Have you ever wondered why even after a few alcohol-free weeks, life can feel flat or why it feels so hard to say “enough” in a world of endless overconsumption? In this transformative episode of The Big Drink Rethink, Anna Donaghey sits down with Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist, author of Dopamine Nation, and Stanford Addiction Medicine Director, to explore how alcohol hijacks our reward system and what it really takes to rediscover joy and meaning, beyond the next drink.

Dr. Lembke explains why life can feel “meh” after quitting drinking and how the brain slowly recalibrates, making real satisfaction possible again. This episode is a gentle yet powerful guide for anyone seeking answers about our brain’s quest for ‘more’.

Here are the Highlights:

00:00 Looking at compulsive over consumption in a dopamine loaded world

05:52 ‘The drug of choice’ and dopamine

08:34 Modern life pushes a ‘hijacked brain’ to crave intense stimuli

10:53 Addiction shifts the brain's balance

14:41 After 4 weeks alcohol-free, 80% no longer had major depression.

18:28 Micro stressors like cold exposure boost feel-good neurotransmitters

21:12 Pleasure-pain balance drives homeostasis

25:46 Modern boredom and addiction

29:22 The lizard brain and modern pleasure

31:59 Many people associate alcohol with relaxation and happiness

36:38 Dopamine, exercise and brain ‘tricks’

44:03 True joy comes from connection, curiosity, and enoughness.

Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!

Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/

The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/

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About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

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