On Sex, Love, and Addiction, Dr. Rob Weiss, sex therapist and author of a dozen books on sex and relationship healing, interviews global experts like Dr’s. Sue Johnson, Harville Hendrix, Dr. Stan Tatkin, and Helen Fisher, Dr. Kenneth Adams among others. This podcast features robust discussions focused on healing from chronic infidelity, cheating, porn, and sex addiction, along with the pain of relationship betrayal. Dr. Rob is Chief Clinical Officer for Seeking integrity Treatment Centers. He is a 30-year licensed therapist, a Ph.D. sexologist, and author Sex Addiction 101, Prodependence, and Out of the Doghouse, among other books. This podcast is dedicated to bringing information, advice, and direction from experts around the world to those seeking answers to some of life’s most challenging questions.
https://taminp.podbean.com
Addiction: Nature or Nurture? with Dr. Evelyn Higgins
Dr. Evelyn Higgins is the Founder and CEO of Wired for Addiction. She is a recognized expert in addiction and has 25 years of clinical practice as well as dedicated over 16 years of research and development in the science of addiction recovery. In this week’s episode, Dr. Higgins talks the environment vs. genes and how it shows up in addiction, explores the idea of an ‘addiction cure’, and so much more on this week’s episode.
TAKEAWAYS:
[2:00] A little bit about Dr. Higgins.
[4:20] What is considered an addiction?
[6:35] No one sets out to becoming an addict.
[6:55] Our environment has a big impact on us…but our genetics also play a part.
[7:45] Are we biologically/genetically wired to become addicts?
[11:40] Why can’t you cure addiction?
[16:50] You can make healthy choices! The first step is understanding your stressors.
[20:45] Dr. Weiss has seen people in recovery who still keep struggling. They’re ‘white knuckling’ it.
[26:40] Unfortunately, what might work for one person, might not work for another.
[27:20] How do we teach the public to better understand addiction?
[34:40] The medical community is very subjective because it’s based on vocabulary (what the patient says) instead of blood tests and body chemistry results.
[36:25] There’s still quite a bit of inequity in the medical field, but there are small steps forward happening.
[39:35] What are the next steps for someone who wants to stay sober?
RESOURCES:
Sex and Relationship Healing
@RobWeissMSW
Sex Addiction 101
Seeking Integrity
Cruise Control: Understanding Sex Addiction in Gay Men
Prodependence: Moving Beyond Codependency
Out of the Doghouse by Robert Weiss
DoctorHiggins.com
QUOTES:
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“The stigma is that this is actually a mental health disease and no one sets out to ruin their life and have all these other reactions from society.”
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“We all strive to make our lives easier.”
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“We now know we can change the expression of genes. That’s so powerful. We can make changes in someone’s life.”
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“No one [in congress] wanted their names on these bills because of the stigma around mental health.”