The Addicted Mind Podcast

Imagine finding your true calling amidst the chaos of addiction recovery. That’s exactly what happened to Patrick Holbert, a former TV producer who took a leap of faith and became a stand-up comedian. In this episode, Patrick shares his incredible journey of overcoming addiction and how joining a 12-step program and the Artist's Way workshop led him to pursue his passion for comedy. We explore how his acclaimed show "Punchline Drunk" uses humor and personal storytelling to educate college students about alcohol abuse, and how fatherhood has added a new emotional layer to his performances.

Patrick opens up about the complexities of filling the void left by addiction with work and external validation, and the burnout that often follows. He candidly discusses the pivotal moment of joining an Artist's Way group, which helped him dive deeper into self-discovery and community support, ultimately highlighting the need for holistic recovery. We also touch on the courage it takes to seek meaningful change and the setbacks that can occur when old habits resurface, emphasizing the importance of addressing inner needs for true fulfillment in sobriety.

In this episode, you will hear:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9W_bKp4qEw

www.youtube.com/patmiscellaneous

Instagram: @theholbertreport 

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to the Addicted Mind podcast! Have you ever caught yourself thinking, "I'm either a success or a complete failure"? This episode is for you.

In this episode, we dive deep into the pervasive issue of black-and-white thinking, also known as dichotomous thinking and its impact on addiction recovery. Join Duane Osterlind and Eric Osterlind as they explore how this rigid mindset can create emotional instability and hinder progress. Drawing on principles from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), they discuss practical steps to move from extreme thinking to a more balanced, nuanced approach. You'll learn mindfulness techniques, how to challenge your thoughts, and the importance of embracing the gray areas in life. By the end of this episode, you'll have valuable tools to help you think more dialectically and support your journey to recovery. Plus, don't miss the downloadable worksheet in the show notes to further your practice!

Download: OVERCOMING BLACK OR WHITE THINKING WORKSHEET

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Supporting Resources:

If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center

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How do you manage the weight of expectation and the emotional toll of personal loss while thriving in the high-stakes world of professional football? Join us Duane as he sits down with Chris Hubbard, a celebrated NFL player and a fervent mental health advocate. From his roots in Columbus, Georgia, to the peaks and valleys of his collegiate career at UAB, Chris sheds light on the trials of being a first-generation college student and the seismic impact of losing his grandfather at the tender age of 19. His candid recounting of emotional struggles, his mother’s unwavering support, and the transformative decision to seek therapy at 25 are truly inspiring, leading to the creation of his mental health initiative, the Overcoming Together Foundation.

Discover the intense pressures that come with NFL draft day and the valuable lessons Chris gleaned from illustrious teammates like Troy Polamalu and Ben Roethlisberger during his early years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also delves into how losing touch with his core beliefs led to feelings of being lost and how therapy helped him confront deep-seated traumas, including the devastating loss of a friend to suicide. 

Chris also emphasizes the power of expressing emotions openly, breaking the societal mold of stoicism, and surrounding oneself with positive influences. Through his foundation, Overcoming Together, Chris is committed to fostering community support, spreading mental health awareness, and providing safe spaces for open dialogue, demonstrating that vulnerability is a strength and mental health support is transformative. 

In this episode, you will hear:

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We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

https://www.nfl.com/players/chris-hubbard/

NovusMindfulLife.com

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, Duane and Eric dive deep into the unspoken roles that families often fall into, especially when dealing with addiction. They explore how these roles—like the hero, caretaker, scapegoat, mascot, and lost child—can perpetuate dysfunction and hinder recovery. By understanding and identifying these roles, you can begin to break free from the cycles that keep you stuck. Tune in to learn practical steps for recognizing these dynamics, fostering open communication, and setting boundaries that support your journey toward recovery and authentic living.

Download: UNMASKING FAMILY ROLES WORKSHEET

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Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center

NovusMindfulLife.com

We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind

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Can you imagine a life where alcohol isn’t the centerpiece of your social interactions? In this episode, Duane sits down with Veronica Valli, a recovery coach and psychotherapist, who challenges the deeply ingrained belief that a fulfilling life must include alcohol. She reveals the initial shock and eventual liberation that comes from meeting people who thrive without it. Having been alcohol-free for over 24 years, Veronica shares her deeply personal story. 

What began as binge drinking and drug experimentation in her teenage years in the UK led to severe consequences and a struggle for self-acceptance. Her tale is a testament to the power of emotional sobriety, which she considers the cornerstone of true recovery. Through candid anecdotes, she discusses the role of fear in maintaining alcohol dependence and how sobriety transforms one's perception of joy and connection. Veronica emphasizes the importance of managing emotions without alcohol and discovering the surprising joys of being fully present in life's moments.

This episode explores the rollercoaster of early sobriety and the necessity of a supportive community and the right tools to navigate this phase successfully. Veronica introduces her five pillars of sobriety – movement, connection, balance, process, and growth – as key components for maintaining and enriching a sober life. Duane and Veronica also cover addressing past trauma and shifting ingrained perceptions about alcohol. Veronica's journey is one of profound gratitude and clarity, offering hope and inspiration to anyone considering the path of sobriety.

In this episode, you will hear:

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

https://soberful.com/

NovusMindfulLife.com

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 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.

Download: INTRINSIC VS. EXTRINSIC GOALS

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What happens when the traditional 12-step recovery program doesn’t quite fit your belief system? Licensed marriage and family therapist Jeffrey Munn joins Duane to share his deeply personal journey through addiction and recovery, which led him to author "Staying Sober Without God: The Practical 12 Steps to Long-Term Recovery from Alcoholism and Addiction." Jeffrey opens up about his battles with isolation and internal turmoil and highlights the crucial support from his parents that helped him navigate this challenging path. His story underscores the necessity of individualized recovery approaches and shines a light on the often-overlooked needs of atheists and agnostics in recovery.

Jeffrey discusses the integration of traditional 12-step programs with personalized mental health approaches, emphasizing the importance of addressing trauma, unresolved grief, and boundary-setting. He candidly recounts his own experience with the pressure to adopt a belief in a higher power within 12-step meetings and how this led to a temporary setback. Through his narrative, you'll learn about the significance of merging the wisdom of 12-step programs with modern psychological insights to create a more rational and personalized recovery journey. They also delve into the specifics of how inpatient rehab focusing on mental health practices played a pivotal role in his recovery.

The conversation takes a deeper turn as they examine the challenges and benefits of faith-based recovery for those who struggle with blind faith. Jeffrey provides a logical and practical perspective on the concept of "letting go and letting God," drawing parallels to principles in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). 

In this episode, you will hear:

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

https://www.practicallysane.org/

Staying Sober Without God: https://www.amazon.com/Staying-Sober-Without-God-Alcoholism-ebook/dp/B07MBVCS29 

NovusMindfulLife.com

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Addicted Mind podcast, Eric and Duane dive deep into the often-overlooked topic of perfectionism and its profound impact on recovery journeys. They explore different dimensions of perfectionism, from self-imposed standards to societal expectations, revealing how these can lead to self-criticism and hinder progress. Through personal anecdotes and expert insights, they offer practical strategies for overcoming perfectionism, such as mindfulness, self-compassion, and seeking professional support. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who has felt the weight of unattainable standards and seeks a path to greater peace and acceptance in their recovery.

Download: OVERCOMING PERFECTIONISM WORKSHEET

Join Our Deep Dive, where we discuss this episode in depth.

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We have a fantastic guest today. Dr. Tracy Zemansky is here to speak about the fascinating topic of psychological assessment, and how it can help you or your client on a journey of healing. What is a psychological assessment? It’s not what we typically see in the movies. It is a way of evaluating a particular part of an individual and trying to understand it more. To get as much information as possible psychological tests, interviews, questionnaires, behavioral observations, and sometimes collateral interviews, which are interviews with people who know the individual well, are used. 

Tracy explains how this process is like being a detective looking into someone’s personality. Searching with the client, and possibly their therapist, at any concerns that may be getting in the way of their goals. We give the example of a client who is stuck and may not be able to gain long-term sobriety, or they may not be able to form the long-term relationships they want. Going through the process of psychological assessment may help to find more details that can be helpful. 

The tests Tracy uses differ significantly from client to client. A psychological assessment for a client who is working on their relationship difficulties would look very different from a client who is, for instance, struggling with alcohol addiction. Each assessment is created for the individual client. These tests can be anything from true or false or multiple choice questions which are scored by mathematical algorithms, to Rorschach-style inkblot tests to observe how the client reacts to the unknown, and it is also scored in a particular way. How the client interacts in the room during the test is helpful as well. 

The results of these tests, the behavior of the client during testing, and what they and their therapist say are all used to getting a broad and revealing picture for the assessment. Psychological testing cannot predict the future and cannot tell us what caused our pasts. But testing can help us make links which can be useful in therapy. Setting concrete goals and asking questions that can be answered is essential. Going through a psychological assessment and getting this level of detail can help you set out a roadmap to pursue the life you want in recovery. It can speed up the therapeutic process by pointing out the roadblocks that have been in your way. Resources: 

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We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

http://www.drtracyzemansky.com/ 

NovusMindfulLife.com

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, Duane and Eric Osterlind dive into the importance of celebrating micro wins in the journey of recovery. They discuss how small victories, often overlooked, play a crucial role in maintaining motivation and building resilience. By focusing on these tiny achievements, you can create a positive mindset that fuels your progress toward larger goals. Whether it's putting on your shoes for a walk or writing a single sentence in your journal, these micro wins can significantly boost your emotional well-being and keep you moving forward. Tune in to learn practical tips and hear inspiring insights on how to make the most of your daily successes.

Download: MICRO WINS WORKSHEET

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Follow and Review: We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center

NovusMindfulLife.com

We want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmind

Disclaimer

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.