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Why do people keep doing things they know are harming them?

If addiction was simply a matter of willpower, nobody would smoke, gamble away their savings, drink themselves into hospital, or spend hours scrolling through videos they don’t even enjoy.

In this episode, I explore the science of addiction, the role of dopamine, why craving is often different from pleasure, and why the debate between personal responsibility and the disease model is far more complicated than either side wants to admit.

We talk about alcohol, food, gambling, smartphones, trauma, recovery, and the uncomfortable reality that modern life may be making addiction easier than ever before.

Most importantly, we ask a difficult question: At what point does a choice stop feeling like a choice?

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction

If this episode resonated with you and you feel you may be struggling with addiction, help is available.

• NHS Addiction Support
• NHS Find a Drug and Alcohol Service
• Alcoholics Anonymous UK
• Narcotics Anonymous UK
• Gamblers Anonymous UK
• GamCare (gambling support)
• FRANK (drug information and support)
• Smoking and Nicotine Support (NHS Better Health)
• Mind - Useful contacts for drug and alcohol addiction

Healthcare Professionals

If you’re a doctor, nurse, paramedic, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional struggling with addiction, confidential support is available:

• NHS Practitioner Health
• Doctors in Distress

Crisis Support

If you feel at immediate risk of harming yourself or others, contact emergency services (999 in the UK) or attend your nearest Emergency Department.

For urgent mental health support in the UK:

• Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option where available.
• Samaritans (call 116 123, available 24/7)

If you’re struggling with addiction, please don’t try to face it alone. Speak to your GP, a trusted friend or family member, or one of the organisations above. Recovery is possible, and asking for help is often the hardest step.

Thank you for listening!
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
X: @DrPolyvios

If you have any comments or suggestions, send us a text message!

In this episode of A Doctor’s View, Dr Polyvios explores the dramatic rise in ADHD diagnoses and asks a difficult question: are we finally recognising a condition that has always been there, or are we beginning to medicalise the chaos of modern life?

From social media and dopamine-driven distraction to private clinics, self-diagnosis and the growing use of terms like “neurodivergent”, this episode examines the cultural, psychological and medical forces behind the ADHD explosion.

Why do so many ADHD symptoms now feel relatable to almost everyone? Has modern technology conditioned our brains to behave as if we have ADHD? And where is the line between genuine disorder and ordinary human struggle?

This is not an attack on people living with ADHD. For many, diagnosis and treatment can be life-changing. Instead, this episode is a deeper conversation about attention, identity, overstimulation and the world we’ve built around ourselves.

As always, this podcast reflects personal opinion and is intended to encourage discussion, not replace professional medical advice.

Thank you for listening!
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
X: @DrPolyvios

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In this episode of A Doctor’s View, Dr. Polyvios sits down with Viktor from Tough Muscles to explore how calisthenics — simple bodyweight strength training — can transform not just your physical health but your mental well-being too. From boosting focus during stressful exam periods to finding calm after intense hospital shifts, discover why moving your own body through space can be the most empowering workout of all. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a complete beginner, this conversation offers practical tips and real-life insights on building strength, resilience, and mental clarity through calisthenics.

Tough Muscles Website. Click here: https://toughmuscles.co.uk/

Instagram: @Tough_Muscles

Thank you for listening!
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
X: @DrPolyvios

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Have you ever wondered why you struggle to decide what to have for dinner after a long day at work? That mental exhaustion has a name—decision fatigue—and it affects everyone, but takes a particularly heavy toll on healthcare professionals.

Decision fatigue refers to the deteriorating quality of our choices after prolonged periods of decision-making. While it might sound like an academic concept, its effects are profoundly practical and widespread. For doctors and nurses, decision fatigue isn't just an inconvenience; it's a daily challenge that can affect patient care and personal wellbeing.

Throughout a typical hospital shift, healthcare workers make hundreds of micro-decisions. When a nurse reports a patient's overnight blood pressure drop, this triggers a cascade of mental questions about causation and treatment options. Even seemingly simple requests like prescribing pain relief require careful consideration of drug interactions, patient history, and potential side effects. These continuous small decisions gradually erode mental reserves, leading to compromised judgment as the day progresses.

Compounding this challenge is what I call "noise fatigue"—the mental drain caused by constant exposure to beeping monitors, alarms, phones, and the general cacophony of busy wards. This sensory overload further taxes already strained cognitive resources. It explains why many hospital staff eat lunch in silence or why closing your front door at home becomes the most cherished moment of the day—finally experiencing silence and freedom from the pressure of constant decision-making.

Understanding these psychological phenomena helps explain seemingly irrational behaviours and underscores the importance of creating systems that minimise unnecessary decisions. While recognising decision fatigue doesn't excuse poor choices, it helps us develop strategies to preserve mental energy for critical decisions and create environments that support rather than deplete our cognitive resources.

Next time you feel inexplicably exhausted, consider how many decisions you've made recently and perhaps give yourself the gift of silence. Your brain will thank you.

Thank you for listening!
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
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Ready to debunk the myths, lies, and half-truths about obesity and healthy living? Listening to this episode will challenge the 'health at any size' idea that obesity and health can coexist. I dive into a dissection of the 'obesity paradox' and 'fat but fit' - a term that has been doing rounds on social media and even within medical circles. The episode looks at the World Health Organisation's definition of health and discusses a study that proves that metabolically healthy obese people are at a higher risk of coronary heart disease than their normal weight, metabolically healthy counterparts. 

I don't stop at challenging the 'obesity paradox'; we also take a hard look at the controversies around obesity and health, explaining why being 'metabolically healthy' doesn't necessarily mean you're healthy if you're obese. I bring to light the risks of obesity, including complications during pregnancy and other health issues, often ignored in popular discussions, including the impact of obesity on fertility. 

This episode also talks about the dangers of taking everything you see online at face value and dispel some of the myths about caloric intake and the role the laws of thermodynamics has in weight gain and loss.

Thank you for listening!
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
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If you have any comments or suggestions, send us a text message!

Ever felt the weight of perfectionism bearing down on you, be it personal or professional? Join me, Dr. Polyvios, as I engage in a profound discussion with Dr. Samantha Anthony about perfectionism and the corresponding burnout it can provoke, particularly in the healthcare field. With a personal touch, Dr. Anthony uncovers her own struggles with perfectionism, highlighting the often-overlooked traits such as persistent guilt, fear of criticism, and a compulsive need for excessive preparation. From this enlightening exchange, you'll discover how accepting our limitations and recognizing the elusive nature of perfect outcomes can moderate perfectionism and kindle productivity.

Steering the conversation towards the darker side of perfectionism, we expose the specter of unrealistic expectations and the storm of guilt and fear it can stir. Unpacking the importance of downtime, we spotlight how career interruptions are not just breaks but opportunities for personal growth and development. Drawing inspiration from nations like Australia that have mandated time off, we dig into how such strategies can ward off burnout. Listen and gather valuable insights on the significance of reliable support for those who step back from work to reclaim their wellbeing.

Wrapping up our discussion, we consider the broad-ranging impact of perfectionism across various professions, acknowledging its role in fuelling creativity yet also recognizing its potential to lead to burnout. Our dialogue circles around the stress perfectionism can engender in the workplace and the strategies to support those wrestling with its weight. We stress the importance of open communication in recognizing burnout signs and promoting a safe space for these crucial conversations. Listen in to gain actionable ideas on balancing perfectionism with creativity, navigating career decisions in medicine, and supporting mental health in the workplace.

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Permitted to Pause:
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Instagram: @permittedtopause

Doctors in Distress:
Website: www.doctors-in-distress.org.uk
Instagram: @docs_in_distress

Thank you for listening!
email: [email protected]
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In this episode I revisit the topic of acne and relive the experience of taking Roaccutane (Isotretinoin). I discuss some myths around acne and the various treatment options.

Video Podcast:
https://youtu.be/1Xe20F_fK14

Thank you for listening!
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
X: @DrPolyvios

If you have any comments or suggestions, send us a text message!

This episode focuses on an important topic that is becoming more and more prevalent.

An eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia is a severe psychological eating disorder where an individual restricts their food intake to lose weight or avoid weight gain.

Recorded at The London Centre for Eating Disorders and Body Image, I’m joined by Dr Bryony Bamford, Founder and Director and Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Christina de Beukelaar, The London Centre’s Lead Dietitian.

We discuss a number of questions that surround eating disorders and the role of a clinical psychologist and dietician when treating such a difficult and debilitating illness. These include:

•  Why eating disorders are so hard to treat.
• The common personality traits seen in eating disorders.
• Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED).
• The role a dietitian plays in treating eating disorders, a psychological illness.
• What is refeeding syndrome and why is this such an important risk in eating disorder patients?
• What an initial consultation and process with a patient looks like.
• How treatment plans vary for different eating disorders and different ways of controlling weight such as laxatives, purging and over-exercises.
• Treating eating disorders with patients who have strict vegan diets.
• Thoughts on showing calories on restaurant menus.
• How the pandemic impacted the number suffering with eating disorders.
• How social media is contributing to the rise in eating disorders.
• Advice for parents or people coming to terms with an eating disorder.
• How to seek help.

Bios:

Dr Bryony Bamford

Dr Bryony Bamford is a specialist eating disorder psychologist treating children adolescents and adults with eating disorders, eating problems and low body esteem. She has been treating eating disorders throughout her 20-year career. She has worked with individuals with eating disorders across a number of different treatment settings, inpatient and outpatient, and within the NHS and privately.

Early on in her career Dr Bamford worked in international research, developing psychological treatments for severe and enduring anorexia. In 2013 Dr Bamford founded The London Centre for Eating Disorders and Body Image. 

Christina de Beukelaar

Christina de Beukelaar is a specialist dietitian and has over 15 years clinical experience, her expertise spans all areas of Dietetics and Nutrition, specialising specifically in eating disorders. 

Christina’s practical and person-centred approach allows individuals to establish long term lifestyle changes. 

She works directly with clients and additionally provides education and training for their family members around food and meal times.

Useful Links:

• The London Centre
• NHS 
• BEAT Eating Disorders
• Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) information

Thank you for listening!
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
X: @DrPolyvios

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A look at how perfectionism can be a destructive personality trait and why it can leave me feeling superficial and  guilty when working as a doctor. I discuss the difficult scenarios medics are often exposed to and how as healthcare professionals we become 'numb' to the emotion that should follow the horrific scenes we see everyday.

I also discuss the recent NHS nurses strike in England and provide an insight into the reasons why they have made the decision to go on strike.

Article referenced: “The Downsides of Perfection” BBC article by Amanda Ruggeri

Thank you for listening!
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
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**CONTAINS SPOILERS** In this episode I give my thoughts on the recent TV series based on the book "This is Going to Hurt" by Dr Adam Kay. In my opinion it was a masterpiece and will change the public perception of what a doctor does and has to go through.

Thank you for listening!
email: [email protected]
instagram: @adoctorsview
X: @DrPolyvios