For women navigating ADHD, alcohol, and the mental patterns that can keep them reaching for a drink, understanding your brain can change the way you understand your drinking. In this conversation, Christy Osborne and Love Life Sober leader Brittany Tonkavich explore ADHD, dopamine, boredom, focus, motivation, and why alcohol can feel like the fastest way to make your brain feel better.

Christy sits down with Brittany Tonkavich, a former coaching client turned Love Life Sober leader, for a fascinating conversation about ADHD, dopamine, and alcohol.

Diagnosed with ADHD as a child, Brittany looks back at the different “jobs” she gave alcohol throughout her life—from excitement and risk-taking to focus, motivation, relieving boredom, and quieting a busy brain.

She shares how understanding the connection between ADHD and dopamine helped her make sense of her drinking patterns and find healthier ways to give her brain what it was actually looking for.

If You've Ever Thought...

“Why do I feel like I need a glass of wine just to get things done, focus, or quiet my brain?”

“Why does alcohol seem to make boring things easier or life feel a little more interesting?”

Babe, this episode is for you. 🩷

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why alcohol can become appealing when your brain is searching for quick dopamine
• How ADHD can affect motivation, focus, boredom, impulsivity, and risk-taking
• Why you might reach for a drink to start a task or make something boring feel interesting
• How Brittany replaced alcohol with healthier, effort-based sources of dopamine
• Why understanding your brain can lead to curiosity instead of shame
• How awareness can become the beginning of lasting change

Brittany also leaves us with this beautiful reminder: “God made you. He didn't get it wrong. He got you right.”

If something in this conversation makes you wonder whether ADHD could be part of your story, your Tiny New Action is simple: get curious about the patterns you're noticing and talk to a qualified professional. Awareness is the first step toward transformation.

Links & Resources

Join the October 40-Day Fast
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/october-fast

🩷 Join the Love Life Sober Community
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/community

📖 Order Christy's Book:Love Life Sober: A 40-Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book

📲 Follow Love Life Sober on Instagram
@lovelifesoberwithchristy

🎥 Subscribe on YouTube — Come hang out with us!

Disclaimer

The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober Podcast are not healthcare practitioners and do not provide medical, psychological, or professional advice. The content of this podcast and all Love Life Sober communications is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Views and opinions expressed by guests, or in any resources referenced, do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team.

For women navigating ADHD, alcohol, and the mental patterns that can keep them reaching for a drink, understanding your brain can change the way you understand your drinking. In this conversation, Christy Osborne and Love Life Sober leader Brittany Tonkavich explore ADHD, dopamine, boredom, focus, motivation, and why alcohol can feel like the fastest way to make your brain feel better.
Christy sits down with Brittany Tonkavich, a former coaching client turned Love Life Sober leader, for a fascinating conversation about ADHD, dopamine, and alcohol.
Diagnosed with ADHD as a child, Brittany looks back at the different &ldquo;jobs&rdquo; she gave alcohol throughout her life&mdash;from excitement and risk-taking to focus, motivation, relieving boredom, and quieting a busy brain.
She shares how understanding the connection between ADHD and dopamine helped her make sense of her drinking patterns and find healthier ways to give her brain what it was actually looking for.
If You've Ever Thought...
&ldquo;Why do I feel like I need a glass of wine just to get things done, focus, or quiet my brain?&rdquo;
&ldquo;Why does alcohol seem to make boring things easier or life feel a little more interesting?&rdquo;
Babe, this episode is for you. 🩷
What You'll Learn in This Episode
&bull; Why alcohol can become appealing when your brain is searching for quick dopamine &bull; How ADHD can affect motivation, focus, boredom, impulsivity, and risk-taking &bull; Why you might reach for a drink to start a task or make something boring feel interesting &bull; How Brittany replaced alcohol with healthier, effort-based sources of dopamine &bull; Why understanding your brain can lead to curiosity instead of shame &bull; How awareness can become the beginning of lasting change
Brittany also leaves us with this beautiful reminder: &ldquo;God made you. He didn't get it wrong. He got you right.&rdquo;
If something in this conversation makes you wonder whether ADHD could be part of your story, your Tiny New Action is simple: get curious about the patterns you're noticing and talk to a qualified professional. Awareness is the first step toward transformation.
Links &amp; Resources
Join the October 40-Day Fast <a href="https://lovelifesober.co.uk/october-fast" data-start="2234" data-end="2274">https://lovelifesober.co.uk/october-fast</a>
🩷 Join the Love Life Sober Community <a href="https://lovelifesober.co.uk/community" data-start="2320" data-end="2357">https://lovelifesober.co.uk/community</a>
📖 Order Christy's Book: Love Life Sober: A 40-Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind <a href="https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book" data-start="2496" data-end="2528">https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book</a>
📲 Follow Love Life Sober on Instagram @lovelifesoberwithchristy
🎥 Subscribe on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LoveLifeSober">YouTube</a> &mdash; Come hang out with us!
Disclaimer
The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober Podcast are not healthcare practitioners and do not provide medical, psychological, or professional advice. The content of this podcast and all Love Life Sober communications is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Views and opinions expressed by guests, or in any resources referenced, do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team.

Love Life Sober is a Christian podcast for women questioning their relationship with alcohol and sensing God might have more for them beyond the wine glass.

Have you felt that nudge from God to put down the wine glass, but the thought of relaxing, having fun, or even coping with life feels impossible without it? Are you waking up each morning vowing not to drink tonight, only to find that by five p.m., all bets are off?

Love Life Sober is for sober and sober-curious women who love Jesus, or who are longing to reconnect with Him, and who know deep down that alcohol is no longer serving them.

Hosted by Christian sobriety coach and author Christy Osborne, author of Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind, this podcast blends Scripture, neuroscience, and practical coaching to help you understand what’s happening in your brain, your nervous system, and your heart, and how lasting freedom from alcohol is actually possible.

You’ll hear expert conversations and powerful testimonies for women exploring Christian sobriety, faith-based recovery, mindful drinking, and alcohol-free living. Each episode gently invites you to step away from wine and toward deeper connection with God, without shame, pressure, or the need to decide forever.

At the heart of Love Life Sober is a simple truth. Love, joy, peace, and connection were never meant to be found in a wine bottle. They are found in Jesus.

This is a grace-filled, shame-free space for women seeking freedom from alcohol through faith, neuroscience, and compassionate coaching. You don’t have to hit rock bottom. You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through sobriety. And you don’t have to do this alone.

If you’re ready to loosen alcohol’s grip and live the life God is inviting you into, you’re in the right place.
Welcome to Love Life Sober. Want more? Visit lovelifesober.com. 

Love Life Sober is a Christian podcast for women questioning their relationship with alcohol and sensing God might have more for them beyond the wine glass.
Have you felt that nudge from God to put down the wine glass, but the thought of relaxing, having fun, or even coping with life feels impossible without it? Are you waking up each morning vowing not to drink tonight, only to find that by five p.m., all bets are off?
Love Life Sober is for sober and sober-curious women who love Jesus, or who are longing to reconnect with Him, and who know deep down that alcohol is no longer serving them.
Hosted by Christian sobriety coach and author Christy Osborne, author of <a href="https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book">Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind</a>, this podcast blends Scripture, neuroscience, and practical coaching to help you understand what&rsquo;s happening in your brain, your nervous system, and your heart, and how lasting freedom from alcohol is actually possible.
You&rsquo;ll hear expert conversations and powerful testimonies for women exploring Christian sobriety, faith-based recovery, mindful drinking, and alcohol-free living. Each episode gently invites you to step away from wine and toward deeper connection with God, without shame, pressure, or the need to decide forever.
At the heart of Love Life Sober is a simple truth. Love, joy, peace, and connection were never meant to be found in a wine bottle. They are found in Jesus.
This is a grace-filled, shame-free space for women seeking freedom from alcohol through faith, neuroscience, and compassionate coaching. You don&rsquo;t have to hit rock bottom. You don&rsquo;t have to white-knuckle your way through sobriety. And you don&rsquo;t have to do this alone.
If you&rsquo;re ready to loosen alcohol&rsquo;s grip and live the life God is inviting you into, you&rsquo;re in the right place. Welcome to Love Life Sober. Want more? Visit <a href="https://lovelifesober.com/">lovelifesober.com</a>.&nbsp;

Love Life Sober is a Christian podcast for women questioning their relationship with alcohol and sensing God might have more for them beyond the wine glass.  Have you felt that nudge from God to put down the wine glass, but the thought of relaxing, having fun, or even coping with life feels impossible without it? Are you waking up each morning vowing not to drink tonight, only to find that by five p.m., all bets are off?  Love Life Sober is for sober and sober-curious women who love Jesus, or who are longing to reconnect with Him, and who know deep down that alcohol is no longer serving them.

Love Life Sober

ADHD, Dopamine & Alcohol: Why Your Brain Keeps Reaching for a Drink

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/e72841f1-faff-4813-a18a-b4b601576f9a/transcript