Maybe you’ve never thought of yourself as someone who drinks to “cope.” But you pour a glass before you start making dinner because it makes the whole thing feel easier.
You drink while tackling the laundry or answering emails because suddenly you can actually get going.
You reach for wine when you’re bored, restless, overstimulated, or desperate to quiet a brain that simply will not switch off.
We talk a lot around here about the jobs we give alcohol, but what if some of those jobs are connected to what your brain is actually seeking?
That’s exactly what we’re exploring on this week’s episode of Love Life Sober. My friend Brittany Tonkavich was diagnosed with ADHD as a little girl, and looking back, she can now see connections between the way her brain works and the role alcohol played throughout different seasons of her life, from risk-taking and excitement when she was younger to motivation, focus, creativity, boredom relief, and calming the noise as she got older.
This is not a conversation about diagnosing yourself with ADHD. It’s a conversation about becoming curious about your patterns, understanding the role dopamine may be playing, and asking one of the most important questions:
What do I actually need right now?
Because when we understand the job we’ve been giving alcohol, we can begin finding healthier ways to meet the need underneath it.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why alcohol can feel especially compelling when your brain is looking for quick dopamine
- How ADHD can show up in motivation, focus, boredom, impulsivity, and risk-taking
- Why a glass of wine can seem to make boring or difficult tasks easier to start
- The connection Brittany began to recognize between her ADHD and her own drinking patterns
- Why taking alcohol away doesn’t necessarily take away the need your brain was trying to meet
- How Brittany now finds healthier sources of dopamine
- Why understanding the way your brain works can lead to curiosity and freedom instead of shame
Watch Here:
Listen Here:
If You’ve Ever Thought…
- “Why do I feel like I need a glass of wine just to get started, get things done, or quiet my brain?”
- “Why does alcohol seem to make boring things easier—or make life feel a little more interesting?”
This episode is for you.
🍂 You Don’t Have to Feel Ready. You Just Have to Start Somewhere.
The next Love Life Sober 40-Day Alcohol Fast begins October 5th.
Maybe you’ve been thinking about your drinking more than you want to admit. Maybe you keep telling yourself you’ll cut back, take a break, or figure it out later. And maybe the thought of actually doing something about it feels really scary.
You don’t have to know what you want to do forever. That’s not what this is.
The October Fast is simply 40 days to step away from alcohol and find out what changes. We’ll walk through my bestselling book, Love Life Sober, together, with four live coaching calls every week, an incredible team of coaches, and a private community of women who understand exactly what this feels like.
No labels. No forever promises. Just 40 days to see what might be possible.
We begin October 5th.
