254: REPLAY: Neurosurgery and Poetry with Paul Kaloostian

Why is addiction so hard to control? Does that mean addiction can’t be treated? On today’s episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, Duane talks to Dr. Paul Kaloostian. 

Dr. Paul Kaloostian is a neurosurgeon in Los Angeles as well as an author. His books include The Young Neurosurgeon: Lessons from My Patients and two different poetry books, From The Eyes Of A Doctor and My Surgical Cases Told In Poems.

As a neurosurgeon for 17 years now, Dr. Kaloostian has dealt with thousands of cases of people with neurological conditions. Seeing the need for awareness of mental health, he took a poetic approach to his books to make it easier for the world to understand what it’s like for patients who are going through neurological conditions, some of which are caused or aggravated by addiction. 

On today's episode, he talks about the brain, his patients, and why we do some of the things we do even when we don't necessarily want to do them. 

No one wants to be addicted. But the brain is such a powerful organ that what our brains decide to do is what we do. We don't really have that much control. That’s why addiction is a hard problem to fight and beat. The brain is a powerful organ so once it gets stimulated, it's difficult to change. It takes work and energy – but it's not impossible. 

Because of Paul's compassion for his clients and his appreciation for the vulnerability of his clients to come and seek help, this is an episode you need to listen to. While you may not fully understand what people with neurological conditions are going through until you’ve gone through the same experience, having the ability to understand these concepts today is a good way to start to develop empathy.

In this episode, you will hear:

What drew Paul to neurosurgery

Why he took a medical poetic approach in writing his books

The need to show empathy to these patients

How the brain is linked to addiction

Areas of the brain responsible for addiction

Why addiction is a pathological condition

Why addiction is so hard to control

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Supporting Resources:

The Young Neurosurgeon: Lessons from My Patients 

From The Eyes Of A Doctor

My Surgical Cases Told In Poems

Episode Credits

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