From War Zones to Malibu: What 20 Years in Crisis Psychology Taught Dr. Matthew Schumacher About AddictionFrom War Zones to Malibu: What 20 Years in Crisis Psychology Taught Dr. Matthew Schumacher About Addiction
Chasing Heroine: Addiction Recovery Podcast
Crisis psychologist Dr Matthew Schumacher shares what two decades in war zones, hospitals and law enforcement have taught him about addiction and mental health. The conversation focuses on dopamine balance, sleep, routine, and simple behavioural tools that can support recovery alongside deep therapeutic work.
1:10:34•1 Jun 2026
War Zones, Dopamine and Malibu Sun: Dr Schumacher on What Really Helps Addiction
Episode Overview
- Start by asking yourself honestly, "Where does it hurt?" and use that as the foundation for seeking help.
- Try behavioural activation: 30–60 minutes of genuinely enjoyable, active time (sunlight, walking, movement) several times a week to lift low mood.
- Work on a consistent sleep and wake routine, as poor sleep and irregular hours can quietly undermine recovery.
- Experiment with short breaks from constant inputs (phone, podcasts, stimulants) to test for balance versus dependence.
- Use peer connection and honest group sharing to reduce shame and realise others have faced similar struggles.
“No, I’ll start with asking where does it hurt and how can I help.”
What makes a recovery story truly inspiring? Chasing Heroine turns that question on its head by bringing in people who treat addiction on the front lines, and this time the spotlight is on crisis psychologist Dr Matthew Schumacher. Across 20 years, he’s gone from Stanford’s bipolar disorders clinic to four war zones with the Navy, into LA County counterterrorism work, and finally to a boutique treatment centre in Malibu. His first question to new clients?
“No, I’ll start with asking where does it hurt and how can I help.” It’s simple, but it hits hard for anyone who’s spent years feeling unseen. This Monday episode leans heavily into education for people in or around addiction, mood disorders, or burnout.
You’ll hear Dr Schumacher and host Jeannine chat about dopamine and balance, why our phones and constant stimulation keep us stuck, and how short “dopamine fasts” can show whether something is a habit or veering into addiction. He breaks down behavioural activation – 30–60 minutes of genuinely pleasurable activity like sunlight, movement or a walk on the beach – as an old-school but highly effective depression treatment.
Sleep and routine come up again and again: getting up and going to bed at roughly the same time, rebuilding social rhythm, and helping the body “get a vote” in your wellbeing. The episode also touches on bipolar disorder, military and law enforcement mental health, moral injury, and why peer connection in groups (“magic in the milieu”) can sometimes reach people in ways professionals can’t.
The tone stays candid, occasionally funny, and emotionally honest, with Jeannine openly moved by the question, “Where does it hurt?” If you’re wondering whether structure, sunlight and honest conversation could actually shift your recovery, this conversation might have you rethinking what real change looks like.
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