In these episodes, Shelley Treacher explores how addiction develops: not from weakness, but from the body’s attempt to manage stress and pain.
Through somatic therapy, she shares how to break cycles of craving, understand avoidance, and rebuild self-trust in daily life.

Addiction isn’t a willpower problem. In this episode, I explain how dopamine reinforces compulsive behaviour, why stopping can initially feel worse, and how recovery begins through awareness rather than force. If you’ve ever wondered why you keep going back to something that doesn’t help, this explores what’s really happening in the brain and nervous system.

Addictive Personality? Brain Chemistry & Addiction
Why “addictive personality” isn’t what it seems — and how dopamine, stress, and behaviour create real dependency patterns.

Stress Addiction – Why We Overthink, Overwork & Overeat
How chronic stress fuels compulsive habits and emotional eating, and what somatic practices can calm your system.

Is Addiction, Compulsion, or Obsession a Choice?
What really happens in the addicted brain — and how choice becomes possible again through somatic regulation.

Recovering from Addiction – 6 Life-Changing Options
Six practical ways to recover from food, love, or stress addiction — through awareness, reflection, mindfulness, and community.

Is Your Addiction an Avoidance?
How avoidance and fear of feeling keep addictions alive, and how facing emotion gently can bring you back to vitality.

What a Craving Really Is
Understanding cravings, reward loops, and how to calm them with mindful awareness and body-based tools.

Continue exploring: Browse the full podcast archive »

Self-criticism is one of the underlying reasons that people come to therapy. We all experience it. Recovering your self-esteem lies in NOT trying to be perfect.

We explore:

• What self-criticism is & how it shows up.
• The root of self-criticism
• How self-criticism goes hand in hand with binge-eating or compulsions.
• How you can stop criticising yourself so much

Maybe you’re frustrated with yourself for not being able to stop eating. Or maybe you know your triggers are emotional?

We dive into:

• The chemical, genetic, and physiological influences
• The effects of food availability, marketing, society, and habits
• Emotional reasons behind binge-eating

Stress & Nervous System Regulation Podcasts

Somatic Therapy Podcasts

If you’re ready to address the emotional roots of addiction, whether it’s a substance like food, love, or stress, you can book a free 15-minute call or a full session with Shelley Treacher.