About this episode
Dr. Judy Rosenberg explores the psychology of addiction and the emotional wounds that drive self-medication.
Why do we keep turning to cigarettes, food, gambling, shopping, porn, alcohol, or even our phones when we’re hurting? In this raw and eye-opening episode of Dr. Judy WTF (What the Freud / What the Foot), Dr. Judy Rosenberg dives deep into the psychology of addiction and reveals what she calls the “Hole in the Soul”—the emotional wound left by childhood trauma, neglect, abuse, and disconnection that drives us to self-medicate. Using her powerful Mind Map system, Dr. Judy breaks down how early wounds lead to emotional reactions, toxic encodings, chaos, and ultimately the defense mechanisms we call addictions. From smoking and gambling to binge eating and shopping, she explains the difference between filling yourself and truly fulfilling yourself—and why addictions only create temporary relief while deepening long-term pain. Dr. Judy also shares insights from her upcoming book “Kick It: Stop Smoking and Be the Cause of Better Outcomes for Your Life”, including the psychology behind comfort smokers, control smokers, and performance smokers, and why quitting isn’t just about willpower—it’s about healing the original wound. This episode features powerful listener questions, real-life…
People in this episode
Host: Dr. Judy Rosenberg
Topics covered
- addiction
- psychology
- childhood trauma
- self-medication
- healing
- emotional wounds
Keywords
- addiction
- psychology
- childhood trauma
- self-medication
- healing
- emotional wounds
- binge eating
- smoking
- gambling
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Kick It: Stop Smoking and Be the Cause of Better Outcomes for Your Life
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