Our brains get used to big dopamine bursts from alcohol and this makes natural rewards like walking, nice weather, or spending time with friends or loved ones not have as much of an impact. When you get sober and you can’t get that dopamine boost from alcohol anymore, life can feel flat, boring, and like why bother. In this episode I’m going to explain why we feel a lack of pleasure, or anhedonia, in early sobriety, what months are the toughest, what causes this to happen in the brain, and when you can expect to feel joy, pleasure and gratitude again.
What to listen to next:
E62: dopamine deep dive
E99: why we can never drink again
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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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E222: 6 Neurotransmitters That Get Messed Up By Alcohol
E221: 5 Ways to Redefine Fun Without Alcohol
E220: The Hippocampus and Alcohol: Blackouts, Memory Deficits, and Learned Associations
E219: 7 Healthy Lifestyle Changes to Support Your Sobriety
E218: In the Moment Craving vs Constant Craving
E217: Warm Weather: 3 Reasons We Think Alcohol is Required
E216: 4 Types of Impulsivity: Which One Are You?
E215: 5 Different Ways of Thinking About Sobriety
E214: Self-Medicating with Alcohol
E213: Self-Care is NOT Temporarily Turning Off Your Brain (Getting "Me Time")
E212: Why Some People Get Sober and Others Don’t (Resilience and Epigenetics)
E211: The Anticipation of the Drink
E210: Good News, Your Brain Heals A LOT After 90 Days Sober… Unless You Relapse
E209: How Porn Addiction Affects the Brain
E208: Stress, Depression and Our Eating Habits
E207: 15 Milestones to Look Forward to in Sobriety (Sober Timeline)
E206: HALT: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired
E205: Kindling in Alcohol Withdrawal
E204: Can Anyone Get Addicted to Alcohol?
E203: Why You Still Want Alcohol Even When You Hate It (It’s Dopamine!)
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