Giving Up Alcohol Enables Life Changes and Mental Health Awareness

Key Quotes

"Me deciding to stop drinking was the single best decision I've ever made by nothing there is nothing in my life that has come close no career decision no path that has been a single best decision I've ever made everything else that follows on was because of it I suspect it will be for a long time."

Dr. Alex George states that quitting alcohol was the most impactful decision of his life, surpassing any career or life path choices. This highlights the profound personal transformation he experienced, suggesting that this singular decision was the foundation upon which all subsequent positive developments in his life were built.

"I think a lot of people probably get really stuck because they're chasing this -- this feeling which is actually one of many deflections from a baseline I guess happiness is is uh that you know floaty feeling of sat in the uh in the park the sun shining with your friends that's kind of like a feeling of warm like happiness but that is just a deflection you know the purpose of of sadness is important of grief of anger frustration all the kind of other emotions are really important but I think we kind of put happiness on a pedestal and demonize lots of other feelings."

Dr. Alex George argues that the societal emphasis on happiness as the ultimate goal is misguided. He explains that happiness is a transient emotion, and by elevating it above all others, people tend to demonize or avoid difficult emotions like sadness, grief, and anger, which are also crucial for a full human experience.

"I genuinely believe that there are three groups of people that shouldn't drink the first group is anyone with adhd because adhd is the dopamine deficit disorder... when you pour alcohol in to an already disinhibited brain that's impulsive that's probably doesn't always make the best decisions it's a recipe for disaster."

Dr. Alex George identifies individuals with ADHD as a group who should avoid alcohol. He explains that alcohol exacerbates the inherent impulsivity and decision-making challenges associated with ADHD, creating a dangerous combination that can lead to negative consequences.

"The five stages of grief model has been by a lot of like modern experts said it's not that you want to say that useful there's no such linear experience and most people experience grief would describe that adam someone called dr chloe on my on my podcast and she's an expert in grief that's what she dedicates her life to and i think she brilliantly describes this that it's much more what realizing that you kind of go in almost this figure eight of eight into different emotions of grief."

Dr. Alex George discusses the limitations of the traditional five stages of grief model, citing experts who suggest it is not a linear experience. He proposes that grief is more akin to a figure-eight pattern, where individuals flow through various emotions rather than progressing through distinct, sequential stages.

"I think the shame is and there's questions around well if that had been picked up at a younger age could it have been different for for all of us I think certainly for my life my life would have been very difficult had i have different had things have been picked up like i wouldn't have drunk you know i say i often say to people i do talks now i genuinely believe that there are three groups of people that shouldn't drink."

Dr. Alex George reflects on the potential impact of earlier diagnoses of neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and ASD. He suggests that if these conditions had been identified in his youth, it could have significantly altered his life trajectory, potentially preventing issues such as alcohol misuse.