Love Life Sober - ADHD, Dopamine & Alcohol: Why Your Brain Keeps Reaching for a Drink

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