Dopamine Dysregulation in Sex/Porn Addiction
Overcoming Betrayal & Addiction
Release Date: 02/13/2025
Is He an Addict or Just an A**hole?
Overcoming Betrayal & Addiction
In this weekly Sex and Intimacy Q&A, Tami and Erin Snow answer participant questions about sex, intimacy, addiction, betrayal, and more. They consider timelines in recovery, what full disclosure entails, and how to know if your partner is an addict or just a full-blown jerk, or both. TAKEAWAYS: [:30] Is this seminar only for partners experiencing betrayal? [3:55] How do I know if my partner is an addict or just an a**hole? [7:25] How should I define my inner circle behaviors after chem sex recovery? [12:09] My wife can’t get over my affair, it’s already...
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Regaining Trust After Relapse
Overcoming Betrayal & Addiction
In this weekly Sex and Intimacy Q&A, Dr. Rob Weiss and Tami answer participant questions about sex, intimacy, addiction, betrayal, and more. They offer resources for therapeutic separation, communication at every stage of recovery and reconciliation, and tools for practicing empathy with betrayed partners. TAKEAWAYS: [:24] Does my partner need to see a psychoanalyst first to get honest about his past? [4:28] What resources are available for communication building in the later stages of recovery and reconciliation? [9:17] How can I work to regain trust after recent...
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Healing Attachment Wounds with Troy Love
Overcoming Betrayal & Addiction
Troy Love and Tami answer participant questions about attachment wounds, shame, healthy boundaries, and the reality that an addict is always going to be an addict. It’s only how they chose to move forward in recovery that will change their life for better. TAKEAWAYS: [:30] My partner betrayed me and now we live like roommates. How can I refine myself whether I stay or go? [6:27] How can I stop judging myself for staying? [10:01] My wife doesn’t think I’m working hard enough in recovery. Is there a timeline we should know about? [17:09] Will I ever be able...
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Rebuilding Trust Through Connection
Overcoming Betrayal & Addiction
Dr. Rob and Tami answer participant questions about rebuilding trust through intimate conversations, ideas for setting healthy boundaries after betrayal, and the danger of an addict swearing that they’re done acting out for the rest of their life. TAKEAWAYS: [1:15] Current and upcoming resources at Seeking Integrity. [3:20] Do sponsees pay upfront or make monthly payments? [4:45] Are there agnostic 12 Step programs? [8:22] Ideas for connection activities that rebuild trust? [16:01] My husband is attending groups to placate me but is not participating. Is...
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Betrayal Brain with Debbie McRae
Overcoming Betrayal & Addiction
Debbie McRae and Tami tackle ‘betrayal brain’, the intrusive thoughts, and emotional flooding that often accompany betrayal. When the brain is in survival mode, neurological and psychological effects are out of the betrayed partner’s control. They discuss tactics to regain control when the brain is hijacked. TAKEAWAYS: [1:26] When betrayal occurs, the architecture of the brain is reshaped. [4:50] Warning signs of betrayal brain. [5:46] Four areas of the brain are affected by betrayal. [10:45] Triggers can occur even when the relationship feels safe. ...
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Supporting Your Partner Through Their Recovery Is Not Your Job
Overcoming Betrayal & Addiction
Dr. Rob and Tami tackle hard questions about sex and intimacy in the wake of betrayal. They cover the role of a spouse in supporting their partner ‘for better and for worse”, how to set boundaries that take care of you first, and addressing the trauma and intrusive thoughts that often come after disclosure. TAKEAWAYS: [:20] Where do personal responsibility and societal norms come into play? [7:27] A spouse’s job is to take care of themselves. [12:30] How can I deal with my trauma and intrusive thoughts about my partner’s acting out? [18:56] Acknowledging the...
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Honor Your Boundaries So You Aren’t Betraying Yourself
Overcoming Betrayal & Addiction
Therapist Erin Snow shares insights into addiction, betrayal, boundaries and healing. She underscores the impact of addiction in the workplace, the importance of setting boundaries after betrayal, the realities of weaponizing sex in a partnership, and why betrayed partners often pursue safety seeking behaviors during healing. TAKEAWAYS: [2:05] How addiction manifests in the workplace. [5:17] My husband is SA genetic – is nature or nurture going to win out? [9:45] The intimacy disorder underneath compulsive sexual behavior. [11:32] Healthy goals for a successful...
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When the Betraying Partner is in Recovery Limbo with Debbie McRae
Overcoming Betrayal & Addiction
Therapist Debbie McRae discusses options for the betrayed partner when the betraying partner is stalling or not fully in recovery. She offers tactics for partners who are stuck in the cycle of fear and uncertainty and are ready to regain control in healthy ways while seeking safety after betrayal. TAKEAWAYS: [1:05] Common recovery limbo scenarios and what each one means. [4:33] Recovery limbo happens when the betraying partner won’t take responsibility for their behavior. [7:25] Seven signs that your addict partner is struggling with recovery. [9:23] Six...
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Should I Stay or Leave?
Overcoming Betrayal & Addiction
Dr. Rob Weiss and Tami answer participant questions about the importance of combining sex and drug addictions in treatment and recovery, the danger of staying stuck in the rage phase, and who you have control over in healing and recovery (it’s you and only you!). TAKEAWAYS: [:55] Does ‘vanilla’ porn really affect our relationship? I don’t believe it’s hurting my partner. [5:53] What are the major differences between sex addiction treatment/recovery and drug addiction treatment/recovery? [12:25] The importance of tackling both sex and drugs in addiction treatment...
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How Can I Rebuild Trust?
Overcoming Betrayal & Addiction
Dr. Rob Weiss and Tami answer participant questions about the challenges of rebuilding trust in a betrayed relationship and the importance of focusing on what you can do as a betrayed partner instead of focusing on what your addict partner can’t or shouldn’t do. TAKEAWAYS: [1:40] My reluctant, betrayed spouse has been gone for a year. How can I approach them about my behavior? [6:43] I feel like I’m seeing the world through a different lens in recovery. Is this typical? [10:33] How can I better understand my partner’s damage and betrayal trauma? [14:04] I...
info_outlineIn this episode, Scott Brassart discusses the addictive nature of sex and pornography, and how these addictions create dysregulation in the dopamine rewards system. Scott and Tami also answer participant questions about the difference between habits and addictions and timelines in recovery.
TAKEAWAYS:
[1:10] The dopamine system craves rewards and pleasure.
[3:41] The danger of manipulating the dopamine system with addictions.
[6:13] Sexual fantasy delivers a high that is much cheaper than drugs, but just as dangerous.
[6:47] As a self-adjusting and self-healing organ, the brain senses when things are going wrong, but addicts respond by consuming even more.
[10:15] The downregulated brain will always win when chasing a higher high.
[15:26] How long does it take to reset a dysregulated dopamine system?
[16:12] Rerouting the pathways that addiction creates in our brains.
[19:05] Addicts are so focused on acting out that they aren’t paying attention to what they’re missing out on.
[21:51] People who pass the one year mark are much likelier to stay sober for the rest of their lives.
[23:18] Does the brain magically reset?
[24:01] Can sex addicts actually change?
[27:01] My addict husband doesn’t have any problem performing multiple times a day, how is that even possible?
[27:53] Why do I continue to lie to my partner when I know it’s causing her pain?
[32:35] My addictions and ADHD medication have dysregulated my system. What are my options?
[34:11] How can my partner keep relapsing when he promises me he won’t?
[39:36] How can I help my partner who is on the spectrum?
[40:25] How long does someone need sobriety before they can work on trauma?
[44:26] Can we incorporate specific sex acts into our relationship during recovery?
RESOURCES:
Email Tami: [email protected]
Prodependence: Moving Beyond Codependency, by Robert Weiss
Sex Addiction 101: A Basic Guide to Healing from Sex, Porn, and Love Addiction, by Robert Weiss
Cruise Control: Understanding Sex Addiction in Gay Men, by Robert Weiss
Seeking Integrity Podcasts are produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.
QUOTES
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“There’s a reason we have a dopamine system. It’s part of our survival.”
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“The problem with addictions is that we can manipulate the dopamine system.”
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“For addicts, it’s much more about the hunt than the actual sex act.”
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“We have created a chemical imbalance in our brain through our addictions.”
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“Addicts are so focused on acting out that we’re not paying attention to what we’re missing out on.”
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“Once my brain reset I had no interest in going back to the misery.”
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“Addicts chase pleasure as a way of really avoiding pain.”