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EP 32: Why You Crave Booze, Then Hate It: The Opponent Process Theory Explained
Description
Ever wonder why you want alcohol so badly—only to feel like absolute garbage afterward? You’re not broken. Your brain is just doing its job. In this episode, I want to share more about the neuroscience of addiction, diving deep into the opponent process theory, neurotransmitter chaos, and the real reason that 5 p.m. craving feels like a freight train.
In this episode I cover:
- The brain’s “AB Process” and how it wires us to crave booze and crash after
- Why the wine witch hour isn’t about willpower—it’s about biology
- GABA, glutamate, dopamine & cortisol: what’s really going on in your brain
- How tolerance and withdrawal escalate over time (and why)
- Why early sobriety feels like a hormonal rollercoaster—and how long it really lasts
- Why understanding brain science is the ultimate tool to ditch shame and build lasting sobriety
I share the moment when everything clicked (in a Safeway parking lot, of all places), and how learning the science behind addiction finally made me feel empowered—not broken.
Links:
Access the AB Process Course
You can find Kate on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/
Explore Kate’s blog: https://thesobercurator.com/category/sober-lifestyle/youve-been-selected/
Work with Kate: https://linktr.ee/KateVitela
Email Podcast: team@katevitelacoaching.com
Mentioned in this episode:
Rewired Sober Group Coaching Program
https://kate-vitela.mykajabi.com/rewired-sober-coaching-program