Behavioral Psychology

The "Vending Machine" theory of relapse |

Are you relapsing because you're weak, or because your brain is throwing a tantrum? Let's talk about the Extinction Burst and the "Vending Machine" theory. 🧠🥤 If you want to stop relapsing—whether it's alcohol, texting a toxic ex, or spiraling into self-hatred—you have to understand the hardware inside your skull. Your brain is divided into Management (the prefrontal cortex) and Labor (the basal ganglia). Management cares about morals and long-term goals; Labor only cares about habits and efficiency. When you get sober, Management has to fire Labor using pure willpower. But willpower is finite. When you stop feeding a habit, it doesn't quietly fade away. It throws a tantrum. Think of a vending machine: if it takes your dollar and doesn't give you a soda, you don't just walk away. You shake the machine. You kick the glass. Your brain does the exact same thing when you cut off its dopamine. It floods you with anxiety. But remember this: a craving is not a sign of weakness. That "extinction burst" is clinical proof that the neural pathway is dying. 💬 Let me know in the comments: What is your brain's favorite way to "shake the vending machine" when you try to break a bad habit? 👇 If this reframe helped you today, hit that LIKE button and SUBSCRIBE to for more clinical truths on breaking toxic cycles and taking your mind back.