From War Zones to Malibu: What 20 Years in Crisis Psychology Taught Dr. Matthew Schumacher About Addiction

What happens when a University of Chicago-trained psychologist spends three years at Stanford's bipolar disorders clinic, deploys to four war zones with the Navy, works counterterrorism intelligence with the LA Sheriff's Department - and then lands in a Malibu addiction treatment center asking patients one simple question: where does it hurt?

Dr. Matthew Schumacher joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about the science of addiction, the biology of balance, and why some of the most powerful tools for recovery are also the oldest ones. From dopamine fasting to behavioral activation to the underrated magic of a social routine, Dr. Schumacher breaks down what actually moves the needle - whether you're in a luxury treatment center in Malibu or sitting at home trying to figure out your next step.

Reasons You Need to Hear This:

1. There's a specific reason your brain craves constant noise — and Dr. Schumacher explains exactly what's happening biologically when you can't turn it off, and what that has to do with why substances feel so necessary in the first place.
2. There's a decades-old treatment for depression that nobody talks about — not a medication, not a complex therapy, not a $300 supplement.
3. Your daily routine might be doing more damage than you realize — Dr. Schumacher breaks down the surprising biological link between the rhythm of your day and the stability of your mood, and why this might be the most overlooked piece of long-term recovery.
4. The thing your body is actually trying to feel when it reaches for a substance — it turns out nature already built the answer in. Dr. Schumacher explains what it is and how to start accessing it again, especially when you feel like nothing else brings you pleasure anymore.
5. The question he asks every single patient in their first session — it's not what you'd expect from someone with his level of training, and the reason he starts there will genuinely make you rethink what healing actually requires.
6. There's a free, research-backed tool for anxiety that's been around since the 1960s — most people have never tried it because it sounds too simple. Dr. Schumacher makes the case for why simple might be exactly what's needed.
7. If you've been to treatment before and it didn't stick, this episode explains why and it has everything to do with what was - and wasn't - being treated while you were there.

Today's episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Seasons ⁠⁠⁠⁠in Malibu. For over 18 years, Seasons has been a sanctuary for individuals seeking to reclaim their lives from addiction and mental health challenges. Our story began with a simple but profound vision: To create a luxurious sanctuary for individuals struggling with addiction or mental health issues, where they can receive the finest, evidence-based treatment in the world.

Built on Compassion, Driven by Excellence

What started as a small number of compassionate professionals has grown into one of the nation’s most respected luxury treatment centers. But growth has never meant losing sight of what matters most—the individual engaging with our therapists, one-on-one, taking the courageous first step toward healing.From the beginning, we understood that truly transformative treatment requires more than clinical protocols. It demands a personalized approach, led by the most qualified professionals, in an environment that nurtures the whole person. That’s why we’ve assembled a team where every primary therapist holds a Doctorate in Psychology - a distinction virtually unmatched in our field.Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Seasons Malibu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ online or call 1-866-314-5160 for more information.

Connect with Seasons on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠