Ep. 266: Why Do We Crave Alcohol? Dopamine Nation with Dr. Anna Lembke

The Hello Someday Podcast For Sober Curious Women

Casey McGuire Davidson: Sober Coach

Education, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness, Mental Health

4.9 • 752 Ratings

🗓️ 15 May 2025

⏱️ 74 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

If you’ve been caught in that exhausting loop of “I need to take a break” followed by “I need a drink,” this episode will be a game-changer. I asked Dr. Anna Lembke—Stanford psychiatrist, addiction specialist, and author of Dopamine Nation—to help explain the science behind alcohol cravings, why dopamine plays a central role in addiction, and how you can reset your brain to feel better without drinking. Dr. Lembke breaks down how alcohol spikes dopamine in your brain, giving you that initial “ahhh” sensation. But here’s the kicker: over time, alcohol actually lowers your natural dopamine levels, leaving you feeling more anxious, depressed, and restless when you’re not drinking. It’s not just a bad hangover—it’s a neurological withdrawal cycle. For the full shownotes, kindly go to this podcast episode link: https://hellosomedaycoaching.com/dopamine-nation-alcohol-social-media-addiction/ 4 Ways I Can Support You In Drinking Less + Living More Join The Sobriety Starter Kit, the only sober coaching course designed specifically for busy women. My proven, step-by-step sober coaching program will teach you exactly how to stop drinking — and how to make it the best decision of your life. Save your seat in my FREE MASTERCLASS, 5 Secrets To Successfully Take a Break From Drinking Grab the Free 30-Day Guide To Quitting Drinking, 30 Tips For Your First Month Alcohol-Free. Connect with me for free sober coaching tips, updates + videos on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and TikTok @hellosomedaysober. Connect with Casey McGuire DavidsonTo find out more about Casey and her coaching programs, head over to www.hellosomedaycoaching.com

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the Hello Sunday podcast, the podcast for busy women who are ready to drink less and live more.
0:10.2	I'm Casey McGuire Davidson, ex-red wine girl turned life coach, helping women create lives they love without alcohol.
0:18.4	But it wasn't that long ago that I was anxious, overwhelmed, and drinking a bottle
0:23.1	of wine a night to unwind. I thought that wine was the glue holding my life together,
0:28.7	helping me cope with my kids, my stressful job, and my busy life. I didn't realize that my love
0:35.0	affair with drinking was making me more anxious and less able to manage
0:39.5	my responsibilities. In this podcast, my goal is to teach you the tried and true secrets of creating
0:46.5	and living a life you don't want to escape from. Each week, I'll bring you tools, lessons, and
0:52.9	conversations to help you drink less and live more.
0:56.6	I'll teach you how to navigate our drinking-obsessed culture without a buzz,
1:01.0	how to sit with your emotions when you're lonely or angry, frustrated, or overwhelmed,
1:06.9	how to self-soothe without a drink, and how to turn the decision to stop drinking from your
1:12.6	worst-case scenario to the best decision of your life. I am so glad you're here. Now let's get
1:19.2	started. Hey there. Before we dive in to today's episode, I want to give you a little heads up. I just opened the doors to something
1:29.7	brand new. It's called the Sober Summer 100 program, and it's a 100-day alcohol-free experience
1:38.1	with daily support, coaching, community, and tools tailored specifically to help you through the summer season alcohol-free.
1:47.4	In the Sober Summer 100 program, I'll guide you through each of the major 30-day, 60-day and 100-day
1:54.8	milestones. I'll help you get out of the drinking cycle and you'll get to experience how awesome you can feel this summer
2:02.5	without alcohol weighing you down. Plus, you'll join the Sober Summer Circle, a private
2:08.6	group of women doing this right alongside you. You'll walk this path with me and with them
2:15.1	from our kickoff on June 1st through the Sober Summer 100 graduation
2:20.2	and celebration party. I have never offered this program before. Enrollment is open now and
	...

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