Emotional reactivity is one of the biggest roadblocks to staying sober.

For many of us, our brain's alarm system has been rewired by years of drinking to overreact to even the smallest stressors, making ordinary problems feel like catastrophes.

In this episode, we'll break down the science of why that happens from amygdala

hyperactivity to weakened prefrontal regulation and how alcohol conditions the brain

to link stress directly to craving. We'll also look at why low stress tolerance and poor

coping skills creates a perfect storm that keeps us stuck in the cycle of relapse and explore five thinking patterns that make stress feel worse than it really is.

By the end, you'll understand why life can feel so overwhelming without alcohol and what it really takes to rewire your brain

so that sobriety becomes sustainable. And before we dig in, I'd like to take a moment to thank

my sponsors who made this episode possible. When I quit drinking, I didn't have the mental

bandwidth to keep my house clean on top of trying to learn how to

function like a normal person and feel my emotions. So I had all the shame build up for years

about the state of my house. When we moved two years ago, I used it as a fresh start to keep my new

house clean and I've done that with the help of house cleaners. They hold me accountable because I

can't blow up my house because I know they're going to be back in two weeks. And this is why I'm

excited to tell you about HomeGlow. You can instantly book a trusted background check cleaner online

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and 100% of cleaning fees and tips go straight to them. HomeAglow is available in the U.S.

and in my experience, if it's in your budget, then I can't recommend it more. Take home cleaning

off your plate this fall by using HomeAlow. Head to HomeGlow.com

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When we talk about emotional reactivity, we're really talking about the brain's alarm system.

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