This is the most well thought out, scientific approach to why people have a hard time trying to quit. Love this sort of material. Wish physicians went into this sort of detail.

When I was a drinker I used to tell people, “I don’t have an ‘off switch’ once I have a couple beers. I would not stop drinking until I was completely drunk. Now I understand why. My prefrontal cortex was swimming in poison and couldn’t do its job properly. Annie, I thank God someone led me to your book. I’ve recommended it to people I love who are struggling to stop drinking. Because of your book I am sober After almost 30 years of hard drinking and I have no desire at all to put that terrible, life destroying poison in my body ever again.

I love the use of technical words, it actually helps me more than layman’s terms.

Takes about one complete year without alcohol to break the addiction. Also sometimes you need complete isolation, rehab works great.

Hi there I just wanted to write a note to thank you for producing this video as I feel it’s important to thank people who take the time to make content that helps others. I guess I have had a problematic relationship with alcohol since the first drink, In the last 4 years it’s gotten abit worse and I’ve drank most nights and I know it’s a problem and your video describes it perfectly. Im on day 6 of no alcohol after abit of a binge, tbh I’m ready to be done with it but the withdrawal lows are a real bitch! So anyway I know this video was made 4 yrs ago but I’d like you to know it’s still helping people 😊.

for me it’s anxiety…. self-medicating… and I have ADHD so yeah… dopamine deficient 😢 and I wouldn’t drink every day… months would go by and I wouldn’t touch it, but then I’d binge for a day or two… like BINGE BINGE and I’d have to go to the hospital … ughhhh also with ADHD (and I honestly don’t know how to put it more politely) - you get bored. Not just your regular boredom, it is boredom that is utterly unbearable and paralyzing, psychologically and physically painful… that also triggers alcohol abuse. I am 4 months 100% sober and I am still deciding to go to rehab so that I can address my issues, the real, raw, underlying issues as to why I abuse alcohoI - in a compassionate, carying, understanding, emphatetic and safe environment with experts. I want to be completely free from this substance - I want to be utterly indifferent to it, like I was before I decided to resort to alcohol to cope with my anxiety and ADHD.

As usual, great information presented succinctly. I would love to give the medication a try, but I’m too embarrassed to admit to my doctor that I drink daily. The dreaded shame. Sigh

Interesting. I'd also researched medication to help me stay off the drink and had come across Naltrexone that you mentioned. After 4 months without a drink, I'd begun craving it again inspite of knowing what would happen. Anyway, armed with this research I'd done, I went to my doctor and he suggested I try Campral (acamprosate calcium). I gave that a go and took it everyday for a year. It really helped me stay sober but I really did want to stay sober and get well. I'm nearly 15 years sober now which for me is something that I thought would never happen! I honestly thought I'd die drunk or end up with a wet brain in some psychiatric lock up.

This is gold because as I deep dive my own personal weaknesses I realise that the "just one, what's the harm?" is a key issue - thx!

Thank you :)

Thank you. Really appreciate the explanations you provide.

You are the best Annie🌹

Thank you so much for taking the time to create this video. I am someone that you definitely put me as a target in a good way

Very well esxplained, congratulations!

Very helpful

I’m back on the alcohol. I’m weening myself off because I cannot sleep at all when I don’t drink that day it sucks. I have your book sitting on my table. Maybe I need to read it again… ❤❤❤

You really have touched a nerve. I don't try another drug, in my system, please cary on. I need help, Portugal

Interesting theories. I can't imagine drinking bad wine. But at big tastings, I use a spit bucket so I can sample more wines without getting totally sloshed. This may work for some people, but not others.

I have started a new challenge for myself, starting this year to my dying day, I take every winter season off from bad habits, my theory is responding to the earth’s magnetic fields like animals and no drinks with preservatives so it’s mostly water, I’m doing well. You explain this topic very well, thanks 😊

You can really sum up complex things and make them easy to understand so well! Will definitely save this one too : )

Can you do an in-depth one in binge drinking? Why someone can go without alcohol for months but when they have 3 or more then they can’t stop till blackouts or passed out?

A really succinct comprehensive response to the question. One thing I'd add from personal experience. Naltrexone is not a one-stop miracle cure. It didn't work for me.

I have ADHD so dopamine is a big deal for me...I will definitely have to look into this relationship more! Thanks 👍🏻

One aspect of alcohol which is virtually *never* spoken of is that alcohol is an extremely potent vasodilator. It stretches blood vessels wide open, and gives us that bodywide, warm feeling and puts us in that relaxed state. Cardiovascular exercise also vasodilates us and puts us in that post-exercise relaxed state. When the booze is gone, so is the dependable vasodilation.

This is me and I feel like I have tried everything. Exercise, supplements, meditation. Hoping this helps.

I've been following the Sinclair Method for a year and never really felt like it did that much for me. I was using shit from Indian pharmacies so maybe that was a factor. I'm trying abstinence now but will keep using naltrexone if I ever drink. TSM says to drink when you want to, but after a year I never really felt desire go away naturally. I still drank about the same amount too 9/10 times (once in a while I would be done after 1/2) so I'm kind of just sick of it at this point. There were a few strings of weeks where my numbers dropped quite low or to 0, but I've basically been stuck with the same pattern of drinking a 12 pack once every 5 days or so. It sort of gave me an excuse to drink, which is fine if it works long term, but after a year of that I kind of want to see if I can stick to my guns instead. I don't think it's totally fair to say that it just 'gives you an excuse to drink' and I don't doubt the method, but it's kind of this gray area. Definitely more science based than AA stuff, but not a magic bullet unfortunately.

After about 3 months I am like ready to fight ! So I have some strong beer and that usually does it but sometimes it turns into a week long huge bender and I check into the hospital and suffer sometimes they give me a Ativan I wish they gave me more, it really works then I go sober as long as I can I tend to look for an excuse to drink after about 3 months , so glad I’m sober right now 😊

Wait, can the damage to the prefrontal cortex be repaired upon cessation?

Ok seriously what about if I don’t believe in Cavemen. Is it a prerequisite for success if I don’t believe in Cavemen???

I thought I had Anhedonia because the usual things don't give me much pleasure anymore but maybe I'm too used to alcohol to feel good.

You mentioned target practice releases endorphines please can you elaborate

The problem with using medicine to overcome addiction is that when it stops the thing you are wanting, you stop taking the medication. I am sure it works for some people though, so trying it out if all else fails is reasonable. For me it wouldn't work because I wouldn't use it. The only thing that has worked for me is deciding with permanent conviction that alcohol has no benefits at all. I logically understood that it destroys you Physically, Emotionally, and Financially. I have the acronym PEF burnt into my consciousness. However, I still retained the idea, however small, that alcohol had "some" value. Whenever the cravings happened, my thoughts (the evil clown talking to me) went to the supposed value, rather than to the PEF destruction. So if I were taking meds to inhibit that "value", I wouldn't take it. Just my take. Peace! By the way I love this channel and Annie Grace. She is AMAZINGLY AWESOME!