How Habits Are Formed: A Neuroscientist Explains the Science of Addiction

episode

Previously titled “Addiction: The Neuroscience of Breaking the Loop (Part 1)” — renamed by the publisher on Sep 22, 2026

RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions not yet transcribed

▲ 0

Transcript

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet Upvotes decide what gets transcribed next — 0 so far. Sign in to upvote

More from RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions

DID Trauma Response: Why Dissociative Identity Disorder Is a Survival Skill 52 min · 03 Sep 2026

Orthorexia: What It Is, the Signs, and How It's Treated 44 min · 27 Aug 2026

ARFID: What It Is and Why It's Not Just Picky Eating 58 min · 20 Aug 2026

Complex PTSD Symptoms: Why You Feel Stuck in Relationships 52 min · 13 Aug 2026

Childhood Trauma Signs of CPTSD: Are You Misdiagnosed With Depression? 52 min · 06 Aug 2026

Psilocybin & Ibogaine: Can Psychedelics Cure Addiction? 1h 2m · 30 Jul 2026

All episodes from RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions →

Report any issue

Source

Recorded14 May 2026

Publisherrss.buzzsprout.com

Handlerec:18429776

Show notes

Stop fighting your brain and start understanding it. Dr. Judson Brewer reveals why willpower is a myth and how neuroscience is the real key to breaking bad habits.Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/Learn more about Dr. Judson Brewer: https://drjud.com/In this episode of RECOVERable host Terry Maguire sits down with Dr. Judson Brewer (Dr. Jud), a world-renowned psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and New York Times bestselling author of The Craving Mind and Unwinding Anxiety. Dr. Jud explains why the "just say no" approach fails and breaks down the evolutionary "habit loop"—trigger, behavior, and result—that keeps us stuck.You will learn why dopamine is actually a "motivation molecule" designed for survival, not pleasure, and how to navigate the "three gears" of habit change: awareness, disenchantment, and finding the "Bigger Better Offer". Whether you are struggling with substance use, anxiety, or digital addiction, this conversation provides a science-backed roadmap to rewire your brain using curiosity as a superpower.Dr. Jud also debunks common myths about "hitting rock bottom" and explains why the logical brain goes offline during a crisis. Learn how to ride out a craving in just 13 minutes and why your "survival brain" might be leading you astray.Subscribe for Part 2 and visit mindshiftrecovery.org for more resources.Chapters:00:00 – Intro00:48 – Myth vs. Fact: Is Addiction a Lack of Willpower?05:58 – The Habit Loop: Trigger, Behavior, and Result11:15 – Why Willpower is More Myth than Muscle11:43 – Gear 1: Awareness and the "Why" Trap15:22 – Gear 2: Finding Disenchantment with Habits26:35 – Gear 3: The "Bigger Better Offer" Strategy37:35 – Curiosity: The Superpower for Cravings40:54 – Is Addiction a Choice or a Brain Disease?53:21 – The Truth About Dopamine FastingQuestions the Video Answers:Is addiction just a lack of willpower?Does dopamine actually make you feel high?Why is the teenage brain more susceptible to addiction?Can the brain fully recover from long-term drug use?Is sugar addiction the same as cocaine addiction?What is the habit loop and how does it work?Why do we keep doing things we know are bad for us?Can anxiety and worrying become a habit?Why doesn’t willpower work to stop an addiction?What are the three gears of habit change?How do you find a "Bigger Better Offer" in recovery?How long does a typical craving actually last?Is addiction primarily genetic or environmental?Why do people in addiction lie or steal?Is dopamine fasting a real scientific solution?#Neuroscience #AddictionRecovery #JudsonBrewer

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.