Dr. Anna Lembke

Their job is to level the balance because, remember, we've got to go back to homeostasis. So I'm going to put a rock on, and you're going to see, oh, my gosh, it overshot. Right? Right? Now I've got it pressed down on the pain side of the balance. But that's exactly what happens in our brains.

Their job is to level the balance because, remember, we've got to go back to homeostasis. So I'm going to put a rock on, and you're going to see, oh, my gosh, it overshot. Right? Right? Now I've got it pressed down on the pain side of the balance. But that's exactly what happens in our brains.

In this process of neuroadaptation, those gremlins hopping on the pain side of the balance don't get off as soon as the balance is level. They stay on until we're tilted an equal and opposite amount.

In this process of neuroadaptation, those gremlins hopping on the pain side of the balance don't get off as soon as the balance is level. They stay on until we're tilted an equal and opposite amount.

Exactly. That's exactly what it is. That's the hangover, the comedown, the blue Monday, or on a much smaller scale, just that moment of craving, right? That moment of wanting to have one more shot, right?

Exactly. That's exactly what it is. That's the hangover, the comedown, the blue Monday, or on a much smaller scale, just that moment of craving, right? That moment of wanting to have one more shot, right?

Such a great question.

Such a great question.

Yeah. Why did Mother Nature do that to us? So cruel, right?

Yeah. Why did Mother Nature do that to us? So cruel, right?

Okay. I'm going to tell you an evolutionary just-so story. What we mean by that is we don't really know why, you know, this mechanism exists. But from an evolutionary perspective, if you're living in a world of scarcity and ever-present danger, this is the perfect mechanism to make sure that we're never satisfied with what we have, that we're always wanting more. It's made us the ultimate seekers.

Okay. I'm going to tell you an evolutionary just-so story. What we mean by that is we don't really know why, you know, this mechanism exists. But from an evolutionary perspective, if you're living in a world of scarcity and ever-present danger, this is the perfect mechanism to make sure that we're never satisfied with what we have, that we're always wanting more. It's made us the ultimate seekers.

Perfect.

Perfect.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Right. So now that's – so why is that, right? It's because alcohol is a product of human engineering. that releases so much dopamine all at once in the reward pathway that our brains are reeling to compensate, right? We really weren't evolved for this much pleasure with this much easy access. As you said yourself, we were really evolved to have to do quite a lot of work upfront in

Right. So now that's – so why is that, right? It's because alcohol is a product of human engineering. that releases so much dopamine all at once in the reward pathway that our brains are reeling to compensate, right? We really weren't evolved for this much pleasure with this much easy access. As you said yourself, we were really evolved to have to do quite a lot of work upfront in

and to be hungry and to be lonely and to be tired, and then get a little bit of reward that would then bring us back up to homeostasis. So really, we were evolved to be pressing on the pain side of the balance in our effort to find pleasure. And then when we find it, that little bit of food or clothing or shelter or a mate would bring us back to the level position. Does that make sense?

and to be hungry and to be lonely and to be tired, and then get a little bit of reward that would then bring us back up to homeostasis. So really, we were evolved to be pressing on the pain side of the balance in our effort to find pleasure. And then when we find it, that little bit of food or clothing or shelter or a mate would bring us back to the level position. Does that make sense?