Reward Substitution: Healthy vs. Harmful Replacements for Alcohol (E284)

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When we quit drinking, it’s pretty common to pick up another crutch or transfer the addiction to something else like food, work, cannabis, shopping, etc. Your brain still wants comfort, relief, stimulation, and escape and it’s easy to use other methods of relief instead of doing the emotional work and not needing relief. In this episode, I discuss the desire to replace alcohol with something else, how we do this in unhealthy ways, and what healthy reward substitution looks like. If you’ve ever said “at least it’s not alcohol”, then this episode is for you!

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Cite:

Gillian Tietz. Reward Substitution: Healthy vs. Harmful Replacements for Alcohol (E284). Sober Powered. 2025

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Gillian Tietz

Gillian Tietz is the host of the Sober Powered podcast and recently left her career as a biochemist to create Sober Powered Media, LLC. When she quit drinking in 2019, she dedicated herself to learning about alcohol's influence on the brain and how it can cause addiction. Today, she educates and empowers others to assess their relationship with alcohol. Gill is the owner of the Sober Powered Media Podcast Network, which is the first network of top sober podcasts.

https://www.instagram.com/sober.powered
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How Exercise Helps Your Brain and Body Heal From Alcohol (and How to Get Started) (E285)

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Alcohol Shortens Your Perception of Time (Instant Gratification) (E283)