6/25/18 TED Talk on Gray Area Drinkers

Gray Area Drinking

Great TED Talk about "gray area drinkers"  who find themselves between the rock bottom every day drinkers to the occasional, rarely over drinking drinkers. They don't appear to have a problem to the outside world but live in a place of anxiety over their drinking.

Here are some insights from the video that I found fascinating.  I feel like she was totally talking about me!

Gray area drinkers love the "off switch" drinking provides to an anxious brain.

Gray area drinkers drink to regulate neurotransmitters. 

Gray area drinkers don't have a hard time quitting, they have a hard time staying quit.

Gray area drinkers constantly stop and restart periods of drinking. They stop for awhile, then try to to be a social drinker again only to return to a level of drinking they regret. 

Gray area drinkers don't need another set of cognitive hoops to jump through or to focus out will power in an attempt to fix themselves. 

Intellectualizing doesn't help\, instead nourish neurotransmitters.

GABA - anti anxiety neurotransmitter - when low - anxious, worry, ruminate - drink to relax

Serotonin  - antidepressant neurotransmitter  - when low - depressed, crave alcohol and carbs,  insomnia - drink to have fun

Dopamine - focus and motivation neurotransmitter - when low - unmotivated, unfocused - drink to connect and engage with others

How to naturally boost neurotransmitter - NOURISH - scientifically proven

N - Notice nature - 20 minutes in nature with trees and water

O - Observe your breath - boosts the calm response - regulates neurotransmitter

U - Uniting with others - social bonds, community, physical touch

R - Replenish with food - protein contains amino acids which replenish neurotransmitter,  Omega 3 fatty acids from fish, flax seeds, walnuts make neurotransmitters, carbs such as leafy green vegetables break down into B vitamin which make serotonin

I - Initial movements - boosts neurotransmitter - 60 min yoga up to 80% boost

S - Sitting in stillness - meditation - replenishes neurotransmitters

H - Harness creativity - pick a single focus activity that ends in "ing" - not drinking, overeating deplete neurotransmitters

I quit drinking because I choose to not because I have to