Garrett Irwin’s Reviews > Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence > Status Update
Garrett Irwin
is on page 232 of 290
Conclusion (Cont.)
I urge you to find a way to immerse yourself fully in the life you have been given. Stop running from whatever you are facing, and then I dare you to run towards it. The world may reveal something to you.
“Recovery is like that scene from Harry Potter when Dumbledore walks down a dark alley lighting lamps along the way. Once he gets to the end he turns around and sees all the progress he made.
— Feb 22, 2026 09:36PM
I urge you to find a way to immerse yourself fully in the life you have been given. Stop running from whatever you are facing, and then I dare you to run towards it. The world may reveal something to you.
“Recovery is like that scene from Harry Potter when Dumbledore walks down a dark alley lighting lamps along the way. Once he gets to the end he turns around and sees all the progress he made.
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Garrett’s Previous Updates
Garrett Irwin
is on page 233 of 290
Conclusion (Cont.)
Here we are at the end, but it could just be the beginning of a new way of approaching the hyper-medicated, overstimulated, pleasure-saturated world of today. Practice the lessons of the balance, so that you can look back at the light of your progress.
— Feb 22, 2026 09:38PM
Here we are at the end, but it could just be the beginning of a new way of approaching the hyper-medicated, overstimulated, pleasure-saturated world of today. Practice the lessons of the balance, so that you can look back at the light of your progress.
Garrett Irwin
is on page 231 of 290
Conclusion
We all want a break from the tough standards we put on ourselves, so we are drawn to the pleasures of the world. The so very many of them. But instead of seeking oblivion by escaping from the world, we run towards it.
Story of Muhammad, addicted to cannabis. Went on a hike and was being overwhelmed by thoughts of previous use. Then found a love for photography in nature.
— Feb 22, 2026 09:34PM
We all want a break from the tough standards we put on ourselves, so we are drawn to the pleasures of the world. The so very many of them. But instead of seeking oblivion by escaping from the world, we run towards it.
Story of Muhammad, addicted to cannabis. Went on a hike and was being overwhelmed by thoughts of previous use. Then found a love for photography in nature.
Garrett Irwin
is on page 223 of 290
Destructive sham- Relapsing, shame, lying, back to using
Pro-social shame- Relapsing, shame, radical truth, acceptance and escaping
Example of Lori and her “expected” shame she would receive for her church led her to never brining it up even when in medicine addictions. She was using destructive shame and never wanted to tell the church. AA is an example of prosocial shame, where they accept who they are
— Feb 22, 2026 01:26PM
Pro-social shame- Relapsing, shame, radical truth, acceptance and escaping
Example of Lori and her “expected” shame she would receive for her church led her to never brining it up even when in medicine addictions. She was using destructive shame and never wanted to tell the church. AA is an example of prosocial shame, where they accept who they are
Garrett Irwin
is on page 192 of 290
Radical Honesty (Cont.)
Being Radically honest leads to three things
1. Awareness
2. Intimate human connection
3. Creates Accountability
“The antidote to the false self is the authentic self. Radical honesty is a way to get there.”
— Feb 20, 2026 11:37AM
Being Radically honest leads to three things
1. Awareness
2. Intimate human connection
3. Creates Accountability
“The antidote to the false self is the authentic self. Radical honesty is a way to get there.”
Garrett Irwin
is on page 191 of 290
Radical Honesty- Chapter 8
Maria grew up with alcohol addiction in here house. Learned to hide it and lie about what was going on at home. Ended up doing the same when she became an addict in her early 20s. She started lying about random things, not even related to her addiction, and sometimes didn’t make sense. Lied about where she was, why she came home late, what she had for lunch.
— Feb 20, 2026 11:35AM
Maria grew up with alcohol addiction in here house. Learned to hide it and lie about what was going on at home. Ended up doing the same when she became an addict in her early 20s. She started lying about random things, not even related to her addiction, and sometimes didn’t make sense. Lied about where she was, why she came home late, what she had for lunch.
Garrett Irwin
is on page 159 of 290
Micheal was addicted cocaine and alcohol. Decided to stop for marriage, found that he had no emotions when he stopped. Decided to start taking cold showers and ice baths, which then he felt really good after.
- The idea of pressing in on the pain side, to feel the pleasurable side. (Working out, cold baths, fasting)
“Just as pain is the price we pay for pleasure, so too is pleasure our reward for pain.”
— Feb 16, 2026 10:31PM
- The idea of pressing in on the pain side, to feel the pleasurable side. (Working out, cold baths, fasting)
“Just as pain is the price we pay for pleasure, so too is pleasure our reward for pain.”
Garrett Irwin
is on page 118 of 290
3.) Categorial Self-Binding
All the kinds of diet. Limit the problem, but just enough to keep one thing. Can be used in a positive way. Jasmine who drank 10 beers a day, limited all alcohol (physical binding) in house, but kept one in fridge. Helped her to think of just not drinking this one single beer, instead of all the alcohol in her house.
“Binding ourselves is a way to be free.”
— Feb 14, 2026 09:34PM
All the kinds of diet. Limit the problem, but just enough to keep one thing. Can be used in a positive way. Jasmine who drank 10 beers a day, limited all alcohol (physical binding) in house, but kept one in fridge. Helped her to think of just not drinking this one single beer, instead of all the alcohol in her house.
“Binding ourselves is a way to be free.”
Garrett Irwin
is on page 110 of 290
2.) Chronological Self-Binding
The act of trying to impose time limits. I will only smoke once, then only on weekends, then only on days I have classes, then only on days I don’t have exams, then only before 9am. Once we partake in our drug of choice, we aren’t ruled by time, but by our pleasure pain balance.
-less work means more leisure activity time
— Feb 14, 2026 09:20PM
The act of trying to impose time limits. I will only smoke once, then only on weekends, then only on days I have classes, then only on days I don’t have exams, then only before 9am. Once we partake in our drug of choice, we aren’t ruled by time, but by our pleasure pain balance.
-less work means more leisure activity time
