trapping yourself with your own worst thoughts. And even in recovery, that instinct to hide can still linger. You might feel like a burden, or you might think, "I can do this on my own. I don't need help." But that's a dangerous lie. When shame says "I am bad" and isolation says "I am alone," relapse becomes almost inevitable.The vicious cycle works like this: we isolate ourselves because we feel shame, and then that isolation breeds more shame. Breaking that cycle requires doing the one thing that feels most unnatural—reaching out. As journalist Johan Hari famously summarized from his research, "The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection." But shame tells us we're not worthy of that connection, so we don't risk it.The evidence is overwhelming. Whether it's AA, NA, SMART Recovery, or group therapy, the data shows that people who engage in supportive community have significantly better outcomes than those who try to go it alone. It's not just about having people around you—it's about shared experience. When you walk into a room and hear someone tell your story, there's a profound shift. The shame starts to evaporate because you realize: "I'm not the only one. I'm not crazy, bad, or sick. I'm not alone."Group settings provide a buffer against stress. When we're with safe people, our nervous system can actually co-regulate. We feel safer physically and emotionally. The community provides accountability—someone to notice if you're struggling. It provides encouragement—someone to cheer when you win. And perhaps most importantly, we borrow their hope until we can rebuild our own. We lean on their energy when ours runs out.But finding community can feel overwhelming, especially if you have social anxiety or fear of judgment. That's why Duane and Eric break it down into two simple, manageable steps you can take this week.Step one: Identify just one potential connection point. This could be looking up an online meeting and putting it in your calendar. It could be texting one friend and saying, "Hey, can we grab coffee?" Or maybe it's looking for a sober hiking group or book club. Just find one place where healthy people are gathering that interests you.Step two: Practice active listening in one conversation. Connection is a two-way street, but sometimes we're so anxious about what we're going to say that we forget to listen. This week, in just one conversation, put down your phone, look someone in the eye, and listen to understand—not to reply. Reflect back what you heard: "It sounds like you had a really tough day." This simple act builds instant intimacy and trust.Remember, by participating in community, you aren't just getting help—you're giving it. Your presence helps someone else feel less alone, and that can be a powerful engine for your own self-worth and shame resilience.You don't have to do this alone. Reach out, connect, and let the healing begin.Key Topics• The isolation trap of addiction: How addiction thrives in secrecy and loneliness, making connection the true antidote to recovery• Shame as a barrier to connection: Understanding why shame tells us we're not worthy and keeps us from reaching out for help• The opposite of addiction is connection: Johan Hari's powerful research showing community as the single most powerful predictor of recovery success• Co-regulation in community: How being with safe people allows our nervous systems to calm down and feel safer physically and emotionally• Two actionable steps for building connection: Identifying one connection point and practicing active listening this week• From lone wolf to pack member: Moving from vulnerable isolation to being part of a supportive network that protects and sustains you• The gift of giving back: How your presence in community helps others feel less alone and builds your own sense of purposeTimestamps[00:01:30] - The stark reality: The hardest part of addiction isn't the substances—it's the crushing loneliness[00:03:00] - The vicious cycle: How shame and isolation feed each other and make relapse almost inevitable[00:05:00] - Johan Hari's breakthrough insight: "The opposite of addiction is not sobriety—the opposite is connection"[00:06:30] - The profound shift: What happens when you hear someone tell your story in a room full of people[00:07:00] - Co-regulation explained: How safe people help calm our nervous system when we can't do it alone[00:08:00] - Actionable Step #1: Identifying one potential connection point you can take this week[00:10:00] - Actionable Step #2: Practicing active listening to build instant intimacy and trustSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this deeply moving episode of The Addicted Mind, host Duane Osterlind sits down with Burton Fischler, author of The Gift: Trauma to Triumph. Burton shares a harrowing personal journey marked by unimaginable loss—the murder of his wife, Barbara, at the hands of her son who struggled with severe mental illness and addiction.Burton discusses how he navigated the dark abyss of PTSD and grief, eventually finding a path toward healing through writing, nature, and service. Now a substance addiction counselor, Burton explains the intersection of trauma and addiction and offers a message of profound hope for anyone feeling lost in the darkness.Key HighlightsA Tragic Turning Point: Burton recounts the heartbreaking events leading up to his wife’s death and the systemic failures that preceded the tragedy.The Weight of Trauma: Moving beyond "talk therapy" to understand how trauma lives in the body and the reality of living with PTSD.The Power of Writing: How documenting his journey for eight hours a day became a lifeline and a tool for self-discovery.Gratitude vs. Joy: The shift from waiting for joy to practicing gratitude as a foundational step toward recovery.Neuroplasticity and Choice: Understanding that while we cannot "think" our way into right action, we can act our way into right thinking by rewiring the brain through healthy habits.The Wisdom of Trauma: Why Burton chose to become a substance abuse counselor and how his own pain allows him to connect deeply with his clients.During the conversation, Burton emphasizes the importance of replacing negative feedback loops with positive ones. This process leverages the brain's natural ability to change.Breaking Isolation: Moving from secrecy and shame to human connection.Nature and Awe: Finding symbols of resilience in the natural world (like a flower growing through concrete).Holistic Practice: Incorporating meditation, nutrition, and movement to support the "rewiring" of the mind.Notable Quotes"It is not joyfulness that makes us grateful. It's gratitude that makes us joyful." — Burton Fischler (referencing Brother David Steindl-Rast)"If children after they fell did not get up and try again, we would have a world of people on their knees." — Burton Fischler"There are two ways to look at life: one is that nothing is a miracle, and the other is that everything is." — Burton Fischler (referencing Albert Einstein)Resources MentionedBook: The Gift: Trauma to Triumph by Burton FischlerPoetry: T.S. EliotReferences: Viktor Frankl (Man's Search for Meaning), Gabor Maté, and Bill Wilson (AA).Connect with Burton FischlerWebsite: traumatotriumph.clubCoaching: coachburton.comSocial Media: Follow @BurtonFischler on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery CenterNovusMindfulLife.comWe want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmindDisclaimerSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duane Osterlind sits down with Doug Leech, founder of Ascension Recovery Services, to discuss the monumental challenge of expanding high-quality addiction treatment to "treatment deserts"—specifically rural areas and tribal lands. Doug shares his vulnerable personal journey from a high-achieving accountant struggling with opioid addiction and homelessness to becoming a visionary leader in behavioral health.The conversation dives deep into the collaboration with the Pawnee Nation to build a sustainable, native-owned recovery center. Doug explains how he combined his expertise in accounting and neuroplasticity with ancient spiritual traditions and cultural healing to overcome the unique financial, political, and logistical hurdles of building on sovereign land.Key Discussion PointsDoug’s Personal Story: From working at a top accounting firm to living in a car due to opioid addiction, Doug discusses the powerful role of shame and the life-changing experience of finding recovery in Minnesota when his home state of West Virginia had no options.The Problem of Treatment Deserts: Why many communities (veterans, Medicaid recipients, and Native American tribes) are often left without any local access to life-saving care.The Pawnee Nation Project: The complexities of building on sovereign land, including financing without the ability to repossess property and navigating tribal government cycles.Workforce Development: The "10-year plan" to train tribal members—from peer recovery coaches to Master’s-level clinicians—to ensure the program is self-sustaining and native-operated.The Business of Recovery: How Doug uses his accounting background (and lessons from Sarbanes-Oxley) to build clinical programs that are not only effective but financially viable.The Power of Service: Why giving back through the 12th step is essential to maintaining long-term recovery.Quotes from the Episode"Addiction is the best-kept secret that everybody knows." — Doug Leech"I'll die with this disease, not from it." — Doug LeechResources MentionedAscension Recovery Services: ascensionrs.comWhite Bison: A resource for Wellbriety and culturally based healing for indigenous peoples.The Addicted Mind Podcast: theaddictedmind.comDoug Leech is in recovery and the founder of Ascension Recovery Services. Motivated by his own struggle to find care, he has dedicated his career to developing full-continuum recovery models for underserved populations, helping open dozens of centers across the United States.Connect with Doug:LinkedIn: Doug LeechWebsite: ascensionrs.comIf you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery CenterNovusMindfulLife.comWe want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmindDisclaimerSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.