This episode explores the interconnected roles of forgiveness and gratitude in overcoming porn addiction. Against the backdrop of the Thanksgiving holiday, Dr. Trish Leigh, a brain health and sex addiction recovery coach, posits that these practices offer a pathway out of the self-soothing cycle often associated with pornography use. More significantly, the discussion details three aspects of forgiveness—offering, seeking, and feeling—and identifies five targets for forgiveness: oneself, others, a deity or the universe, community, and family. For instance, Dr. Leigh shares personal anecdotes, including her experience with her son's need for braces, to illustrate how self-forgiveness is crucial for personal growth and breaking intergenerational patterns. The episode concludes by offering practical "brain hack" strategies, emphasizing the "act-think-feel" approach for forgiveness and advocating for a deep and wide appreciation of life's blessings as a means of cultivating gratitude. This approach, Dr. Leigh argues, fosters positive neurological changes, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling life free from the grip of addiction.
