Tools for Overcoming Substance & Behavioral Addictions | Ryan Soave
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My guest is Ryan Soave, LMHC, a leading expert in addiction recovery with extensive experience helping people heal from all types of substance and behavioral dependencies. We discuss actionable tools for breaking out of the addictive cycle and staying free of obsessions and compulsions. We also examine the relationship between trauma and addiction.
We explore the full recovery process—from detoxing and physical stabilization to building distress tolerance. We review evidence-supported tools to structure your life at each stage of recovery and highlight the power of learning “self-directed state shifting” through yoga nidra (NSDR), breathwork, meditation and prayer.
We explain how to recognize signs of addiction in yourself and others, and the treatment options available across all levels of resources, from residential programs to 12-step. If you or someone you know is struggling with any kind of addiction, this episode offers practical steps to break free and stay free.
Articles
- A midline thalamic circuit determines reactions to visual threat (Nature)
- Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12‐step programs for alcohol use disorder (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews)
- Gambling as a precipitating factor in deaths by suicide in the National Violent Death Reporting System (Public Health)
- Increased dopamine tone during meditation-induced change of consciousness (Brain Research Cognitive Brain Research)
- Intense sweetness surpasses cocaine reward (PLoS One)
Books
- Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence
- Dry: A Memoir
- The Disease Concept of Alcoholism
- The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self
Other Resources
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
- Gamblers Anonymous
- Narcotics Anonymous
- Marijuana Anonymous
- Cocaine Anonymous
- Food Addicts Anonymous
- Sexaholics Anonymous (SA)
- Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- SMART Recovery
- Refuge Recovery
- Al-Anon Family Groups
- Co-Dependents Anonymous
- Families Anonymous
- Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families
- Jellinek curve
Huberman Lab Episodes Mentioned
- How to Find & Be a Great Romantic Partner | Lori Gottlieb
- What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health
- Dr. Nolan Williams: Psychedelics & Neurostimulation for Brain Rewiring
People Mentioned
- Bob Smith & Bill Wilson: founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
- William Silkworth: physician, alcoholism treatment specialist, AA founder
- Saint Augustine: Christian bishop, theologian
- Hans Selye: Austrian-Canadian endocrinologist, founder of stress theory
- Victor Frankl: Austrian neurologist and psychologist, Holocaust survivor
- Josh Waitzkin: American chess player, martial arts champion
- Willie Mays: American baseball player
- Francine Shapiro: psychologist, developer of EMDR
- Nolan Williams: professor of psychiatry, Stanford University
About this Guest
Ryan Soave
Huberman Lab Essentials are short episodes focused on essential science and protocol takeaways from past full-length Huberman Lab episodes.
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