Sober Powered: The Neuroscience of Being Sober

I desperately wanted to learn how to become a take it or leave it drinker. I thought if I took a 90 day break, then I’d reset my tolerance and break the bad habit and I’d finally be able to drink like everyone else. I believed I’d be able to achieve this since my drinking wasn’t that bad and I didn’t have any major consequences like a DUI or losing my job. You have to have big consequences to need to quit forever right? Keeping the hope of moderating someday alive was what kept me stuck in the cycle. I was always focused on the end goal of moderating someday, so even when I took breaks I couldn’t really enjoy the benefits of sobriety. If you’re stuck believing it’ll be different this time, then I will cover 3 reasons why it won’t be different. What to listen to next:E99: why we can never drink ever againE97: why we keep believing it'll be different this timeE91: do you want to be sober or do you want to drink without the consequences?E155: my career journeyE54: using alcohol to escape or numb outResources 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/sponsorsIf you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpoweredSources are posted on my websiteDisclaimer: 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

Cognitive health is the ability to think clearly, learn new things, and remember information, events, and what you’ve learned in the past. As problem drinkers, we aren’t that great at thinking things through, but it’s not because we’re losers, it’s because alcohol damages the brain and messes with our cognitive health. In episode 159 I talked about what you can expect physically when you stop drinking and I mentioned that the cognitive improvements are a bit slower to show up. The cognitive improvements deserve their own episode, so in this episode you will learn how alcohol damages our cognitive abilities, how this puts us at risk to relapse, how long it takes for our cognitive health to recover after you quit drinking, and what you can do to take care of your cognitive health.What to listen to next:E69: alcohol shrinks the brain, but what does that meanE90: new study finds just one drink shrinks the brainAttentional bias episodes 127 & 128E75: how sleep recovers in sobrietyE17: alcohol and the heartE122: how exercise can support your recoveryE119: chronic stress and the brainResources 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/sponsorsIf you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpoweredSources are posted on my websiteDisclaimer: 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

When I quit drinking I thought I could quit and just move on with my life, but then all of these big emotions rushed in and it was shocking. I didn’t consider myself a person who drank to cope. I thought I was drinking to have fun and socialize, so it didn’t make sense that I had all of these big emotions. This is very common though and even if you didn’t consciously use it as a coping mechanism, it effectively served that purpose by numbing and suppressing your emotions. In this episode I will explain why our emotions become so intense when we quit drinking and common emotions that you may experience like anger, the pink cloud, lack of pleasure, and post-acute withdrawal syndrome or PAWS.What to listen to next:E159: what to expect physically in early sobrietyE40: angerE124: how long does it take to fully recoverE62: dopamine deep diveResources 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/sponsorsIf you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpoweredSources are posted on my websiteDisclaimer: 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 may look at people in the sober community and think that we have a lot of sober time and that may feel unattainable or too far off. In this special collab episode, you will hear from Eric Zimmer with 16 years of sobriety, Laura Cathcart Robbins with 15 years of sobriety, Paul Churchill with 10 years of sobriety, and me with 3.5 years of sobriety. In this episode we discuss our first months of sobriety, what we did for support in the beginning, how we knew it was time to quit for good, socializing with alcohol in the beginning, what our cravings and triggers were like, and how we learned how to be comfortable with out sobriety.Connect with Laura Cathcart Robbins:https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Stash/Laura-Cathcart-Robbins/9781668005330https://www.instagram.com/lauracathcartrobbins/https://theonlyonepod.com/Connect with Paul Churchill:https://www.recoveryelevator.com/Connect with Eric Zimmer:https://www.oneyoufeed.net/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/sponsorsIf you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpoweredSources are posted on my websiteDisclaimer: 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

Good news: there are a lot of physical benefits that happen in the first month of quitting drinking. This can be very motivating to continue on with the journey. In this episode you’ll learn how alcohol negatively impacts the body and what to expect when you quit drinking. Towards the end I will also discuss things that take longer than a month to improve and things that may get worse before they get better.What to listen to next:E17: alcohol and the heartE149: how alcohol affects the nervous systemE22: alcohol and anxietyE157: brain fog & fatigueE41: why sober people want so much sugarE75: how sleep recovers in sobrietyE58: how alcohol causes cancerResources 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/sponsorsIf you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpoweredSources are posted on my websiteDisclaimer: 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

Dry July is here and if you’re working on quitting drinking, then this episode is all about how to get started. You’ll learn what to expect in the beginning like sugar cravings and urges to drink. You’ll learn about things you can do to set yourself up for success this month and what to do if you don’t like sobriety or are feeling hopeless about the thought of never drinking again. What to listen to next:E41: why sober people want so much sugarE143: how to stay accountableE156: 55 tips to quit drinkingE91: do you want to be sober or do you want to drink without the consequencesE99: why we can never drink againResources 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/sponsorsIf you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpoweredSources are posted on my websiteDisclaimer: 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

When I first quit drinking I was very nervous about how people would respond to me. I worried about what to say to them. In this episode I will give you my advice for answering this question, both what I recommend doing and what I recommend not doing. I will also share 5 examples of when people gave me a hard time about not drinking and how I navigated it.Thank you Jamie for submitting this question. If you have a question that you'd like to be answered on the show please use this form: https://forms.gle/oKubeJKMZimkHvUJAYouTube video about drinking again after 90 days https://youtu.be/iJW9lb-E9fcResources 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 Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsorsIf you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpoweredSources are posted on my websiteDisclaimer: 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 recoveryE58: how alcohol causes cancerE75: sleep recovery in sobrietyE128: why cravings are so powerfulResources 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/sponsorsIf you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpoweredSources are posted on my websiteDisclaimer: 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/membershipWhat to listen to next:E143: felt accountabilityE18: how I handle my husband's drinkingE77: 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/sponsorsIf you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpoweredSources are posted on my websiteDisclaimer: 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