#53 Addiction, Sobriety, and PTSD: How Drugs, TV, Media, and Porn Hijack Your Trauma Healing | Recovery Secrets Series

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Host: Brad Schipke • Overcoming PTSD Podcast • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

In this episode, Brad goes deep into addiction, sobriety, and what real commitment looks like when you’re healing from PTSD or trauma. They expand the definition of addiction beyond drugs and alcohol to include “sneaky addictions” like TV, social media, pornography, video games, spending, food, and even compulsive phone use that quietly erode your life.

You’ll learn why simply admitting “this is a problem” is a crucial first step—but not enough—and how to move into a clear, personal commitment to sobriety that actually holds when you’re alone, triggered, and no one is watching. Instead of doing it “for your partner, kids, or therapist,” you’ll see why the foundation has to be doing it for you.

Brad and Kaylene break down how to write a real commitment contract, create self-boundaries, and use pain from your past and imagined future to fuel change. You’ll also hear how healing the deeper trauma and processing the emotions that drive your behaviors runs in parallel with breaking the habit, and why becoming your own “recovery hero” transforms shame into genuine self-respect.

💡 What You’ll Learn

• How to recognize “sneaky addictions” like TV, scrolling, porn, spending, or games that keep PTSD and trauma symptoms stuck

• Why your sobriety commitment must be to yourself first, not to your partner, family, or friends

• How to identify your “one biggest thing” and focus your energy on changing that relationship

• A simple definition of addiction you can use to honestly assess your own behaviors

• How to write a powerful commitment contract that uses past and future pain to fuel change

• What self-boundaries are and how to design practical rules that keep you away from your triggers

• Why breaking the habit and healing the trauma are two parallel but separate journeys

• How to turn moments of craving into proof that you can trust yourself again

• Why feeling proud of your choices—especially when no one sees them—is a core part of PTSD recovery

🧠 Key Takeaway

Lasting sobriety in PTSD and trauma recovery starts when you stop doing it for everyone else and finally decide, “I’m doing this for me because I deserve a different life.”

🔗 Next Steps

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To go deeper or work with Brad directly, visit https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction to Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching 00:36 Starting the Live Session 01:03 Understanding Addictions and Compulsions 02:23 Commitment to Sobriety 07:14 The Importance of Self-Commitment 14:42 Creating Self-Boundaries 28:23 Crafting Your Recovery Hero 32:59 Writing a Commitment Contract 41:04 Embracing Sobriety and Self-Love 41:23 Overcoming Shame and Addiction 42:25 The Journey to Self-Validation 43:21 Commitment to Sobriety 43:54 The Benefits of Sobriety 44:37 Q&A Session Begins 48:14 Addressing Codependency 57:34 The Importance of Self-Improvement 01:05:49 Processing Trauma and Healing 01:14:03 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Topics Covered:

PTSD recovery • trauma healing • addiction recovery • sobriety commitment • sneaky addictions and compulsions • alcohol addiction and PTSD • pornography and social media addiction • codependency and trauma • emotional regulation • nervous system regulation • trauma coping tools • recovery hero identity • self-love after trauma • self boundaries and limits • overcoming shame in sobriety • healing trauma triggers • PTSD mindset tools