Why You Keep Drinking: The Connection to Your Nervous System | Leanne Ellington
If you’ve ever promised yourself you wouldn’t drink and then found yourself reaching for alcohol anyway, there may be more happening beneath the behavior than willpower. Christy Osborne and neuroscience expert Leanne Ellington explore drinking, the nervous system, brain patterns, neuroplasticity, faith, and lasting behavior change.
Leanne shares her own journey from decades of struggling with food and body image to discovering the nervous system, neuroplasticity, and eventually a relationship with God. Her story helps explain why knowing what you should do doesn’t always translate into being able to do it—and why lasting change requires more than simply trying harder.
Christy and Leanne unpack what happens in the brain when behaviors are repeated and why the patterns we practice can become automatic. They explore the connection between nervous system regulation, subconscious beliefs, self-image, identity, and drinking, along with what “renewing your mind” can look like through the lens of neuroplasticity.
They also talk about faith and behavior change, including why prayer and action were designed to work together. And when you drink after deciding you wouldn't? Instead of turning that moment into more shame, Leanne encourages a different approach: separate the data from the drama, learn from what happened, and use the experience as information for what comes next.
If You’ve Ever Thought…
“I know I don’t want to drink, so why do I keep doing it?”
“I know what God says about me, but I don’t actually feel like I believe it.”
“Why can’t I just pray harder and make this desire go away?”
“I’ve broken so many promises to myself that I don’t trust myself anymore.”
Then this episode is for you. 🩷
What You’ll Learn
• Why reaching for alcohol automatically can be a brain pattern, not a character flaw
• How repeated behaviors create and strengthen neural pathways
• How your nervous system, subconscious beliefs, self-image, and drinking can be connected
• Why knowing what God says about you isn't always the same as believing it
• What “renewing your mind” can look like through the lens of neuroplasticity
• Why prayer and practicing new patterns can work together in behavior change
• How to separate the data from the drama after drinking when you hadn't planned to
• How a drinking moment can become a growth point instead of evidence that you've failed
• Why lasting change involves asking not only “What should I do differently?” but also “Who am I becoming?”
Connect with Leanne
Join the October 40-Day Fast
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/october-fast
📖 Order Christy's Book: Love Life Sober: A 40-Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book
📲 Follow Love Life Sober on Instagram
@lovelifesoberwithchristy
🎥 Subscribe on YouTube — Come hang out with us!
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book
Disclaimer
The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober Podcast are not healthcare practitioners and do not provide medical, psychological, or professional advice. The content of this podcast and all Love Life Sober communications is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Views and opinions expressed by guests, or in any resources referenced, do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Christy found her true calling when she gave up alcohol and discovered a passion for helping women do the same. She has since coached hundreds of women across the US and UK as a highly trained senior sobriety coach, blending neuroscience, faith, and practical tools to help clients break free from alcohol and live with purpose.
She is the author of the best-selling Love Life Sober: A 40-Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind, and the host of the Love Life Sober podcast. Christy lives in Sussex, England, with her husband, their two teenagers, Ella and Carter, and their cavapoo, Copper.
You can discover more from Christy at
