Sober Powered: The Neuroscience of Being Sober – Details, episodes & analysis

It’s very normal to feel bored when you quit drinking. We get used to constant excitement, dopamine and chaos while we’re drinking, so it can be difficult to adjust. Plus, many of us give up our hobbies that don’t involve alcohol, so when we get sober we don’t know what to do with all of our free time. In this episode I’m going to discuss why some of us are prone to boredom when we try to stop drinking. Throughout the episode I am going to build on our definition of boredom and why it develops. Then we’ll discuss strategies for managing boredom in sobriety. What to listen to next: E162: what to expect cognitively when you quit drinking E235: dopamine and loss of control E226: using alcohol to escape your life E228: why alcohol automatically captures and holds your attention Sober Support: Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership Tired in Early Sobriety Course https://www.soberpowered.com/why-am-i-so-tired-after-quitting-drinking Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger Weekly emails on Fridays https://www.soberpowered.com/email   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

Emotional eating is a very frustrating thing to deal with, and it’s not uncommon to eat extra or have sugar cravings when you get sober. In this episode I’ll explain why we emotionally eat, the factors that contribute to emotional eating the most, and how this relates to your sobriety. You’ll learn about a lot of different studies on emotional eating and I will share tips for dealing with it if you’re struggling. What to listen to next: E41: why sober people want so much sugar E165: I quit sugar for 30 days E188: wellness over weight loss E138: why we can’t moderate (D2 receptors) Sober Support: Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership Tired in Early Sobriety Course https://www.soberpowered.com/why-am-i-so-tired-after-quitting-drinking Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger Weekly emails on Fridays https://www.soberpowered.com/email   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

Everyone loves dopamine right now. We know it’s involved in addiction and pleasure, and that it gets depleted when we drink. In this episode, I’m going to explain dopamine’s role in motivation, cravings, and building associations with our drinking. One of the earliest signs of addiction is loss of control, so how dopamine contributes to us being unable to control how much alcohol we drink. This episode is part of a 9 episode series for Dry July 2024. Make sure to follow my podcast so you don't miss the rest of the series. Dry July Sober Powered Skills Special Dry July Course 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 Fridays 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

Fatigue and brain fog are two of the more unexpected symptoms you may experience in early sobriety and they can drag on for a bit. In this episode you’ll learn why you may be exhausted when you quit drinking and why you have trouble focusing. Just like with extra anxiety in early sobriety, fatigue and brain fog can increase the risk of relapse too, so understanding why this is going on is the first step to fighting it and sticking with your commitment to quit drinking. I’ll also cover 3 strategies for coping with brain fog and exhaustion. What to listen to next: E122: how exercise can help your recovery E58: how alcohol causes cancer E75: sleep recovery in sobriety E128: why cravings are so powerful Resources I offer: Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership The Sober Mindset Course https://www.soberpowered.com/the-sober-mindset-course (Free Private Podcast) 5 Blocks Holding You Back From Quitting Drinking https://www.soberpowered.com/5blocks Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5 Ask a question, it could appear on the show! https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJA   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

I’ve realized over time we forget parts of the struggle. In interacting with my community I get reminded of the things I went through in my first few weeks and months. I know a lot of people look for sober tips, so I asked the members of my Living a Sober Powered Life community to share their favorite tips with you. I’ve collected 55 tips all from regular people just like you in various stages of sobriety. Get connected with the community here https://www.soberpowered.com/membership What to listen to next: E143: felt accountability E18: how I handle my husband's drinking E77: are NA drinks ok to drink? Resources I offer: Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership The Sober Mindset Course https://www.soberpowered.com/the-sober-mindset-course (Free Private Podcast) 5 Blocks Holding You Back From Quitting Drinking https://www.soberpowered.com/5blocks Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5 Ask a question, it could appear on the show! https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJA   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

One of the most common issues I see with people is that they lose their motivation to stay sober and keep going back and forth getting a few days or a couple weeks in and then drinking again. We search for inspirational quotes on Instagram and wonder why everyone else can figure it out and not us. Your lack of motivation to stay sober is not because you’re a loser, like with everything I say it’s based on how alcohol changes the brain. This month’s workshop in my Living a Sober Powered Life community was all about motivation. I explained where motivation comes from, how drinking alcohol changes our brain to make us less motivated and effort-averse over time, how the brain determines if something is worth the effort, and I shared 3 in the moment strategies to stay on track when your motivation fades and 3 ways to prevent your motivation from fading. Please enjoy this short preview and if you’d like to join us for future workshops, then you can get more information here: https://www.soberpowered.com/membership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Work is a major trigger to drink and it has been one of my biggest struggles in my adult life (aka my stupid belief). In this episode I explain my career struggles from when I was a teacher to working in biotech, and why I decided to quit biotech. You'll learn where my stupid belief started, my journey with not getting a PhD, and how I achieved my biggest life time dream this year. I started working for myself to launch my podcast network, Sober Powered Media, on June 9, 2022 and I also cover how my mental health has improved in the past year and suggestions if work is a big trigger for you. Work trigger episodes: E55: how to power thru when you want to give up E106: the amygdala hijack E113: introducing Sober Powered Media Resources I offer: Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership The Sober Mindset Course https://www.soberpowered.com/the-sober-mindset-course (Free Private Podcast) 5 Blocks Holding You Back From Quitting Drinking https://www.soberpowered.com/5blocks Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5 Ask a question, it could appear on the show! https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJA   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 back and forth cycle is frustrating and depressing and it can feel like you’re never going to figure it out. It also really hurts our self-esteem, which makes it even harder to not drink. This topic came up in one of my meetings this week and I want to share why it’s important to keep trying. In this episode, I am covering 3 things that may be keeping you stuck in the back and forth struggle and 3 reasons why you can’t give up. What to listen to next: E144: self-sabotage and perfectionism E149: alcohol and the nervous system E42: is relapse a part of recovery E91: do you want to be sober or do you want to drink without the consequences? E66: what increases our risk of relapse E86: why helping others helps you stay sober E110: 5 Reasons People Relapse and What to do About it  E99: Why We Can Never Drink Again (Neuroplasticity and Permanent Changes) E97: why we keep believing it’ll be different this time Resources I offer: Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership The Sober Mindset Course https://www.soberpowered.com/the-sober-mindset-course (Free Private Podcast) 5 Blocks Holding You Back From Quitting Drinking https://www.soberpowered.com/5blocks Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5 Ask a question, it could appear on the show! https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJA   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

If you’ve quit drinking for any amount of time then you may have experienced a drinking dream, which is a dream where you relapse and drink alcohol. They seem really real and can be upsetting. It’s normal to feel panicked when you wake up because it takes a moment to realize it was just a dream. I had a drinking dream recently, at 3 and a half years sober, so I thought this was a perfect time to do an episode on it. In this episode you’ll learn why drinking dreams happen and what it means if you've never had one. This is a new series I'm starting where I answer listener's questions. If you have a question you'd like me to answer on the show please use this form: https://forms.gle/C46yXzTWvjwdkNEC8 What to listen to next: E75: how sleep recovers from actively drinking to up to 2 years sober E149: alcohol and the nervous system E148: dealing with intense emotional pain E12: why we black out from drinking alcohol Resources I offer: Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership The Sober Mindset Course https://www.soberpowered.com/the-sober-mindset-course (Free Private Podcast) 5 Blocks Holding You Back From Quitting Drinking https://www.soberpowered.com/5blocks Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5 Ask a question, it could appear on the show! https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJA   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

If this is your first summer without alcohol, then you might be really nervous because warm weather makes you want to sit outside and drink, there are extra parties, and vacation time usually means drinking too. In this episode I’ll cover 5 different challenges that the summer brings to sobriety and how you can navigate them. What to listen to next: E143: how to stay accountable in your sobriety E116: drinking envy and wishing you were "normal" E134: coping with boredom in sobriety Resources I offer: Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership The Sober Mindset Course https://www.soberpowered.com/the-sober-mindset-course (Free Private Podcast) 5 Blocks Holding You Back From Quitting Drinking https://www.soberpowered.com/5blocks Weekly emails on Thursdays where I explain the latest episode in more detail, share images to help you understand the concepts, share announcements, interviews, writing, discount codes and more. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6107260617e156c4839768b5 Ask a question, it could appear on the show! https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJA   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