Beyond Bad Choices

Episode Title: "Why the Pain: Rethinking Addiction"

In this thought-provoking episode of Mosaic Minds, hosts Mímir and Zarya dive deep into the complexities of addiction—what it is, what it isn’t, and why society’s understanding of it is long overdue for an upgrade.

Drawing on insights from The Urge by Carl Erik Fisher and The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté, this episode unpacks the evolution of addiction from a theological concept of devotion to a stigmatized disease model. The hosts challenge common myths about "bad drugs," "addictive personalities," and the simplistic notion of "bad choices," offering a nuanced view grounded in interpersonal biology, trauma, and societal context.

You’ll explore:

• How addiction is shaped not just by substances, but by pain and disconnection
• Why social environment plays a pivotal role in both addiction and recovery
• How modern medicine helps—and sometimes hinders—our approach to treatment
• Why the real question isn't "why addiction?" but "why the pain?"

This is a powerful and compassionate reframe of addiction as a deeply human response to suffering, and a call to shift from blame to understanding.

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