Dr. Sarah Wakeman

So the goal then is not that you just like white knuckle it all night and feel really stressed after work. It's that you figure out like what are some other things that help me reduce stress after work. Maybe it's going to a yoga class with a friend. Maybe it is, you know, spending time with my family. Maybe it's getting a massage or meditating or watching a show I like.

So the goal then is not that you just like white knuckle it all night and feel really stressed after work. It's that you figure out like what are some other things that help me reduce stress after work. Maybe it's going to a yoga class with a friend. Maybe it is, you know, spending time with my family. Maybe it's getting a massage or meditating or watching a show I like.

So you want to – it's not just you're removing the thing that you're trying to change. You want to fill up the empty space with other things.

So you want to – it's not just you're removing the thing that you're trying to change. You want to fill up the empty space with other things.

But we see that all the time. So that's like replacing things. And, you know, I was reading an article. People have probably heard of dry January, this idea of like not drinking for the month of January to rethink your relationship with alcohol. I was reading an article that dry January has become high January because people are just smoking a ton of weed instead of drinking.

But we see that all the time. So that's like replacing things. And, you know, I was reading an article. People have probably heard of dry January, this idea of like not drinking for the month of January to rethink your relationship with alcohol. I was reading an article that dry January has become high January because people are just smoking a ton of weed instead of drinking.

And so it's very – I think you want to be cautious that you're not just replacing things. The thing that you're trying to change is something that's also going to cause health problems.

And so it's very – I think you want to be cautious that you're not just replacing things. The thing that you're trying to change is something that's also going to cause health problems.

Now, having dessert once in a while for this, you know, you're not getting calories from alcohol and having a nice ice cream cone once a week is a way of sort of treating yourself that's healthier and maybe more aligned with your goals. That's fine.

Now, having dessert once in a while for this, you know, you're not getting calories from alcohol and having a nice ice cream cone once a week is a way of sort of treating yourself that's healthier and maybe more aligned with your goals. That's fine.

I think thinking about these things, actually thinking about alcohol the way we think about dessert, sunbathing, eating processed meats, all of these things have risk and benefit in our lives. I think where we've gone so wrong with alcohol is this idea that it's like a health-promoting behavior. That you shouldn't be drinking for your health. It's not going to make you healthier.

I think thinking about these things, actually thinking about alcohol the way we think about dessert, sunbathing, eating processed meats, all of these things have risk and benefit in our lives. I think where we've gone so wrong with alcohol is this idea that it's like a health-promoting behavior. That you shouldn't be drinking for your health. It's not going to make you healthier.

And also, much like many things we do that are not health promoting activities, there are ways of reducing the health harms of that activity so that it's okay in small amounts in your life.

And also, much like many things we do that are not health promoting activities, there are ways of reducing the health harms of that activity so that it's okay in small amounts in your life.

So it turns out the brain is amazingly plastic, meaning it can change. We see that over time. So the first thing is even adverse childhood experiences are not a done deal. So we talk a lot about ACEs. We don't talk a lot about pieces or PCE, positive childhood experiences. But actually, you can reduce the risk that someone

So it turns out the brain is amazingly plastic, meaning it can change. We see that over time. So the first thing is even adverse childhood experiences are not a done deal. So we talk a lot about ACEs. We don't talk a lot about pieces or PCE, positive childhood experiences. But actually, you can reduce the risk that someone

develops addiction by increasing the number of positive childhood experiences. So take someone who's experienced some terrible adversity. Their parent has died, or they have a parent who's in prison, or they have addiction in their family. If that kid has one single adult figure that they believe cares about them, that reduces their risk of addiction.

develops addiction by increasing the number of positive childhood experiences. So take someone who's experienced some terrible adversity. Their parent has died, or they have a parent who's in prison, or they have addiction in their family. If that kid has one single adult figure that they believe cares about them, that reduces their risk of addiction.

So there are a lot of positive ways that we can actually change the trajectory, even in the midst of terrible trauma. When you think about someone who's had a substance use disorder, we actually have good data on this that after five years of recovery, and often that is fits and starts.

So there are a lot of positive ways that we can actually change the trajectory, even in the midst of terrible trauma. When you think about someone who's had a substance use disorder, we actually have good data on this that after five years of recovery, and often that is fits and starts.