The hottest Addiction Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Culture Topics

218: Soldier Comes Home

Castalia • 179 implied HN points • 08 Aug 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Addiction PTSD
  1. Scott struggled with PTSD and alcoholism after his military and police work. He felt lost and was close to death but found hope through therapy.
  2. He had a tough homecoming with his brother, who was skeptical but also supportive. They both had to navigate their changed relationship and Scott's past issues.
  3. Despite challenges, Scott found peace and clarity in his journey. He learned to take things one step at a time, focusing on moving forward rather than dwelling on the past.

Agency vs. Addiction

Polymathic Being • 68 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Addiction Agency Regulation Exercise Relationships
  1. Personal agency is key in resisting external influences and making independent choices.
  2. Addiction can extend beyond traditional vices like drugs and alcohol to include positive behaviors as well.
  3. Past attempts at regulation, like Prohibition and the War on Drugs, have often failed, highlighting the importance of personal agency in combating addiction.

Dopamine basics

Splattern • 39 implied HN points • 10 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Nutrition Exercise Addiction Philosophy
  1. Dopamine levels affect our mood and motivation. When we experience a dip in dopamine, it can make us feel low and seek rewards to get back to feeling normal.
  2. Choosing to do hard or uncomfortable things can actually boost our basic dopamine levels. For example, cold showers can help us feel more motivated.
  3. Work ethic is really important for success. Hard work can often lead to being more productive and valued in the workplace, regardless of the external pressures.

Why comparing is despairing

The Reset by Sam Delaney • 39 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Addiction Recovery Therapy
  1. Comparing yourself to others can lead to skewed perspectives. Don't judge your habits based on others' actions.
  2. Focus on how alcohol makes you feel and its impact on your life to determine if you have a problem.
  3. It's essential to ask yourself critical questions about your relationship with drinking to assess if it's affecting you negatively.
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Do This and You'll Feel Better

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 79 implied HN points • 26 Jul 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Addiction Recovery Self-Improvement Mental health Personal Growth
  1. Indulging in short-term pleasures like drinking or doing drugs can lead to a loss of self and a cycle of inaction and anxiety.
  2. Taking action, even after failures, disappointments, or bouts of self-loathing, can help in regaining a sense of self and feeling better.
  3. Overcoming setbacks, failures, negativity, and boredom by addressing them directly can lead to a path out of inaction and back to one's true self.

On the hard days ahead, and the trap we are (eagerly, so eagerly) setting for ourselves

Unreported Truths • 61 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Addiction Behavior Consequences Drugs Mental health
  1. Drug use, gambling, and certain kinds of sex are not moral neutrals and can easily lead to despair.
  2. America is facing challenges like declining life expectancy, preventable deaths, and social issues like lesser rates of marriage and having children.
  3. Stronger drugs, widespread gambling, and push for non-traditional relationships are causing harm and escalating societal issues.

From Vicious to Virtuous Cycle

Creative Destruction • 32 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Activism Sustainability Worldview Addiction Vision
  1. Acknowledging the need for help and motivation are crucial in starting the rehabilitation process for humanity's addiction
  2. Current activist movements may need to shift focus from guilt and fear to understanding and addressing the deep-seated needs driving destructive behaviors
  3. Presenting enjoyable visions of a future that genuinely satisfies these deep-seated needs can motivate and guide people towards a virtuous cycle of healing and positive change

Yet again, the better we get at "harm reduction," the more people overdose and die

Unreported Truths • 54 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Addiction Public Health Policy
  1. British Columbia's program of providing legal medical prescriptions for opioids to addicts as a harm reduction strategy has led to a catastrophic increase in overdose hospitalizations and deaths.
  2. Harm reduction strategies, such as naloxone availability and supervised consumption sites, implemented in British Columbia have not been effective in reducing opioid overdose deaths.
  3. The failure of harm reduction strategies in British Columbia highlights the need for societies to control drug use by highlighting harms and making users legally responsible.

This Hormone Cuts Your Alcohol Cravings in Half

Neuro Athletics • 12 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Exercise Nutrition Mental health Hormones Addiction
  1. Intense exercise can boost a hormone called FGF21, which may help reduce cravings for alcohol. This means that working out could be a natural way to manage those urges.
  2. In studies with monkeys, FGF21 seemed to cut their alcohol intake by half. This shows promise for potential similar effects in humans, suggesting that exercise might play a role in reducing drinking habits.
  3. Overall, exercising isn't just about building muscle; it also helps your brain and may improve your cravings and mood. Finding ways to incorporate more exercise into your routine can bring unexpected benefits.

On Preempting Life

Christopher’s Newsletter • 3 implied HN points • 15 Mar 25
🕹 Technology Social media Addiction Lifestyle Personal Development
  1. Reducing tech use, especially social media, can be tough but worth it. Trying to take small steps, like removing distracting apps, can help.
  2. Watching YouTube for long periods can prevent you from living your life fully. It's easy to choose passive activities over more rewarding efforts like reading or working on projects.
  3. Making it harder to access distracting apps can help you regain control of your time. It may be beneficial to focus on more meaningful and engaging activities.

How I Gave Up Drinking Without Giving Up Drinking

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 59 implied HN points • 14 Jun 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Addiction Sobriety Recovery Self-Improvement Mental health
  1. Labels like 'alcoholic' can oversimplify complex issues and may not fully capture individual circumstances and nuances.
  2. Admitting and recognizing a problem is the crucial first step towards recovery and change.
  3. Having a personalized system to track progress and set goals can help in controlling addictive behaviors and staying motivated in sobriety.

Modern life's energy crisis

Ben’s Blog 🏉 🧠🧑‍💻 • 43 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Physical health Energy Levels Self-care Addiction
  1. The global human energy crisis is on the rise, impacting work and life due to various factors like pandemic acceleration and modern lifestyle changes.
  2. Low energy levels can be attributed to factors such as increased access to food, sedentary work, and excessive screen time, leading to physical and mental health issues.
  3. Tired brains and cognitive decline contribute to emotional decision-making, decreased focus, social division, and a rise in addiction, causing a general sense of fatigue and dissatisfaction in life.

There Can Be No Truth Without Forgiveness

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 19 implied HN points • 19 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Addiction Sobriety Personal Growth Truth-seeking
  1. Forgiveness is crucial for self-improvement and confronting difficult truths about oneself.
  2. Self-justification can hinder self-forgiveness and block the path to true self-understanding.
  3. Demoralization arises from the inability to forgive oneself, leading to challenges in assessing true information and navigating life's complexities.

Be Afraid and Take Your Medicine

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 39 implied HN points • 02 May 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Addiction Mental health Responsibility Anxiety Self-care
  1. Personal responsibility and purpose are crucial for civilization and overcoming existential crises.
  2. Outsourcing personal responsibility to governments and corporations leads to a society of fecklessness and addiction.
  3. Anxiety and addiction are interlinked - avoidance of responsibility leads to pleasure-seeking behaviors and a cycle of consumption, hindering personal and societal growth.

Enter Hatman: Exploring the World of Benadryl-Induced Delirium

Off-Topic • 23 HN points • 23 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Side Effects Addiction Mental health
  1. The Benadryl Challenge on TikTok has resulted in serious and fatal consequences, prompting calls for age restrictions and social media regulation.
  2. The appeal of consuming Benadryl lies in its hallucinogenic effects, transporting users to a delirious realm where reality blurs with fiction.
  3. Benadryl misuse can lead to severe physical symptoms, hallucinations, and encounters with entities like the Hatman, showcasing the dangerous repercussions of recreational drug use.

Where are the limbic anti-capitalists?

Reactionary Feminist • 22 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Addiction Regulation Business Model Ethics
  1. Adolescent mental health is declining due to excessive smartphone usage.
  2. Limbic capitalism exploits pre-rational pleasure for profit through addictive products like junk food, pornography, and social media.
  3. Conservative arguments against regulating limbic capitalism hinder protecting individuals from harmful business practices.

Reclaim Agency

Are You Okay? • 0 implied HN points • 01 Aug 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Self-care Personal Growth Addiction Recovery
  1. Anxiety thrives when we give it a home, but we can reclaim agency over fear and uncertainty in challenging times.
  2. It's important to scan your body for physical signs of anxiety, refresh your coping strategies, and focus on things you can control to better manage uncertainty.
  3. Reclaiming agency involves accepting what we can't control, directing energy towards improving what we can control, and being intentional about our habits and relationships.

Reckon With Alcohol

Are You Okay? • 0 implied HN points • 11 Apr 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Addiction Physical health Self-care Therapy
  1. Alcohol has both positive and negative effects on our health and lives, such as reducing stress but also leading to depression and impaired judgment.
  2. Determining whether one's alcohol consumption is excessive involves evaluating both the quantity and frequency of drinking, as well as the individual's relationship with alcohol.
  3. It's important to be honest with oneself about alcohol consumption, seek help from a healthcare provider if needed, and address underlying triggers for drinking to maintain good health.

The Enviable Ignorance of Tucker Carlson

The Medicine & Justice Project • 0 implied HN points • 29 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Addiction Mental health Knowledge Compassion Substance Use
  1. Tucker Carlson seems to have a limited understanding of fentanyl, only knowing it comes from elsewhere and can be deadly.
  2. Challenging Carlson's claims about fentanyl overdose, the author highlights that George Floyd's case did not match typical signs of opioid overdose.
  3. The author expresses envy of Tucker Carlson's ignorance on fentanyl, as gaining knowledge in this area has been a harrowing and emotionally taxing experience.

Addiction to Noise and Stimulation (A Brief Thought About Life)

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jul 11
🏥 Health & Wellness Addiction Peace Silence Moderation
  1. Overstimulation from various sources like food, drugs, and technology can contribute to addiction and dull our senses.
  2. Seeking constant overstimulation may be a way to avoid facing deeper issues and emotions within ourselves.
  3. Balance is key - there are times for indulging in pleasures and times for simplicity and silence to reflect on inner peace.

A Super-Fast Shortcut To Acute Nicotine Poisoning [Mapacho]

The Drug Users Bible • 0 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Substance Use Addiction Wellness Tips
  1. Mapacho has much higher nicotine content than regular tobacco, which can lead to intense experiences and possible poisoning. It's important to be cautious with it.
  2. Experiencing dizziness, nausea, and a sense of toxicity are common reactions when trying mapacho. Many find it overwhelming and uncomfortable.
  3. Using mapacho or similar substances may create a clear-headed feeling afterwards, but the initial experience can be harmful. It's best to avoid repeated usage.

Prescription Medicines Can Bite Too [Pregabalin]

The Drug Users Bible • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Pharmaceuticals Substance Use Addiction Health Risks
  1. Pregabalin is a prescription drug that many people mistakenly think is always safe because it’s prescribed by doctors. But it can have serious side effects when misused.
  2. Dosage matters a lot with pregabalin. Taking too much can lead to a very uncomfortable and inebriated state, so it's important to use caution and stick to lower doses.
  3. There’s a growing number of deaths linked to pregabalin, showing that it's not just the recreational aspects that are risky. It’s crucial to treat this drug with respect and awareness.

Followup On Pausing Alcohol

Marc Andreessen Substack • 0 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Fitness Diet Addiction Mental health Lifestyle
  1. Marc Andreessen stopped drinking alcohol due to health concerns and feeling less productive the next day after drinking.
  2. Stopping alcohol consumption was not difficult for Marc; he found it easier to either have a habit or not, rather than trying to moderate.
  3. While alcohol has played a significant role in human history, what works for individuals may vary, and it's important for each person to make choices based on their own well-being.

Peak Performance Newsletter #2 | The Passionate Performance Paradox and Dopamine Fasts

The Leadership Lab • 0 implied HN points • 30 Sep 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Performance Mindfulness Addiction Fear Risk
  1. When pursuing something you're passionate about, initial performance may decrease due to facing new fears and vulnerabilities.
  2. Fixating on risks can harm performance and hinder opportunities; it's essential to set boundaries for assessing risks.
  3. To maintain performance with risk, track it at intervals that mitigate ruin, and balance between your long-term vision and daily actions.