Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships

In this episode, we with special guests Sherod Miller and Dan Lord explore another transformative element of the Awareness Wheel: recognizing and managing our reactions. Reactions are deeply rooted in our body and mind, and understanding them is a key step toward emotional balance and intentional action. 🌟

Learn how to identify reactions and navigate them with the Four R’s framework:

Through this process, you'll gain self-awareness, build a stronger connection between your mind and body, and cultivate the ability to respond with choice rather than react impulsively.

💡 Whether you're working on personal growth, emotional regulation, or mindfulness practices, this approach provides actionable steps for meaningful change.

In this special ""Mailbag"" episode of Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships, you ask and we listened to your listener-submitted questions about navigating complex issues around sex addiction, infidelity, and relationship struggles. From differentiating between addiction and betrayal to understanding love addiction and managing gaslighting, our team tackles it all with a compassionate, open approach. 

We share insights into recognizing patterns, assessing behaviors, and finding effective ways to seek help, including professional assessments and personal support options. 

Join the conversation as we answer your questions and work towards healthier relationships together.

#Addiction #RelationshipAdvice #Infidelity #SexAddiction #BehaviorPatterns #MentalHealth #CopingSkills

📬 Mailbag Question: ""Is my partner's infidelity a sign of sex addiction or just bad behavior?""

In this discussion, we explore the differences between infidelity and addictive behavior. When does a pattern of cheating signal a deeper issue like love or sex addiction? We dive into the key signs—obsession, compulsive behavior, using the affair as a coping mechanism—and the importance of identifying patterns across multiple behaviors. Addiction often goes beyond a single behavior, showing up in a ""trifecta"" of actions like pornography, fantasy, or inappropriate boundaries.

Not sure how to distinguish between harmful habits and addiction in your relationship? Tune in to hear our insights, and let us know if you’ve experienced something similar.

#Addiction #RelationshipAdvice #Infidelity #SexAddiction #BehaviorPatterns #MentalHealth #CopingSkills

📬 Mailbag Question: ""I'm convinced my husband is a sex addict, but he won’t admit it. When I confront him, he denies everything—even things I’ve seen myself. Gaslighting and rage have become the norm. How can I encourage him to open up? I want to work on this because I love him.""

In this episode, we unpack this listener's question about managing a partner’s denial and gaslighting, especially when it involves addiction concerns. We discuss the importance of setting boundaries, effective ways to communicate, and the essential steps to take for your own mental health. Remember, seeking counseling and personal support can be empowering when facing difficult relationship dynamics like these.

Tune in to hear our thoughts, and let us know what advice you would offer in a similar situation.

#Relationships #Addiction #Gaslighting #Boundaries #MentalHealth #RelationshipAdvice #Healing 

Dr. Carnes, who first identified sex addiction, shares...

Whether it's scrolling through our phones or getting lost in a digital world, fubbing can distance us from real connections with family and friends. This experience is common across families today, where parents and children alike may find themselves disconnected due to screen time.

When we think of childhood illnesses, we often think of physical issues like heart disease or cancer. But addiction is affecting children in significant ways, and the evidence is growing. Around the world, researchers are finding that young people are being exposed to multiple addictive influences—gaming, the internet, and explicit content—at an alarming rate.

In this episode of Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships, hosts Wendy Conquest, Dan Drake, and Tim Stein dive deep into the world of psychedelics, specifically psilocybin. We are joined by Dr. Dan Such, a psilocybin facilitator and consultant, who shares his experience working at psilocybin retreat centers and guiding clients through this transformative process.

The conversation touches on the recent decriminalization of psilocybin in Colorado and the potential benefits of psilocybin for trauma healing, personal growth, and other forms of neuroplasticity. Dr. Dan Such explains the differences between microdosing and macro dosing, emphasizing the profound impact larger doses can have on emotional healing and rewiring the brain. This episode provides insight into the therapeutic use of #psychedelics, the potential for healing trauma in new ways, and the importance of careful preparation and integration when considering these treatments.

In this episode of Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships, we dive into the growing popularity of psychedelic retreats, discussing both the potential benefits and critical considerations. Our guest highlights concerns about unethical practices in some retreat centers where clinical oversight is lacking and boundaries may be violated. We explore how to properly vet a retreat center, including speaking with past participants, researching the staff-to-guest ratio, and assessing the center's reputation.

Additionally, we emphasize the importance of doing your own emotional work before embarking on a psychedelic journey, ensuring that the experience complements an ongoing healing process rather than serving as a "quick fix." Stay tuned for the full episode with Dr.Dan Such.

In this episode of Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships, we talk about the growing interest in psychedelic-assisted healing, specifically microdosing and its impact on trauma recovery. Our guest Dr. Dan Such shares their experience working with clients who have microdosed and attended ayahuasca retreats, highlighting the lasting benefits observed in their mental health and emotional well-being.

We explore how psychedelic experiences can help break through old patterns, stabilize emotional gains, and create long-lasting healing, even when conventional treatments reach a plateau. Join us for an enlightening conversation on how alternative treatments like psilocybin and ayahuasca are shaping new pathways for trauma recovery. Stay tuned for the full episode with Dr.Dan Such.