Think Recovery

Think Recovery
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

Join Dr. Ishan Sharma and guests as they discuss mental health topics, unpack misconceptions regarding addiction, and explore paths toward recovery.

Episodes

  1. 2024-07-09

    Episode 11: Relationships as a Paradox: A Source of Hurt & Healing

    Welcome back to Think Recovery! In this episode, Dr. Ishan Sharma explores the complex nature of relationships, highlighting how they can both deeply wound and profoundly heal us. Delve into the paradox of relationships, understanding how our greatest emotional injuries often come from relationships, yet also hold the key to our recovery and growth. Dr. Sharma discusses the potential impact of critical parents, neglectful partners, and betrayals by friends, and how these experiences shape our future interactions. He challenges the myth of ruthless independence, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and embracing our inherent need for connection and support. Learn why positive, nurturing relationships are vital to our emotional well-being and how they can help us form healthier patterns. Discover the journey to healing for those with insecure attachment styles and the essential steps to begin this process. Dr. Sharma provides insights into how we can learn to own our dependency needs, seek help, and build supportive relationships to heal old wounds. Tune in for a thoughtful and engaging discussion on the dual nature of relationships and practical advice on fostering connections that contribute to our emotional health. Share this episode with others who might benefit, and don't forget to subscribe for more insights on mental health and healing. Visit thinkrecovery.ca for more resources and information on booking an initial assessment for virtual therapy if you're in Alberta, Canada.

    7 min

  2. 2024-06-28

    Episode 10: Unlearning Productivity Bias

    In this episode, Dr. Sharma explores the theme of learning to undo a productivity bias and learning to engage in activities just for their own sake, drawing inspiration from a quote by Naval Ravikant. He then reflects on the personal and professional significance of this concept, bearing in mind that many of us exist in a culture or other systems that often prioritize productivity and achievement. Listeners are encouraged to examine their own tendencies towards constant productivity and consider the benefits of doing things purely for enjoyment. Dr. Sharma shares insights from his clinical practice, highlighting common barriers people face when trying to embrace this mindset, such as a lack of modeling, guilt, shame, and fear of falling behind. The episode offers practical steps to address these challenges, including self-reflection, journaling, and seeking support from trusted individuals or therapists. By gradually shifting focus from a perpetual to-do list to activities that bring joy and fulfillment, listeners can invite more spontaneity, creativity, and balance into their lives. If you are enjoying this content, please express your support by leaving a 5 star review on your podcast app of choice and hitting the follow button for this podcast. Confidential and professional help is available. Visit us on the web and book your virtual appointment now, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thinkrecovery.ca

    8 min

  3. 2024-06-19

    Episode 9: When Feelings Don't Make Sense

    In this episode, Dr. Sharma starts by defining what alexithymia is, identifies the brain regions impacted, discusses how common it is, and briefly explores some of the early life and developmental factors that contribute to impairment in the ability to perceive, identify, make sense of and express feelings. He also reviews how early life trauma can impact certain brain regions and precipitate the development of alexithymia, how substance or behavioural addiction can exacerbate the impairment of emotional processing, mentions a self-assessment for alexithymia and and talks about alexithymia treatment. If you are enjoying this content, please express your support by leaving a 5 star review on your podcast app of choice and hitting the follow button for this podcast. Confidential and professional help is available. Visit us on the web and book your virtual appointment now, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thinkrecovery.ca

    13 min

  4. 2024-06-03

    Episode 8: Therapy Isn't Always Easy

    In this episode, Dr. Sharma discusses many of the common challenges that arise within the process of therapy including; the attachment systems of patient and therapist being naturally activated, the non-linear progression that occurs in therapy, working through old wounds, the therapist as regulating and dysregulating, the influence of implicit memory, as well as the impact of transference and countertransference (how the patient relates to the therapist and how the therapist relates to the patient, respectively). If you are enjoying this content, please express your support by leaving a 5 star review on your podcast app of choice. Confidential and professional help is available. Visit us on the web and book your virtual appointment now, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thinkrecovery.ca

    11 min

  5. 2024-05-31

    Episode 7: The Limitations of the Medical Model of Mental Health

    In this episode, Dr. Sharma explores the importance of helping patients recover their felt sense of humanity as well as the limitations of the medical model of mental health. Concepts discussed include issues with checklist-based diagnoses, single session assessments, scripted interviews, arbitrary diagnostic criteria, diagnostic inflation, overidentification with diagnostic labels, downsides of medicating away feelings, and a lack of thorough exploration of the personal context of an individual. If you are enjoying this content, please express your support by leaving a 5 star review on your podcast app of choice. Confidential and professional help is available. Visit us on the web and book your virtual appointment now, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thinkrecovery.ca

    10 min

  6. 2024-05-29

    Episode 6: Addiction as an Attachment Disorder

    In this episode, Dr. Sharma explores the concept of addiction as a disorder of attachment and affect regulation. Also covered are the different patterns of addiction, where people will tend to gravitate toward certain substances or behaviours depending on their tendencies toward a nervous system state of hypoarousal or hyperarousal. Briefly touched upon as well is the impact of sobriety or abstinence on the brain's ability to heal and the healing impact of relationships. If you are enjoying this content, please express your support by leaving a 5 star review on your podcast app of choice. Confidential and professional help is available. Visit us on the web and book your virtual appointment now, at ⁠⁠⁠thinkrecovery.ca

    10 min

  7. 2024-05-20

    Episode 5: How to Deal with Triggers

    In this episode, Dr. Sharma explores the different types of triggers, where triggers come from, and how to deal with triggers. Also defined are the different channels of experience, the different types of memory (implicit, explicit, and procedural), how to identify what autonomic nervous system state you are in, and how to upregulate or downregulate your autonomic nervous system to find your way back to a felt sense of balance within your window of tolerance. If you are enjoying this content, please express your support by leaving a 5 star review on your podcast app of choice. Confidential and professional help is available. Visit us on the web and book your virtual appointment now, at ⁠⁠thinkrecovery.ca

    31 min

  8. 2024-05-14

    Episode 4: Emotional Literacy

    In this episode, Dr. Sharma introduces the concept of emotional literacy in simple language. If you've ever wondered how certain emotions are experienced in different parts of the body, the findings of a 2013 study mapping different emotions throughout the body is also discussed. If you'd like to improve your ability to identify, express and attend to your emotions, this is a must listen episode! If you are enjoying this content, please express your support by leaving a 5 star review on your podcast app of choice. Confidential and professional help is available. Visit us on the web and book your virtual appointment now, at ⁠thinkrecovery.ca

    10 min

  9. 2023-05-23

    Episode 3: The 3 Main Triggers for Relapse

    In this episode, Dr. Sharma introduces the 3 main triggers for relapse that apply to any behaviour whether involving substance or not. These triggers have been revealed through decades of brain research. If relapse prevention is important to you, or if you are even just trying to break a habit, this is a must listen episode! Learn all about this topic in 7 minutes. If you are enjoying this content, please express your support by leaving a 5 star review on your podcast app of choice. Confidential and professional help is available. Visit us on the web and book your virtual appointment now, at thinkrecovery.ca

    7 min

  10. 2023-05-21

    Episode 2: How to Process Feelings

    In this episode, Dr. Sharma introduces a practical, 5 step framework that is simple to understand and that anyone can use during their day-to-day life. Have you heard of Dr. Sharma's 5 A's of Processing Feelings? Learn all about this topic in under 8 minutes. If you are enjoying this content, please express your support by leaving a 5 star review on your podcast app of choice. Confidential and professional help is available. Visit us on the web and book your virtual appointment now, at thinkrecovery.ca

    8 min

  11. 2023-05-14

    Episode 1: Self-Comfort vs Self-Care

    In this episode, Dr. Sharma briefly explores the difference between self-comfort and self-care. You may be surprised to learn that what you are currently doing may be harming you. Confidential and professional help is available. Visit us on the web at thinkrecovery.ca

    6 min

  12. 2023-05-07

    Episode 0: Think Recovery Intro

    In this introductory episode, Dr. Sharma briefly reflects on his experiences as an addiction medicine physician and psychotherapist. He also shares about what prompted his development of Think Recovery as a virtual platform to help Canadians struggling with addiction and mental health issues. thinkrecovery.ca

    3 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

Join Dr. Ishan Sharma and guests as they discuss mental health topics, unpack misconceptions regarding addiction, and explore paths toward recovery.

Information

  • Creator
    Think Recovery
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Think Recovery
  • Show Website
    Think Recovery