Episoder

  • The hippocampus is an important part of the brain, which is unfortunately very vulnerable to alcohol. It is most well-known for its role in blackouts, but damage to the hippocampus from our drinking can cause problems with everyday memory too, like telling someone the same story over and over again. The hippocampus has a lesser known, but very important role in learned associations. Associations are cues in the environment that help us predict an alcohol reward, so they cause cravings to drink. In this episode, I’ll describe how alcohol damages the hippocampus to cause blackouts, impair our memory, and form associations with alcohol. You’ll learn how this damage persists in sobriety and how long it takes for the hippocampus to heal.

    Sober Powered Skills Bonus Episode: 3 Ways to Improve Hippocampus Function
    https://www.soberpowered.com/skills

    What to listen to next
    E211: the anticipation of a drink
    E218: in the moment craving vs constant craving
    E196: how the brain recovers in sobriety
    E210: the brain heals a lot in 90 days (unless you relapse)
    E191: going back and forth makes your cravings stronger


    Sober Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Sober Powered Skills (bonus episodes with practical application and coping skills) https://www.soberpowered.com/skills


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

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  • Our lifestyle can make our sobriety easier or harder. When we quit drinking, things have to change. We can’t keep coming home to the same old routine but just not drink. In this episode I’ll explain 7 lifestyle changes that you can make overtime to support your sobriety and why these changes are helpful. 
    What to listen to next:
    E188: wellness over weight loss
    E213: self-care is NOT temporarily turning off your brain

    Sober Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Sober Powered Skills (bonus episodes with practical application and coping skills) https://www.soberpowered.com/skills


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

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  • There are 2 types of alcohol cravings that you may experience as you quit drinking: sudden, in the moment cravings or constant all day cravings. In this episode, you’ll learn about both types and 3 reasons we crave alcohol. I’ve experienced both types of cravings so I will share my experience and help you understand why you keep craving alcohol and where to get started in minimizing your cravings.
    What to listen to next:
    E191: going back and forth makes your cravings stronger
    E205: kindling in alcohol withdrawal
    E128: why cravings are so powerful (attentional bias)
    E216: 4 types of impulsivity
    E211: the anticipation of the drink
    E206: HALT: hungry, angry, lonely, tired
    E203: why you still want alcohol even when you hate it

    Sober Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Sober Powered Skills (bonus episodes with practical application and coping skills) https://www.soberpowered.com/skills


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • The weather is getting warmer and we start thinking about how everyone’s going to be on the porch or at restaurants drinking, how nice that looks, and how left out we feel for not participating. It’s normal to see other people drinking and wish you could do it too. In this episode we’ll talk about 3 reasons why we think alcohol is required when the weather is warm. It’s a mix of science, conditioning, awareness and being honest with ourselves. 
    What to listen to next:
    E179 we have to grieve alcohol (its ok to miss it)
    E211 the anticipation

    Sober Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Sober Powered Skills (bonus episodes with practical application and coping skills) https://www.soberpowered.com/skills


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    7 tips for your next 7 days sober https://soberpowered.myflodesk.com/7tips



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

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  • We don’t drink because we’re losers with no self-control. A lot of times we drink because we can’t handle emotions, we get the F its, and we keep convincing ourselves it will be different this time. These are all different types of impulsivity. In this episode, you’ll learn 4 different impulsive traits and how these influence our drinking. I’ll explain which one I am, how this caused big urges to drink in sobriety, and at the end of the episode I’ll give you some criteria to understand which type of impulsivity you are so you have an idea of what to work on moving forward.
    What to listen to next:
    E55: how to power thru when you want to give up
    E202: wtf is the work
    E211: the anticipation of the drink
    E170: why the first year of sobriety is so hard (reward system healing)

    Bonus: The ONE Skill to Start With to Become Less Impulsive
    Listen here: https://www.soberpowered.com/skills

    Sober Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Do we “get” to be sober or do we have to be sober? What if you don’t want to glamorize sobriety or think about alcohol as a class one carcinogen? Do you have to call yourself an alcoholic to quit drinking for good? In this episode I’m explaining how we think we are different from everyone else and 5 different ways I’ve seen the sober community talk about sobriety. At the end of the episode I’ll share how to know if your thinking is helping you quit drinking or keeping you trapped in the cycle with excuses and unrealistic expectations.
    What to listen to next:
    E138: 5 ways problem drinkers think differently
    E204: can anyone get addicted to alcohol?

    Sober Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Sober Powered Skills (bonus episodes with practical application and coping skills) https://www.soberpowered.com/skills


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • We drink to cope because it seems to help us manage anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, etc., but self-medicating with alcohol only makes your problems worse. Drinking to cope increases our risk of developing a problem and in this episode I’ll explain why. You’ll learn how much more likely coping drinkers are to develop a problem, how this makes it harder to quit drinking, and how drinking to cope differs for men and women.
    What to listen to next:
    E111 Drinking alone
    E206 HALT
    E212 resilience

    Bonus Episode: 2 Ways to Reduce Chaos and Overwhelm in Your Life
    https://www.soberpowered.com/skills

    Sober Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Sober Powered Skills (bonus episodes with practical application and coping skills) https://www.soberpowered.com/skills


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.




    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • We think that turning off our brain with alcohol at the end of the day is “me time” and it’s the only way to get a break. This isn’t self-care, it’s called being depleted and trying to survive a life that drains you. Poor self-care is one of the most reliable predictors of relapse in people trying to get sober. It’s important and in this episode I’m explaining what self-care is, how we can navigate transition times, and 5 simple ways you can begin to prioritize self-care in your life. I’ve been slacking hard on my self-care for a while, so I’ll also explain how this has been impacting me and my plan to stop depleting myself moving forward.
    What to listen to next:
    E188: wellness over weight loss

    Sober Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Sober Powered Skills (bonus episodes with practical application and coping skills) https://www.soberpowered.com/skills


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • It’s frustrating if you keep trying to stop drinking, but aren’t succeeding. We’ve discussed the brain changes that make it more difficult in a few recent episodes, but there are other factors as well. In this episode we’ll discuss the difference in how people handle the same life circumstances and stressors, and what determines whether you will be resilient in the face of stress and hardship. You’ll learn about epigenetic changes that make it more difficult to be resilient and how your family, friends and support system plays a role.
    Sober Powered Skills bonus episode: 3 Skills to Practice to Improve Your Resilience
    https://www.soberpowered.com/skills

    What to listen to next
    E149: alcohol and the nervous system
    E210: good news, your brain heals A Lot within 90 days… unless you relapse
    E204: why some people get addicted and others don't
    Bullying story:
    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/38-sober-powered-a-coffee-with-gillian-tietz/id1653657536?i=1000623771932
    https://www.recoveryelevator.com/re-461-wait-you-drink-poison/

    Sober Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Anticipation of the reward from alcohol is one of the main reasons we stay stuck in the back and forth cycle. We believe alcohol will help us relax, unwind, deal with negative emotions, have fun, or connect with others. This is what causes cravings for alcohol. In this episode I’ll explain how we learn to associate certain things with drinking, how we can break these associations after we quit drinking, and 2 ways that you can reduce cravings.
    What to listen to next:
    E62: dopamine deep dive
    E197: making the decision to quit drinking
    E143: how to stay accountable in your sobriety
    E128: why cravings are so powerful 

    Sober Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Sober Powered Skills (bonus episodes with practical application and coping skills) https://www.soberpowered.com/skills


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Significant brain healing can happen within the first few months of being sober. Finally some good news for us, right? In this episode you’ll learn more about how alcohol damages the brain to make it harder to stay sober and how the brains of people who are able to stay sober differ from those who go on to relapse. It’s not just deciding that you’re done with drinking and that’s it. That’s what we observe other people do who aren’t addicted and then we feel like losers with no self-control when we do the same. The problem is, when you drink heavily long term it changes your brain and this makes it hard for the brain to function properly.
    What to listen to next:
    E196: how the brain heals in sobriety
    E191: going back and forth makes your cravings stronger
    E205: kindling in alcohol withdrawal
    E202: wtf is "the work"

    Sober Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Sober Powered Skills (bonus episodes with practical application and coping skills) https://www.soberpowered.com/skills


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Quiz: what should you focus on to stay sober? https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/661458075c79120015d2eb4f


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.



    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Behavioral addictions are stigmatized because they feel like more of a choice because there’s no substance changing your brain. However, process addictions or behavioral addictions like porn do actually change the brain in similar ways. In this episode I’ll explain why porn is so addicting, brain changes from porn, and how porn influences us to objectify women and see them as sex objects. Porn has another layer of addictiveness beyond brain changes, it causes novelty seeking. This destroys relationships and I will explain more about why porn promotes novelty seeking, being unable to enjoy regular sex, and warning signs to look out for that you or a loved one are addicted to porn.
    What to listen to next:
    E170: Why the First Year of Sobriety is so Hard (it's Dopamine!)
    E128: Why Cravings are So Powerful (Attentional Bias)
    E203: Why You Still Want Alcohol Even When You Hate It (It’s Dopamine!)
    E201: Your Dysregulated Stress Response
    E202: WTF is “The Work”?
    E204: Can Anyone Get Addicted to Alcohol?

    Get support for porn addiction:
    Porn Addicts Anonymous (12 Steps) https://www.pornaddictsanonymous.org/
    The Addicted Mind Podcast https://theaddictedmind.com/episode-260-unraveling-the-complexities-of-sex-and-porn-addiction-with-dr-paula-hall/
    The Addicted Mind Shame Webinar https://theaddictedmind.com/shame
    Therapy Brothers Podcast (Call in Show) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/therapy-brothers/id1500794877
    Unhooked Podcast Breaking Porn Addiction https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unhooked-breaking-porn-addiction-podcast/id1648984850
    Relay App https://www.joinrelay.app/porn-recovery
    Find a therapist that specializes in porn addiction (sort by zip code, insurance, and select sex addiction under "issue") https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists


    Get Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Quiz: what should you focus on to stay sober? https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/661458075c79120015d2eb4f


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • We do the same thing with our diet that we do with our drinking- our eating habits aren’t great, but they’re not bad either so it feels manageable. Our food quality impacts our mental health and stress levels though. I’ve been struggling with fatigue and depression, so it got me interested in the link. In this episode I’m explaining the importance of breakfast and a high quality diet. You’ll learn how what you eat impacts the way you feel, how stressed you are, and how this makes us more likely to reach for a drink or to emotionally eat at the end of the day. 
    What to listen to next:
    E201: your dysregulated stress response
    E188: wellness over weight loss

    Get Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Quiz: what is causing your alcohol cravings? https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/65db8de55d674c92e333e001


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • There are lots of great things that happen when you quit drinking, but we can get distracted by wanting everything to be easy and perfect. In this episode I’m sharing 15 things you can look forward to from day 2 to years of sobriety. Wherever you’re at in your journey, this episode will remind you of some of the best things about being sober.
    What to listen to next:
    E17: alcohol and the heart
    E169: alcohol and gut health
    E159, 161, 162: physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits from quitting drinking
    E188: wellness over weight loss
    E75: how sleep recovers in sobriety
    E157: brain fog and fatigue
    E175: 5 ways to boost your energy
    E170: why the first year of sobriety is so hard (it's dopamine)

    Get Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Quiz: what is causing your alcohol cravings? https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/65db8de55d674c92e333e001


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • You’ve probably heard of the acronym HALT, hungry, angry, lonely, tired. These are all triggers for relapse because they influence our ability to think things through and wait. These feelings make us impulsive, overwhelmed, and more likely to go for an instant gratification choice like drinking, even when we know we want to stay sober. In this episode I’m explaining why these 4 conditions are triggering. 
    What to listen to next:
    E192: E192: Do You Need a Drink or Are You Just Hungry? (Alcohol & Ghrelin)
    E186: Anger Management in Sobriety
    E199: Frustration Tolerance
    E157: Fatigue and Brain Fog in Early Sobriety
    E175: Tired After Quitting Drinking? Here’s How to Boost Your Energy Levels
    E159: What to Expect Physically When You Quit Drinking
    E161: What to Expect Emotionally When You Quit Drinking
    E162: What to Expect Cognitively When You Quit Drinking

    Get Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Quiz: what is causing your alcohol cravings? https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/65db8de55d674c92e333e001


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • For some of us, each time we go through withdrawal, the next withdrawal is worse. This is called kindling and in this episode I’m explaining what kindling is and how it happens. You’ll learn why we get withdrawal symptoms when we quit drinking, what delirium tremens is, and how kindling makes it harder to get sober. I’ll also discuss what counts as a cycle of withdrawal and what doesn’t.
    What to listen to next:
    E191: Going Back and Forth Makes Your Cravings Stronger
    E201: Your Dysregulated Stress Response
    E203: Why You Still Want Alcohol Even When You Hate It (It’s Dopamine!)
    E22: Why You Think Alcohol Helps Your Anxiety
    E180: Why Your Drinking Gets Worse Over Time, Not Better
    E196: How the Brain Recovers After Quitting Drinking
    E170: Here’s Why Early Sobriety is So Hard (it’s dopamine)
    E161: What to Expect Emotionally in Early Sobriety

    Get Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Quiz: what is causing your alcohol cravings? https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/65db8de55d674c92e333e001


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Is everyone on the slow path towards addiction? Are all moderate drinkers a little bit addicted? We know alcohol is an addictive substance that gets us hooked and then changes our brains to keep us hooked, but why does this process even start? In this episode I’ll explain 15 risk factors that can lead us to become addicted to alcohol. You’ll learn about emotional factors, genetic factors, and life circumstances that influence the risk of developing a problem with alcohol.
    What to listen to next:
    E177: 4 years sober. Why did this happen to me?
    E199: frustration tolerance
    E203: why you want alcohol even when you hate it
    E71 and 72: trauma episodes
    E29: how alcohol affects the teen brain
    E201: your dysregulated stress response (cortisol)
    E202: wtf is "the work"?
    E88: sibling studies: why one gets addicted and the other doesn't

    Get Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Weekly emails on Thursdays https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Quiz: what is causing your alcohol cravings? https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/65db8de55d674c92e333e001


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Drinking stops being fun and enjoyable, but we continue to do it anyway. Why is this? We know it makes us miserable and we want to stop, but by 4pm or after a few days or weeks of sober time we talk ourselves back into it. In this episode you’ll learn about the adaptations that happen in the brain as we drink heavily and how this leads to compulsive drinking despite the consequences. I’ll explain how alcohol changes our dopamine system to increase cravings, prevent us from stopping once we’ve started, and keep us hooked on alcohol long after it’s stopped being fun. We’ll end by discussing why we continue to drink at this point and how this recovers in sobriety.
    What to listen to next:
    E22: why you think alcohol helps your anxiety
    E125: why you can't stop drinking once you start
    E170: why the first year of sobriety is so hard
    E128: why cravings are so powerful
    E201: your dysregulated stress response
    E33: why does drinking make us feel energized?
    E157: brain fog and fatigue

    Get Support:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Sober Group Coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/sober-coaching


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Weekly emails on Thursdays with the sober tip of the week, announcements, interviews, and more. https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Quiz: what is causing your alcohol cravings? https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/65db8de55d674c92e333e001


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    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

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  • I talk about doing “the work” a lot on this podcast, so let’s talk about what that work is. In this episode I’ll explain what the work is, roadblocks to doing the work, how you can get started and detours to be aware of on the journey. You’ll learn about victim mentality, blaming others, and if we have to do “the work” forever.
    What to listen to next:
    E189: rumination
    E197: making the decision to quit drinking

    Resources I offer:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Sober Group Coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/sober-coaching


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Weekly emails on Thursdays with the sober tip of the week, announcements, interviews, and more. https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Quiz: what is causing your alcohol cravings? https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/65db8de55d674c92e333e001


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • This episode is everything you need to know about cortisol, stress and alcohol. I’ll explain how our stress system adapts to both chronic stress and chronic heavy drinking, how multiple cycles of withdrawal impacts this adaptation, how this causes more cravings, and what this means for our ability to cope with life. We think alcohol helps take the edge off and reduce our stress levels, but it actually just makes us less resilient. 
    What to listen to next:
    E191: Going Back and Forth Makes Your Cravings Stronger
    E22: Why You Think Alcohol Helps Your Anxiety

    Resources I offer:

    Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership


    Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger


    Weekly emails on Thursdays with the sober tip of the week, announcements, interviews, and more. https://www.soberpowered.com/email


    Quiz: what is causing your alcohol cravings? https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/65db8de55d674c92e333e001


    Free resources https://www.soberpowered.com/free



     
    Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:
    https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

    If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered
    Sources are posted on my website
    Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices