This clip is from the Huberman Lab episode "What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health." The full episode can be found on UA-cam here: ua-cam.com/video/DkS1pkKpILY/v-deo.html
I straight up didn’t know drinking was bad for you until I was 22 years old. I thought alcoholics were homeless drug addicts. I didn’t realize they were all around me. And then I became one. But your boy is 4 years sober baby 🎉 good luck to all
Wow! You realised at a young age though! Although I don’t drink everyday, i do drink with my friends once every two weeks but then have one too many. I have had periods (even years) being sober and would like to now make that a full time thing.
Great job. I wish I could say the same:( I try and try and try to get sober but I always revert back to drinking. I can’t kick it for some reason. I feel trapped and sad. I always thought I could handle it but now I’m not sure. Glad others can.
In my opinion 100% sobriety is not an ideal way to stay stronger than alcohol. I would prefer to have a healthy relationship with alcohol where I would drink or not drink and won’t be weaker that I would be able to resist it. If I don’t drink I wouldn’t miss anything and will enjoy any social event as much as I would be under influence of alcohol. Totally avoiding it means you fear it.
I have yet to hear from anyone with any level of alcohol consumption to confirm alcohol has done any good to them. Even people who only one glass of wine every evening or a couple of times a week can stop and never miss any “benefit “ of it. I heard alcohol prevents vitamins from being absorbed.
@yamanawrooz5132 It has given massive benefit to me. However, I am not attempting to mask an inability to cope with blaming a substance. Alcohol has medicinal properties that have been used for thousands of years - it is often used in ceremonies, Spiritual and Shamanic rituals, and is acknowledged in Western Psychology for being a temporary coping mechanism. Keyword: Temporary. People drink like it's a lifestyle; an identity, they're lost without it. Can't you enjoy something without going overboard? In the Military I drank heavily, now I'm able to balance the Spirits with functionality. Alcohol doesn't equate to an uncontrollable spiral - your inability to cope does.
I agree... But I strongly believe that all of this has been known for quite a while... But I guess it is easier to keep the masses in check when they are in less then ideal state/health (mentality as well as physically). Yes I realize that it sounds like a conspiracy...
Yeah I've long suspected this. I've noticed when I drink on the weekend I tend to experience more stress at work the following week. When I go without alcohol for a while, it seems to be less. But this is really alcohol's secret weapon: making you feel worse when you're sober and tricking you into thinking alcohol is the cure, not the cause.
My stress level was insane prior to getting sober. My heart was constantly pounding. I was constantly full of cortisol. Felt terrible. 361 days sober🙏🏻
Hi, congratulations on a year sober 😊. I just wanted to ask you, as of yesterday I've gone 5 weeks without a drink. How long did it take for you to start feeling normal and good again?
@patbarry1272 I found that taking creatine and ashwagandha has helped me with feeling less stressed and depressed. Along with not drinking alcohol. There is plenty of videos covering the effects of creatine on mental health. Hope this helps
I never realised how stressed my body and mind was under drinking until I got a Garmin watch and even after one drink the watch alerts me that my stress levels are high! The stress carries on throughout the entire night well into the next morning, even only after one glass. I wish I had more information about how alcohol affected me. Trying my best to avoid alcohol altogether.
@@AustraliaUnmasked1984 thank you for the encouraging words and good job! 8 days sober now. I’m lucky because at home my husband doesn’t drink and my best friend has been sober for 4 years. It’s just the after work environment that I gotta tackle :)
@@havefaithincards6283 your husband doesn’t drink? Just follow his example. He sounds like a good man? I have never been married but broke up with my girlfriend because she always needs to drink. When I met her I was drinking too, we broke up for a while and reconciled. I told her I don’t drink anymore and whenever we went out after that it was never the same. She actually reminds me of my grandfather. He was the type of guy who didn’t like drinking on his own.
I was looking for a comment like this, I also experience the same thing with my Garmin watch. I also find that even one drink gives me a really low sleep score. I find that I drink a lot less now that I see what it is doing to me.
I lost half my friends, lost contact with my remaining friends, became disconnected from my family because of my drinking. towards the end i broke my shoulder in a black out and my girlfriend of 5.5 years left me. It cost me my job to go to rehab and get help but im thankful to now be sober.
Thank you for all this great info!!!!! I grew up with an alcoholic and its generational in my family. I used it to medicate from a childhood of abuse and trauma. Finally, I figured out it does not help! My adrenals were stuck in fight or flight from 6 years old. Duh?!!! I'm a miracle at 66!
I'm 66 too. I am still struggling with Staying sober. I feel like 2 different people when I'm sober and feeling strong. Then I become obsessed and it takes another month or so to get sober again. A complete insane rollercoaster ride!!
I quit and started College after my first husband almost killed me driving DRUNK! Then in my senior year I was set up with a MASTER MANIPULATING Sociopath! He started screaming in my FACE after a year and when he had me 100% isolated! And he started to scream YOUR NOT AN ALCOHOLIC! He was and also a lying cheating drug addict! I started drinking again. Besides he had me 100% isolated and BROKE! It destroyed my credit and my career and my MENTAL HEALTH! But I escaped! And no I am not an alcoholic BUT I am a “habit “ drinker and a stress drinker! But SHIT I almost made it to a GREAT future!
Im grateful to have found the HubermanLab podcast, by way of my wife who is a Neurology PA. This video described me perfectly & in my opinion most adults could fall into this category of "moderate" drinkers. I never drank excessively, 2-3 beers a night when I did, never hungover. But I tended to be grumpy the following days & get annoyed by little things. I took a solid month of no alcohol for my mind and body to rebalance back to kind of my "normal" state.
I've experienced exactly this. I was only an occasional drinker most of my life. I wouldn't have been considered a problem drinker by anyone around me, but I started drinking 4-5 times per week in the last few years just to be able to relax from stress at night and because of some chronic pain issues. Not drinking began to cause me stress and when I tried to quit I was constantly thinking about alcohol. I finally quit drinking a month ago and I'm finally able to deal with stress without thinking about alcohol. I feel SO much better and I have no plans to drink again.
6 months sober from 10 years of 10 drinks a day. I feel much better. The real 'fix' was after I quit drinking I later stopped eating inflammatory food and started taking SAM-E. I think I was drinking to combat the feeling of anxiety from brain inflaming.
Im an extreme example of this because my baseline level of stress is already very high. When i have a hangover or coming off of a binge though its amplified significantly and i feel very stress and insecure about every thought. I also read that sometimes the compensatory increase in stress can be so severe it causes brain damage by overstimulating the neurons
I spent so many years of my life under the spell of alcohol, depression and severe ptsd. Gained my freedom with the help of nature using mushroom (psilocybin) precisely. After my experience with shrooms five years ago every bottle of alcohol I picked up tasted like literal poison. I would take one taste put out the alcohol. I haven't drink since, no more depressive mood and ptsd. Few doses of shroom experience made a 15 year 4 bottles a day drinker quit instantly. Shrooms are life changing. There is no way you can put into words what it feels like..
I love hearing great life changing stories like this. I want to become a mycologist because honestly mushrooms are the best form of medicine (most especially the psychedelic ones) There are so many people today used magic mushrooms to ween off of SSRI medication- its amazing! Years back i wrote an entire essay about psychedelics. they saved you from death buddy, lets be honest here.
Can you help me with the reliable source 🙏. I'm 56 and have suffered for years with addiction, anxiety and severe ptsd, I got my panic attacks under control myself years ago and they have come back with a vengeance, I'm constantly trying to take full breaths but can't get the full satisfying breath out, it's absolutely crippling me, i live in Germany. I don't know much about these mushrooms. Really need a reliable source!! Can't wait to get them
Thanks Dr Huberman. I want to cut back on my drinking. I feel it compromising my mental and physical health. I feel tired, wake up tired and crave alcohol.
Scary stuff… my dad dropped dead at 64 from a lifetime of functioning alcoholism … I sadly learnt from his drinking … not my thing… I prefer to get ‘high’ on life… it’s too precious to waste on booze 🥃
I needed this video! 1 hour ago I made a video recording of myself saying I won’t drink alcohol anymore. It affects how I show up for my wife, daughter the next day. I can’t be 100% I want to be 100%. I don’t need alcohol to have fun, I don’t need it to do anything for me. I’m always joining because I see the energy change more for the better than for the worse when we drink. I need to do what’s best for me and think of my future self. It’s a bad pattern and I’m taking a break from it to better myself. I always tell myself to try it for 6 months if i don’t like what happened to just go back.
Doctors Humberman… Love your takes! Question: when people drink with this “normal” pattern and get the changes to neurocircuitry. Leading to a baseline levels of cortisol to elevate when not drinking and then reducing to “prior” levels when drinking (giving the illusion of stress relief)…. What happens to these levels if the person quits drinking for say 1 month? 3 months? 1 year? Or permanently… Do their levels return to “Pre-drinking” levels?? Or is this a permanent damage?
You beat me to it. We already know that withdrawal tapers off after a week, then a month, year, etc. It would make sense to me that the damage is reversible, at least to some degree. The body is weird though, so it could be permanent
I would logically think that I would return to normal levels as you have also changed your circuitry by cessation of alcohol. A change results in change I would assume.
I agree. It's when the alcohol wears off that I feel a bit anxious (sometimes I even get tinnitus for a little while). The 3-4 hours of fun drinking and turning off switches in the prefrontal cortex, and bullshitting/connecting with others, is later met with almost an entire day of feeling stress and anxiety; however, I have learned to taper down my alcohol the next day and it works great. For example, 4 beers on day 1 (the main party/enjoyment day), then 1 beer on day 2 helps a lot... It's interesting the way people talk about tapering drugs, like benzodiazepines, but rarely talk about tapering alcohol. It makes the post experience of drinking alcohol less anxiety-ridden.
One thing I noticed with alcohol is it kills my T levels. When I was drinking every weekend, my T levels dropped to low 3’s high, 2’s. I stopped for a couple months and they went up to over 500. Feel better, more energy, more gains in the gym… granted I get stressed out easier (alcohol eases my stress) but it is what it is
the strange thing is that some of us are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol withdrawal than others, such that even after one after-dinner drink one can wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety
I’ve experienced all ur talking about. I’ve stopped drinking for a month or so (I binged drank so not everyday). My stress levels feel much better. Just waiting for my brain to get back to learning mode and better mood
My doctor told me to watch this video. I'm in a treatment to stop drinking now. I was drinking a bottle of vodka everyday, for 5 years. Had to stop it or I would literally die soon.
Thanks Dr. Huberman to share this valuable information. This means for me, that the Alcohol path , is the wrong way to manage stress . It is like get in in a spiral with no out door.
Thanks for your explanation🙏 after 2 years of not drinking alcohol, used to drink occasionally, I had a couple of drinks and I experienced wonderful couple of hours and then I got the worse week with the feeling of emptiness. However, now I’m stable again 😊
I am with you... But at the same time it really makes me more aware of myself and pretty curious how I would feel if i skipped this and that behaviour. Curious enough to try things the other way!
Well said. Ty . I have alcoholism in my genetics. I dont drink besides tonight,my husband and i went out to eat and i had a large beer with lime to try to "calm my nerves"...well here it is 5:58 a.m. i woke up , completely dehydrated and cortisol level is super high. I am using your breathing tips and my faith in Jesus to help right now. Drinking all the water I can. Thank you for sharing. ❤
If you have ever had a drink or 2~3~5~20 a day for 10 consecutive days or more you have developed receptors for it, i.e. an addiction to it, weather or not its apparent to you depends on your level of self awareness or lack there of,, that cortisol he's talking about is there because when your in the in-between days not drinking you are going through withdrawal, that's why when ya have a drink it calms ya down, ya wouldn't need calmed by a drink if ya didn't drink to begin with.. it's a nifty catch 22,, works the same with weed.. the term Alcoholic is to often meant for people who are out of control or on the verge of. You don't have to be blowing your life up doing what you do to be addicted, most people are addicted and don't perceive it that way because they are doing ok in general in life or at least they think they are while wondering why they have so much anxiety when they're not drinking, some resorting to anxiety meds further complicating things, while oblivious to what's really goin on..
This is interesting. This goes hand in hand with my experience. When i was younger i used to drink every weekend, was pretty stressed especially towards the end of the week. Then went on to not drink at all for years, was generally stressed. Now i drink small amounts or at least try every 3 to 6 weeks depending on the stress levels, this seems to actually help relieve stress and not cause any extra problems.
I just want to thank you sir, from the bottom of my heart, ❤ I used to be an alcoholic and drug addict, still am I guess technically, ive stopped for a few months here and there maybe about 4 times within the last 10 years, just always fell back into it mainly coke and alcohol, then kind of started sniffing meth the last two yrs not heavy but even a lil bit of that stuff was scary, strong, long lasting, physically & mentally un healthy especially while drinking a lot.....anyways recently i got into a car accident coming up on a month ago in three days, and ive drinken 3 times, the first time 3 glasses of wine within like 45 mins which made me feel drowsy, drunk, and kind of good feelings but it lasted like an hr only then i felt like shit, yuck, headeach and hungover. The second time I drank it was 4 vodca shots in about 2 hrs, felt kind of good the first shot, it hit me pretty quick, after that I didn't really feel it much, got me drowsy and tired & hot, and I craved a few lines of meth to wake me up and feel better, thank Jesus i didn't get any, now this third time (all a week apart btw) anyways yeah yesterday I drank from about 2pm till 1am about 15 shots and a glass of wine, 😮 by 4pm (same day btw) I wanted coke, didnt get it, couldn't find a connection, so looked for meth, got some by 7pm, i sniffed a few lines within a few mins, and was already blacked out drunk, had extreme mixed emotions, mad then crying ect, mr. know it all, screaming all about conspiracies, the devil, God ect, was arrogant, rude, had ocd and couldn't focus, literally lost, didn't feel the meth high that much (like not happy or euphoria) overall I felt irresponsible, dehydrated, body was in pain, from hanging out in the streets rolling around in a wheelchair, falling, with my broken leg and pelvic from the recent accident, plus last time I ate was 7am, anyways I stayed up till 9am drank 6 more shots from 5am to 9am, lost my last $20 on the street and smoked two packs of cigarettes😮 its 5pm now I've drinking water, eaten and took my meds for seizures and pain, feel guilty which i should, but so depressed, and confused like what am I gonna do, this is a reoccurring problem thats been going on all these years, only difference is this time I'm feeling way more like...that shit was garbage, not enjoying it, mainly the meth, maybe i'll just drink alcohol just to get buzzed only couple times a week, but its hard to stop after a few drinks and buzz, next thing i'll be kind of drunk and wanting just a few lines of coke or meth, I'm praying, looking up UA-cam vids about alcohol, and thinking like I don't want that buzz so much especially with what the *buzz could possibly lead into, I'm actually enjoying life without it this passed month, recovering from my accident in hospitals and a homeless shelter for the injured, I'm content ❤😊happy enjoying sleep, food, movies, and taking care of my health responsibilities and even upcoming housing, now seeing this video 5 mins in and I'm like YES, thanks brother I so needed this, alcohol is not that good anymore ❤😊 maybe two or three beers once or twice a month or every other, but in a fun setting with friends & fam, not popping three shots at a bus stop, JUST TOO FEEL GOOD & OR CALM MY ANXIETY. NOPE LIFE IS BETTER. Thank you Jesus and thank you bro for making it(my issue) more simple and clear in this vid 🙏
My mother was a functional alcoholic….when sobriety was required, she was sober. When sobriety wasn’t required, she was wasted. She passed away just shy of 74 years old. Her parents lived into their early to mid 90’s.
Same for my mom, she drank since her teens up until she was 73 and got into a major accident that left her without use of her left arm. She passed away last summer age 80, still shy of a medical miracle, but she wasn’t the nicest elderly lady to be around with to put it mildly. Alcohol really is devastating to both the user and their environment.
Where is the reference to that study you were talking about 3:56 ? I'd really like to see it! Great content always. Thank you for your devotion to science and for your ethical standards.
I’m 62.Don’t drink during the wk.Come fri/sat I get wasted!(half bottle whiskey &2-4 pints strong lager!)each night!The terrible anxiety &depression lasts till Tuesday!Come fri I do it all again!The anticipation on last day of work is unbearable!The calm I feel when drinking (alone)out ways the feeling of dread&suicidal thoughts on a sund night!I feel ok tues-thurs!I just feel,sometimes you have to go thru hell to appreciate heaven!
This throws out the old question - does the body make the mind stressed or vice versa. Alcohol creates cortisol heightening which increases anxiety thus it is a body first thing. As anyone here that suffers from anxiety will know - sometimes the body has a reaction that gets the mind thinking of all the crap that’s happened or about to happen. But most therapy concentrates on the mind first principle which I think is blinkered
Dr. Huberman - about two months ago I decided I was no longer going to order a couple drinks with dinner two or three times a week when I went out. Since then, I’ve had maybe a total of three drinks. When you say “occasionally,” would that be a drink once a month? Once every few months? Once a year? I struggle with anxiety and sleep issues, so I want to be as healthy as possible and avoid any deterrents to my health. But I also do enjoy having a drink once in awhile. What would you recommend?
I typically drink 3-4 on the weekends with my buddies as AH described but I also work out intensely cardio and strength training during the week. I wonder if that baseline cortisol increase is offset some by that?
Are the changes in neurocircuitry related to alcohol consumption reversible? Means, if a person stops consuming alcohol, will everything change back to normal?
Excellent video. I am listening and doing really well😊 keto lifestyle, fasting, red light therapy panel, toxic people out! Now 4-1/2 days into a 7 day fast! If i can do it, anybody can😂Trust me huge drinker. Later in life? 30's. Started keto because very sick. Wrong diet, alcohol ( will push you to places you never ever want to go) and toxic jealous people and i was 92 kilos. Bloted basically ugly. Yesterday l decided to weigh myself. Rembering its not for weight loss, yhis was too impove my health. So, i could live longer. 10 lost! Right but weigh in was 77 kilos!!!😂 I nearly fell off the scales😂😂😂 And I feel amazing. Its with the help of incredible doctors who care about us!!! Thankyou very much for all your support and kindness😊🌹🇭🇲💃
So whether it’s relaxing or not is part of what determines whether they have a predisposition for alcoholism, but which one has more of a predisposition?
Alcohol increases my anxiety 10x l gained tremendous weight from my anxiety and cortisol in 2004 Iraq. I'm an alcoholic, very accurate information. I'm 52 I have trouble self medicating with booze I get very nauseous and get the shakes. I dry heave the next day. All the stress causes me to go into tachycardia.
I love to do fermentation and just started doing homemade wine (still fermenting). I don't like to drink but I was about to starr since I need to know how it goes... Guess not anymore.
In english subtitles, plz smbdy change access to axis (at least 3 occurances). TY. English is not everybody's 1st language, so subtitles support can be essential to some.
80´s teen here. Grew up drinking beer starting around 15 years old. We all drank on the weekends. It was just a regular thing to do. Socially acceptable even today yet I have lost a handful of HS classmates to alcoholism. I drink but my HS kids want nothing to do with it. I am very thankful. Alcohol is the Devil, it slowly sucks your life away. You may be able to control it enough to have a good life but I realize that I could have a Great life without it.
My son said “ Alcohol is just poison” and how he said it made me never drink again 😅 😂. Seriously though, having no hangovers is amazing. I haven’t drank anything in years and feel so much better for it. If you are reading this and struggling to quit alcohol try hypnosis.
Just had a drink today to relax but it actually made me feel really nervous. I would recommend dried Amanita Muscaria aka the fly agaric mushroom as an alternative. It is very relaxing but without any negative side effects.
Don't take this advice, Amanita Muscaria can have tons of adverse side effects. Why would you blindly recommend substances to people you know nothing about?
I feel so lucky that alcohol doesn’t effect me in most of the positive ways it effects other people. It just makes me really emotional and physically I’ll. Makes it easy to not partake.
Thank you so much! I had no idea how alcohol affected my mind and body. Could you do a in-depth study on non-alcoholic drinks. I have looked all over you-tube and I find nothing. I assume it is good for you because it has no alcohol in it and it has help but does it also affect the brain and body if you drink a lot of it?
Ive noticed that some days I feel very axious and then I have some drinks and I feel well again and I ignored that for a while now. Im trying to get better since I really need to improve my life
Makes sense, every time you medicate your stress or anxiety, whether it be with medication or alcohol, you take away the brains ability to retrain and eventually calm down, like when you shake up a snow globe, and therefore you also inadvertently train it that yes, this stress or this feeling is bad and you must get rid of it. I use acceptance towards my anxiety taught by Claire Weekes and a couple other modern sources like DARE. The trick is to accept it and not try to get rid of it, but also not try to get rid of it by using acceptance. You’re truly supposed to be ok with it. You’re nervous system eventually settles itself down.
I strongly believe that chemical changes in the brain aren’t deterministic but triggered by an individual’s own subjective beliefs about their internal states. If you believe that you are more stressed out if you don’t have alcohol then it’s no coincidence that you find cortisol levels to rise to the occasion
This clip is from the Huberman Lab episode "What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health." The full episode can be found on UA-cam here: ua-cam.com/video/DkS1pkKpILY/v-deo.html
I straight up didn’t know drinking was bad for you until I was 22 years old. I thought alcoholics were homeless drug addicts. I didn’t realize they were all around me. And then I became one. But your boy is 4 years sober baby 🎉 good luck to all
Good work, stay sober!!
Hell yeah, buddy!
Wow! You realised at a young age though! Although I don’t drink everyday, i do drink with my friends once every two weeks but then have one too many. I have had periods (even years) being sober and would like to now make that a full time thing.
Great job. I wish I could say the same:(
I try and try and try to get sober but I always revert back to drinking. I can’t kick it for some reason. I feel trapped and sad. I always thought I could handle it but now I’m not sure. Glad others can.
In my opinion 100% sobriety is not an ideal way to stay stronger than alcohol. I would prefer to have a healthy relationship with alcohol where I would drink or not drink and won’t be weaker that I would be able to resist it. If I don’t drink I wouldn’t miss anything and will enjoy any social event as much as I would be under influence of alcohol. Totally avoiding it means you fear it.
Nothing has ruined my progress in life, personal development, and self esteem more than alcohol ever has.
Everyone who drinks alcohol goes through this.
I have yet to hear from anyone with any level of alcohol consumption to confirm alcohol has done any good to them. Even people who only one glass of wine every evening or a couple of times a week can stop and never miss any “benefit “ of it. I heard alcohol prevents vitamins from being absorbed.
@yamanawrooz5132 It has given massive benefit to me. However, I am not attempting to mask an inability to cope with blaming a substance. Alcohol has medicinal properties that have been used for thousands of years - it is often used in ceremonies, Spiritual and Shamanic rituals, and is acknowledged in Western Psychology for being a temporary coping mechanism. Keyword: Temporary. People drink like it's a lifestyle; an identity, they're lost without it.
Can't you enjoy something without going overboard?
In the Military I drank heavily, now I'm able to balance the Spirits with functionality. Alcohol doesn't equate to an uncontrollable spiral - your inability to cope does.
Interesting, was there ever a point where you felt the opposite? I currently feel like it does to my well being what shrooms was supposed to.
Same here, weed too. Killed my soul
This stuff should really start being taught to kids as soon as they get to high school.
Totally agree.
I agree... But I strongly believe that all of this has been known for quite a while... But I guess it is easier to keep the masses in check when they are in less then ideal state/health (mentality as well as physically). Yes I realize that it sounds like a conspiracy...
@@watchesgadgetsandstuff
Exactly
And sport
So glad you volunteered for that.
They're too busy with their transgender propaganda.
Yeah I've long suspected this. I've noticed when I drink on the weekend I tend to experience more stress at work the following week. When I go without alcohol for a while, it seems to be less. But this is really alcohol's secret weapon: making you feel worse when you're sober and tricking you into thinking alcohol is the cure, not the cause.
This is the most truthful thing I’ve ever heard about booze.
alcohol is the solution to the problem it creates.
@@edwardshaylitsa7127 alcohol doesn’t solve anything
475 days without a drink and I feel like a kid again.
Awesome
Love it! Im 2 and a half months and feeling si much better! I can get the same buzz listening to music and no guilt or regret! Best wishes to you!
That’s amazing.
318 days here, I don't feel like the world is closing in anymore. Still a depressed sack of shit, but now I have hope
@@MegaSuperCriticsteps forward my friend 🙏
My stress level was insane prior to getting sober. My heart was constantly pounding. I was constantly full of cortisol. Felt terrible. 361 days sober🙏🏻
Hi, congratulations on a year sober 😊. I just wanted to ask you, as of yesterday I've gone 5 weeks without a drink. How long did it take for you to start feeling normal and good again?
Took me about 6 months after 15 years of heavy drinking, I'm 1 year sober and feel like a new person ❤ hope you are doing well !!
How’s it now? I’ll still feel terrible for months after stopping. I’ve never gone past 4 months though.
@@patbarry1272 That sounds like an issue deeper than alcohol.
@patbarry1272 I found that taking creatine and ashwagandha has helped me with feeling less stressed and depressed. Along with not drinking alcohol. There is plenty of videos covering the effects of creatine on mental health. Hope this helps
I never realised how stressed my body and mind was under drinking until I got a Garmin watch and even after one drink the watch alerts me that my stress levels are high! The stress carries on throughout the entire night well into the next morning, even only after one glass. I wish I had more information about how alcohol affected me. Trying my best to avoid alcohol altogether.
Good luck. I haven’t drank alcohol in over 2 years. It takes around 3 months before your body and mind to adjust
@@AustraliaUnmasked1984 thank you for the encouraging words and good job! 8 days sober now. I’m lucky because at home my husband doesn’t drink and my best friend has been sober for 4 years. It’s just the after work environment that I gotta tackle :)
@@havefaithincards6283 your husband doesn’t drink? Just follow his example. He sounds like a good man? I have never been married but broke up with my girlfriend because she always needs to drink. When I met her I was drinking too, we broke up for a while and reconciled. I told her I don’t drink anymore and whenever we went out after that it was never the same. She actually reminds me of my grandfather. He was the type of guy who didn’t like drinking on his own.
I was looking for a comment like this, I also experience the same thing with my Garmin watch. I also find that even one drink gives me a really low sleep score. I find that I drink a lot less now that I see what it is doing to me.
I have been losing weight without trying since I stopped drinking
I lost half my friends, lost contact with my remaining friends, became disconnected from my family because of my drinking. towards the end i broke my shoulder in a black out and my girlfriend of 5.5 years left me. It cost me my job to go to rehab and get help but im thankful to now be sober.
Thank you for all this great info!!!!! I grew up with an alcoholic and its generational in my family. I used it to medicate from a childhood of abuse and trauma. Finally, I figured out it does not help! My adrenals were stuck in fight or flight from 6 years old. Duh?!!! I'm a miracle at 66!
Thanks for share your experience Paula. It is so valuable.
Read, Adult Children of Alcoholics by Titan. Also she is on UA-cam. Hugs friend.
Alanon helped me immensely.
I'm 66 too. I am still struggling with Staying sober. I feel like 2 different people when I'm sober and feeling strong. Then I become obsessed and it takes another month or so to get sober again. A complete insane rollercoaster ride!!
I quit and started College after my first husband almost killed me driving DRUNK! Then in my senior year I was set up with a MASTER MANIPULATING Sociopath! He started screaming in my FACE after a year and when he had me 100% isolated! And he started to scream YOUR NOT AN ALCOHOLIC! He was and also a lying cheating drug addict! I started drinking again. Besides he had me 100% isolated and BROKE! It destroyed my credit and my career and my MENTAL HEALTH! But I escaped! And no I am not an alcoholic BUT I am a “habit “ drinker and a stress drinker! But SHIT I almost made it to a GREAT future!
Im grateful to have found the HubermanLab podcast, by way of my wife who is a Neurology PA. This video described me perfectly & in my opinion most adults could fall into this category of "moderate" drinkers. I never drank excessively, 2-3 beers a night when I did, never hungover. But I tended to be grumpy the following days & get annoyed by little things. I took a solid month of no alcohol for my mind and body to rebalance back to kind of my "normal" state.
I've experienced exactly this. I was only an occasional drinker most of my life. I wouldn't have been considered a problem drinker by anyone around me, but I started drinking 4-5 times per week in the last few years just to be able to relax from stress at night and because of some chronic pain issues. Not drinking began to cause me stress and when I tried to quit I was constantly thinking about alcohol. I finally quit drinking a month ago and I'm finally able to deal with stress without thinking about alcohol. I feel SO much better and I have no plans to drink again.
So glad i heard all this. It explains my excessive stress and bad mood when i dont drink. And why i keep relapsing
I believe in you! You can do this!
6 months sober from 10 years of 10 drinks a day. I feel much better. The real 'fix' was after I quit drinking I later stopped eating inflammatory food and started taking SAM-E. I think I was drinking to combat the feeling of anxiety from brain inflaming.
Awesome
Thanks to your podcast, I quit drinking 8 months ago and have been sober since.
Im an extreme example of this because my baseline level of stress is already very high. When i have a hangover or coming off of a binge though its amplified significantly and i feel very stress and insecure about every thought. I also read that sometimes the compensatory increase in stress can be so severe it causes brain damage by overstimulating the neurons
I spent so many years of my life under the spell of alcohol, depression and severe ptsd. Gained my freedom with the help of nature using mushroom (psilocybin) precisely. After my experience with shrooms five years ago every bottle of alcohol I picked up tasted like literal poison. I would take one taste put out the alcohol. I haven't drink since, no more depressive mood and ptsd. Few doses of shroom experience made a 15 year 4 bottles a day drinker quit instantly. Shrooms are life changing. There is no way you can put into words what it feels like..
I love hearing great life changing stories like this. I want to become a mycologist because honestly mushrooms are the best form of medicine (most especially the psychedelic ones) There are so many people today used magic mushrooms to ween off of SSRI medication- its amazing! Years back i wrote an entire essay about psychedelics. they saved you from death buddy, lets be honest here.
Can you help me with the reliable source 🙏. I'm 56 and have suffered for years with addiction, anxiety and severe ptsd, I got my panic attacks under control myself years ago and they have come back with a vengeance, I'm constantly trying to take full breaths but can't get the full satisfying breath out, it's absolutely crippling me, i live in Germany. I don't know much about these mushrooms. Really need a reliable source!! Can't wait to get them
Thanks!
Thanks Dr Huberman. I want to cut back on my drinking. I feel it compromising my mental and physical health. I feel tired, wake up tired and crave alcohol.
I stopped drinking entirely about a year ago. One of those good choices in my life in retrospect.
Scary stuff… my dad dropped dead at 64 from a lifetime of functioning alcoholism … I sadly learnt from his drinking … not my thing… I prefer to get ‘high’ on life… it’s too precious to waste on booze 🥃
what happened? so sorry
I needed this video! 1 hour ago I made a video recording of myself saying I won’t drink alcohol anymore. It affects how I show up for my wife, daughter the next day. I can’t be 100% I want to be 100%. I don’t need alcohol to have fun, I don’t need it to do anything for me. I’m always joining because I see the energy change more for the better than for the worse when we drink. I need to do what’s best for me and think of my future self. It’s a bad pattern and I’m taking a break from it to better myself. I always tell myself to try it for 6 months if i don’t like what happened to just go back.
If you manage 6 months without, you won't want to go back to the alcohol. You got this, mate 👍
Doctors Humberman… Love your takes! Question: when people drink with this “normal” pattern and get the changes to neurocircuitry. Leading to a baseline levels of cortisol to elevate when not drinking and then reducing to “prior” levels when drinking (giving the illusion of stress relief)…. What happens to these levels if the person quits drinking for say 1 month? 3 months? 1 year? Or permanently… Do their levels return to “Pre-drinking” levels?? Or is this a permanent damage?
You beat me to it. We already know that withdrawal tapers off after a week, then a month, year, etc. It would make sense to me that the damage is reversible, at least to some degree. The body is weird though, so it could be permanent
I would logically think that I would return to normal levels as you have also changed your circuitry by cessation of alcohol. A change results in change I would assume.
Honestly, the comment section helped as much as Huberman!..Not as much but still helpful!
I agree. It's when the alcohol wears off that I feel a bit anxious (sometimes I even get tinnitus for a little while). The 3-4 hours of fun drinking and turning off switches in the prefrontal cortex, and bullshitting/connecting with others, is later met with almost an entire day of feeling stress and anxiety; however, I have learned to taper down my alcohol the next day and it works great. For example, 4 beers on day 1 (the main party/enjoyment day), then 1 beer on day 2 helps a lot... It's interesting the way people talk about tapering drugs, like benzodiazepines, but rarely talk about tapering alcohol. It makes the post experience of drinking alcohol less anxiety-ridden.
loving the comment section! sober nearly 5 months. Who knew there could be this much peace ❤
One thing I noticed with alcohol is it kills my T levels. When I was drinking every weekend, my T levels dropped to low 3’s high, 2’s. I stopped for a couple months and they went up to over 500. Feel better, more energy, more gains in the gym… granted I get stressed out easier (alcohol eases my stress) but it is what it is
...maybe try cannabis?
@@deathbyvanity1955 I have a job that doesn’t allow me to do that.
Try some herbal supplements like ashwagandha that helped me with stress adapts to your body. Have a read on it
@@deathbyvanity1955cannabis drops T levels, too
@@muddyguns I'll look into it
3 years sober, gosh I regret all the wasted time that I drank the wine. Lost time, lost confidence, lost motivation...
the strange thing is that some of us are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol withdrawal than others, such that even after one after-dinner drink one can wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety
Yeah I've noticed this effect with just 1 drink too. Even one hurts sleep!
That’s me.
Interesting . we've been having parties until 9 am in the morning. No harm done lol. Feels better to be sober tho. Especially after a few weeks.
I've had some misadventures with substances, but there are none I've encountered that mess you up as bad as alcohol does.
I’ve experienced all ur talking about. I’ve stopped drinking for a month or so (I binged drank so not everyday).
My stress levels feel much better. Just waiting for my brain to get back to learning mode and better mood
Andrew Andrew Andrew, what a gift to society you are!
Almost gone 3 months without alcohol. I don’t miss it.
At 48 found myself more sensitive to it so I quit..best idea I've EVER HAD
Same here, at 60. Finally.
My doctor told me to watch this video. I'm in a treatment to stop drinking now. I was drinking a bottle of vodka everyday, for 5 years. Had to stop it or I would literally die soon.
Thanks Dr. Huberman to share this valuable information.
This means for me, that the Alcohol path , is the wrong way to manage stress . It is like get in in a spiral with no out door.
Huberman is a professor not a Dr…. He is very wise but get the title correct
@@SeaOfManyHe has a PhD, that’s why he referred to him as Dr. Huberman.
Thanks for being honest. People want to hear this message, and you are making a difference.
These , UA-cam content , helps me stay sober , when I get tempted
Thx u
Thanks for your explanation🙏 after 2 years of not drinking alcohol, used to drink occasionally, I had a couple of drinks and I experienced wonderful couple of hours and then I got the worse week with the feeling of emptiness. However, now I’m stable again 😊
Amazing information. Thank you for sharing with us. The world needs to know about the real truth about alcohol.
No wonder why I be stressed and depressed when I not drinking didn't know that was the cause thanks for the information
I lived with an alcoholic and this is 100% accurate.
How long does it take to reverse the effects of alcohol on the brain and body once you get sober?
Yes! This is the question I was going to write. Did you find any answers?
6 months if average drinker or binge drinker. Longer if serious alcoholic.
I worry that learning about every single reaction my body has to everything I consume won't see a net benefit in my life.
Dude. Just exercise and eat healthy. Simple as. Stop drugs. Get it??
@@divinegon4671💯
I am with you... But at the same time it really makes me more aware of myself and pretty curious how I would feel if i skipped this and that behaviour. Curious enough to try things the other way!
Working on my addiction
Checking in on Huberman videos like this help
Well said. Ty . I have alcoholism in my genetics. I dont drink besides tonight,my husband and i went out to eat and i had a large beer with lime to try to "calm my nerves"...well here it is 5:58 a.m. i woke up , completely dehydrated and cortisol level is super high. I am using your breathing tips and my faith in Jesus to help right now. Drinking all the water I can.
Thank you for sharing. ❤
If you have ever had a drink or 2~3~5~20 a day for 10 consecutive days or more you have developed receptors for it, i.e. an addiction to it, weather or not its apparent to you depends on your level of self awareness or lack there of,, that cortisol he's talking about is there because when your in the in-between days not drinking you are going through withdrawal, that's why when ya have a drink it calms ya down, ya wouldn't need calmed by a drink if ya didn't drink to begin with.. it's a nifty catch 22,, works the same with weed.. the term Alcoholic is to often meant for people who are out of control or on the verge of. You don't have to be blowing your life up doing what you do to be addicted, most people are addicted and don't perceive it that way because they are doing ok in general in life or at least they think they are while wondering why they have so much anxiety when they're not drinking, some resorting to anxiety meds further complicating things, while oblivious to what's really goin on..
How long after a chronic alcohol drinker stops drinking does it take for the cortisol levels to revert to normal ?
f
I think he said around 2 weeks in the longer podcast but I'm not sure
@@aquiatic Just found it on the longer podcast... he says 2-6 months
@@Kulocka Ta for that👍
This is interesting. This goes hand in hand with my experience. When i was younger i used to drink every weekend, was pretty stressed especially towards the end of the week. Then went on to not drink at all for years, was generally stressed. Now i drink small amounts or at least try every 3 to 6 weeks depending on the stress levels, this seems to actually help relieve stress and not cause any extra problems.
I just want to thank you sir, from the bottom of my heart, ❤ I used to be an alcoholic and drug addict, still am I guess technically, ive stopped for a few months here and there maybe about 4 times within the last 10 years, just always fell back into it mainly coke and alcohol, then kind of started sniffing meth the last two yrs not heavy but even a lil bit of that stuff was scary, strong, long lasting, physically & mentally un healthy especially while drinking a lot.....anyways recently i got into a car accident coming up on a month ago in three days, and ive drinken 3 times, the first time 3 glasses of wine within like 45 mins which made me feel drowsy, drunk, and kind of good feelings but it lasted like an hr only then i felt like shit, yuck, headeach and hungover. The second time I drank it was 4 vodca shots in about 2 hrs, felt kind of good the first shot, it hit me pretty quick, after that I didn't really feel it much, got me drowsy and tired & hot, and I craved a few lines of meth to wake me up and feel better, thank Jesus i didn't get any, now this third time (all a week apart btw) anyways yeah yesterday I drank from about 2pm till 1am about 15 shots and a glass of wine, 😮 by 4pm (same day btw) I wanted coke, didnt get it, couldn't find a connection, so looked for meth, got some by 7pm, i sniffed a few lines within a few mins, and was already blacked out drunk, had extreme mixed emotions, mad then crying ect, mr. know it all, screaming all about conspiracies, the devil, God ect, was arrogant, rude, had ocd and couldn't focus, literally lost, didn't feel the meth high that much (like not happy or euphoria) overall I felt irresponsible, dehydrated, body was in pain, from hanging out in the streets rolling around in a wheelchair, falling, with my broken leg and pelvic from the recent accident, plus last time I ate was 7am, anyways I stayed up till 9am drank 6 more shots from 5am to 9am, lost my last $20 on the street and smoked two packs of cigarettes😮 its 5pm now I've drinking water, eaten and took my meds for seizures and pain, feel guilty which i should, but so depressed, and confused like what am I gonna do, this is a reoccurring problem thats been going on all these years, only difference is this time I'm feeling way more like...that shit was garbage, not enjoying it, mainly the meth, maybe i'll just drink alcohol just to get buzzed only couple times a week, but its hard to stop after a few drinks and buzz, next thing i'll be kind of drunk and wanting just a few lines of coke or meth, I'm praying, looking up UA-cam vids about alcohol, and thinking like I don't want that buzz so much especially with what the *buzz could possibly lead into, I'm actually enjoying life without it this passed month, recovering from my accident in hospitals and a homeless shelter for the injured, I'm content ❤😊happy enjoying sleep, food, movies, and taking care of my health responsibilities and even upcoming housing, now seeing this video 5 mins in and I'm like YES, thanks brother I so needed this, alcohol is not that good anymore ❤😊 maybe two or three beers once or twice a month or every other, but in a fun setting with friends & fam, not popping three shots at a bus stop, JUST TOO FEEL GOOD & OR CALM MY ANXIETY. NOPE LIFE IS BETTER. Thank you Jesus and thank you bro for making it(my issue) more simple and clear in this vid 🙏
Thank you. You have told me what I already know, but needed to hear.
My mother was a functional alcoholic….when sobriety was required, she was sober. When sobriety wasn’t required, she was wasted. She passed away just shy of 74 years old. Her parents lived into their early to mid 90’s.
Same for my mom, she drank since her teens up until she was 73 and got into a major accident that left her without use of her left arm. She passed away last summer age 80, still shy of a medical miracle, but she wasn’t the nicest elderly lady to be around with to put it mildly. Alcohol really is devastating to both the user and their environment.
Where is the reference to that study you were talking about 3:56 ?
I'd really like to see it!
Great content always.
Thank you for your devotion to science and for your ethical standards.
I’m 62.Don’t drink during the wk.Come fri/sat I get wasted!(half bottle whiskey &2-4 pints strong lager!)each night!The terrible anxiety &depression lasts till Tuesday!Come fri I do it all again!The anticipation on last day of work is unbearable!The calm I feel when drinking (alone)out ways the feeling of dread&suicidal thoughts on a sund night!I feel ok tues-thurs!I just feel,sometimes you have to go thru hell to appreciate heaven!
This throws out the old question - does the body make the mind stressed or vice versa. Alcohol creates cortisol heightening which increases anxiety thus it is a body first thing. As anyone here that suffers from anxiety will know - sometimes the body has a reaction that gets the mind thinking of all the crap that’s happened or about to happen. But most therapy concentrates on the mind first principle which I think is blinkered
It’s a balance of both
thank you so much for this podcast. It resonated with me more than any other you have done. This one 'changed my life'.
How long does it take to reset ability to handle stress when not drinking
So interesting 🤓
I was wondering the same.
I’m now 10 days sober after several months binge drinking. I would say I’m handling stress a lot better than last week. 1 day at a time my friend.
Thanks for sharing❤
Dr. Huberman - about two months ago I decided I was no longer going to order a couple drinks with dinner two or three times a week when I went out. Since then, I’ve had maybe a total of three drinks. When you say “occasionally,” would that be a drink once a month? Once every few months? Once a year? I struggle with anxiety and sleep issues, so I want to be as healthy as possible and avoid any deterrents to my health. But I also do enjoy having a drink once in awhile. What would you recommend?
Very informative and helpful. Thank you Dr. Huberman!
I typically drink 3-4 on the weekends with my buddies as AH described but I also work out intensely cardio and strength training during the week. I wonder if that baseline cortisol increase is offset some by that?
Are the changes in neurocircuitry related to alcohol consumption reversible? Means, if a person stops consuming alcohol, will everything change back to normal?
Excellent video. I am listening and doing really well😊 keto lifestyle, fasting, red light therapy panel, toxic people out! Now 4-1/2 days into a 7 day fast! If i can do it, anybody can😂Trust me huge drinker. Later in life? 30's. Started keto because very sick. Wrong diet, alcohol ( will push you to places you never ever want to go) and toxic jealous people and i was 92 kilos. Bloted basically ugly. Yesterday l decided to weigh myself. Rembering its not for weight loss, yhis was too impove my health. So, i could live longer. 10 lost! Right but weigh in was 77 kilos!!!😂 I nearly fell off the scales😂😂😂 And I feel amazing. Its with the help of incredible doctors who care about us!!! Thankyou very much for all your support and kindness😊🌹🇭🇲💃
Very enlightening! Thank you
So whether it’s relaxing or not is part of what determines whether they have a predisposition for alcoholism, but which one has more of a predisposition?
SENDING this straight to my mother
The thing that really pushed me to quit drinking is learning that alcohol is a carcinogen.
Excellent share. TY Andrew..
Andrew Huberman knows it all
Are those detrimental effects reversible once you stop drink alcohol completely?
Holy shit. I drink a few everyday. Anytime info without, the evening feels weird like I'm unrelaxed. This makes so much sense now.
Alcohol increases my anxiety 10x l gained tremendous weight from my anxiety and cortisol in 2004 Iraq. I'm an alcoholic, very accurate information. I'm 52 I have trouble self medicating with booze I get very nauseous and get the shakes. I dry heave the next day. All the stress causes me to go into tachycardia.
I love to do fermentation and just started doing homemade wine (still fermenting).
I don't like to drink but I was about to starr since I need to know how it goes... Guess not anymore.
Thank you !
In english subtitles, plz smbdy change access to axis (at least 3 occurances). TY. English is not everybody's 1st language, so subtitles support can be essential to some.
Great message...
100% accurate with this. 👍👍👍all the signs, symptoms described.
How long does it take for the baseline stress response to return to normal after giving up alcohol?
Thank you very helpful
Ok now I want to know how long it takes off of alcohol consumption to get things back to normal?
Ive been sober for a week, how long it takes to cortisol secretion to return to normal stable rates ?
How is it going?
@@mofugga_2.0not bad how are you
80´s teen here. Grew up drinking beer starting around 15 years old. We all drank on the weekends. It was just a regular thing to do. Socially acceptable even today yet I have lost a handful of HS classmates to alcoholism. I drink but my HS kids want nothing to do with it. I am very thankful. Alcohol is the Devil, it slowly sucks your life away. You may be able to control it enough to have a good life but I realize that I could have a Great life without it.
My son said “ Alcohol is just poison” and how he said it made me never drink again 😅 😂. Seriously though, having no hangovers is amazing. I haven’t drank anything in years and feel so much better for it. If you are reading this and struggling to quit alcohol try hypnosis.
Is hypnosis safe for mental health?
@@browntrousersmoment yes very :)
Just had a drink today to relax but it actually made me feel really nervous. I would recommend dried Amanita Muscaria aka the fly agaric mushroom as an alternative. It is very relaxing but without any negative side effects.
Don't take this advice, Amanita Muscaria can have tons of adverse side effects. Why would you blindly recommend substances to people you know nothing about?
Thank You Mr.Andrew H
Also, once someone stops drinking regularly or at all, how long will it take their brain to get back to normal?
Thanks Doc,
Alcohol is just massive “built in maintenance.” You’re smarter than me but you don’t rub my nose in it. Keep up the good work.
I feel so lucky that alcohol doesn’t effect me in most of the positive ways it effects other people. It just makes me really emotional and physically I’ll. Makes it easy to not partake.
Thank you so much! I had no idea how alcohol affected my mind and body. Could you do a in-depth study on non-alcoholic drinks. I have looked all over you-tube and I find nothing. I assume it is good for you because it has no alcohol in it and it has help but does it also affect the brain and body if you drink a lot of it?
What I'd like to know is if these changes are permanent, or will they subside and return to healthy if the drinking is stopped entirely?
Would seven (7) months of ETOH cessation have some reversal effects from chronic drinking and negative consequences as discussed by Dr. H. within?
Homer's line "To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems,"
thank you !!!
Glad I quit drinking 9 years ago best thing I ever did for my health.
Great work Dr.
You r and amazing human being !
Ive noticed that some days I feel very axious and then I have some drinks and I feel well again and I ignored that for a while now. Im trying to get better since I really need to improve my life
What is the evidence for this effect of alcohol increasing baseline stress? I can't find it in the show notes.
Thanks for all you do Doc! Us listeners appreciate you 👊🇺🇸
Makes sense, every time you medicate your stress or anxiety, whether it be with medication or alcohol, you take away the brains ability to retrain and eventually calm down, like when you shake up a snow globe, and therefore you also inadvertently train it that yes, this stress or this feeling is bad and you must get rid of it. I use acceptance towards my anxiety taught by Claire Weekes and a couple other modern sources like DARE. The trick is to accept it and not try to get rid of it, but also not try to get rid of it by using acceptance. You’re truly supposed to be ok with it. You’re nervous system eventually settles itself down.
Claire Weeks was my first book about 20 years ago on managing stress!
I strongly believe that chemical changes in the brain aren’t deterministic but triggered by an individual’s own subjective beliefs about their internal states. If you believe that you are more stressed out if you don’t have alcohol then it’s no coincidence that you find cortisol levels to rise to the occasion