James Swanwick
James Swanwick
Justifications & Alcohol: How to Get Beyond Them - Coach Matt
Justifications & Alcohol: How to Get Beyond Them - Coach Matt
Justifications & Alcohol: How to Get Beyond Them - Coach Matt
Friday 23rd May 2025
Explore how to overcome alcohol justifications with Coach Matt Gardner. Dive into brain science and learn strategies for an alcohol-free life.
19 minutes
Informative
Supportive
Compassionate
Engaging
Hopeful
About this podcast
Author:
James Swanwick
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Creative Recovery Journeys
Sexual Empowerment & Identity
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Financial Health in Recovery
Links:
Visit site
Episodes:
574 (View all)
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!Unmasking Alcohol Justifications with Coach Matt
Episode Overview
- Justifications are stories we tell ourselves to make drinking seem acceptable.
- Cognitive dissonance occurs when actions conflict with values.
- Brain regions involved include the prefrontal cortex and dopamine system.
- Mindfulness and journaling strengthen impulse control.
- Creating a 'BS list' helps externalise and interrupt unhealthy patterns.
"Justifications act as psychological shields to protect self-esteem and reduce emotional pain."
In this episode of the Alcohol-Free Lifestyle podcast, Coach Matt Gardner tackles the sneaky justifications that often accompany early alcohol-free living. These are the little stories we tell ourselves to make drinking seem okay, even when deep down, we know it's not. Matt dives into the brain science and psychology behind these justifications, explaining how they act as psychological shields to protect our self-esteem and reduce emotional pain.
With a mix of humour and empathy, he draws parallels between justifications in personal relationships and those related to alcohol use, highlighting how these mental gymnastics can keep us stuck. Matt explores how cognitive dissonance plays a role in our justifications, with the brain working overtime to align our actions with our values. He discusses the role of various brain regions in this process, from the prefrontal cortex that generates rationalisations to the dopamine system that rewards these mental habits.
Through relatable anecdotes, Matt reveals how justifications may temporarily relieve discomfort but ultimately reinforce unhealthy patterns. The episode also offers practical strategies for moving beyond these justifications, such as building awareness without shame and strengthening the prefrontal cortex through mindfulness and journaling. Matt encourages listeners to externalise their thoughts by creating a 'BS list' – a written record of the excuses they use to justify drinking. By doing so, individuals can interrupt these patterns and shift towards intentional behaviour.
Matt's insights provide a refreshing perspective on how to tackle the hidden barriers in alcohol-free living. Whether you're looking to quit entirely or simply change your relationship with alcohol, this episode is packed with valuable advice to help you on your journey. So why not give it a listen and see how you can start rewriting your own story?