Philosophy Stirred, Not Shaken

Addiction

On Brad Pitt’s Decision to Drink Again After 7 Years

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on August 11, 2026

Many people are weighing in on Brad Pitt’s decision to drink again after seven years of sobriety. Why does his decision matter, and why do so many feel authorized to judge?

Many people are weighing in on Brad Pitt’s decision to drink again after seven years of sobriety. Why does his decision matter, and why do so many feel authorized to judge?

Addiction

The Cost of Losing Self-Respect in Addiction

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on August 5, 2026

Addiction can easily destroy a person's self-respect. But does a deficit of self-respect make a person more vulnerable to developing an addiction?

Addiction can easily destroy a person's self-respect. But does a deficit of self-respect make a person more vulnerable to developing an addiction?

Fear

Ruled by Fearthought?

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on July 22, 2026

When people begin to orient their lives around remote or overblown fears, their world contracts and optimism disappears.

When people begin to orient their lives around remote or overblown fears, their world contracts and optimism disappears.

Addiction

Six Challenges Later in Addiction Recovery

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on July 15, 2026

People in long term recovery can generate challenges to their own sobriety. There are six challenges that we ourselves create but can overcome.

People in long term recovery can generate challenges to their own sobriety. There are six challenges that we ourselves create but can overcome.

Loneliness

Feeling Hollow In Everyday Life

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on July 8, 2026

Weariness and disconnection lend themselves to feeling hollow or empty. It is important to learn what fills us with meaning and purpose.

Weariness and disconnection lend themselves to feeling hollow or empty. It is important to learn what fills us with meaning and purpose.

Internet Addiction

Online Gambling and the Losses It Brings

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on July 1, 2026

Online gambling is rapidly expanding. Young men and senior citizens may be vulnerable to developing a gambling addiction with 24/7/365 betting opportunities on the phone.

Online gambling is rapidly expanding. Young men and senior citizens may be vulnerable to developing a gambling addiction with 24/7/365 betting opportunities on the phone.

Friends

Recalibrating Friendships when Someone Changes

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on June 24, 2026

When a person changes, their friendships may need to change as well. Old friendships may be retired or renovated while new ones are cultivated. All of this can be disorienting.

When a person changes, their friendships may need to change as well. Old friendships may be retired or renovated while new ones are cultivated. All of this can be disorienting.

Grief

The Art of Grieving Well

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on June 17, 2026

Grief has the potential to crush us. It is challenging for all of us, especially those in recovery from addiction. How do we learn to grieve appropriately and fully?

Grief has the potential to crush us. It is challenging for all of us, especially those in recovery from addiction. How do we learn to grieve appropriately and fully?

Relationships

Those We Love Are Only Ever on Loan to Us

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on June 10, 2026

Clooney was never truly mine; he was gift on loan from the universe. He was never mine to keep permanently. That would be against the natural order of things. We are most miserable when we try to circumvent life’s processes and rhythms.

Clooney was never truly mine; he was gift on loan from the universe. He was never mine to keep permanently. That would be against the natural order of things. We are most miserable when we try to circumvent life’s processes and rhythms.

Addiction

The Destruction of Joy, Meaning, and Value

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on June 3, 2026

"World sickness" provides a powerful framework for understanding the effects of acute or chronic suffering.

"World sickness" provides a powerful framework for understanding the effects of acute or chronic suffering.

Identity

When Roles Swamp Our Identities

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on May 27, 2026

We run the risk of losing ourselves to the roles we play in life. We take them to be all-defining, which is a form of self-deception aided and abetted by others.

We run the risk of losing ourselves to the roles we play in life. We take them to be all-defining, which is a form of self-deception aided and abetted by others.

Addiction

Why Some Balk at Surrendering in Recovery from Addiction

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on May 20, 2026

The concept of surrendering in addiction recovery is contentious. An alternative is renouncing, which can be empowering and liberating.

The concept of surrendering in addiction recovery is contentious. An alternative is renouncing, which can be empowering and liberating.

Addiction

Stuck in Unhealthy Patterns?

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on May 13, 2026

Human life is organized in patterns. Addiction comprises multiple and overlapping patterns. Recovery involves creating new ones.

Human life is organized in patterns. Addiction comprises multiple and overlapping patterns. Recovery involves creating new ones.

Addiction

Self-Doubt Corrodes Self-Respect

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on May 6, 2026

Self-doubt tends to spread like wildfire. People struggling with addiction or living with trauma know this well. The challenge is to tip the balance towards self-respect.

Self-doubt tends to spread like wildfire. People struggling with addiction or living with trauma know this well. The challenge is to tip the balance towards self-respect.

Addiction

Seven Challenges in Early Recovery From Addiction

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on April 29, 2026

While there are many externally imposed obstacles early in recovery, some of the biggest come from within us.

While there are many externally imposed obstacles early in recovery, some of the biggest come from within us.

Relationships

People-Pleasers Lose Themselves to Others

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on April 22, 2026

People-pleasing is a bad habit, which is like a fold in a piece of paper. People-pleasers are origami masters.

People-pleasing is a bad habit, which is like a fold in a piece of paper. People-pleasers are origami masters.

Relationships

Have You Ever Met an Emotional Gangster?

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on April 15, 2026

Emotional gangsters can successfully engage in emotional extorting, embezzling, bribing, and loan sharking. Here's how they do it.

Emotional gangsters can successfully engage in emotional extorting, embezzling, bribing, and loan sharking. Here's how they do it.

Relationships

Is Love Addiction Real?

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on April 8, 2026

The concept of romantic love addiction is gaining traction in popular culture. Is an addiction framework the best way to understand this form of suffering?

The concept of romantic love addiction is gaining traction in popular culture. Is an addiction framework the best way to understand this form of suffering?

Social Media

TikTok Is Designed to Get Users Hooked

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on April 1, 2026

TikTok creates hyper-personalized content that keeps people coming back, even as they report more distress from their increased use.

TikTok creates hyper-personalized content that keeps people coming back, even as they report more distress from their increased use.

Addiction

Know You’re Addicted but Not Ready to Change?

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on March 25, 2026

Accepting that you struggle with addictive behaviors isn’t enough by itself to change those behaviors. How can acceptance lead to a readiness to recover?

Accepting that you struggle with addictive behaviors isn’t enough by itself to change those behaviors. How can acceptance lead to a readiness to recover?