Mindfulness
13 episodes tagged "Mindfulness".
The Surprising Way to Improve Your Relationships
🧠 Want to stop sabotaging your relationships? It starts with mindfulness. Jon Kabat-Zinn’s MBSR program helps reduce impulsivity and rewire emotional responses. Combine that with Gary Chapman’s 5 Love Languages and the Enneagram, and you’ve got a roadmap to secure attachment, emotional growth, and better communication. 💡 Learn your triggers. Heal your patterns. Become a better partner, friend, and human. 👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more raw truth on faith, psychology, and personal growth. 🔗 Watch more transformative insights here:
Writing About Trauma Actually Heals Your Body
"The Science of Journaling: Why It’s a Sobriety Superpower" Psychology doesn’t just suggest journaling—it practically begs for it. A classic study by Dr. James Pennebaker showed that writing about your traumas for just 15 minutes a day can improve mental health, reduce stress, and even boost your immune system. That’s the mind-body connection in action—when your mental health improves, your physical health follows. Fast-forward to 2025, and the research still holds strong. A Psychology Today piece this year found that journaling improves mood, lowers stress, and ramps up self-awareness—even in stressed-out college students. So if it works for them, imagine what it can do for you in recovery. The takeaway? Your pen might just be your most underrated sobriety tool.
Cheap Therapy That Actually Works!
"Journaling: The $0 Therapy That Could Save Your Sobriety" Journaling is cheap therapy that works—or keep bottling it up and see how that ends for you. If you write like nobody’s reading it (because they aren’t, except your future sober self), you’ll find a powerful connection with yourself. Writing is a lost art, but it’s also one of the most effective recovery tools you can use—no blueprint, no rules, just you and the page. God uses people in our lives, but He also gave us a way to untangle the chaos in our heads. Your brain can be a scary place—dark, lonely, even dangerous sometimes. Ten minutes a day of journaling can reduce stress, boost self-awareness, strengthen sobriety, and sharpen emotional regulation. The Big Book and science both back it up: this is work, not magic. Skip it, and your brain stays a mess. Do it daily, and you start taking real control.
Why Your Brain Craves This Like Candy
"Journaling: The Recovery Tool You’re Probably Avoiding" By the end of this episode, you’ll know why your brain needs journaling like a junkie needs a fix—yes, the good kind. We’ll break down the science behind why this unglamorous habit works, especially in sobriety, and how to do it without feeling like a total loser. Ignoring your inner chaos is like ignoring a leaking gas pipe—it’s not “maybe” going to blow, it’s definitely going to blow. I used to think mindfulness, meditation, journaling—basically all that “positive thinking” stuff—was a bunch of crap. Spoiler: I was wrong. Dead wrong. If you’ve been dodging the pen and paper, this might just be the wake-up call you need.
Imposter Syndrome: Why Your Brain Thinks You’re a Fraud | Episode 42
Hey, you beautiful chaos machines! It’s Michael, your Sober Psychology host, diving headfirst into the messy, mind-bending world of imposter syndrome. Ever feel like you’re faking it—at work, in recovery, or just in life? Yeah, that’s your brain pulling a prank, and we’re here to call it out. With insights from the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book and hard-hitting psychological research, I’m breaking down why you feel like a fraud, how to shut that voice up, and why you’re already killing it (even if you don’t believe it). Packed with real talk, practical tips, and a few laughs to keep it light, this episode is for anyone who’s ever doubted themselves. Hit that like button, subscribe, and share with someone who needs a reminder they’re a freaking legend. New episodes drop weekly on YouTube and Spotify—let’s keep the recovery real! References: - Alcoholics Anonymous. (2001). Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism (4th ed.). Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. - Baumeister, R. F., et al. (2008). Bad is stronger than good. Psychological Review, 108(4), 379-394. - Bravata, D. M., et al. (2019). The power of verbalizing imposter feelings: A randomized controlled trial. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 45(7), 1032-1045. - Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (2011). The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Journal of Behavioral Science, 15(3), 241-247. - Cokley, K., et al. (2020). The roles of cognitive distortions and imposter phenomenon in academic settings. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 44(2), 301-312. - Kelly, J. F., et al. (2017). Social identity and recovery: The role of belonging in 12-step groups. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 80, 12-19. - McGrath, R. E., et al. (2018). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for imposter syndrome: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(9), 1456-1469. - Neff, K. D., et al. (2021). Self-compassion and imposter syndrome: A pathway to psychological resilience. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 658. - Smith, M. M., et al. (2022). Perfectionism and imposter syndrome: The role of “good enough” mindsets. Journal of Personality, 90(3), 421-435. - Stoeber, J., & Otto, K. (2016). Positive conceptions of perfectionism: Approaches, evidence, challenges. Personality and Individual Differences, 99, 234-240. - Vogel, E. A., et al. (2019). Social comparison and self-esteem on social media: A meta-analysis. Computers in Human Behavior, 98, 168-175. - Wei, M., et al. (2020). Journaling as a tool to combat imposter syndrome: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 67(4), 456-467.
Relapse Unraveled: The Brutal Truth About Falling Off the Wagon | Episode 41
Join Michael, your host and psychologist-in-training, on Sober Psychology as we dive deep into the raw truth about relapse in drug and alcohol addiction. In this episode, we unpack why relapse happens, drawing from the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book and cutting-edge psychological research. Expect hard-hitting insights, practical tips, and a dose of dark humor to keep you hooked. Whether you’re in recovery, supporting someone who is, or just curious about the psychology of addiction, this episode is for you. Subscribe for weekly doses of real talk on mental health and recovery!
Suicide: Staring Down the Void and Choosing to Fight | Episode 31
Sober Psychology crew, it’s Michael, your ex-booze-battling, psyche-probing host! In this raw, 50-minute gut-punch, we tackle Suicide—no sugarcoating, just hard truths about the void and how to fight it. Expect brain-deep psych (amygdala chaos!), three real-deal tips to claw your way back, and recovery grit that stings. With laughs (lost keys apocalypse, anyone?), we honor the heavy while sparking hope. IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW IS STRUGGLING WITH SUICIDE IDEATION, PLEASE CALL OR TEXT THE SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE AT 9-8-8. Like, comment: What’s your reason to keep fighting?
Feelings: The Messy Bastards You Can’t Ignore | Episode 30
Hey, Sober Psychology crew, it’s Michael, your ex-booze-wrestler, truth-dropping host! In this 50-minute, no-holds-barred episode, we’re diving into Feelings—those messy bastards hijacking your brain like a drunk driver. Expect psych heavy-hitters (amygdala taming!), three gritty tips to master your emotions, and recovery realness that’ll sting. Laughs? Think toaster tears and sandwich-saving marriages. Feel it, own it, win. Like, subscribe, & comment: What’s one feeling you’re naming today? Mall Walker by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Authenticity: Stop Faking it, You're Not Fooling Anyone | Episode 29
Hey, Sober Psychology squad, it’s Michael, your ex-booze-hound, truth-spitting host! In this 50-minute, no-BS banger, we’re ripping into Authenticity—because your fake ‘I’m fine’ grin is fooling nobody, and your soul is tired of the charade. Expect psych firepower (30% less anxiety for real ones!), three gut-punch tips to ditch the mask, and recovery real talk that stings. Laughs? Oh, we’ve got sad clowns and drama-queen brains. Like, subscribe & comment: What’s your most authentic move today?
Self-Criticism: The Inner Tyrant You Didn’t Hire | Sober Psychology Episode 26
Yo, Sober Psychology squad, it’s Michael, your mind-diving host! In this gut-punch of an episode, we’re tackling Self-Criticism—that inner jerk who calls you a failure for forgetting your lines or, worse, for stumbling in recovery. Expect razor-sharp psych wisdom (Jung, CBT, brain scans, oh my!) and real talk on how this trash-talking voice fuels addiction’s chaos. I’m serving up three legit tips to shut it down, plus laughs that don’t suck—think bad mechanics and a critic named Gary. Watch, chuckle, heal. Hit like, comment your critic’s dumbest line!
Grieving: The Chaos You Can’t Outrun | Sober Psychology Episode 25
Hey Sober Psychology crew, it’s Michael! In this powerful episode, we’re diving into the raw, messy world of Grieving—because loss isn’t just about saying goodbye; it’s about facing what addiction took from you and rebuilding in recovery. With a mix of brain science, Kübler-Ross’s stages, and a few laughs to keep it real, I unpack why you can’t outrun grief (spoiler: it’s faster than you). From denial to acceptance, we’ll explore how grieving shapes sobriety and sets you free. Join me for 40 minutes of insight and heart—audio on Spotify, video on YouTube. Share your story below!
Compliance vs. Surrender: The Psychological Tightrope | Sober Psychology Episode 24
In this episode, we’re tackling a psychological showdown for the ages: Compliance vs. Surrender. Ever wonder why you say "yes" when your soul’s screaming "no"? Or how letting go might just be the secret weapon in your recovery arsenal? As your resident psychology nerd (with a dash of humor to keep it real), I’m diving deep into the mind’s tightrope—breaking down Milgram’s shocks, Jung’s shadows, and what 12-step programs get right. We’ll explore how compliance keeps us stuck, especially in addiction, and why surrender isn’t giving up—it’s leveling up. Expect some laughs, a few "aha" moments, and practical insights you can take into your sober journey. Hit play, drop a comment, and let’s wrestle with this together!
Everyone's Lying on Social Media—Here's How to Stop Believing It
Are you constantly comparing yourself to others? Scrolling through social media only to feel like your life is meh while everyone else is thriving? You’re not alone! In this episode of Sober Psychology, host Michael breaks down why we compare, how it messes with our mental health, and what we can do to stop it before we spiral into a self-worth crisis. We’ll dive into Social Comparison Theory, Imposter Syndrome, and the sneaky way social media addiction fuels our insecurities. Plus, we’ll talk about real-world strategies to break free from the comparison trap and start focusing on your progress instead of someone else’s highlight reel. If you’re tired of feeling like you’re falling behind, this episode is for you! Listen now and start reclaiming your confidence. 🎧 Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into psychology, self-improvement, and mental health. Leave a comment—what’s one way you handle comparison? 🔔 Hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode!