Episode 391: Using Shame as a Compass for Healing with Dr. Frank Spinelli
About this episode
Duane Osterlind and Dr. Frank Spinelli discuss the connections between trauma, addiction, and shame, exploring how to reframe shame as a tool for healing.
In this episode, host Duane Osterlind welcomes physician, trauma-informed coach, and author Dr. Frank Spinelli for an honest conversation about trauma, addiction, and the root causes of shame. Dr. Spinelli shares his personal story—from surviving childhood abuse in the Boy Scouts and helping law enforcement bring his abuser to justice, to experiencing a profound breakdown during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, Duane and Frank explore why addiction and shame stem from the same underlying wound, how to separate healthy guilt from toxic shame, and how reframing shame as a tool rather than a sentence can guide us back toward self-acceptance and alignment with our core values. Key Topics Discussed Trauma and the Hidden Roots of Addiction: How unaddressed childhood trauma often manifests as compulsive behaviors—whether involving alcohol, food, work, or sex. Shame vs. Guilt: Why guilt focuses on behavior ( "I did something bad" ) while shame attacks identity ( "I am bad" ), and how the inner voice of shame is often an installed narrative from past abuse or upbringing. The Isolation Trigger: How the removal of external coping routines during the COVID-19 pandemic caused…
More episodes of The Addicted Mind Podcast
- Episode 393: Lost in Del Valle: How Actor Ned Van Zandt Turned His Darkest Days Into Redemption
- Episode 392: Beyond the Trauma Anchor: How Neuroplasticity Rewires Pain and Anxiety with Dr. David Hanscom
- Episode 390: Healing in the Shadows: A Mother’s Journey Through Eating Disorders, Addiction, and Recovery with Janet Whitney
- Episode 389: Bridging the Recovery Gap: How AI is Transforming Treatment Admissions with David Sichel
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