EP 377: Why Do We Get Stuck In Our Addiction

Mar 1, 2025

Lori, known as LivingTheSweetLife, shares her inspiring journey from two decades of problematic drinking to recovery. She discusses the neuroscience behind addiction, the emotional struggles that keep individuals stuck, and how social norms make sobriety daunting. Lori highlights the importance of building a sober toolbox and finding community support. With her honest reflections on loss of identity and the stigma around addiction, she offers insights that motivate listeners to embrace sobriety and reclaim their joy.

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INSIGHT

Alcohol As A Dopamine Reward Loop

Alcohol often starts as a reward system that releases dopamine and becomes a habitual coping tool.
Deborah links stress, deadlines and anxiety to alcohol becoming the go-to for relief.

ANECDOTE

From Partying To Default Behavior

Lori describes drinking as fun and socially liberating in youth, then later becoming her default mode of operating.
She says by her twenties she didn't know how to behave without alcohol and developed dependence.

INSIGHT

Genetic Predisposition Matters

Genetics can predispose people to addiction, with research suggesting a 40–60% component.
Deborah notes family addiction history amplified her risk and eventual slide into dependence.

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Host: Deborah Battista aka King13

Guest: Lori aka (LivingTheSweetLife)

Why do we get stuck in our Addiction?

Living The Sweet Life and King 13 unravel this frustrating subject. Why can't I stop?
The medical reason is repeat alcohol consumption results in changes in the BASAL GANGLIA associated with reward and cognition and is primarily involved in motor control, effectively choosing which actions to allow and which actions to inhibit.

Our brain chemistry changes, releasing dopamine, creating pleasurable feelings, leading to a desire to repeat the experience & become addicted. We also get stuck because we cannot imagine how we will face life without alcohol when it is such a part of our social 'norm'.
Giving up drinking, getting honest about your pain, trauma & issues and the stigma can also keep you stuck. It is not a moral judgement, it is a chemical imbalance.
If you are 'feeling stuck' we hope this podcast will motivate you to become 'unstuck' and get sober curious. Start or continue to work on building your sober toolbox and get connected to others that will provide support.

About Lori

Lori (LivingTheSweetLife) spent the better part of 20 years feeling stuck in her pattern of drinking. As early as 20 years old, she had feelings of wanting to be able to control her drinking or stop altogether, but she couldn’t. Some of the things that kept her stuck were: Normalization of alcohol, loss of identity, fear of not belonging, denial that she really had a problem, and not knowing where to look for help. Debs (King13) and Lori talk about being stuck and share some of the ways and things that helped to come unstuck.

About The Host:

Deborah Battista aka King 13 began hosting podcasts not long after Sobertown launched. With their aligned values & passion to help others, Deborah changed career paths and became a qualified counsellor & established her own practice Counselling For Wellness. Deborah credits connection & sharing with likeminded folk as the foundation to maintaining her sobriety to date. Her holistic client-centred approach, active listening, collaborating and knowledge of useful tools will help you work out the best way to handle the challenges of life & addiction. If you would like a complimentary 'get to know you' zoom email Deborah to arrange a time.

Deborah.battista17 @gmail.com

Other Sober Resources:

I Am Sober App

Getting Sober ...Again

Boom Rethink The Drink

Recovery Movie Meet-Ups

No Sippy No Slippy. Not Another Drop No matter What.
Remember to Pour The Poison Down The Sink!!
Sobertownpodcast.com