Dana Kim
Dana Kim writes about addiction recovery, compulsive behavior, and behavioral change. Her work focuses on the mechanisms behind harmful patterns and evidence-based and practitioner-backed approaches to breaking them.
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Articles by Dana Kim
What Early Recovery Actually Feels Like
The first weeks of recovery often feel worse, not better, and that's not a sign you're doing it wrong. Here's what's actually happening underneath.
Online or In Person Recovery Programs, Which Works
A direct comparison of virtual and in-person recovery groups found that format didn't predict who stayed sober. Attendance did. Here's what that means for choosing a program.
How to Support Someone in Recovery Without Policing Them
Checking up on someone in recovery feels protective, but the research points the other way: connection lowers risk, surveillance pushes people toward hiding. Here's what to do instead.
What to Do in the Hours After a Relapse
The hours right after a relapse decide more than the relapse itself. Here is what to do instead of disappearing.
What Actually Reduces Phone Use, and What Does Not
A 2026 meta-analysis of 125 treatment studies shows which interventions for problematic phone and social media use actually work, and which ones you've probably already tried.
The Motivation Mechanics of NoFap
Motivation for quitting pornography fails for a specific, researched reason, not a willpower shortage. The fix is changing why you're doing it and who knows you're doing it.
Why Quitting Porn on Willpower Alone Keeps Failing
Another reset, another streak, another quiet failure. Research on motivation and recovery explains why willpower alone was never going to hold, and what does.
Why Accountability Is What Makes Recovery Hold
A 2026 study of 27 people in recovery found accountability drove sincerity and cut relapse by helping them become someone new, not just someone who abstains.
How to Get Motivated When You Have No Energy
The exhaustion in early recovery isn't a motivation problem, it's a measurable dip in attention and reward response that fades as sleep and the brain's reward system stabilize.
How to Stop Phone Addiction: What the Research Actually Says
Deleting apps rarely works because low mood usually comes first. Research on 584 students shows what actually drives phone addiction, and what helps.
Digital Peer Recovery Support Apps: The Scalability Gap Threatening Behavioral Health Equity
Digital peer support platforms promise to democratize addiction recovery, but a critical gap between clinical evidence and real-world implementation threatens to leave vulnerable populations behind. Here's what behavioral health policymakers and grant reviewers need to know about scaling these interventions effectively.
How Long Does Porn Recovery Take? Evidence-Based Timelines and What to Expect
Recovery timelines vary widely—from 90 days for mild cases to 1-2 years for severe compulsive use—but understanding the stages and what influences your personal timeline can help you set realistic expectations and stay committed.
How to Quit Porn: Evidence-Based Recovery Strategies That Work
Quitting pornography requires more than willpower. Research shows that structured recovery plans combining cognitive-behavioral techniques, accountability systems, and lifestyle changes produce lasting results for men struggling with compulsive use.
Accountability Partner Apps: Evidence-Based Tools for Recovery and Habit Change
Accountability partner apps combine peer support with structured tracking to address the isolation and low self-efficacy that derail recovery and habit-building efforts.
Anhedonia Treatment: Evidence-Based Strategies for Recovery
Anhedonia—the inability to feel pleasure—responds to structured treatment combining behavioral activation, physical exercise, dopamine regulation, and self-compassion. Recovery requires addressing both neurobiological and psychological factors through evidence-based interventions.
Dopamine Supplements: What Works (and What Doesn't) for Recovery and Habit-Building
**Dopamine supplements promise to restore motivation and focus during recovery, but most claims lack solid evidence.** While cold water exposure can boost dopamine by 250% for hours, amino acid precursors and herbal extracts show mixed results. Here's what the research actually says about supporting your brain's reward system.
What Is an Accountability Partner? (And How to Find One That Works)
An accountability partner is someone who regularly checks in on your progress toward a specific goal, creating external motivation and social support that makes behavior change more sustainable than willpower alone.
Phone Addiction Symptoms: 7 Warning Signs You're Hooked
Phone addiction manifests through compulsive checking, anxiety when separated from your device, and difficulty focusing on non-digital tasks. Research shows these symptoms mirror substance addiction patterns, affecting dopamine regulation and executive function.
What Color Represents Suicide Awareness? The Meaning Behind Purple and Teal
Purple and teal ribbons symbolize suicide awareness and prevention, each representing distinct aspects of the movement. Understanding these colors helps communities unite in supporting mental health and reducing stigma around suicidal ideation.
TikTok Addiction: Why You Can't Stop Scrolling (And What Science Says About It)
TikTok's infinite scroll and algorithm-driven content create a powerful dopamine loop that can hijack your brain's reward system. Research shows this isn't just a habit—it's a behavioral pattern that shares neural mechanisms with substance addiction.