RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions

Are you secretly struggling with a sports betting addiction or trying to survive financial ruin after chasing losses online? Learn how to break free. In this episode of the RECOVERable Podcast, host Terry Maguire continues an impactful conversation with expert psychologist Dr. Michael Zhang to explore the psychology of behavioral addiction. Together, they pull back the curtain on the industry's hidden traps, detailing the process of self-exclusion and explaining how modern gambling apps add layers of friction—or fail to enforce bans when you are at your most vulnerable. 
Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/
Dr. Michael Zhang, a leading psychologist and the innovative founder of the digital platform Incremental, breaks down why gambling disorder is uniquely recognized in the DSM-5 as the only official behavioral addiction. He addresses the intense psychological turmoil that comes with problem gambling, offering actionable advice on how to handle the immediate panic of massive financial loss and the daunting challenge of telling a partner or parents about severe gambling debt. Terry and Dr. Zhang take a hard look at the emerging landscape of sports betting apps and prediction markets, debunking the dangerous myth that betting on sports is purely a game of skill rather than high-risk gambling. 
They also expose the conflicts of interest behind industry-funded 'responsible gambling' programs, urging viewers to follow the money and seek independent recovery support instead. By explaining how variable ratio schedules and intermittent reinforcement keep your brain hooked on fake wins, Dr. Zhang delivers a powerful blueprint for shifting from active addiction into lasting freedom. If you are ready to stop active betting, escape the exhausting double life, and discover what true recovery looks like after hitting rock bottom, this conversation is for you. Watch the full episode to learn how to break the spell, rebuild broken relationships, and build a beautiful, authentic life. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this video with someone who needs to hear it today. 
Chapters: 00:00 – [Intro] 00:48 – How Self-Exclusion Works 03:09 – Using Self-Exclusion on Gambling Apps 06:29 – The Significance of Gambling in the DSM-5 08:20 – Handling the Panic of Massive Financial Loss 10:29 – How to Tell Your Family About Gambling Debt 15:14 – Is Sports Betting Gambling or Skill? 22:27 – How Gambling Hotlines Help 24:48 – Addressing Gambling as a Public Health Issue 31:02 – The Overlap with Substance Abuse and True Recovery 
Questions the Video Answers:
How do you stop gambling when you can't control it?
What is self-exclusion in gambling and does it work?
Can you ban yourself from online sports betting apps?
Why is gambling addiction classified as a behavioral disorder in the DSM-5?
How do I handle the immediate panic after losing all my money gambling?
What is the best way to tell your partner you lost rent money gambling?
Is sports betting considered real gambling or a game of skill?
Why do I keep losing money on sports betting apps?
How does calling a gambling addiction hotline help you?
Is problem gambling a recognized public health issue?
Why is the gambling industry funding responsible gambling programs?
What is the relationship between alcohol abuse and gambling addiction?
Can overcoming a gambling problem cure depression and anxiety?
What does true recovery from a gambling addiction actually look like?
How do you break the cycle of chasing losses in gambling
#GamblingAddiction #SportsBetting #AddictionRecovery

Are you or someone you love secretly struggling with a gambling problem? Discover how modern apps trap your mind and how to break the cycle. In this episode of the Recoverable Podcast, host Terry Maguire sits down with expert psychologist Dr. Michael Zhang to uncover the hidden psychology of gambling addiction. They explore why it is so difficult to recognize and why individuals get caught in a dangerous loop of chasing losses. 
Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/
Dr. Michael Zhang, a leading psychologist and founder of the innovative digital recovery support platform Income, breaks down the progression of problem gambling from innocent recreational play to a severe diagnosable disorder. Unlike substance abuse, a sports betting or online slots addiction often forces individuals to live double lives, hiding the financial and emotional damage directly inside their bank accounts. Dr. Zhang explains the neurological mechanism behind the "near-miss" effect and how anticipation triggers dopamine pathways long before an outcome is even revealed. 
This deep-dive conversation shatters common myths about willpower, explains official diagnostic criteria, and highlights the terrifyingly high suicide rates associated with this hidden epidemic. If you want to understand how online sports betting apps and prediction markets are engineered to keep you hooked, this video will open your eyes. More importantly, you will learn the crucial difference between temporarily stopping the behavior and completely removing the psychological desire to gamble. 
If you are ready to shift from gambling mode to recovery mode and successfully rebuild your life, watch this full episode for actionable, evidence-based insights. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this video with someone who needs to hear it. 
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
01:54 – Defining Gambling Addiction vs. Gambling a Lot 
04:10 – The Stages of Problem Gambling 
08:25 – Why Awareness of the Problem Develops Slowly 
12:44 – The Dopamine Psychology of a Gambler's Brain 
18:31 – How Modern Technology and Online Apps Changed Gambling 
24:50 – The Psychology of Living a Double Life 
30:15 – Myth vs. Fact: Debunking Common Gambling Misconceptions 
38:57 – Official Diagnostic Criteria for Gambling Disorder 
49:27 – How to Actually Stop Gambling and Rebuild Your Life  
Questions the Video Answers:
How do you define a gambling addiction vs gambling a lot? 
What are the psychological stages of problem gambling? 
Why do people with gambling addictions chase losses? 
How does dopamine affect a gambler's brain during anticipation? 
Why is a gambling addiction harder to spot than drug or alcohol abuse? 
How do modern online betting apps use psychological tricks to keep you hooked? 
What is the connection between gambling addiction and high suicide rates? 
What are the official diagnostic criteria for a gambling disorder? 
Why do gamblers live double lives and hide financial losses? 
How do you stop gambling when you have lost everything? 
Does paying off someone's gambling debt actually help their recovery? 
How does the brain react to a "near miss" in gambling? 
What is the difference between taking yourself out of gambling and taking gambling out of you? 
What treatment options are effective for long-term gambling recovery? 
How can you shift from gambling mode to recovery mode to rebuild your life? 
#GamblingAddiction #ProblemGambling #HowToStopGambling

Can a weight-loss medication actually cure your deepest cravings? Discover how GLP-1 drugs are revolutionizing the landscape of addiction recovery.
Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/
In this episode of Recoverable, host Terry Maguire sits down with Dr. Steven Klein, an expert medical professional specializing in addiction medicine who also brings his own powerful lived experience of nine years in long-term recovery. Together, they explore the fascinating science of drug repurposing—shifting medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide (widely known under brand names like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound) from type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management over to the frontlines of substance use disorder treatment. Dr. Klein breaks down how these powerful gut-brain peptides quiet persistent "food noise" and "drug noise" by directly targeting the mesolimbic dopamine system, which controls the brain’s fundamental reward circuitry.
Whether discussing alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, nicotine dependence, or behavioral addictions like compulsive gambling, this deep-dive addresses the critical neurobiology behind how GLP-1 for addiction functions as a substance-agnostic tool. You’ll learn about recent groundbreaking clinical data showing a 50% drop in substance-related mortality, the clinical reality of off-label prescribing, common GI side effects, and what happens to internal cravings once you stop taking the medication. Dr. Klein shares his profound "record needle" analogy, showing how these treatments temporarily quiet internal noise so individuals can learn a completely new behavioral song. If you or a loved one are exploring cutting-edge medical tools to support sustainable recovery, reduce relapse, and reclaim your agency, this episode provides essential context, breaking down the artificial boundaries between physical metabolic health and mental health.
Watch the full conversation to unlock the future of highly personalized behavioral care. Don't forget to like this video, subscribe to the channel, and share your thoughts or personal experiences in the comments section below!
Chapters: 00:00:00 – Intro 
00:01:14 – How GLP-1s Transformed My Relationship with Food 
00:06:27 – How Weight Loss Drugs Ended Up on the Addiction Radar  
00:09:05 – How GLP-1s Treat the Core Circuitry of Addiction  
00:11:14 – What Are the Side Effects of GLP-1 Medications?  
00:15:18 – How Do GLP-1 Drugs Actually Work for Addiction?  
00:18:00 – Does Brain Rewiring Continue After Stopping GLP-1s?  
00:23:49 – Are GLP-1s FDA-Approved for Addiction Treatment?  
00:26:53 – Do GLP-1s Cause Anhedonia or Suicidal Thoughts?  
00:42:31 – Can You Take GLP-1s for Addiction Without Losing Weight?
Questions the Video Answers:
How do GLP-1 drugs work for addiction treatment?
Can Ozempic or Wegovy help reduce alcohol cravings?
What is the success rate of GLP-1 medications for substance use disorders?
How do diabetes and weight-loss drugs quiet food noise in the brain?
Are GLP-1 medications FDA-approved to treat alcohol or opioid addiction?
What are the common side effects of using GLP-1s for addiction recovery?
Do cravings return after you stop taking semaglutide or tirzepatide?
Can you take GLP-1 medications for addiction if you don't want to lose weight?
How do GLP-1 agonists impact the brain's dopamine reward system?
Is it safe to combine GLP-1s with other addiction medications like buprenorphine?
Will health insurance cover Ozempic or Zepbound if prescribed off-label for addiction?
Can GLP-1 medications help treat behavioral addictions like gambling or sex addiction?
What did the British Medical Journal study find regarding GLP-1s and substance mortality?
Does taking weight-loss drugs cause anhedonia or a general loss of joy?
How long will it take for the FDA to approve GLP-1s for addiction?
#GLP1ForAddiction #OzempicForAddiction #AddictionRecovery

Is willpower alone enough to beat opioid addiction, or are we fighting a medical disease with the wrong tools? In this episode of the Recoverable podcast, we shift the paradigm from shame to evidence-based science.

Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/

Host Terry McGuire sits down with Dr. Steven Klein, MD, PhD, a triple-boarded physician in pediatrics, genetics, and addiction medicine who serves as full-time faculty at Caron Treatment Centers. Dr. Klein brings a deeply authentic perspective to the table as a professional in long-term recovery himself, diving into the raw mechanics of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). We break down the crucial differences between traditional Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and OUD-specific options like Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone), oral naltrexone, and the game-changing shift toward monthly long-acting injectables.

Dr. Klein directly confronts the intense societal stigma and the ongoing debate within 12-step recovery groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) over whether using addiction medication means you are truly "sober". He shares the striking clinical data regarding the low number needed to treat (NNT) for buprenorphine compared to other lifelines in modern medicine. Beyond the blocking of withdrawal symptoms and cravings, we uncover the profound psychological "why" behind substance abuse—looking closely at trauma, identity, and the heavy sense of disconnection that fuels severe opioid use disorder. If you or a loved one are trying to navigate rehab options, outpatient detox programs, or sober living rules, this conversation offers data-backed hope. Subscribe for Part 2 next week, and leave a comment below with your thoughts!

Chapters:
00:00 – Changing the Paradigm of Addiction Recovery
01:11 – Dr. Stephen Klein’s Personal Recovery Journey
03:36 – What is the Difference Between MAT and MOUD?
05:12 – The Opioid Class: From Prescription Pills to Kratom
07:05 – Is Abstinence Always the Goal of MOUD Treatment?
09:28 – How Do We Measure Success in Addiction Recovery?
11:34 – How Suboxone and Naltrexone Block Cravings
14:56 – Navigating Stigma: "Replacing One Drug with Another"
21:16 – How Monthly Injectables Change Compliance and Self-Stigma
23:55 – The True Medical Risks of Untreated Opioid Withdrawal

Questions the Video Answers:

What is the difference between MAT and MOUD in addiction treatment?

How does Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) work for opioid addiction?

Can you use naltrexone for both opioid and alcohol use disorder?

Why do 12-step programs like AA and NA stigmatize Suboxone users?

How do monthly injectable addiction medications like Vivitrol reduce self-stigma?

What is the Sinclair Method for treating alcohol use disorder?

Is a person on MOUD considered truly sober and in recovery?

What are the side effects of buprenorphine vs untreated opioid withdrawal?

Does health insurance or Medicaid cover long-acting injectable opioid treatments?

Why is kratom considered an emerging and dangerous opioid alkaloid?

How do trauma and deep emotional disconnection cause substance abuse?

How can family members support a loved one starting buprenorphine?

#OpioidAddiction #SuboxoneRecovery #AddictionMedicine

What is brainspotting therapy and how does it actually work? Dr. Jenny Hughes, licensed clinical psychologist and trauma expert, explains this revolutionary approach to healing trauma — including how it differs from EMDR, why where you look affects how you feel, and what happens during a real brainspotting session.

In this interview, Dr. Hughes breaks down the science behind brainspotting: how it accesses the subcortical parts of your brain where trauma is stored, why you don't need to talk through your trauma for it to work, and the accidental discovery by David Grand that changed trauma therapy forever.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 — Intro: What Is Brainspotting?
1:33 — Myth or Fact Lightning Round
5:11 — The Accidental Discovery (David Grand & the Skater)
8:15 — EMDR vs. Brainspotting: Quick Overview
8:49 — How Brainspotting Actually Works
10:08 — The "Inside Window" & Finding Your Brain Spot
10:52 — Focused Mindfulness & the Subcortical Brain
12:26 — The Pointer, Variations & Therapist Training
13:33 — Why Therapists Experience Brainspotting First
15:21 — EMDR vs. Brainspotting: The Key Differences
16:50 — What Changes After Brainspotting Therapy
18:15 — Which Therapy Is Right for You?

🔗 ABOUT DR. JENNY HUGHES
Dr. Jenny Hughes is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in trauma, anxiety, and evidence-based therapies including Brainspotting and EMDR.

🎙️ ABOUT RECOVERABLE
RECOVERable answers the internet's most-asked questions about mental health, anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction recovery — through expert interviews you can actually understand.

Find the right treatment for you at Recovery.com
https://www.recovery.com