Honesty That Heals: Why Secrets Fuel Anxiety (and Openness Matters) | American Recovery

Can honesty actually improve anxiety, health, and recovery? Clinical psychologist Dr. Suzette Glasner (UCLA Psychiatry) joins Aaron Prager to break down the science behind honesty, shame, cortisol, relapse, and why secrets keep people stuck. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why stress can be the “relapse before the relapse” The difference between guilt vs. shame (and why shame sabotages recovery) How cortisol and the stress system affect decision-making Why mindfulness + self-compassion can improve outcomes for anxiety + addiction What actually helps the brain recover in early sobriety (including exercise + dopamine recovery) If you’re navigating addiction recovery, anxiety, toxic relationships, or behavioral addictions like gambling—this episode gives practical, evidence-based insight without shame. Guest: Dr. Suzette Glasner, licensed clinical psychologist, UCLA Dept. of Psychiatry, author of Addiction: What Everyone Needs to Know. #Recovery #Honesty #AddictionRecovery #Anxiety #MentalHealth #Mindfulness #SelfCompassion #Trauma #Sobriety 📲 Watch our content ad-free on our app: https://prageru.onelink.me/3bas/vgyxvm79 Donate to PragerU: https://l.prageru.com/4jiAT85 Follow Aaron Prager: Instagram ➡️ (https://www.instagram.com/theaaronprager/) X ➡️ (https://x.com/theaaronprager/) Follow Dr. Suzette: Instagram ➡️ (https://www.instagram.com/drglasner) Youtube ➡️ (https://youtube.com/drglasner/) X ➡️ (https://x.com/tdrglasnerphd/) Follow PragerU: Instagram ➡️ (https://www.instagram.com/prageru/) X ➡️ (https://twitter.com/prageru) Facebook ➡️ (https://www.facebook.com/prageru/) TikTok ➡️ (https://www.tiktok.com/@prageru)