1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 2: Understanding ADHD is a place of hope for the women 3 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:10,710 Speaker 2: listening who are kind of thinking, oh my gosh, this 4 00:00:10,770 --> 00:00:12,869 Speaker 2: is me. Like I want them first of all to 5 00:00:12,890 --> 00:00:15,630 Speaker 2: know that like they're fearfully and wonderfully made in the 6 00:00:15,730 --> 00:00:20,190 Speaker 2: image of God. He knit them together and he has 7 00:00:20,250 --> 00:00:23,540 Speaker 2: good plans for them, for their brains, for all of it. 8 00:00:24,780 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 3: Welcome to Love Life Sober. I'm your host and your coach, 9 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 3: Christy Osborne. This podcast is for the woman who loves 10 00:00:31,060 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 3: Jesus or is longing to reconnect with him and who 11 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 3: knows deep down that alcohol is no longer serving her. 12 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:39,460 Speaker 4: Here we talk honestly with grace. 13 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,220 Speaker 3: And truth about how stepping away from alcohol opens the 14 00:00:42,260 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 3: door to the love, joy, peace, and connection you've been 15 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:49,220 Speaker 3: searching for. Because babe, those things were never meant to 16 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:51,940 Speaker 3: be found in a bottle of wine. They're found in Jesus. 17 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,850 Speaker 3: Through scripture, coaching, and neuroscience, I'll help you make sense 18 00:00:55,890 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 3: of your habits, your nervous system, and what you're really 19 00:00:58,900 --> 00:01:02,660 Speaker 3: craving so that freedom feels not only possible, but sustainable. 20 00:01:03,420 --> 00:01:09,260 Speaker 4: You don't have to do this alone, babe. Let's dive in. Hello, 21 00:01:09,300 --> 00:01:12,410 Speaker 4: my beautiful friend. Welcome back to the podcast. 22 00:01:12,790 --> 00:01:15,450 Speaker 3: I am really excited about today's conversation because we are 23 00:01:15,490 --> 00:01:19,110 Speaker 3: going to be talking about ADHD and alcohol and why 24 00:01:19,150 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 3: your brain may be reaching for a drink. First of all, 25 00:01:22,900 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 3: I want to say that this episode is not about 26 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:27,140 Speaker 3: diagnosing yourself with ADHD. 27 00:01:27,620 --> 00:01:29,700 Speaker 4: Brittany is not a doctor and I am obviously not 28 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 4: a doctor. 29 00:01:30,620 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 3: And if something you hear today makes you wonder whether 30 00:01:33,340 --> 00:01:37,090 Speaker 3: ADHD might be part of your story, we absolutely want 31 00:01:37,110 --> 00:01:40,750 Speaker 3: you to take that curiosity to a qualified professional. But 32 00:01:40,790 --> 00:01:42,810 Speaker 3: what we are going to do today is talk about 33 00:01:42,850 --> 00:01:45,230 Speaker 3: patterns because I think there are going to be a 34 00:01:45,270 --> 00:01:48,790 Speaker 3: lot of women listening who can relate to Brittany's story. 35 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,460 Speaker 3: We talk all the time here on Love Life Sober 36 00:01:51,500 --> 00:01:54,310 Speaker 3: about the jobs we give alcohol. Maybe you gave it 37 00:01:54,340 --> 00:01:56,170 Speaker 3: the job of helping you relax at the end of 38 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,110 Speaker 3: the day or quieting your brain when your thoughts feel 39 00:01:59,150 --> 00:02:02,430 Speaker 3: really loud. But maybe you also gave it the job 40 00:02:02,490 --> 00:02:05,970 Speaker 3: of making boring things more interesting. Maybe you poured a 41 00:02:05,990 --> 00:02:08,310 Speaker 3: glass of wine before doing the laundry or cleaning the 42 00:02:08,330 --> 00:02:11,130 Speaker 3: kitchen because somehow it made it easier to get started. 43 00:02:11,990 --> 00:02:14,550 Speaker 3: Maybe you believe you're more creative with a drink beside you. 44 00:02:14,950 --> 00:02:18,890 Speaker 3: Maybe alcohol helps you feel focused, motivated, more social, more spontaneous. 45 00:02:19,500 --> 00:02:23,020 Speaker 3: or just makes life a little more exciting. If any 46 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:24,700 Speaker 3: of those sound familiar, I think you're going to find 47 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:29,500 Speaker 3: today's conversation really interesting. My guest today is my beautiful friend, 48 00:02:29,660 --> 00:02:32,060 Speaker 3: Brittany Tonkovich, who originally came to me as a coaching 49 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 3: client and has become a friend and an incredible leader 50 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,380 Speaker 3: in our Love Life Sober community. Brittany was diagnosed with 51 00:02:38,419 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 3: ADHD as a little girl, and she has spent years 52 00:02:40,780 --> 00:02:43,030 Speaker 3: learning about her brain and discovering how to work with 53 00:02:43,060 --> 00:02:45,870 Speaker 3: the way she is wired instead of believing there is 54 00:02:45,910 --> 00:02:48,910 Speaker 3: something wrong with her. Today, she takes us into the 55 00:02:48,950 --> 00:02:53,530 Speaker 3: connection between ADHD, dopamine, and her own relationship with alcohol. 56 00:02:54,250 --> 00:02:56,310 Speaker 3: We talk about why alcohol can feel like it is 57 00:02:56,350 --> 00:03:00,079 Speaker 3: helping with motivation or focus, why boredom can be a trigger, 58 00:03:00,100 --> 00:03:03,820 Speaker 3: the role that risk-taking and novelty played in Brittany's drinking, 59 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 3: and this is the part that I really love, what 60 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:09,130 Speaker 3: happens when you take alcohol away but your brain still 61 00:03:09,210 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 3: has those same needs. This conversation isn't just about what 62 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,540 Speaker 3: we remove, it's about what we put in its place. 63 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,660 Speaker 3: And ultimately, this conversation comes back to something I believe 64 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:22,660 Speaker 3: so deeply, that awareness gives us choices. The more we 65 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 3: understand the jobs we have given alcohol and what we 66 00:03:25,139 --> 00:03:28,140 Speaker 3: are actually needing in those moments, the more opportunity we 67 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:31,620 Speaker 3: have to respond differently. Not from shame, not because there 68 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:34,260 Speaker 3: is something wrong with us, but from curiosity, wisdom, and 69 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,580 Speaker 3: a deeper understanding of how God uniquely knit each one 70 00:03:37,620 --> 00:03:40,470 Speaker 3: of us together. So if you've ever wondered why you 71 00:03:40,490 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 3: keep reaching for that glass, even when you genuinely don't 72 00:03:43,540 --> 00:03:46,140 Speaker 3: want it, or why alcohol seems to help you do 73 00:03:46,180 --> 00:03:48,900 Speaker 3: things that other people just seem to be able to do, 74 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:51,740 Speaker 3: this episode might really connect some dots for you. 75 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 4: And before we dive in, I want to announce that the. 76 00:03:55,820 --> 00:04:00,380 Speaker 3: October 40-Day Fast is now open for signups. I can't 77 00:04:00,410 --> 00:04:03,130 Speaker 3: believe I'm already saying that. How are we already almost 78 00:04:03,170 --> 00:04:05,940 Speaker 3: in October? You can find the link to sign up 79 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 3: for the October 40 Day Fast in the show notes. 80 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,020 Speaker 3: We are going to be having four coaching calls a week. 81 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 3: When you sign up, you will be sent a invitation 82 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:18,730 Speaker 3: to join our community. And then the coaching space for 83 00:04:18,790 --> 00:04:22,710 Speaker 3: the October Fast will open up on September 30th. So 84 00:04:22,770 --> 00:04:25,750 Speaker 3: if you want any more information, again, that link is 85 00:04:25,830 --> 00:04:28,770 Speaker 3: in the show notes. Okay, my friend, let's dive in. 86 00:04:29,070 --> 00:04:30,430 Speaker 4: Hey, Britt, how are you? 87 00:04:31,550 --> 00:04:32,370 Speaker 1: I'm doing all right. 88 00:04:33,070 --> 00:04:39,860 Speaker 3: Brittany is a client-turned-friend-turned-leader in our community. Brittany runs our 89 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 3: Fast Basseter space, which in the Love Life Sober community, 90 00:04:43,460 --> 00:04:46,180 Speaker 3: we have a very special space dedicated for the gals 91 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,700 Speaker 3: that want to run fast in their church, and Brittany 92 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:52,710 Speaker 3: leads that, and she's amazing. And she's just become a 93 00:04:52,750 --> 00:04:55,230 Speaker 3: very good friend of mine over the years. And so, 94 00:04:55,250 --> 00:04:57,610 Speaker 3: I mean, I just kind of introduced you a tiny bit. 95 00:04:57,670 --> 00:04:58,290 Speaker 4: But tell. 96 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,620 Speaker 3: Tell the gals where you are, what's going on, what's 97 00:05:02,740 --> 00:05:06,330 Speaker 3: excitingly new for you. 98 00:05:06,630 --> 00:05:08,610 Speaker 4: And then we'll tell a little bit of your alcohol story. 99 00:05:08,630 --> 00:05:13,850 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah. So I'm Brittany Tonkovich. I'm living in Pittsburgh. 100 00:05:15,010 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 2: And I'll jump into what's excitingly new. 101 00:05:18,339 --> 00:05:18,419 Speaker 3: Okay. 102 00:05:20,330 --> 00:05:24,469 Speaker 2: Is that I'm almost 21 weeks pregnant and this was 103 00:05:24,510 --> 00:05:29,590 Speaker 2: an unexpected kind of 39-year-old me, never really thought was 104 00:05:29,610 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 2: going to happen event. So yeah, my husband and I 105 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:37,020 Speaker 2: are adjusting to what a new normal might look like. 106 00:05:39,180 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 3: I'm so excited for you. And we're going to have 107 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,659 Speaker 3: our very first Love Life Sober baby shower in May. 108 00:05:44,860 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 3: So if you're in the community. 109 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:46,700 Speaker 4: Get excited. 110 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 3: Yeah. So you came to me for coaching, which was 111 00:05:53,380 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 3: so much fun. 112 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,860 Speaker 4: What led to you being kind of stuck with alcohol? 113 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 2: For me, it was the gray area drinking like a 114 00:06:03,420 --> 00:06:09,690 Speaker 2: lot of us experience. I remember just constantly like for years, 115 00:06:10,089 --> 00:06:12,970 Speaker 2: years being like, why am I doing this? And I 116 00:06:13,010 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 2: don't want to, but why can I not? And You know, again, 117 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 2: like the we've heard the story a few times, like 118 00:06:19,339 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 2: AA didn't feel quite right. 119 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:22,919 Speaker 1: Counseling didn't feel quite right. 120 00:06:23,060 --> 00:06:26,950 Speaker 2: You know, these spaces didn't really seem that like they 121 00:06:27,010 --> 00:06:30,390 Speaker 2: matched what I was experiencing. It wasn't ruining my life. 122 00:06:30,570 --> 00:06:33,469 Speaker 2: It wasn't really disruptive. I thought maybe it was making 123 00:06:33,510 --> 00:06:35,850 Speaker 2: me like, you know, gain a few pounds. But that 124 00:06:35,890 --> 00:06:38,349 Speaker 2: was like, you know, the way it was affecting my life. 125 00:06:39,010 --> 00:06:41,650 Speaker 2: the most that I could really see. Now, on the 126 00:06:41,690 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 2: other side of it, I was like, Whoa, this was 127 00:06:44,300 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 2: really affecting my life in so many ways. But it 128 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:52,620 Speaker 2: was when my dad passed in 2023. We held his 129 00:06:52,660 --> 00:06:55,779 Speaker 2: memorial and it was like, late at night, and we'd 130 00:06:55,800 --> 00:07:00,690 Speaker 2: all been drinking and celebrating his life. And, you know, 131 00:07:00,710 --> 00:07:02,830 Speaker 2: I live in America where we like drink champagne and 132 00:07:02,850 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 2: saw fireworks as a good idea. So We were doing 133 00:07:08,420 --> 00:07:11,700 Speaker 2: all that. And we like we're in the kitchen afterwards. 134 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 2: And I was saying something to my brother really loudly. 135 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,300 Speaker 2: And he was like, oh, my gosh, Brittany, like the 136 00:07:17,340 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 2: kids are trying to sleep upstairs. Like how much have 137 00:07:19,700 --> 00:07:23,150 Speaker 2: you had to drink? Took me back 20 years into 138 00:07:23,190 --> 00:07:27,190 Speaker 2: the shame of like my early drinking days when, you know, 139 00:07:27,510 --> 00:07:29,250 Speaker 2: I felt like my siblings all thought I was just 140 00:07:29,270 --> 00:07:31,390 Speaker 2: the biggest screw up. And it was because I was 141 00:07:31,430 --> 00:07:34,470 Speaker 2: just such a little party animal and stuff. And those 142 00:07:34,490 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 2: were years I really had to live down for a 143 00:07:36,500 --> 00:07:39,690 Speaker 2: long time. And I just remember being like, I never 144 00:07:39,730 --> 00:07:41,730 Speaker 2: want to feel this way again. This is so in 145 00:07:41,810 --> 00:07:44,630 Speaker 2: conflict with who I am. It's so in conflict with 146 00:07:44,670 --> 00:07:49,170 Speaker 2: my faith, with my walk, with who I am as, 147 00:07:49,430 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 2: you know, a member of my family. I'm like, I 148 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:52,940 Speaker 2: cannot feel this way again. So I think it was 149 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,140 Speaker 2: like one or two in the morning. I filled out 150 00:07:55,180 --> 00:07:56,260 Speaker 2: your connection form. 151 00:07:57,060 --> 00:07:58,810 Speaker 4: Why do people fill out that form in the middle 152 00:07:58,820 --> 00:07:59,230 Speaker 4: of the night? 153 00:08:02,990 --> 00:08:05,690 Speaker 1: I'd really love to see the data on that. Yeah. 154 00:08:05,750 --> 00:08:08,170 Speaker 2: And I was, I discussed it with my husband and 155 00:08:08,230 --> 00:08:11,350 Speaker 2: I said, and he was kind of like, Oh, okay. 156 00:08:11,410 --> 00:08:14,110 Speaker 2: Like you don't seem to have a drinking problem, but okay. 157 00:08:14,530 --> 00:08:17,770 Speaker 2: If this is something you need, like let's do it. 158 00:08:17,930 --> 00:08:20,310 Speaker 2: I was becoming more and more aware of sober spaces 159 00:08:20,390 --> 00:08:23,810 Speaker 2: on Instagram that people were so curious. And I was like, Ooh, 160 00:08:23,850 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 2: there might be some people like me out there. And 161 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 2: then I also have a lot of Christian content come 162 00:08:29,260 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 2: through on my Instagram, which is how I think I 163 00:08:30,940 --> 00:08:36,220 Speaker 2: ended up following your page. Because, you know, of course, 164 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 2: I think the secular world has a lot of beautiful 165 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:42,059 Speaker 2: things to offer us in terms of resources and help. 166 00:08:42,220 --> 00:08:45,110 Speaker 1: But when we stop short of Jesus, it's not enough. 167 00:08:45,350 --> 00:08:47,950 Speaker 2: So I didn't want to, like, make this big life 168 00:08:49,290 --> 00:08:50,849 Speaker 2: move without Jesus. 169 00:08:51,550 --> 00:08:52,050 Speaker 3: Yeah. 170 00:08:52,370 --> 00:08:52,850 Speaker 4: Amen. 171 00:08:52,910 --> 00:08:53,510 Speaker 1: Oh, my gosh. 172 00:08:53,690 --> 00:08:54,010 Speaker 3: Yes. 173 00:08:54,010 --> 00:08:59,950 Speaker 4: 100%. And what has it been like leading in the community? 174 00:09:00,510 --> 00:09:05,750 Speaker 2: It's been so wild because, you know, when you're being led, 175 00:09:06,540 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 2: you're like, I'm. 176 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 1: The flawed one. 177 00:09:08,580 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 2: And all these leaders are like up on a pedestal. 178 00:09:11,059 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 2: You got this view of like, oh, they're so perfect. 179 00:09:13,940 --> 00:09:18,900 Speaker 2: And then like behind the scenes, like, I won't bring 180 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:20,559 Speaker 2: in our group chat from yesterday. 181 00:09:20,580 --> 00:09:24,949 Speaker 3: I was going to say, it takes two seconds to 182 00:09:24,990 --> 00:09:27,829 Speaker 3: hang out with me to realize that I'm definitely flawed, 183 00:09:27,950 --> 00:09:30,670 Speaker 3: not perfect and working on all my own things. 184 00:09:31,150 --> 00:09:32,090 Speaker 4: I know, I know. 185 00:09:32,390 --> 00:09:34,970 Speaker 2: I'm like, you know, I face this like dichotomy too, 186 00:09:35,010 --> 00:09:37,220 Speaker 2: where I'm like a leader at work and I'm not 187 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:41,219 Speaker 2: the patient leader at work all the time that I 188 00:09:41,220 --> 00:09:45,780 Speaker 2: am in the community. And so, but it's been so rewarding. 189 00:09:45,820 --> 00:09:48,550 Speaker 2: It's just like, I don't know. It's something I never 190 00:09:48,590 --> 00:09:51,910 Speaker 2: thought God would do with alcohol. You know, when he 191 00:09:51,950 --> 00:09:55,689 Speaker 2: first started calling me to really examine this, like, Brittany, 192 00:09:55,730 --> 00:09:56,949 Speaker 2: this isn't integrity. 193 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:01,180 Speaker 1: You're a different person and this isn't lining up. I 194 00:10:01,220 --> 00:10:03,020 Speaker 1: was just so ashamed of that. 195 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 2: Like, oh my gosh, I have to give up something 196 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:09,510 Speaker 2: because there's something inherently wrong with me. that I can't 197 00:10:09,650 --> 00:10:12,459 Speaker 2: handle this thing that everybody else can handle. Now on 198 00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:14,439 Speaker 2: the other side of it, and I think every single 199 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:16,420 Speaker 2: one of us would say the same thing, that it 200 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:19,939 Speaker 2: wasn't God punishing, it was God leading and just showing 201 00:10:20,020 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 2: us there's such a better and richer and more fulfilling 202 00:10:22,900 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 2: life on the other side of it. It's shocking to 203 00:10:25,660 --> 00:10:29,929 Speaker 2: me that I get to help women experience that. If 204 00:10:29,950 --> 00:10:34,329 Speaker 2: you had asked 17-year-old me who first started drinking, do 205 00:10:35,030 --> 00:10:38,110 Speaker 2: you think you'll be a Christian leading others to sobriety someday? 206 00:10:40,100 --> 00:10:41,960 Speaker 1: Who is that girl? I don't even want to know her. 207 00:10:41,980 --> 00:10:45,179 Speaker 3: I would really love to go back and tell my 208 00:10:45,300 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 3: mid 30 year old self that or like early 30 209 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 3: year old self because she would probably literally like laugh. 210 00:10:51,780 --> 00:10:54,970 Speaker 4: In your face while topping up her wine. 211 00:10:56,490 --> 00:11:00,370 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, we get to do it differently now together, 212 00:11:00,410 --> 00:11:01,770 Speaker 3: which is so exciting. 213 00:11:02,030 --> 00:11:04,350 Speaker 4: And we'll be back right after a quick word from 214 00:11:04,410 --> 00:11:04,970 Speaker 4: our sponsors. 215 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 3: One of the things I really want to talk about, 216 00:11:07,980 --> 00:11:13,610 Speaker 3: ADHD and alcohol use. And because you've walked this path, 217 00:11:13,790 --> 00:11:16,730 Speaker 3: obviously like we have to do the disclaimer, you're not 218 00:11:16,790 --> 00:11:19,870 Speaker 3: a doctor, you're not a medical professional, but you've walked it, right? 219 00:11:19,970 --> 00:11:21,429 Speaker 4: You have walked this road. 220 00:11:22,150 --> 00:11:24,410 Speaker 3: People, I feel like more and more gals are asking 221 00:11:24,429 --> 00:11:27,309 Speaker 3: within the community and all of that of like, how 222 00:11:27,350 --> 00:11:29,890 Speaker 3: do you do this? Even when I did that recording 223 00:11:29,929 --> 00:11:32,709 Speaker 3: with Dr. Lee Warren recently, that was one of the 224 00:11:32,750 --> 00:11:35,730 Speaker 3: questions that I got a lot for him was, okay, 225 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,450 Speaker 3: he has all these great practices and methods, but like, 226 00:11:38,530 --> 00:11:41,830 Speaker 3: what about ADHD? And I think more and more women, 227 00:11:41,890 --> 00:11:47,010 Speaker 3: perimenopausal and beyond, are being diagnosed with this, realizing that 228 00:11:47,050 --> 00:11:50,470 Speaker 3: they kind of have it. And so maybe we start 229 00:11:50,510 --> 00:11:56,230 Speaker 3: with when did you first realize you had ADHD? 230 00:11:56,370 --> 00:11:58,130 Speaker 4: Were you diagnosed? What did that look like? 231 00:11:58,970 --> 00:11:59,590 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah. 232 00:11:59,670 --> 00:12:03,250 Speaker 2: So I'm a rare case because I'm a woman with ADHD. 233 00:12:04,530 --> 00:12:08,050 Speaker 2: And I was diagnosed in the second grade. Oh, wow. 234 00:12:08,670 --> 00:12:10,469 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah. That's really rare. 235 00:12:10,530 --> 00:12:13,570 Speaker 2: I was maybe like the only kid I knew, the 236 00:12:13,610 --> 00:12:17,250 Speaker 2: only girl I knew that had been diagnosed. And I 237 00:12:17,650 --> 00:12:20,699 Speaker 2: had this second grade teacher who just had the boldness 238 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:23,380 Speaker 2: to tell my parents. I mean, they had to coax 239 00:12:23,420 --> 00:12:25,300 Speaker 2: her a little bit. They're like, listen, we're reading this 240 00:12:25,340 --> 00:12:28,680 Speaker 2: report card. And what are you actually trying to say? 241 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,780 Speaker 2: And she said, I think you should have her evaluated 242 00:12:31,820 --> 00:12:34,530 Speaker 2: for ADHD. And it was things like I was kind 243 00:12:34,550 --> 00:12:37,270 Speaker 2: of zoned out in class. I was never really with 244 00:12:37,390 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 2: it with where we were. I kind of was off 245 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:43,070 Speaker 2: in my own little world. My, She could see that, like, 246 00:12:43,170 --> 00:12:45,350 Speaker 2: I had no idea what was going on at any 247 00:12:45,390 --> 00:12:48,420 Speaker 2: given time. And, you know, I was a perfectly smart kid. 248 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 1: I was going to. 249 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 4: Say you're so smart. 250 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,679 Speaker 3: And I know that because you know the Bible like 251 00:12:53,700 --> 00:12:55,500 Speaker 3: the back of your hand and you're so intelligent. 252 00:12:56,700 --> 00:12:58,220 Speaker 4: So it wasn't a smart thing. 253 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: I really wasn't. 254 00:13:00,580 --> 00:13:03,589 Speaker 2: And those patterns didn't match like the other kids in 255 00:13:03,610 --> 00:13:07,070 Speaker 2: my class getting diagnosed because they were really hyperactive. They 256 00:13:07,110 --> 00:13:09,939 Speaker 2: were jumping off walls, you know. And so it was 257 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:11,860 Speaker 2: really easy to pick those things up. But she just, 258 00:13:12,020 --> 00:13:14,300 Speaker 2: I don't know, she was a crackerjack, which I learned 259 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:17,500 Speaker 2: is like an 1800s word for a really like ace 260 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:22,790 Speaker 2: kind of person. She was, yeah, she just had the 261 00:13:22,809 --> 00:13:25,870 Speaker 2: boldness to tell my mom really gently and really honestly. 262 00:13:26,170 --> 00:13:28,150 Speaker 1: And so I did get diagnosed as a kid. 263 00:13:28,170 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 2: I was growing up in the era where they told 264 00:13:30,750 --> 00:13:32,140 Speaker 2: you it was something you kind of grew out of 265 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:32,650 Speaker 2: by age 16, 17. 266 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:35,780 Speaker 1: I don't know about I don't know how I feel 267 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:36,220 Speaker 1: about that. 268 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 2: And I don't know that anything is conclusive on it today, 269 00:13:39,380 --> 00:13:42,510 Speaker 2: but I know that I learned to cope with it 270 00:13:42,550 --> 00:13:43,750 Speaker 2: better by 16 or 17. 271 00:13:43,730 --> 00:13:46,410 Speaker 4: Were you medicated during this time? 272 00:13:46,770 --> 00:13:47,890 Speaker 1: I was medicated young. 273 00:13:48,670 --> 00:13:51,890 Speaker 2: So I was medicated from like second grade to maybe 274 00:13:52,190 --> 00:13:56,010 Speaker 2: sixth grade. And then my parents allowed me to make 275 00:13:56,050 --> 00:13:58,140 Speaker 2: the choice in the sixth grade if I wanted to 276 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:01,270 Speaker 2: stay on medication, if I wanted to you know, try 277 00:14:01,309 --> 00:14:05,079 Speaker 2: some different things. And I think that's around the time 278 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 2: that sports became more relevant. 279 00:14:07,059 --> 00:14:08,179 Speaker 1: I was more active. 280 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:14,090 Speaker 2: And so I, without really having any conscious knowledge of 281 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:16,329 Speaker 2: what I was doing, I was, you know, sort of 282 00:14:16,690 --> 00:14:20,330 Speaker 2: building some healthier habits around caring for the ADHD and 283 00:14:20,390 --> 00:14:24,860 Speaker 2: supporting my brain better. Also, I think like changing classes, 284 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:28,010 Speaker 2: I started changing classes in the sixth grade. So Instead 285 00:14:28,050 --> 00:14:29,770 Speaker 2: of sitting in the same room all day, I could 286 00:14:29,830 --> 00:14:32,489 Speaker 2: move from one thing to another and that sort of 287 00:14:32,690 --> 00:14:37,030 Speaker 2: structured but changing and, you know, that really helped things. 288 00:14:37,070 --> 00:14:38,790 Speaker 2: So I think by the time I was 16, I 289 00:14:38,830 --> 00:14:40,610 Speaker 2: was like, oh, I've outgrown ADHD. 290 00:14:40,650 --> 00:14:41,410 Speaker 1: I don't have any more. 291 00:14:42,350 --> 00:14:46,990 Speaker 2: But at the end of grad school, grad school was 292 00:14:47,150 --> 00:14:50,900 Speaker 2: a nightmare for me. Again, did really well, like came 293 00:14:50,940 --> 00:14:53,660 Speaker 2: out with one of the highest GPAs in my class, 294 00:14:54,110 --> 00:14:57,110 Speaker 2: but I was a basket case. I was so depressed. 295 00:14:57,210 --> 00:15:01,330 Speaker 2: My life was like this moving disaster at all times. 296 00:15:01,410 --> 00:15:04,850 Speaker 2: Like I remember it came to a head when I 297 00:15:05,510 --> 00:15:07,630 Speaker 2: lost my keys. I had two sets of keys, one 298 00:15:07,650 --> 00:15:10,070 Speaker 2: for school and one for my car. And I found 299 00:15:10,170 --> 00:15:11,730 Speaker 2: like one of them in a trash can and one 300 00:15:11,750 --> 00:15:14,270 Speaker 2: of them behind my refrigerator. And I was just like, 301 00:15:14,450 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 2: how did I get here? I'm not functioning anymore. And 302 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 2: so at the end of grad school, we had to 303 00:15:20,780 --> 00:15:25,660 Speaker 2: give these presentations to our departments about sort of like 304 00:15:25,700 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 2: a thesis presentation and the things we learned. One of 305 00:15:28,620 --> 00:15:30,620 Speaker 2: the things I said is that I'm not actually ready 306 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:34,700 Speaker 2: to pursue my professional career yet because I'm fighting this depression. 307 00:15:34,980 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 2: My life is really a mess and I'm just I'm 308 00:15:37,620 --> 00:15:41,870 Speaker 2: really not feeling ready. And there was this classmate of mine. 309 00:15:41,950 --> 00:15:44,430 Speaker 2: He just said, Brittany, I think you have ADHD. 310 00:15:44,450 --> 00:15:44,650 Speaker 3: Yeah. 311 00:15:46,570 --> 00:15:49,030 Speaker 2: He goes, have you ever been diagnosed before? And I 312 00:15:49,070 --> 00:15:55,660 Speaker 2: was like, oh, my gosh, I have. I got on 313 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:57,540 Speaker 2: the phone with my mom right away. I was like, mom, 314 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,239 Speaker 2: it's ADHD. And she goes, oh, my gosh, I feel 315 00:16:00,260 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 2: so stupid. And the whole world opened up after that. 316 00:16:04,740 --> 00:16:08,710 Speaker 2: It was like like the sunshine again. And, you know, 317 00:16:08,830 --> 00:16:12,310 Speaker 2: I yeah, I was like the depression lifted immediately. It 318 00:16:12,350 --> 00:16:14,989 Speaker 2: was so cool. And after that, I was able to 319 00:16:15,130 --> 00:16:19,310 Speaker 2: actually get some maybe more formal ways of treating it. 320 00:16:19,850 --> 00:16:24,830 Speaker 2: I worked with a cognitive behavioral therapist. Such a good move. 321 00:16:24,950 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 2: I loved learning just sort of... Because when you grow 322 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:29,930 Speaker 2: up with ADHD, you really miss a lot of things. 323 00:16:30,170 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 2: You miss social cues. You miss cultural norms and things. 324 00:16:33,940 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 2: And so I got some... some training about like how 325 00:16:37,700 --> 00:16:41,990 Speaker 2: to be, you know, in the present and just supporting ADHD. 326 00:16:42,810 --> 00:16:45,690 Speaker 2: And then I did medicate for a little bit and 327 00:16:45,730 --> 00:16:49,010 Speaker 2: I still medicate on and off in times of high stress. 328 00:16:49,090 --> 00:16:50,810 Speaker 1: I do keep a stimulant on hand. 329 00:16:52,250 --> 00:16:55,140 Speaker 2: If it's going to be a really, really stressful, busy 330 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:59,770 Speaker 2: time or emotionally taxing time, I'll just have it at 331 00:16:59,790 --> 00:17:00,740 Speaker 2: the ready if I need it. 332 00:17:00,770 --> 00:17:04,220 Speaker 1: But mostly I managed through some healthy habits. 333 00:17:04,300 --> 00:17:04,700 Speaker 2: Yeah. 334 00:17:04,820 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 4: And so obviously we talk all the time, right? 335 00:17:07,340 --> 00:17:10,540 Speaker 3: About how one of the reasons that we used alcohol 336 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 3: was to quiet the noise and to shut off our brains. 337 00:17:13,580 --> 00:17:16,619 Speaker 3: And do you feel like that is something that the 338 00:17:16,740 --> 00:17:19,780 Speaker 3: ADHD kind of allowed for the alcohol to come in 339 00:17:19,820 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 3: to quiet that in a way? 340 00:17:21,619 --> 00:17:23,180 Speaker 1: A little bit. 341 00:17:23,220 --> 00:17:26,380 Speaker 2: Yeah. And I maybe have like two phases of drinking 342 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:30,380 Speaker 2: that I went through because I You know, with ADHD, 343 00:17:30,420 --> 00:17:35,730 Speaker 2: there is a pattern involved with like risk taking and stuff. 344 00:17:35,810 --> 00:17:39,490 Speaker 2: So when I was in college and I was in 345 00:17:39,530 --> 00:17:44,450 Speaker 2: my really reckless years, I used alcohol as this vehicle 346 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:45,619 Speaker 2: for boldness. 347 00:17:45,700 --> 00:17:46,810 Speaker 1: Like I. 348 00:17:47,550 --> 00:17:50,730 Speaker 2: I drank all the time in college. I drank while 349 00:17:50,770 --> 00:17:54,470 Speaker 2: doing homework to stay focused. I drank sometimes I'd drink 350 00:17:54,510 --> 00:17:58,730 Speaker 2: before class and go do like crazy things. And part 351 00:17:58,750 --> 00:18:00,609 Speaker 2: of that was like there was this risk to it. 352 00:18:00,790 --> 00:18:02,869 Speaker 2: Like this was kind of fun. What if I get 353 00:18:02,910 --> 00:18:05,670 Speaker 2: in trouble or like how much can I get away with? 354 00:18:05,690 --> 00:18:09,660 Speaker 2: I was also one that partied really hard. I was 355 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,740 Speaker 2: the wildest one at every party. I would do the 356 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:15,640 Speaker 2: most off the wall thing. I would say the most 357 00:18:15,780 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 2: off the wall thing. And if I could get others 358 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,820 Speaker 2: to go with me in it, I like, it was 359 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 2: more and more. And what, what that ended up being 360 00:18:25,260 --> 00:18:28,440 Speaker 2: is this like social reward. So, so one night I 361 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,090 Speaker 2: remember I got really, I got everybody in the house. 362 00:18:31,109 --> 00:18:33,790 Speaker 2: Like I got drunk, everybody in the house got drunk 363 00:18:34,030 --> 00:18:37,070 Speaker 2: and we stole some like baking sheets, some really big 364 00:18:37,109 --> 00:18:41,210 Speaker 2: baking sheets and went sledding in the arb. Like we 365 00:18:41,230 --> 00:18:45,530 Speaker 2: broke into the arb and like, you're not supposed to 366 00:18:45,550 --> 00:18:49,030 Speaker 2: be there after hours. And we went sledding and everybody 367 00:18:49,050 --> 00:18:51,390 Speaker 2: had such a blast. We talked about it for like, 368 00:18:51,890 --> 00:18:54,870 Speaker 2: you know, days after, because that was my norm. Like 369 00:18:55,010 --> 00:18:57,910 Speaker 2: that recklessness was my norm, but I was introducing others 370 00:18:58,020 --> 00:18:58,350 Speaker 2: to it. 371 00:18:58,859 --> 00:19:00,660 Speaker 1: And they were like, oh man, I just did something 372 00:19:00,700 --> 00:19:03,260 Speaker 1: I would never do in my life. And it was 373 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 1: so fun. And Brittany pushed it. 374 00:19:05,060 --> 00:19:07,459 Speaker 2: So like I would get messages, people would be like, 375 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:09,660 Speaker 2: that was such a riot. So I'd have the social 376 00:19:09,740 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 2: reward that came with it that would keep me going for, 377 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:16,780 Speaker 2: for like days. So I had the initial, like, Oh 378 00:19:16,820 --> 00:19:18,980 Speaker 2: my gosh, I did the reckless thing. I did the 379 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:21,350 Speaker 2: risky thing. I did the bold thing. And now I'm 380 00:19:21,390 --> 00:19:25,290 Speaker 2: being rewarded for all those things. So there were a lot, 381 00:19:25,390 --> 00:19:27,230 Speaker 2: I have a lot of those stories. I won't share 382 00:19:27,270 --> 00:19:30,670 Speaker 2: them all, but you know, that, so that was my, 383 00:19:31,090 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 2: there were just really reckless times. I have this thread 384 00:19:35,390 --> 00:19:37,460 Speaker 2: of like, I mooned people a lot too. 385 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:42,920 Speaker 4: I literally cannot picture you doing that. Yeah. 386 00:19:44,580 --> 00:19:47,120 Speaker 1: But, you know, this is the sort of like reckless stuff. 387 00:19:47,310 --> 00:19:50,580 Speaker 2: And I would increase too like I would ski race 388 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 2: really drunk like I'd fly down a mountain going like 389 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 2: 45 miles to 60 miles per hour just drunk and 390 00:19:57,660 --> 00:20:00,010 Speaker 2: I got such a high off the speed I got 391 00:20:00,070 --> 00:20:02,889 Speaker 2: such a high off the I don't know the attention 392 00:20:02,950 --> 00:20:04,810 Speaker 2: if I did really well I'd be like oh my 393 00:20:04,850 --> 00:20:08,090 Speaker 2: gosh this is the best thing ever so But after college, 394 00:20:08,690 --> 00:20:11,449 Speaker 2: I realized I really need a future and I need 395 00:20:11,470 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 2: to get serious about some things. 396 00:20:12,619 --> 00:20:14,719 Speaker 1: So some fear came in about like, oh, I have 397 00:20:14,740 --> 00:20:15,860 Speaker 1: to start paying bills. 398 00:20:15,940 --> 00:20:19,619 Speaker 2: And my drinking changed, but it was still so ADHD 399 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 2: driven because, you know, I had kind of built this 400 00:20:23,340 --> 00:20:26,140 Speaker 2: idea that I had, if I wanted to focus on something, 401 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 2: I needed a glass of wine. 402 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:30,619 Speaker 1: If I needed to do anything creative, I needed to 403 00:20:30,660 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 1: be drinking. 404 00:20:31,460 --> 00:20:31,850 Speaker 4: If I. 405 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:36,139 Speaker 2: Needed to be motivated to do a task that I 406 00:20:36,180 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 2: didn't want to do. 407 00:20:37,020 --> 00:20:40,510 Speaker 1: I should, you know, have a cocktail or something. And 408 00:20:40,550 --> 00:20:43,570 Speaker 1: then also it would wind down my mind. And when 409 00:20:43,630 --> 00:20:44,310 Speaker 1: everything was. 410 00:20:44,230 --> 00:20:47,670 Speaker 2: Busy and chaotic, I would reach for alcohol to just 411 00:20:47,710 --> 00:20:51,409 Speaker 2: sort of just bring it all back down to a baseline. 412 00:20:52,130 --> 00:20:53,770 Speaker 2: And I'll say I drank a lot when I was bored, 413 00:20:54,010 --> 00:20:57,890 Speaker 2: especially in boring circumstances. Even if it wasn't socially appropriate, 414 00:20:58,070 --> 00:21:01,390 Speaker 2: I would just reach for, you know, alcohol and try 415 00:21:01,430 --> 00:21:04,940 Speaker 2: to turn it into like a drinking time, even casually, 416 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,740 Speaker 2: not a raging time, but like a drinking time, you know. 417 00:21:07,859 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 1: Just to make it more interesting. 418 00:21:09,660 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 2: So and a lot of those are just very ADHD 419 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:14,200 Speaker 2: patterned drinking. 420 00:21:14,580 --> 00:21:16,610 Speaker 4: How did you kind of connect the dots there? 421 00:21:17,609 --> 00:21:20,409 Speaker 2: You know, it's interesting because, you know, most of us, 422 00:21:20,470 --> 00:21:22,609 Speaker 2: I don't think, maybe this is a bold statement, so 423 00:21:22,710 --> 00:21:24,330 Speaker 2: it's not a medical statement, but I think a lot 424 00:21:24,350 --> 00:21:29,469 Speaker 2: of us don't realize we are self-medicating and we don't 425 00:21:29,510 --> 00:21:31,110 Speaker 2: realize something's not normal. 426 00:21:31,230 --> 00:21:31,990 Speaker 1: So we don't realize. 427 00:21:32,070 --> 00:21:33,390 Speaker 4: Oh, I definitely didn't. 428 00:21:33,540 --> 00:21:33,780 Speaker 3: Yeah. 429 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:34,490 Speaker 1: Yeah. 430 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:34,909 Speaker 2: Yeah. 431 00:21:34,970 --> 00:21:37,679 Speaker 1: So especially around boredom, like we don't, you know, it's 432 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 1: hard to like, just be like, I am bored. 433 00:21:40,020 --> 00:21:42,159 Speaker 2: Therefore I need to find something to do. It's just 434 00:21:42,220 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 2: like that sort of ambiguous feeling that comes in. And 435 00:21:44,900 --> 00:21:47,399 Speaker 2: so you just, Reach for the pattern that made you 436 00:21:47,460 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 2: not bored in the past, right? 437 00:21:50,060 --> 00:21:52,500 Speaker 4: Yeah, 100%. 438 00:22:06,010 --> 00:22:10,090 Speaker 2: So when I got diagnosed as a 23-year-old with ADHD, 439 00:22:10,290 --> 00:22:13,410 Speaker 2: I dove straight into all the ADHD resources. 440 00:22:14,060 --> 00:22:15,980 Speaker 3: So you went back to the doctor and you're like, 441 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 3: I was diagnosed when I was six. And I'm noticing 442 00:22:19,420 --> 00:22:21,180 Speaker 3: that this might have. 443 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:23,740 Speaker 4: Not actually gone away. So you went back to the doctor. 444 00:22:23,830 --> 00:22:24,790 Speaker 4: They're like, you're right. 445 00:22:25,050 --> 00:22:25,290 Speaker 3: At 23. Okay. 446 00:22:25,369 --> 00:22:31,390 Speaker 2: Yep. And my mom and I found a book called 447 00:22:31,430 --> 00:22:34,970 Speaker 2: Driven to Distraction by a guy named Edward Hallowell. 448 00:22:35,170 --> 00:22:37,730 Speaker 1: But he is one of my favorite ADHD resources out there. 449 00:22:38,290 --> 00:22:40,970 Speaker 2: Actually ended up working at a school where he was 450 00:22:41,030 --> 00:22:42,610 Speaker 2: leading summer camps for ADHD. 451 00:22:42,770 --> 00:22:45,750 Speaker 1: How funny. So total coincidence. 452 00:22:45,810 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 2: But this book, Driven to Distraction, really talked about, like, 453 00:22:49,900 --> 00:22:51,200 Speaker 2: why ADHD? 454 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:51,780 Speaker 1: What it is? 455 00:22:51,940 --> 00:22:54,060 Speaker 2: And so I learned that it's, you know, it's not 456 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:59,409 Speaker 2: really necessarily a... We say disorder, but... disorder to us 457 00:22:59,430 --> 00:23:01,590 Speaker 2: can sound like a really negative thing it just means 458 00:23:01,630 --> 00:23:04,649 Speaker 2: it's like a different pattern you know and so and 459 00:23:04,670 --> 00:23:07,290 Speaker 2: that's how he really frames it he's he just framed 460 00:23:07,310 --> 00:23:11,129 Speaker 2: adhd so positively to me that it was like oh 461 00:23:11,170 --> 00:23:13,140 Speaker 2: this is actually this is something i need to get 462 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:15,540 Speaker 2: rid of or like hide this is something i need 463 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:20,220 Speaker 2: to harness and it can be a pretty amazing thing 464 00:23:20,900 --> 00:23:26,510 Speaker 2: And so, you know, ADHD affects attention, focus, motivation, impulses, 465 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:29,030 Speaker 2: you know, behavior, stuff like that. 466 00:23:29,350 --> 00:23:32,830 Speaker 1: That's because people with ADHD. 467 00:23:32,190 --> 00:23:34,389 Speaker 2: Have, there's a lot going on in the brain, but 468 00:23:34,410 --> 00:23:36,770 Speaker 2: I want to talk about dopamine today. So I won't 469 00:23:36,810 --> 00:23:38,899 Speaker 2: talk about all the other things going on in the 470 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 2: ADHD brain, but the, because the alcohol, ADHD, dopamine connection 471 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:47,590 Speaker 2: is really like so relevant for us. So I already 472 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:50,330 Speaker 2: knew that like from his, from what he had written, 473 00:23:50,410 --> 00:23:53,810 Speaker 2: from what other, you know, all the sources will tell you, 474 00:23:54,310 --> 00:23:57,230 Speaker 2: you know, is that the ADHD brain is dopamine deficient. 475 00:23:58,430 --> 00:24:01,350 Speaker 2: We have fewer dopamine pathways and it takes more to 476 00:24:01,410 --> 00:24:05,610 Speaker 2: excite those pathways. So whereas, you know, a really good 477 00:24:05,650 --> 00:24:10,300 Speaker 2: example is like if somebody without ADHD watches a video 478 00:24:10,410 --> 00:24:12,580 Speaker 2: of a golden retriever puppy, right? 479 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 1: They're so cute. And they might get this hit of dopamine. 480 00:24:16,500 --> 00:24:20,899 Speaker 2: That makes them just feel so happy, right? But for 481 00:24:20,940 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 2: me with ADHD, I need to go play with a 482 00:24:23,560 --> 00:24:28,200 Speaker 2: litter of golden retriever puppies to get that same dopamine. 483 00:24:27,700 --> 00:24:28,400 Speaker 1: Reaction, right? 484 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 2: So where risk-taking and all of that comes in, I 485 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:36,030 Speaker 2: could start to recognize those patterns and go, oh man, 486 00:24:36,290 --> 00:24:40,340 Speaker 2: all of this risk-taking, all of this bombastic behavior, all 487 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 2: of these things, those are a result of my brain 488 00:24:43,460 --> 00:24:47,139 Speaker 2: seeking more dopamine. And so I see that like, I 489 00:24:47,180 --> 00:24:49,919 Speaker 2: needed to find healthier sources of dopamine. 490 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:51,720 Speaker 1: And so even. 491 00:24:51,619 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 2: While drinking, the thing I didn't know, the thing I like, 492 00:24:56,060 --> 00:24:58,020 Speaker 2: and I don't know why I never knew this, maybe 493 00:24:58,060 --> 00:25:01,140 Speaker 2: I just glossed over it. But I just didn't know 494 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:06,020 Speaker 2: that alcohol was such a powerful producer of dopamine. Or 495 00:25:06,060 --> 00:25:08,940 Speaker 2: it would have been something I said probably a lot earlier, 496 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,520 Speaker 2: like that's not a good source of dopamine because I 497 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:14,990 Speaker 2: cut out the other things. I cut out like reckless behavior. 498 00:25:15,130 --> 00:25:18,290 Speaker 2: I cut out drinking and skiing, but I didn't cut 499 00:25:18,410 --> 00:25:23,340 Speaker 2: out skiing fast and pushing myself to ski like more 500 00:25:23,430 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 2: dangerous territory, you know, terrain. 501 00:25:26,210 --> 00:25:27,550 Speaker 1: You know, so things like that. 502 00:25:27,930 --> 00:25:32,350 Speaker 2: So for like probably 15 years before I, you know, 503 00:25:32,369 --> 00:25:34,730 Speaker 2: started exploring or 10 years or so before I started 504 00:25:34,770 --> 00:25:38,930 Speaker 2: exploring sobriety, I already knew like my brain had this 505 00:25:38,990 --> 00:25:41,970 Speaker 2: thing going on with the dopamine deficiency. So I started 506 00:25:42,030 --> 00:25:46,780 Speaker 2: to sort of make some changes, things like exercise regularly 507 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:47,680 Speaker 2: and stuff like that. 508 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:50,660 Speaker 3: We'll be back right after a quick word from our sponsors. 509 00:25:51,250 --> 00:25:54,370 Speaker 3: going to pause this for one second to remind you 510 00:25:54,390 --> 00:25:58,570 Speaker 3: that the October Love Life Sober 40-Day Fast is right 511 00:25:58,590 --> 00:25:59,369 Speaker 3: around the corner. 512 00:25:59,790 --> 00:26:03,070 Speaker 4: We officially kick off on October 5th. And if you've 513 00:26:03,090 --> 00:26:03,870 Speaker 4: been listening to this. 514 00:26:03,790 --> 00:26:06,390 Speaker 3: Podcast for a while, or reading your copy of Love 515 00:26:06,410 --> 00:26:09,800 Speaker 3: Life Sober, and watching from the sidelines and thinking, I 516 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 3: know I need to do something, but I have no. 517 00:26:11,780 --> 00:26:12,580 Speaker 4: Idea where to start. 518 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:17,300 Speaker 3: That is exactly why I created this coached 40-Day Fast. 519 00:26:18,020 --> 00:26:20,550 Speaker 3: I'm not asking you to decide on forever. I'm just 520 00:26:20,690 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 3: asking you to give yourself 40 days. 40 days to 521 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:27,199 Speaker 3: get really curious about the role alcohol is playing in 522 00:26:27,220 --> 00:26:30,220 Speaker 3: your life. 40 days to experience what it feels like 523 00:26:30,260 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 3: to wake up without regret or anxiety about the night before. 524 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:36,770 Speaker 3: 40 days to notice your sleep, your energy, your relationships, 525 00:26:36,790 --> 00:26:39,810 Speaker 3: your thoughts, and maybe even your relationship with God when 526 00:26:39,910 --> 00:26:43,500 Speaker 3: alcohol is no longer taking up so much space. And 527 00:26:43,580 --> 00:26:46,580 Speaker 3: you are absolutely not doing this alone. We'll be walking 528 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:49,660 Speaker 3: together through my bestselling book, Love Life Sober, day by day, 529 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:53,180 Speaker 3: and you'll have access to four live coaching calls every 530 00:26:53,260 --> 00:26:57,270 Speaker 3: single week with me and my incredible team of coaches, Rina, Maureen, 531 00:26:57,369 --> 00:27:00,369 Speaker 3: and Susan. And if you can't make those coaching calls live, 532 00:27:00,390 --> 00:27:02,370 Speaker 3: we're going to record them for you and pop them 533 00:27:02,550 --> 00:27:06,209 Speaker 3: in your private community space. You'll have access to that 534 00:27:06,250 --> 00:27:10,050 Speaker 3: completely private space inside the Love Life Sober community filled 535 00:27:10,070 --> 00:27:13,409 Speaker 3: with other women and doing these 40 days right alongside 536 00:27:13,450 --> 00:27:16,590 Speaker 3: you women who get it women you can be completely 537 00:27:16,710 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 3: honest with women who are going to celebrate the wins 538 00:27:19,300 --> 00:27:21,919 Speaker 3: with you and remind you why you started on the 539 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:25,340 Speaker 3: harder days and the community piece of this is so 540 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:27,780 Speaker 3: important because so many of us have tried to do 541 00:27:27,820 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 3: this quietly and by ourselves you don't have to do 542 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:33,680 Speaker 3: that anymore 40 days is long enough to experience real 543 00:27:33,740 --> 00:27:36,619 Speaker 3: change but short enough to feel possible if there is 544 00:27:36,740 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 3: even a tiny voice inside you saying maybe this is 545 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:42,310 Speaker 3: my time maybe you should listen to her. The Love 546 00:27:42,330 --> 00:27:46,440 Speaker 3: Life Sober 40-Day Alcohol Fast begins October 5th, and I 547 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:49,500 Speaker 3: would absolutely love to meet you and walk these 40 548 00:27:49,500 --> 00:27:51,460 Speaker 3: days with you. Head to the link in the show 549 00:27:51,500 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 3: notes to get all the details. I cannot wait to 550 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:56,159 Speaker 3: see what God is going to do in these 40 days. Okay, 551 00:27:56,220 --> 00:27:58,960 Speaker 3: let's get back to today's conversation. So for the gals 552 00:27:58,980 --> 00:28:02,250 Speaker 3: that are in our community and our listeners whose ears 553 00:28:02,310 --> 00:28:04,590 Speaker 3: have perked up and they're like, oh my gosh, this 554 00:28:04,670 --> 00:28:09,879 Speaker 3: makes so much sense. Why alcohol has become such a 555 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:13,900 Speaker 3: coping mechanism. What do you want the listener to know 556 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:17,460 Speaker 3: more about dopamine and alcohol and ADHD? 557 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:19,619 Speaker 2: Well, there's a really good reason for it. There's a 558 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:21,740 Speaker 2: really good connection. And I want them to know there's 559 00:28:21,780 --> 00:28:24,840 Speaker 2: hope that alcohol doesn't have to be the end-all be-all 560 00:28:24,859 --> 00:28:28,359 Speaker 2: that can be replaced with a lot better thing. And 561 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:31,439 Speaker 2: I think that's the core of everything too, Christy, is 562 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:35,119 Speaker 2: that regardless of everything else, I, you know, for the 563 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:37,940 Speaker 2: women listening who think, are kind of thinking, oh my gosh, 564 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:40,310 Speaker 2: this is me. Like, I want them first of all, 565 00:28:40,350 --> 00:28:43,070 Speaker 2: to know that like, they're fearfully and wonderfully made in 566 00:28:43,090 --> 00:28:47,150 Speaker 2: the image of God. He knit them together and he 567 00:28:47,450 --> 00:28:50,830 Speaker 2: has good plans for them, for their brains, for all 568 00:28:50,870 --> 00:28:54,310 Speaker 2: of it. And so, you know, this is a ADHD, 569 00:28:54,490 --> 00:28:57,670 Speaker 2: like understanding ADHD is a place of hope you know, 570 00:28:57,690 --> 00:29:00,390 Speaker 2: get us out of those second grade classrooms. I think 571 00:29:00,410 --> 00:29:02,430 Speaker 2: that was so much of why I ran from it 572 00:29:02,510 --> 00:29:05,170 Speaker 2: as a kid. I really wanted to grow out of 573 00:29:05,270 --> 00:29:07,770 Speaker 2: it because I was so different and there was such 574 00:29:07,810 --> 00:29:10,970 Speaker 2: a stigma around it. Like, let's leave those second grade 575 00:29:11,010 --> 00:29:14,990 Speaker 2: classrooms behind. And, you know, once we understand like this 576 00:29:15,050 --> 00:29:17,830 Speaker 2: part of it, we can move on and and really 577 00:29:17,900 --> 00:29:21,990 Speaker 2: harness how how wonderful ADHD can be. But, you know, 578 00:29:22,010 --> 00:29:24,490 Speaker 2: the fact is that dopamine is a very powerful thing 579 00:29:24,510 --> 00:29:27,790 Speaker 2: in the brain, it regulates so much for us, especially 580 00:29:27,810 --> 00:29:32,750 Speaker 2: where motivation and focus are concerned. And so, you know, 581 00:29:32,790 --> 00:29:34,530 Speaker 2: a lot of a lot of those patterns I was 582 00:29:34,570 --> 00:29:37,630 Speaker 2: talking about with drinking show up in people with ADHD, 583 00:29:38,290 --> 00:29:41,740 Speaker 2: from the boldness and the recklessness to just needing a 584 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:43,580 Speaker 2: glass of wine to do the dishes. 585 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: You know, those are really common things. 586 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:52,040 Speaker 2: So, you know, those substances like alcohol that get that quick, right, 587 00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:56,180 Speaker 2: that quick dopamine, because they're sources of like, over time, 588 00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:58,969 Speaker 2: you can get dopamine from this other thing. But it's 589 00:29:59,010 --> 00:30:01,430 Speaker 2: when we reach for those quick dopamine things that can 590 00:30:01,450 --> 00:30:05,490 Speaker 2: be really powerful for people with ADHD. And in fact, 591 00:30:05,670 --> 00:30:09,730 Speaker 2: according to Harvard research, we're about 1.5 times more likely 592 00:30:09,770 --> 00:30:13,390 Speaker 2: to have a substance abuse disorder because of ADHD. 593 00:30:13,550 --> 00:30:15,850 Speaker 1: So I think that's so interesting. 594 00:30:15,890 --> 00:30:17,790 Speaker 3: And I think that it's really relevant for some of 595 00:30:17,810 --> 00:30:20,810 Speaker 3: the gals in the community. I can just hear them now, right, 596 00:30:20,950 --> 00:30:23,300 Speaker 3: of who literally that is what they do. They got 597 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:25,080 Speaker 3: a list of chores and it's laundry and dishes. And 598 00:30:25,100 --> 00:30:26,960 Speaker 3: I have to do all these things. And I'm going 599 00:30:26,980 --> 00:30:30,680 Speaker 3: to drink to kind of get through it. And for me, 600 00:30:31,570 --> 00:30:33,710 Speaker 3: I could never relate to that because once I started drinking, 601 00:30:33,730 --> 00:30:38,190 Speaker 3: I just literally wanted to be a potato. I literally 602 00:30:38,210 --> 00:30:40,510 Speaker 3: just wanted to, I will two things. I would either 603 00:30:40,550 --> 00:30:43,630 Speaker 3: be on a table somewhere dancing like an insane person 604 00:30:45,310 --> 00:30:47,470 Speaker 3: in a restaurant or in a nightclub, or I'd be 605 00:30:47,490 --> 00:30:50,620 Speaker 3: a potato on the couch. So like the drinking to 606 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:53,780 Speaker 3: like get through things. I mean, I have a, a 607 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:57,030 Speaker 3: friend that's an attorney who, And she will drink to 608 00:30:57,050 --> 00:31:02,150 Speaker 3: get through her like legal work. And I'm like, how? 609 00:31:02,570 --> 00:31:05,610 Speaker 1: It's the dopamine. It's the dopamine. 610 00:31:05,650 --> 00:31:07,860 Speaker 3: Because you want to enjoy those activities or you just 611 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:09,180 Speaker 3: want to be able to get through them? 612 00:31:10,030 --> 00:31:11,850 Speaker 1: It's it's not even a I don't even think it's 613 00:31:11,890 --> 00:31:12,550 Speaker 1: a get through. 614 00:31:12,610 --> 00:31:16,440 Speaker 2: It's to even initiate to have the, you know, motivation 615 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:19,300 Speaker 2: to start to have that. Do you have you ever 616 00:31:19,340 --> 00:31:22,240 Speaker 2: have those days? You remember those days of drinking, right? 617 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:24,280 Speaker 2: You wake up the next day and your brain is 618 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:25,680 Speaker 2: just surging with dynorphin. 619 00:31:25,980 --> 00:31:26,140 Speaker 3: Not. 620 00:31:26,380 --> 00:31:26,640 Speaker 1: Yeah. 621 00:31:27,050 --> 00:31:27,220 Speaker 3: Yeah. 622 00:31:27,270 --> 00:31:27,970 Speaker 1: Not dopamine. 623 00:31:28,430 --> 00:31:30,710 Speaker 2: Right. That's kind of a picture into sort of a 624 00:31:30,810 --> 00:31:37,050 Speaker 2: baseline ADHD brain where it's really low dopamine. So imagine 625 00:31:37,070 --> 00:31:40,710 Speaker 2: your lowest dopamine day. And that's just sort of how 626 00:31:40,810 --> 00:31:45,630 Speaker 2: people with ADHD live is just on a baseline is 627 00:31:45,650 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 2: just lower dopamine all the time. You know, for us, 628 00:31:50,410 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 2: like that quick dopamine and even, you know, for drinkers, right? 629 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:57,200 Speaker 2: When we drank, whether we have an ADHD brain or, 630 00:31:57,220 --> 00:32:01,800 Speaker 2: you know, a non-ADHD brain, a lot of us in 631 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:06,500 Speaker 2: that cycle, because that dynorphin was almost like creating that, right? 632 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:11,360 Speaker 2: Creating that dopamine later. you know, now we're reaching again 633 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:15,270 Speaker 2: for alcohol to like, get more dopamine, right? Which is 634 00:32:15,290 --> 00:32:19,010 Speaker 2: why that that video you have of nuggets that you share. 635 00:32:19,710 --> 00:32:23,210 Speaker 2: If you if anybody hasn't watched that video, it's it's 636 00:32:23,250 --> 00:32:26,830 Speaker 2: an absolute must watch the little bird, you know, try. 637 00:32:26,730 --> 00:32:28,070 Speaker 3: To find it and link it in the show notes. 638 00:32:28,110 --> 00:32:30,030 Speaker 3: I feel like it's been used by so many people 639 00:32:30,090 --> 00:32:32,710 Speaker 3: in the sober verse that they might have, like copyrighted 640 00:32:32,730 --> 00:32:34,810 Speaker 3: it and like not allowed people to share it anymore. 641 00:32:35,910 --> 00:32:39,320 Speaker 3: But yeah, that's Such a good way to describe it. 642 00:32:39,350 --> 00:32:42,750 Speaker 3: So it's more the motivation than the focus, or is 643 00:32:42,830 --> 00:32:44,210 Speaker 3: it also a tool for focus? 644 00:32:45,150 --> 00:32:46,590 Speaker 1: It's also a tool for focus. 645 00:32:46,670 --> 00:32:51,190 Speaker 2: And a little bit norepinephrine plays a role in all 646 00:32:51,210 --> 00:32:55,560 Speaker 2: of that too, in focus and in attentiveness. So there 647 00:32:55,580 --> 00:33:00,120 Speaker 2: are a lot of sources of quick dopamine out there, right? Alcohol, nicotine, 648 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:07,340 Speaker 2: cocaine is a big one. Gambling, doom scrawling. compulsive shopping, pornography. 649 00:33:07,380 --> 00:33:11,560 Speaker 2: There are a lot of those sources of quick dopamine 650 00:33:11,580 --> 00:33:15,280 Speaker 2: that give you a real fast hit, but they're not 651 00:33:15,340 --> 00:33:16,880 Speaker 2: healthy in the long run. 652 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:22,670 Speaker 1: They're counterproductive. And of course, the brain also still wants 653 00:33:22,790 --> 00:33:23,790 Speaker 1: to push. 654 00:33:23,550 --> 00:33:26,790 Speaker 2: Down that dopamine. And in the ADHD brain, dynorphin works 655 00:33:26,850 --> 00:33:29,170 Speaker 2: just the same. It's like, whoa, there's a surge. Now 656 00:33:29,190 --> 00:33:32,450 Speaker 2: I'm going to push down, right? which is why sometimes 657 00:33:32,490 --> 00:33:38,410 Speaker 2: you'll see with ADHD increasingly reckless behavior, you know, and 658 00:33:38,630 --> 00:33:40,130 Speaker 2: escalating riskiness. 659 00:33:40,210 --> 00:33:41,390 Speaker 1: One of them is like just. 660 00:33:41,250 --> 00:33:45,709 Speaker 2: Putting yourself in risky situations, you know, which I definitely 661 00:33:45,750 --> 00:33:47,590 Speaker 2: experienced in college. 662 00:33:47,730 --> 00:33:49,890 Speaker 1: So, yeah. Yeah. 663 00:33:49,990 --> 00:33:52,880 Speaker 3: We'll be back right after a quick word from our sponsors. 664 00:33:53,620 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 3: So you realize that this is how alcohol was invented. 665 00:33:58,660 --> 00:34:02,120 Speaker 3: affecting your brain, you realize this is how it like 666 00:34:02,340 --> 00:34:05,720 Speaker 3: gals with ADHD can get hooked on it. And then 667 00:34:05,870 --> 00:34:08,810 Speaker 3: you removed it and you went on your alcohol fast 668 00:34:09,050 --> 00:34:10,970 Speaker 3: and you basically never looked back. 669 00:34:11,930 --> 00:34:13,890 Speaker 4: What have you used now? 670 00:34:14,230 --> 00:34:17,230 Speaker 3: What do you do now like to help with getting 671 00:34:17,270 --> 00:34:22,260 Speaker 3: that natural, healthier version of dopamine that's not alcohol? 672 00:34:23,180 --> 00:34:24,020 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah. 673 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:27,580 Speaker 2: So cracking that code, realizing that dopamine was in that 674 00:34:27,660 --> 00:34:31,560 Speaker 2: long list of things that people with ADHD should probably 675 00:34:31,580 --> 00:34:34,799 Speaker 2: steer clear from because it is so powerful. But with 676 00:34:34,860 --> 00:34:37,920 Speaker 2: that knowledge comes knowledge that there are other sources of 677 00:34:38,300 --> 00:34:42,879 Speaker 2: dopamine out there. And so to understand a little bit 678 00:34:42,900 --> 00:34:46,550 Speaker 2: of this too is that the ADHD brain doesn't just 679 00:34:46,590 --> 00:34:47,240 Speaker 2: need dopamine. 680 00:34:47,719 --> 00:34:49,420 Speaker 1: It also needs motivation. 681 00:34:49,460 --> 00:34:52,339 Speaker 2: It also needs to be fed by some other more 682 00:34:52,380 --> 00:34:57,360 Speaker 2: rewarding things, right? So, you know, alcohol is the fast 683 00:34:57,640 --> 00:35:02,560 Speaker 2: kick that is not long-term rewarding, right? It's not, you know, 684 00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:05,160 Speaker 2: and it can lead to greater depression because of that 685 00:35:05,219 --> 00:35:08,580 Speaker 2: dynorphin cycle you can get into. And so there are 686 00:35:08,620 --> 00:35:13,330 Speaker 2: just so many other wonderful and healthy ways. So, you know, 687 00:35:13,550 --> 00:35:17,460 Speaker 2: for me, the things had to be effort-based. So when 688 00:35:17,500 --> 00:35:21,900 Speaker 2: I look for dopamine, something that involves my participation in it, 689 00:35:23,150 --> 00:35:26,509 Speaker 2: oftentimes those sources are skill-based, something I'm really good at 690 00:35:26,570 --> 00:35:30,120 Speaker 2: or something I'm learning. There's something I can really live out, 691 00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:32,940 Speaker 2: like setting goals, even if it's just a to-do list 692 00:35:33,580 --> 00:35:36,560 Speaker 2: is really good because there's a dopamine hit that comes 693 00:35:36,620 --> 00:35:40,049 Speaker 2: with like checking off something on your list. And then 694 00:35:40,090 --> 00:35:42,390 Speaker 2: things that are novel, things that are new, the, the 695 00:35:42,469 --> 00:35:45,839 Speaker 2: ADHD brain is fed by, to some extent by some 696 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:50,239 Speaker 2: entertainment and that entertainment can be self-produced. So, and I 697 00:35:50,280 --> 00:35:54,120 Speaker 2: know that I'm wired for, okay, I want high agency, 698 00:35:54,660 --> 00:35:58,200 Speaker 2: which means I want to be self-directing, uh, makes my, 699 00:35:58,980 --> 00:36:00,060 Speaker 2: a really good fit for me. 700 00:36:00,219 --> 00:36:03,730 Speaker 1: And that's what, uh, Dr. Hallowell will say, like two. 701 00:36:03,719 --> 00:36:05,390 Speaker 2: Of the most important things you can do is find 702 00:36:05,410 --> 00:36:07,630 Speaker 2: the right person to marry and get in the right job. Um, 703 00:36:08,969 --> 00:36:11,570 Speaker 2: you're working a boring job and you have ADHD, it 704 00:36:12,380 --> 00:36:16,440 Speaker 2: doesn't work very well. I still like risk. I really 705 00:36:16,500 --> 00:36:20,600 Speaker 2: like risk. I like to take the lead. I like 706 00:36:20,700 --> 00:36:23,950 Speaker 2: new things and I like things that challenge my boldness. So, 707 00:36:24,430 --> 00:36:26,629 Speaker 2: you know, some of the things I have done is 708 00:36:26,650 --> 00:36:31,370 Speaker 2: like take up golf and take up fly fishing because 709 00:36:31,410 --> 00:36:32,069 Speaker 2: it's always new. 710 00:36:32,090 --> 00:36:35,400 Speaker 1: And There's always something to work on. 711 00:36:35,420 --> 00:36:38,380 Speaker 2: I try to find creative outlets, but I have to 712 00:36:38,420 --> 00:36:41,410 Speaker 2: set deadlines so I don't just have projects sitting everywhere. 713 00:36:41,430 --> 00:36:44,110 Speaker 2: Right now I have projects that don't have deadlines and 714 00:36:44,130 --> 00:36:45,930 Speaker 2: they're just sitting everywhere. 715 00:36:46,020 --> 00:36:46,640 Speaker 1: It's kind of amazing. 716 00:36:47,180 --> 00:36:50,589 Speaker 2: You know, I enjoy things like public speaking. I do 717 00:36:50,989 --> 00:36:54,210 Speaker 2: like do a lot of public speaking both in person and, 718 00:36:54,230 --> 00:36:57,450 Speaker 2: you know, online. So I like that, you know, learning 719 00:36:57,489 --> 00:37:00,390 Speaker 2: things that are hard, stuff like that. So kind of 720 00:37:00,430 --> 00:37:02,549 Speaker 2: have a list of like things that I don't do 721 00:37:02,610 --> 00:37:05,509 Speaker 2: since quitting alcohol and then things I still do since 722 00:37:05,570 --> 00:37:08,770 Speaker 2: quitting alcohol. So one of the things I because I 723 00:37:08,790 --> 00:37:11,530 Speaker 2: had to understand, like what would drive me to drink 724 00:37:11,640 --> 00:37:15,160 Speaker 2: to like where are those risky situations where I'm going 725 00:37:15,180 --> 00:37:18,649 Speaker 2: to look for quick dopamine? That's not going to benefit me. 726 00:37:18,830 --> 00:37:21,950 Speaker 2: So one of those things is like being in a 727 00:37:22,030 --> 00:37:22,850 Speaker 2: boring setting. 728 00:37:22,870 --> 00:37:24,050 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh. 729 00:37:24,190 --> 00:37:27,630 Speaker 2: Like sitting around in a brewery doing nothing but chatting 730 00:37:28,030 --> 00:37:29,270 Speaker 2: is the most boring setting. 731 00:37:29,350 --> 00:37:30,950 Speaker 1: Of course we need beer to be there. 732 00:37:33,310 --> 00:37:34,870 Speaker 4: But yeah. 733 00:37:34,969 --> 00:37:37,050 Speaker 1: And that's like an ADHD thing too. 734 00:37:37,090 --> 00:37:39,740 Speaker 2: This came up in community that like men need shoulder 735 00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:41,280 Speaker 2: to shoulder connection. 736 00:37:41,300 --> 00:37:43,000 Speaker 1: This has come up a couple times. 737 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:46,799 Speaker 2: This week, but You know, the ADHD person probably needs 738 00:37:46,860 --> 00:37:49,600 Speaker 2: a lot more shoulder to shoulder connection. So I want 739 00:37:49,620 --> 00:37:53,180 Speaker 2: to go and do things and play. And, you know, 740 00:37:53,219 --> 00:37:55,480 Speaker 2: my husband and I go out and we play together 741 00:37:55,820 --> 00:37:58,770 Speaker 2: like all the time. We were we played golf last night, 742 00:37:58,890 --> 00:38:02,130 Speaker 2: some golf, and we like to accomplish things together. So 743 00:38:02,150 --> 00:38:05,649 Speaker 2: we like that shoulder to shoulder connection rather than sitting 744 00:38:05,690 --> 00:38:08,690 Speaker 2: there face to face, sitting still talking about our deepest feelings. 745 00:38:08,710 --> 00:38:10,090 Speaker 1: It's not going to happen. We're both on it. 746 00:38:10,830 --> 00:38:11,390 Speaker 4: Yeah. 747 00:38:11,750 --> 00:38:15,450 Speaker 2: I also like since I stopped, since I quit alcohol, 748 00:38:16,030 --> 00:38:18,560 Speaker 2: I don't engage in behaviors that I'm going to regret later. 749 00:38:19,020 --> 00:38:22,080 Speaker 2: Like I, you know, I try not to do things 750 00:38:22,160 --> 00:38:26,000 Speaker 2: at least not consciously that I'll be like, oh my gosh, 751 00:38:26,040 --> 00:38:27,319 Speaker 2: that is not who I am. 752 00:38:27,380 --> 00:38:29,049 Speaker 1: Why did I say that? Why did I do that? 753 00:38:29,210 --> 00:38:31,730 Speaker 2: I think that's going to resonate with anybody who's been 754 00:38:31,770 --> 00:38:34,110 Speaker 2: in a drinking cycle. I don't do as much to 755 00:38:34,210 --> 00:38:37,830 Speaker 2: seek attention from others because that can be really demanding 756 00:38:37,910 --> 00:38:42,930 Speaker 2: from somebody with ADHD. recognizing that like there's a healthy 757 00:38:43,030 --> 00:38:47,899 Speaker 2: level of social reward of like contributed to my community 758 00:38:48,219 --> 00:38:51,420 Speaker 2: and I helped somebody and I made somebody's life a 759 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:55,399 Speaker 2: little better today. You know, I actually bore the image 760 00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:59,320 Speaker 2: of Christ today, you know, versus like I need to 761 00:38:59,360 --> 00:39:02,530 Speaker 2: be the center of attention and, you know, get everybody's 762 00:39:03,090 --> 00:39:03,629 Speaker 2: eyes on me. 763 00:39:04,050 --> 00:39:11,850 Speaker 1: I don't typically moon anybody anymore. Maybe Zab every once 764 00:39:11,930 --> 00:39:12,550 Speaker 1: in a while. 765 00:39:12,770 --> 00:39:17,170 Speaker 2: Yeah, I have to say my sister otherwise she's gonna 766 00:39:17,190 --> 00:39:21,730 Speaker 2: call me out. You know, I also don't check out 767 00:39:21,770 --> 00:39:25,730 Speaker 2: from really awkward moments with a substance. So, you know, 768 00:39:25,750 --> 00:39:29,489 Speaker 2: I won't be like, I more, I more tend to 769 00:39:29,650 --> 00:39:32,180 Speaker 2: kind of see my place with ADHD in a room 770 00:39:32,200 --> 00:39:35,420 Speaker 2: and say to myself, like, how can I be the 771 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:39,020 Speaker 2: confident person in this awkward situation that makes this other 772 00:39:39,060 --> 00:39:40,240 Speaker 2: person feel more comfortable? 773 00:39:40,260 --> 00:39:41,260 Speaker 1: I love that. 774 00:39:42,270 --> 00:39:46,890 Speaker 2: And then I also just don't do unstructured social time. I, yeah, 775 00:39:47,510 --> 00:39:50,430 Speaker 2: I already said shoulders, shoulder activities, but If I'm going 776 00:39:50,469 --> 00:39:52,910 Speaker 2: to do something, I really like it to have kind 777 00:39:52,950 --> 00:39:59,270 Speaker 2: of a structure involved. The fact is, without alcohol, I 778 00:39:59,310 --> 00:40:00,390 Speaker 2: still have ADHD. 779 00:40:01,360 --> 00:40:01,950 Speaker 1: I still. 780 00:40:03,560 --> 00:40:07,799 Speaker 2: Need to stimulate some dopamine pathways, and that's a very 781 00:40:07,880 --> 00:40:10,500 Speaker 2: real thing. So the bad source of dopamine doesn't make 782 00:40:10,540 --> 00:40:12,680 Speaker 2: the need for dopamine to go away. It just means 783 00:40:12,719 --> 00:40:17,090 Speaker 2: we need to find healthier sources. So I still I 784 00:40:17,110 --> 00:40:19,969 Speaker 2: still take risks. I'm still the person who will speak 785 00:40:20,050 --> 00:40:23,400 Speaker 2: up boldly. Um, but I, I tend to think before 786 00:40:23,460 --> 00:40:29,239 Speaker 2: I speak now, um, I seek, I seek a lot 787 00:40:29,280 --> 00:40:32,840 Speaker 2: of thrills still. I love, I love thrill seeking. I 788 00:40:32,960 --> 00:40:36,870 Speaker 2: love skiing fast. I love the danger of like, will 789 00:40:36,910 --> 00:40:38,510 Speaker 2: I hit a tree in the woods today? 790 00:40:38,530 --> 00:40:39,850 Speaker 1: No, because I'm such good. 791 00:40:39,890 --> 00:40:40,049 Speaker 3: Yeah. 792 00:40:44,070 --> 00:40:47,210 Speaker 2: I still like love that. And over the years, I've 793 00:40:47,250 --> 00:40:50,580 Speaker 2: enjoyed a lot of different sports. I found, you know, 794 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:54,880 Speaker 2: some of my greatest thrills in life have come completely sober. 795 00:40:54,900 --> 00:40:59,020 Speaker 2: I'm hanging 600 feet off a rock face over a 796 00:40:59,060 --> 00:41:03,569 Speaker 2: mountain and just and like found myself there by happenstance 797 00:41:03,590 --> 00:41:05,510 Speaker 2: because somebody said you want to do something cool today. 798 00:41:06,190 --> 00:41:08,750 Speaker 2: And I'm like, yes, don't tell me what we're doing, 799 00:41:08,790 --> 00:41:10,950 Speaker 2: but tell me what gear I need. Like, that's how 800 00:41:11,010 --> 00:41:14,709 Speaker 2: that happened. And it was, it's so good. And it's no, 801 00:41:14,950 --> 00:41:18,740 Speaker 2: no alcohol needed. I also commit myself to some lifelong sports. 802 00:41:18,780 --> 00:41:21,660 Speaker 2: I talked about golf and fly fishing. You can't ever 803 00:41:21,700 --> 00:41:26,720 Speaker 2: master either of those. You can only improve all the time. And, 804 00:41:27,040 --> 00:41:28,719 Speaker 2: you know, if people want to challenge me on that, 805 00:41:28,760 --> 00:41:31,290 Speaker 2: look at Shuffler and Rory both struggling right. 806 00:41:31,130 --> 00:41:33,570 Speaker 1: Now with their drivers. 807 00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:36,640 Speaker 2: And it's just, they're the number one and two in 808 00:41:36,660 --> 00:41:39,109 Speaker 2: the world still, like, working things out. 809 00:41:39,250 --> 00:41:43,330 Speaker 3: I'm obsessed with Scottie Scheffler, like, just as a human. 810 00:41:44,250 --> 00:41:44,589 Speaker 3: I know. 811 00:41:44,650 --> 00:41:46,390 Speaker 1: Can you come on the podcast? I don't know what 812 00:41:46,410 --> 00:41:48,089 Speaker 1: you would talk about. Oh, my gosh. 813 00:41:48,210 --> 00:41:49,950 Speaker 4: Does he have an alcohol story? Let's look that up. 814 00:41:50,550 --> 00:41:51,870 Speaker 1: No, I doubt it. 815 00:41:53,210 --> 00:41:53,870 Speaker 4: I doubt it, too. 816 00:41:54,489 --> 00:41:57,719 Speaker 1: Wife, too. Everything he says about her, I'm like, I just, yeah, 817 00:41:57,820 --> 00:41:59,700 Speaker 1: I want to meet her. They're really cute. 818 00:42:00,260 --> 00:42:01,880 Speaker 4: Let's land the plane. So. 819 00:42:02,680 --> 00:42:06,800 Speaker 3: For the woman who's listening, who maybe she doesn't know 820 00:42:06,820 --> 00:42:09,860 Speaker 3: that she has ADHD, maybe because I feel like a 821 00:42:09,940 --> 00:42:13,100 Speaker 3: lot more gals are finding this out for the first time. 822 00:42:13,280 --> 00:42:16,569 Speaker 3: Maybe Brittany has said something where you're like, oh, that 823 00:42:16,610 --> 00:42:18,210 Speaker 3: makes so much sense to me. 824 00:42:19,230 --> 00:42:22,070 Speaker 4: What would be, I guess, let's do a tiny new action. 825 00:42:22,110 --> 00:42:24,609 Speaker 3: Like what is a tiny new action that you would 826 00:42:24,650 --> 00:42:29,160 Speaker 3: tell a gal who's maybe thought that she's used alcohol 827 00:42:29,260 --> 00:42:30,939 Speaker 3: for some of these reasons that you said? 828 00:42:31,590 --> 00:42:35,160 Speaker 2: I would say talk to somebody is the tiny option. 829 00:42:35,440 --> 00:42:38,420 Speaker 2: You know, if you're in the community, you know, talk 830 00:42:38,440 --> 00:42:40,580 Speaker 2: to feel free to DM me if you're not. 831 00:42:41,360 --> 00:42:43,300 Speaker 1: I would I would reach out. 832 00:42:43,340 --> 00:42:46,620 Speaker 2: And talk to a family practitioner or if you're working 833 00:42:46,640 --> 00:42:48,390 Speaker 2: with a counselor psychiatrist at all. 834 00:42:49,410 --> 00:42:50,989 Speaker 1: They're good people to reach out to. 835 00:42:51,130 --> 00:42:54,600 Speaker 2: There's a little bit of a misunderstanding out there that 836 00:42:54,680 --> 00:42:58,580 Speaker 2: sort of ADHD is so underdiagnosed and it's undertreated because 837 00:42:58,620 --> 00:43:01,540 Speaker 2: there aren't a lot of ADHD specialists right now. 838 00:43:02,030 --> 00:43:05,850 Speaker 1: That's because it's so it's so well researched. 839 00:43:05,910 --> 00:43:09,440 Speaker 2: It's so well known. Pretty much any counselor, any any. 840 00:43:10,980 --> 00:43:14,100 Speaker 2: family doctor knows about it. They see it all the time. 841 00:43:14,140 --> 00:43:14,650 Speaker 1: They treat it. 842 00:43:14,700 --> 00:43:18,660 Speaker 2: They don't specialize in blood pressure. So they don't specialize 843 00:43:18,719 --> 00:43:21,919 Speaker 2: in ADHD. It's just one of those things that there's 844 00:43:22,100 --> 00:43:25,980 Speaker 2: so much help out there for it. And it's important 845 00:43:26,040 --> 00:43:28,840 Speaker 2: to stay like, really don't go in there going, I 846 00:43:28,880 --> 00:43:33,420 Speaker 2: think I have ADHD. But I have these patterns I'm noticing. 847 00:43:33,440 --> 00:43:37,770 Speaker 2: And this is what, because a lot of this with dopamine, 848 00:43:37,790 --> 00:43:41,049 Speaker 2: with alcohol cycles, it can mask other things. It could 849 00:43:41,070 --> 00:43:45,540 Speaker 2: just be like the dopamine dynorphin cycle. There are a 850 00:43:45,580 --> 00:43:49,060 Speaker 2: lot of other things. Depression can show up as ADHD 851 00:43:49,100 --> 00:43:52,660 Speaker 2: and ADHD can show up as depression and lots of 852 00:43:52,700 --> 00:43:57,350 Speaker 2: other things can show up that way. So You know, 853 00:43:57,450 --> 00:43:59,670 Speaker 2: I would say, you know, talk to somebody and have 854 00:43:59,690 --> 00:44:03,890 Speaker 2: an open conversation about what you're experiencing and the things 855 00:44:03,930 --> 00:44:07,969 Speaker 2: that are bothering you about like how life is going. 856 00:44:08,400 --> 00:44:10,020 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's so, so, so good. 857 00:44:10,080 --> 00:44:12,440 Speaker 3: Because as we talk about all the time, right, awareness 858 00:44:12,500 --> 00:44:13,600 Speaker 3: is the very first step. 859 00:44:14,080 --> 00:44:16,020 Speaker 4: It's the very first step of transformation. 860 00:44:16,040 --> 00:44:19,360 Speaker 3: And then understanding how your brain and your body works, 861 00:44:19,480 --> 00:44:22,540 Speaker 3: how God knit you together. And he obviously knit us 862 00:44:22,820 --> 00:44:25,680 Speaker 3: all together differently. you could have ADHD and none of 863 00:44:25,700 --> 00:44:28,239 Speaker 3: the things that Brittany said maybe did relate, but go 864 00:44:28,340 --> 00:44:31,750 Speaker 3: and find out, as she said, talk to someone, figure 865 00:44:31,969 --> 00:44:35,270 Speaker 3: out like exactly kind of what you need in order 866 00:44:35,390 --> 00:44:38,470 Speaker 3: to replace that unhealthy coping mechanism of alcohol. 867 00:44:38,989 --> 00:44:41,430 Speaker 4: Experiment, like you gave so many ideas. 868 00:44:41,870 --> 00:44:44,130 Speaker 3: If those ideas don't sound good to you, go and 869 00:44:44,190 --> 00:44:46,759 Speaker 3: experiment and find your own like methods, right? 870 00:44:46,780 --> 00:44:49,419 Speaker 4: There's so many different things depending on what you need. 871 00:44:49,460 --> 00:44:52,720 Speaker 3: I think that's the question that I find myself asking 872 00:44:53,200 --> 00:44:56,239 Speaker 3: so many times to anyone in coaching is like, what 873 00:44:56,280 --> 00:44:59,100 Speaker 3: do you really need right now? And I don't think 874 00:44:59,360 --> 00:45:03,320 Speaker 3: we are used to asking that question. It's very compulsive, right? 875 00:45:03,340 --> 00:45:06,710 Speaker 3: It's just like you, you know, whatever the feeling is, 876 00:45:06,890 --> 00:45:08,690 Speaker 3: you do the thing to either numb it out or 877 00:45:08,770 --> 00:45:11,330 Speaker 3: shift it or enhance it or make it go away 878 00:45:11,370 --> 00:45:14,230 Speaker 3: or whatever it is. And so everything that you said 879 00:45:14,290 --> 00:45:18,029 Speaker 3: is so helpful and so valuable. And I'm so grateful 880 00:45:18,090 --> 00:45:22,820 Speaker 3: for you. and thrilled for your brand new bundle joining 881 00:45:23,040 --> 00:45:26,240 Speaker 3: us soon and all of the things. 882 00:45:26,400 --> 00:45:28,920 Speaker 4: So any kind of last thoughts? 883 00:45:28,980 --> 00:45:32,140 Speaker 2: No, I think just as you, you know, contemplate this, 884 00:45:32,219 --> 00:45:34,700 Speaker 2: or maybe you, you know, are wondering about it, I 885 00:45:34,719 --> 00:45:36,760 Speaker 2: think just keep in mind that like God made you, 886 00:45:37,090 --> 00:45:38,970 Speaker 2: God made you, he didn't, he didn't get it wrong. 887 00:45:39,450 --> 00:45:40,190 Speaker 1: He got you right. 888 00:45:40,730 --> 00:45:44,200 Speaker 2: And, you know, all of this is a shame-free journey 889 00:45:44,640 --> 00:45:47,939 Speaker 2: into what God has for us. Cause he never, ever 890 00:45:48,000 --> 00:45:50,360 Speaker 2: leads us in shame. He always leads us in freedom. 891 00:45:51,060 --> 00:45:53,380 Speaker 2: And so he's taking you on some kind of journey 892 00:45:53,460 --> 00:45:55,860 Speaker 2: with ADHD, just like with alcohol. 893 00:45:55,980 --> 00:45:58,339 Speaker 1: It is a, it is so that. 894 00:45:58,260 --> 00:46:00,160 Speaker 2: You can live a fuller and more beautiful and more 895 00:46:00,200 --> 00:46:01,609 Speaker 2: joyful life in his name. 896 00:46:02,190 --> 00:46:03,270 Speaker 1: Yeah. Amen. 897 00:46:03,890 --> 00:46:07,590 Speaker 4: Thank you, my friend. You're the best. All right, gals. 898 00:46:07,650 --> 00:46:09,950 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening. We will see you next week. 899 00:46:09,989 --> 00:46:12,049 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to Love Life Sober and we 900 00:46:12,070 --> 00:46:13,610 Speaker 3: will see you in the community. 901 00:46:13,630 --> 00:46:14,510 Speaker 4: Bye, gals. 902 00:46:15,150 --> 00:46:15,670 Speaker 1: Bye. 903 00:46:17,219 --> 00:46:19,080 Speaker 3: Thank you for spending this time with me on Love 904 00:46:19,100 --> 00:46:22,480 Speaker 3: Life Sober. If today's conversation stirred something in your heart, 905 00:46:22,820 --> 00:46:23,750 Speaker 3: don't rush past it. 906 00:46:23,980 --> 00:46:24,640 Speaker 4: Take it to prayer. 907 00:46:25,180 --> 00:46:28,379 Speaker 3: If you're feeling ready for deeper connection and support, I'd 908 00:46:28,500 --> 00:46:30,880 Speaker 3: love to invite you into the Love Life Sober community, 909 00:46:31,180 --> 00:46:35,279 Speaker 3: a grace-filled, shame-free space where real connection grows and and 910 00:46:35,400 --> 00:46:38,219 Speaker 3: lasting change takes root. You can find the link to 911 00:46:38,280 --> 00:46:42,000 Speaker 3: join us in the show notes. Love Life Sober is 912 00:46:42,060 --> 00:46:45,980 Speaker 3: part of the Life Audio Podcast Network, where faith-centered podcasts 913 00:46:46,100 --> 00:46:48,520 Speaker 3: help you grow deeper in your walk with Christ. You 914 00:46:48,560 --> 00:46:53,600 Speaker 3: can find more faith-centered podcasts at lifeaudio.com. Until next time, 915 00:46:53,620 --> 00:46:57,410 Speaker 3: be gentle with yourself, stay curious, and trust God's promises. 916 00:46:57,910 --> 00:46:59,259 Speaker 4: He has freedom waiting for you.