The Dopamine Brain: Why the Craving Outlasts the Decision

You made the decision. You meant it. And then the urge turns up anyway - same time of day, same situation, before you've had a chance to think.

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Most people take that as proof of something about themselves. It isn't. It's proof that the brain has learned something.

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Dopamine isn't the brain's "pleasure chemical". It's closer to a motivation signal. It fires when you're chasing something, not just when you get it, and its job is to teach the brain what reliably brings relief. Once your brain has learned that - this place, this hour, this feeling, this quick fix - it doesn't wait to be asked. That's why a craving can still show up long after you've decided to change. Wanting it and wanting to stop can both be true at once. Neither one is a lie.

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In this hour, Dr Anastasia Hronis - clinical psychologist, addiction researcher and author of the bestselling The Dopamine Brain - and Dr Chris Davis, Addiction Medicine Specialist and GP, CMO and Co-founder of Clean Slate Clinic, look at what happens in the brain during addiction and recovery. They'll cover how dopamine shapes reward, motivation, cravings and habits, and why the brain can keep choosing quick relief even when you know exactly what it costs later. The examples run across alcohol, other drugs, and behavioural addictions like gambling, gaming, shopping and the phone. And they'll be clear about where understanding the science helps, and where a person needs proper treatment rather than insight.

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They'll also cover the part that usually gets left out. Stopping something, on its own, rarely lasts. What lasts is knowing what you want your life to be about, and having something worth doing ready to fill the gap.

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Come away understanding why the pull shows up when it does - and why that was never a question of character.

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Watch the recording to learn:

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✅ Understand the role of dopamine, reward and learning in the development and maintenance of addiction.

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✅ Recognise why cravings and addictive behaviours can persist even when someone genuinely wants to change.

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✅ Explore how personal values, and meaningful activities can support motivation and longer-term recovery.

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Speakers:

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Dr Anastasia Hronis | Clinical Psychologist, Author of best seller 'The Dopamine Brain'

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Anastasia is a clinical psychologist, working across both clinical practice and academia. She is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Technology Sydney, and conducts research in the areas of addictions, intellectual disabilities and rural mental health. Anastasia is also the founder of the Australian Institute for Human Wellness, an organisation dedicated to meeting the growing need for innovation in supporting mental health and wellbeing. In 2024, Anastasia published the book, The Dopamine Brain, with Penguin Books Aus & NZ. Within seven months, it reached "best seller" status, and has been translated into eight other languages.

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Dr Chris Davis | Clean Slate Clinic

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Dr Chris Davis is a GP, Addiction Medicine Specialist, and the co-founder & Medical Director of Clean Slate Clinic. With over 10 years of experience, he’s passionate about breaking down stigma, speaking openly about the things people often hide, and making support feel human - not clinical.