Episode 261: Dr. Daniel Hochman | Self Recovery

Our guest for this episode has built a unique online addiction treatment program that features many modalities because – as we know – recovery isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition. Dr. Daniel Hochman, a psychiatrist and founder of SelfRecovery.org, shares a platform that weaves together science, behavioral change and self-knowledge to sustain not only sobriety, but a multi-dimensional journey through the rest of life.

Our conversation deconstructs both the “what” of addiction and the arguably more important “why” that drives so many of us to seek relief from things beyond our own understanding. Dr. Hochman and I also take a look at the many ways treatment options have opened up in recent years. The impacts of trauma informed care, availability of effective medicines, and a more nuanced understanding of neurobiology are just a few of the developments that have extended the reach and efficacy of addiction treatment. The pandemic-inspired growth of online support has also been a game-changer for the recovery community, extending meaningful conversations beyond geographic boundaries.

Dr. Hochman’s Self Recovery.org combines his years of expertise with an approach designed to meet people where they are. Learn about the tools, exercises, classes and online community forum that his framework offers in a private, flexible way. The level of self-accountability and agency you create may initially be about sobriety, but Self Recovery’s core mission is holistic – to provide the tools that enable not only ongoing recovery, but also a rich, vibrant, connected and rewarding life beyond.

Key Takeaways

* Why do we do things that are bad for us? Dr. Hochman’s curiosity about this drove his initial interest in psychiatry.

* Dr. Hochman distinguishes between the “what” definition of addiction (repeating behaviors that are not good for us) and the “why,” shifting the prism to understand it as a learned psychological behavior designed to escape intolerable distress.

* The Science of Addiction: Is it neurological or psychological? A physiological problem or a response to trauma? The answer is: It’s not binary so much as a complex web of simultaneous processes and interactions layered atop one another.

* Defining Recovery: A process of changing the way we relate to the objects of our addiction (alcohol or any other substance/activity) and how we relate to the idea of pleasure.

* Addiction is a means of both escape and pleasure. It’s important to transfer thoughts away from escape, but equally so to find sources of authentic, sustained pleasure.

* When it comes to pleasure, think long-term. Those that involve a process (a hobby or avocation) net better results over time than short-term, quick-hit alternatives (a candy bar or purchase).

* A look at the recovery field overall.

* More understanding of connections between adversity and addiction in a variety of circumstances.

* A softening of definitions around God and spirituality in the context of recovery.

* More variety and sophistication in the deployment of medications.

* Game-changing access to information, tools and forums to seek help beyond AA.

* Pandemic-inspired online forums that extend the recovery community beyond conventional boundaries.

* A Word of Warning about Outcomes and Other Recovery Stats: Dr. Hochman advises caution with white papers and purported studies whose margins of error and methodology are not scientifically rigorous.

* Dr. Hochman’s practice and focus are driven by a desire to make recovery replicable, methodical and widely available.

* Self Recovery offers all the most effective psychological strategies woven together seamlessly,