The Addicted Mind Podcast

Worksheet: Drawing Your Lines Boundaries Imagine living in a house with no walls, no doors, and no fences. Anyone could walk in at any time—tracking mud on your carpet, eating your food, or sleeping on your couch without asking. You'd feel exposed, anxious, and exhausted. For many people in recovery, this is exactly how they treat their emotional lives. They leave doors wide open, letting people walk all over their time, energy, and peace of mind because they don't know how to build fences. Download The Worksheet In this episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, hosts Duane Osterlind and Eric Osterlind tackle one of the most critical skills for protecting your recovery: setting healthy boundaries. If you've ever felt that knot in your stomach when someone asks for something you don't want to give—your time, your money, your emotional energy—and heard yourself saying "yes" anyway, this episode is for you. The painful truth is that when we don't set boundaries, we accumulate resentment. And as the saying goes in recovery rooms everywhere, "resentment is the number one offender." It leads directly to stress, emotional chaos, and eventually relapse. If you can't protect your space, you can't protect your sobriety. But why is saying "no" so terrifying, especially in early recovery? Duane and Eric explore the deep fears behind our inability to set limits—the fear of rejection, abandonment, and disappointing others. For many of us, especially those with childhood trauma, we learned early on that we had to perform for our caretakers to receive love. Setting boundaries felt dangerous then, and it still feels dangerous now. Using insights from the evidence-based Seeking Safety Model, developed specifically for people dealing with both trauma and addiction, the hosts break down what healthy boundaries actually look like. They're not rigid walls that shut everyone out—they're more like gates or fences. You get to decide who comes in and who stays out. You get to teach people how to treat you. The episode covers three essential types of boundaries: physical boundaries (your personal space and body), emotional boundaries (protecting your feelings and not taking responsibility for others' emotions), and time/energy boundaries (protecting your schedule and preventing burnout). As Brené Brown famously said, "Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves even when we risk disappointing others." But knowing you need boundaries and actually setting them are two different things. Duane and Eric provide a simple but powerful formula for expressing your needs without starting a fight. Using "I statements," you can communicate clearly: "I feel [emotion] when you [specific behavior], and I need [specific request or limit]." Instead of attacking someone by saying, "You're so annoying, stop talking about my past," you might say, "I feel uncomfortable and triggered when you bring up my past substance use in casual conversation. I need us to agree that we won't talk about this unless I bring it up first." The key mindset shift? You're not controlling the other person—you're protecting yourself. A boundary isn't about forcing someone to stop their behavior; it's about what you will do if they cross your line. If a friend pushes you to have "just one drink," your boundary might mean saying, "I think it's time for me to leave." This episode comes with a free downloadable worksheet that breaks down the "I statement" formula and gives you space to script out your boundaries before you have to say them out loud. Because as Duane reminds us, when we don't make our boundaries clear ahead of time, our feelings get in the way—guilt, fear, and shame can make our boundaries collapse. Remember: good fences make good neighbors, and great boundaries make for solid recovery.The danger of no boundaries: How leaving your emotional life wide open leads to resentment, stress, and relapseWhy saying "no" feels terrifying: Understanding our deep fears of rejection, abandonment, and disappointing othersThree types of essential boundaries: Physical, emotional, and time/energy boundaries that protect your recoveryThe "I statement" formula: A simple but powerful tool for expressing boundaries without attacking othersBoundaries vs. walls: Learning the difference between healthy gates that let the right people in and rigid barriers that isolate youProtecting yourself, not controlling others: Understanding that boundaries are about what YOU will do, not forcing others to changeSelf-respect as a recovery skill: Why setting boundaries is actually an act of self-love, not selfishnessTimestamp [00:00:40] - The house with no walls: Why living without boundaries leaves you exposed and exhausted [00:03:00] - That knot in your stomach: Recognizing when you're saying "yes" but feeling resentful [00:04:30] - Why boundaries protect sobriety: How resentment becomes the number one offender leading to relapse [00:06:00] - The three types of boundaries: Physical, emotional, and time/energy protection explained [00:09:00] - The practical formula: Learning the "I feel/when you/I need" boundary-setting statement [00:12:30] - The crucial mindset shift: Understanding you're protecting yourself, not controlling others [00:14:00] - Your two-step action plan: Identifying where you need boundaries and scripting your "I statements" 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, Duane Osterlind sits down with Swami Revati, a Hindu monk with over 15 years of monastic experience. Together, they explore the intersection of Eastern spirituality, modern psychology, and the human search for lasting fulfillment. Swami Revati shares his journey from a multicultural upbringing to finding his spiritual mentor, offering a refreshing perspective on how Hinduism serves as a "science of the self." The conversation delves into the importance of proactive living, the role of divine grace, and how to cultivate an internal source of happiness that remains stable regardless of external circumstances. Swami Revati clarifies that Hinduism is not just a cultural identity or a polytheistic religion of competing gods. Instead, it is a diverse representation of one divine source. It functions as a marriage between philosophy and theology, focusing on two main steps:Self-Knowledge: Understanding who you are in full depth.Divine Connection: Understanding your source and building a relationship with it. The Power of Proactive Living Most people live by "reciprocal love"—waiting for others to be kind or respectful before responding in kind. Swami Revati argues for proactive living:Decide who you want to be based on characteristics (humility, respect, love) rather than roles (job title, family status).Maintain those characteristics even when the environment doesn't reward them.Stability comes from mastering your inner world irrespective of external chaos. The Mind as Friend or FoeThe Goal: To make the mind your "best of friends" through discipline.The Method: Sadhana (spiritual practice). This involves "negation"—the practice of saying no to impulses in small ways to build the "muscle" for larger life challenges.Redefining Happiness vs. PleasureSensory Pleasure: Temporary, circumstantial, and often tied to addictive cycles (e.g., food, social media).True Happiness: An internal, stable state discovered by tapping into the "spark of divinity" within the soul. 5. The Anatomy of "Evil" Swami Revati breaks down negative behaviors not as an entity, but as a byproduct of three factors:Anger: Uncontrolled emotional lashing.Desire: Selfish, short-term pleasure-seeking.Ego: Selfishness and lack of service to something greater. Memorable Quotes "For one who has the mind under control, it is the best of friends; for one who doesn't, it is the worst of enemies." — Swami Revati (referencing the Bhagavad Gita) "If happiness is reduced to just eating some fries and drinking a milkshake... that is momentary sensory pleasure. It has a lot to do with addictive cycles." "Nobody can help someone that doesn't want to help themselves... you must have the belief that it can change." Resources Thinking Bhakti Podcast: Hosted by Swami Revati.YouTube Channel The Bhagavad Gita: A foundational text 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 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode of the Addicted Minds podcast features a critical discussion on the escalating crisis of teen addiction and mental health, highlighting the vital work of the Free Mind Campaign. Host Duane Osterlind speaks with Jasmine Kenney from the CDC's Division of Overdose Prevention and Dr. Meena Mirhom from Athletes for Hope, who detail the necessity of addressing substance misuse among young people aged 12 to 17. The guests explain that mental health struggles—fueled by social pressures, bullying, and social media—often lead teens to self-medicate with increasingly potent and accessible substances, including highly concentrated cannabis, illegal vapes, and fentanyl-laced drugs. The conversation stresses the need for non-judgmental support from trusted adults and peers to break the cycle of shame and isolation. The guests showcase the innovative approaches used by the Free Mind Campaign and Athletes for Hope to reach youth. Jasmine Kenney outlines the CDC's mobile-friendly resources for parents, like conversation cards and an interactive graphic novel for teens, designed to facilitate dialogue and education. Dr. Mirhom explains how partnering with celebrity athletes provides powerful role models who use their platforms to talk openly about mental health and healthy coping strategies, demonstrating to young people that "it's okay to not be okay" and that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Ultimately, the discussion emphasizes that hope and effective mental health treatment are available to help youth navigate these challenges and build a supportive ecosystem across their communities. Key Discussion PointsThe Problem: Addiction and overdose deaths are at an epidemic level among young people.Real-World Impact: Dr. Mirhom shares firsthand accounts of seeing individuals struggling with substance use in communities near where they were holding discussions with middle schoolers, highlighting that this is not an abstract issue for teens.Accessibility: Substances, some similar in compound to heroin, are readily accessible—sometimes even at local delis—to young people, with some as young as 11 being asked to carry drugs.🧠 The Free Mind Campaign (CDC)Objective: The campaign addresses substance use and mental health issues among teens aged 12 to 17.Strategy: Provide non-judgmental resources to facilitate conversations:Teens talking to parents/caregivers.Parents/caregivers talking to teens.Teens talking to friends/peers.Core Issue: Research found that mental health is a major underlying issue, with teens often turning to drugs to cope with pressures from social media, bullying, and mental health struggles.Resources for Parents/Caregivers:Conversation starters for parents.A mobile-friendly card game to guide discussions (starting with mental health, moving to substance use, and ending with open-ended questions).Fact sheets to ensure parents are knowledgeable.🤝 Partnering with Athletes for HopeThe Power of Role Models: Dr. Mirhom emphasizes the profound impact of having star athletes and Olympians share their stories. Hearing from an admired figure about the importance of "keeping my mind free" resonates more strongly with teens than simply being told drugs are bad.Modeling Coping Skills: Athletes demonstrate healthy coping mechanisms, encouraging youth to adopt those strategies rather than self-medication.Support Ecosystem: The campaign aims to create a supportive environment involving peers, parents, and coaches. Athletes for Hope is developing resources for coaches on how to talk about these issues, recognizing that coaches are often the first trusted adult a young person turns to.🧪 Substance Use Trends and ConcernsHighly Potent Substances: Fentanyl, even in micro-amounts, can be deadly and is often laced in other substances.Cannabis Use: Cannabis Use Disorder is increasingly the number one misused substance over alcohol among young people.Concerns include the high potency and risks of psychosis, increased anxiety, and depression.Studies suggest chronic use may lower IQ in developing brains.Vaping and New Trends: The market is flooded with illegal vapes specifically marketed toward teens (looking like video games, flavored like bubble gum). There's also a rise of addictive substances that appear to be harmless, referred to as "gas station heroin."💡 The Messaging and HopeNon-Judgmental Approach: The conversation starts by acknowledging the pain that leads to substance use ("there's a wound that's being addressed") and validating the teen's experience, making the adult an ally.Treatment Works: Dr. Mirhom stressed the importance of knowing that mental health treatment is very effective and that hope is concrete and available.Key Takeaway for Teens/Parents:Jasmine Kenney: "It's okay to not be okay. Reach out. There's support out there."Dr. Meena Mirhom: "Treatment can help you get there... hope is here for you. This is not a burden you've got to carry by yourself."🔗 Resources CDC Free Mind Campaign Resources:cdc.gov/freemindFree Mind Campaign: cdc.gov/freemind (Resources include the card game, graphic novel, fact sheets for parents and teens).Athletes for Hope: https://www.athletesforhope.org/ (Information on athlete well-being, mental health resources, and ways to get involved in sports and philanthropy). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Download: MICRO WINS WORKSHEET 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. Key TopicsThe significance of micro wins in recoveryHow small victories boost motivation and resiliencePractical examples of celebrating micro winsThe impact of savoring positive experiencesStrategies for incorporating micro wins into daily lifeKey Moments[00:01:05] - Introduction to micro wins and their importance[00:02:24] - Discussion on the nihilistic mindset and its impact on recovery[00:03:00] - The role of small victories in building momentum[00:04:00] - Research findings on savoring and its benefits[00:06:55] - Practical examples of micro wins in fitness and personal development[00:09:23] - Strategies for recognizing and celebrating micro wins[00:14:00] - Encouragement to start celebrating micro wins and available resources 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, host Duane Osterlind speaks with Jaime W. Vinck MC, LPC, President of Meadows Behavioral Health and a Licensed Professional Counselor with 20 years of experience in the treatment industry. They discuss her book, The Rehab Playbook, which aims to demystify the rehabilitation process and encourage more people to seek help for addiction and mental health challenges. 📖 Why the Book Was Written Jaime was inspired to write The Rehab Playbook during COVID-19, driven by the dedication of treatment staff and the desire to diminish suffering. The book’s core mission is to pull back the curtain on rehab, showing the process from the inside out to help people overcome the fear and stigma associated with seeking treatment.The Gap in Care: Statistically, only one out of ten people who need treatment get it, and it takes the average person 10 years to pick up the "thousand-pound phone" and seek help.Addressing Fear: The book explains the logistics of rehab—from what to bring, the luggage search process, and the healthy use of electronics—to address common reasons people drop out in the first few days due to unexpected rules or procedures.The Why: All rules and processes are explained as being for the patient's own safety and to ensure their treatment success. The Fear and Stigma of Seeking HelpStigma and Labeling: Despite COVID-19 somewhat reducing the stigma, people are still afraid of being labeled, losing their jobs, or being judged by friends and family.Media Misrepresentation: Media portrayals of rehab (like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or 28 Days) often create an inaccurate and fear-inducing image of the environment.The "No Judgment Zone": In quality treatment centers, the culture is one of carefrontation, not confrontation, where shame and guilt are replaced by trust and normalization. Most staff members have personal experience with addiction or recovery, fostering a deeply empathetic environment. The Cornerstone of HealingStructured Schedule: Days are packed with movement (gym, pickleball, pool), group work, and lectures, starting with early-morning gratitude.Primary Process Group: This is considered the cornerstone of deep addiction treatment. It involves a small group of 6-8 people with a primary therapist where patients share their life story/timeline.Corrective Experience: Group work helps repair early childhood trauma where vulnerability may have been dangerous. Hearing others share their stories reveals more similarities than differences, breaking down isolation and teaching healthy empathy.Experiential Therapies: Modalities like equine psychotherapy (working with horses), ropes courses, and art therapy help patients get their bodies moving and discover they can experience joy and connection while sober.Trauma Work: Treatment includes one-on-one trauma assessments and evidence-based modalities, along with resources like a Brain Center for neurofeedback and neuromodulation. Major Barriers to Treatment:Lack of Awareness of Resources: Many people incorrectly believe rehab is only for the wealthy and are unaware their insurance (like Blue Cross Blue Shield) or employee assistance programs (EAPs) can cover treatment based on medical necessity.Time Off Work: Individuals often don't realize they can take time off through the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or short-term disability. Jaime's final advice for anyone considering seeking help: "You deserve to live a life that's happy, joyous, and free. People get better every day, so don't give up the hope." 🔗 ResourcesBook: The Rehab PlaybookWebsite: www.therehabplaybook.com www.therehabplaybook.com www.naatp.com www.meadowsbh.com 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 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.