Ever felt like recovery is a mountain that’s just too steep to climb? You’re not alone. In this powerful episode of The Addicted Mind Podcast, host Duane Osterlind tackles the most damaging myths that keep people trapped in cycles of addiction and shame.
Drawing inspiration from Johan Hari’s profound insight that “the opposite of addiction isn’t just sobriety, it’s connection,” Duane explores how recovery isn’t about perfect willpower or never making mistakes – it’s about reconnecting with yourself, your values, and others who support your journey.
Whether you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed by shame, or convinced you’re “too broken” to heal, this episode offers a compassionate roadmap forward. Duane breaks down six harmful myths that create invisible barriers to recovery and provides practical strategies to move beyond them.
You’ll discover why slip-ups aren’t total failures but opportunities for growth, why your addiction doesn’t define your identity, and why the trust you think you’ve permanently lost can actually be rebuilt over time. Most importantly, you’ll learn that healing isn’t linear – it moves in waves, with highs and lows that are all part of the journey.
Through challenging negative thinking patterns, reconnecting with your values, developing healthy coping strategies, and practicing self-compassion, you can rewrite your recovery story. The path isn’t about perfection or living up to others’ expectations; it’s about choosing actions that align with your values each day, even in small steps.
As Duane reminds us, recovery is possible for everyone. Your story is still being written, and it has the potential to unfold in ways you can’t yet imagine. This episode includes a downloadable worksheet to help you identify and rewrite the myths holding you back on your journey to healing and connection.
Key Topics
- The true opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety – it’s connection
- Six harmful myths that create barriers to recovery
- Why perfectionism and shame keep you stuck in addiction
- How your brain is wired to learn from mistakes, not be defined by them
- Practical strategies to challenge negative thinking patterns
- The importance of self-compassion in sustainable recovery
- Ways to rebuild trust with others and yourself over time
Step 4: Timestamp List
00:00 – Introduction and the true meaning of recovery
03:00 – The importance of community in the recovery journey
05:00 – Overview of the six myths that hold people back
07:00 – Myth #1: Recovery means I can never slip up
09:00 – Myth #4: People will never trust me again
11:00 – Myth #5: I’m too broken to change
14:00 – Practical steps to overcome recovery myths
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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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