Video Premiere Tonight at 6:00 PM PST!

For years, I thought my inability to “just stop” drinking was a sign of a weak will. Each failed attempt added another layer of shame, another piece of evidence that I was a failure. The voice in my head was relentless: “Why can’t you do what everyone else can? What is wrong with you?”

What I didn’t know—what no one had ever told me—was that my struggle wasn’t a moral failing. It was a biological one. I wasn’t weak; my brain had been hijacked.

The turning point in my journey wasn’t a sudden surge of willpower. It was the liberating moment I learned the neuroscience behind alcohol addiction. Understanding that my cravings, my relapses, and that feeling of being utterly powerless were rooted in the complex chemistry of my own brain was the key that finally began to unlock the cage.

In my new video, “I Can’t Stop Drinking And Nobody Told Me This,” I break down this critical information in a way that’s easy to understand. We dive into:

• The Dopamine Trap: How alcohol floods your brain’s reward system, teaching it that booze is the ultimate source of relief and pleasure, while dulling your ability to feel joy from everyday life.
• The Failing Brakes: How chronic drinking physically impairs the prefrontal cortex—the part of your brain responsible for good judgment and impulse control.
• The True Meaning of “Powerlessness”: Why admitting you are powerless over alcohol is not an admission of defeat, but the first, most courageous step toward a new strategy for freedom.

This knowledge was my liberation from shame. It moved me from self-blame to strategic action.

Join me for the premiere of this crucial conversation tonight at 6:00 PM PST on the Grateful Truce YouTube channel. We can chat live in the comments. Your story might be the one that helps someone else feel less alone.

[Click here to set a reminder and watch the premiere on YouTube!

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The Full Story: From Shame to Science

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror the morning after and asked, “Why can’t I stop?” you know the crushing weight of that question. It’s often followed by promises—to yourself, to your family—that feel sincere in the moment but shatter as soon as the craving hits.

For years, my life was a repeating loop of this cycle. I’d drink to escape, wake up drowning in regret, swear it was the last time, and then feel my resolve evaporate by evening. The craving wasn’t just a thought; it was a physical roar, a restlessness that made every other promise fade into noise. The loneliness was deafening. How could I explain to loved ones that “just stopping” felt as impossible as holding my breath forever?

The Hijacked Brain

My liberation began when I stumbled upon the science. Here’s what I learned:

1. Your Reward System is Rewired: Alcohol triggers a massive release of dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter. Your brain, seeking balance, compensates by producing less dopamine on its own and becoming less sensitive to it. Soon, a good meal or a friend’s laugh doesn’t register the same way. The brain becomes convinced that alcohol is its primary source of well-being. When you aren’t drinking, dopamine levels plummet, creating the anxiety, irritability, and deep dissatisfaction that only a drink seems to fix.
2. Your Brakes are Cut: The prefrontal cortex is your brain’s CEO. It’s responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and saying, “Remember what happened last time?” Alcohol damages this region. So, just as the craving (the accelerator) is getting stronger, your ability to resist it (the brakes) is getting weaker. This isn’t a lack of willpower; it’s a case of compromised brain hardware.
3. The Pain-Relief Cycle: Many of us start drinking to cope with underlying anxiety, depression, or trauma. Alcohol becomes a form of self-medication. The tragic irony is that it makes these conditions worse over time, creating a vicious feedback loop where you drink to escape the very pain the drinking is causing.

The Power of “Powerlessness”

For so long, I hated the word “powerless.” It sounded like giving up. But I had it all wrong.

Admitting powerlessness over alcohol is a strategic admission. It’s looking squarely at the hijacked car with the failed brakes and finally admitting, “I cannot steer this thing with willpower alone.” It is the moment you stop fighting a battle you can’t win and start looking for a new path. It’s not a sign of weakness; it’s the foundation of true strength and the first step toward taking your power back.

The Path to Rewiring

Understanding the problem allows you to finally build a real solution. If your brain is wired for alcohol, the goal is to rewire it for sobriety. This requires a new strategy:

• Seek Professional Help: I am not a doctor, and this is not medical advice. Withdrawal can be dangerous. Please consult a healthcare professional to create a safe plan.
• Build a Support System: Find a therapist, a support group, or a trusted friend. Shame thrives in secrecy; healing happens in community.
• Identify and Manage Triggers: Learn the people, places, and emotions that trigger the craving. Have a plan—a walk, a phone call, a breathing exercise—to navigate them without drinking.
• Be Patient with Healing: The early days of sobriety are hard. Sleep is messy, and anxiety is high. But this isn’t failure; it’s your brain beginning its long, slow journey back to balance. The world will slowly start to come back into color as your natural pleasure responses heal.

You are not weak. You are not a bad person. You are a person in a battle with a powerful, addictive substance that has physically altered your brain’s functioning. The feeling of powerlessness is not your identity; it is the key that unlocks the door to a new, compassionate, and effective approach to freedom.

Watch the video to hear this message straight from the heart, and join our community of support tonight at 6:00 PM.

Chris Mosser

Author of Grateful Truce & The AGI Dilemma