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In this episode of Looking 4 Healing Radio, Dr. Ben dives deep into a transformative framework called The Four Universal Addictions — and how these hidden psychological patterns quietly sabotage your ability to make lasting diet and lifestyle changes.
If you’ve ever wondered why you keep slipping back into old habits, or why healing feels harder than it “should” be, this episode is a wake-up call. Dr. Ben walks through each of the four addictions and shows how they’re not just philosophical ideas — they’re directly impacting your food choices, your mindset, and your health outcomes.
1. The Addiction to Intensity
This is the addiction most people recognize — dopamine hits from processed food, alcohol, drugs, sugar, drama, social media, or even crisis cycles. Dr. Ben explains how this addiction makes healthy living feel “boring” in comparison, leading us to subconsciously sabotage slow, steady healing in favor of quick fixes and stimulation. You can’t heal if you’re hooked on chaos.
2. The Addiction to Perfection
This one keeps people stuck in the “all or nothing” trap. If they can’t do it perfectly, they don’t do it at all. Dr. Ben shares how this mindset keeps people from starting, restarting, or staying consistent with diet and lifestyle changes. Healing doesn’t require perfection — it requires commitment. Progress beats perfection every time.
3. The Addiction to Certainty (aka Needing to Know)
Many people delay taking action because they want all the answers first. They want to research more, know more, and feel 100% sure before committing. But healing doesn’t work like that. You’ll never have total certainty, and waiting for it just stalls your progress. Dr. Ben reminds listeners: You already know enough to get started. Take the leap.
4. The Addiction to Focusing on What’s Not Working
This is the mindset that keeps people stuck in victim mode. Instead of focusing on their wins or what is improving, they obsess over symptoms, setbacks, and what hasn’t changed yet. Dr. Ben explains how this focus rewires your brain to stay stuck — and how shifting your attention to gratitude, progress, and possibility is crucial for healing.
Throughout the episode, Dr. Ben shares examples from real-life clients and his own journey, showing how these addictions play out in everyday decisions — from the foods we eat to the stories we tell ourselves.
The big takeaway? Healing isn’t just about food. It’s about mindset. And these four addictions are often the invisible chains holding people back from making the changes they already know they need to make.
If you’re serious about getting better, this episode is a must-listen. You’ll walk away with clarity, self-awareness, and practical tools to start breaking free from the patterns that are keeping you sick, stuck, or spinning in circles.
Connect with Dr. Ben:
> http://www.instagram.com/dr.benjaminbenulis
> http://www.facebook.com/DrBenjaminBenulis
Book a consult call with Dr. Ben:
> www.drbenjaminbenulis.com
Dr. Ben’s book:
> www.createhealthbook.com
Looking 4 Healing Radio can be heard on weekdays at 11 am ET. Listen on iHeart Radio, our world-class media player, or our free apps on Apple, Android, or Alexa. All episodes of Looking 4 Healing Radio can be found on podcast networks worldwide the day after airing on talk radio.
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